What is an ac motor?

Answer 1

An AC motor is an electric motor that runs on alternating current, like household electricity, as opposed to a DC motor that runs on direct current from a battery.

Most AC motors work from the mains supply, which has a frequency of 50Hz in the UK and 60Hz in the USA.

Other types are available that work like stepper motors and need a specialist supply to run them.

Answer 2

AC commutator motors, like comparable DC motors, have higher starting torque and higher speed than AC induction motors. The series motor operates well above the synchronous speed of a conventional AC motor. AC commutator motors may be either single-phase or poly-phase. The single-phase AC version suffers a double line frequency torque pulsation, not present in poly-phase motor. Since a commutator motor can operate at much higher speed than an induction motor, it can output more power than a similar size induction motor. However commutator motors are not as maintenance free as induction motors, due to brush and commutator wear.

• principles of operation

  electric motor: Alternating-current commutator motors

  A specially designed series-commutator motor may be operated from a single-phase alternating voltage supply. When the supply current reverses, both the magnetic field and the armature current are reversed. Thus, the torque remains in the same direction. These motors are often called universal motors because they may be used with either a direct-voltage supply or with a 60-hertz...

Answer 3

AC motors are used in many electric tools such as bench drills, grinders, table saws, bandsaws, and vacuums.