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What is the difference between an AC motor and a DC motor?​
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Do you know what’s common between a ceiling fan, and an electric car? You’ve guessed it right, a Motor. More than 90% of the appliances in your home use motors. From your ceiling fans to your juicer blenders, motors are everywhere. Yet, you know so little about them, I mean look at your ceiling fan do you know how it works? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. 

 

Electric Motors are machines that convert electrical energy to mechanical energy to do work. Our hot summer afternoons are made cool and breezy by the ceiling fans that use specially crafted motors to keep us cool & cozy. Let’s get to know these motors better. 

 

There are two types of Motors, AC motor & DC motor,  each with its benefits and disadvantages. The Ceiling & Pedestal fans in our homes use both AC and DC motors, for their respective advantages. Almost 80% of Pakistan’s household ceiling fans work on AC motors, but DC ceiling fans are gaining popularity, now more than ever. 

 

Before understanding the benefits of both AC and DC motors, let’s understand how they work, so let’s get right to it. 

Understanding AC Motors in Fans

AC motors make fans, fridges, and many other appliances in your homework. These motors as the name suggests use Alternating current (AC) to create movement. AC motors work on the principle of Electromagnetic induction which allows the blades to spin.  

AC motors have two main parts: one part stays still(stator), and the other part rotates(rotor) to make the fan blades spin. An AC motor also includes slip rings that reverse the current’s direction to maintain unidirectional rotation. A typical AC ceiling fan has a power input of 80-100 watts. Tamoor’s AC fans however consume as little as 60 Watts. 

Types of AC Motors

AC motors make fans, fridges, and many other appliances in your homework. These motors as the name suggests use Alternating current (AC) to create movement. AC motors work on the principle of Electromagnetic induction which allows the blades to spin.  

AC motors have two main parts: one part stays still(stator), and the other part rotates(rotor) to make the fan blades spin. An AC motor also includes slip rings that reverse the current’s direction to maintain unidirectional rotation. A typical AC ceiling fan has a power input of 80-100 watts. Tamoor’s AC fans however consume as little as 60 Watts. 

What is a DC motor?

A DC motor uses Direct Current as its power supply. A direct current has constant voltage output. DC motors are also of two broad categories, Brushed DC motors and Brushless DC motors. DC motors have a similar structure as the AC motors with a rotor and a stator. An Average-sized DC fan consumes 40 watts, almost half that of its AC counterpart. 

What is a Brushed DC motor?

In a brushed DC motor, the supply is connected with Carbon brushes or commutators which spin inside a permanent magnet. This spinning changes the polarity of the electromagnet and keeps the spinning motion constant. Due to friction between brushes and the shaft about 10% energy is lost to heat. This can cause your electric bills to be even more higher than they already are :(

What is different in a Brushless DC motor?

The simplest difference is that in a brushless DC motor, permanent magnets are used in the rotor and the stator features an electromagnet. Brushless motors don’t have parts that are physically in contact when polarity changes so, it’s more efficient. 


DC motors are heavily used in small-scale vehicles, toys, vacuum cleaners, and ceiling fans. 

AC vs DC Motor

Differences between AC motors and DC motors are notable in the following categories and that is what defines their varying applicational uses. We’ve done side by side comparison of both AC and DC motors on 4 metrics.

Performance

AC motors are of two types, Induction & Synchronous Motors. In synchronous motors, the shaft rotation frequency is the same as that of the stationary part. However, in Induction motors the rotating part moves slower. 

 

AC motors also use VFDs to control the speeds of motors; so you can control the levels of cool air from your Tamoor AC Ceiling fan and much more.  But what is a DC motor, what are the differences, and which one is better, on to all that next!

AC Motors

AC motors work on the frequency of supply voltage so they are not easily speed controlled and special VFDs(Variable frequency drive) are used for that purpose. AC motors are more suitable in appliances that require more or less steady high speeds and variable torque depending on load. 

DC Motors

On the other hand, DC motors can have variable speeds by adjusting voltages easily. DC motors provide consistent torque with variable speeds. However, DC motors are almost 30% less powerful.

Cost

AC Motors

AC motors have a much simpler infrastructure and due to their more widespread use have a relatively lower price.

DC Motors

DC motors are generally more expensive because they use permanent magnets, carbon brushes, and more sophisticated machinery.

Efficiency

AC Motors

AC motors suffer from comparatively lower efficiency because they use electromagnets and slippers, both of which are prone to electric losses. AC motors are typically 75-80% energy efficient.

DC Motors

DC motors are much more efficient, especially brushless DC motors. Brushed DC motors experience loss due to heat produced by friction. Brushless DC motors provide up to 85% energy efficiency. DC motors are up to 50% more efficient than their AC motor counterparts.

Reliability & Maintenance

Finally, in terms of reliability and maintenance

AC Motors

AC motors are the obvious pick when compared to brushed motors. Brushed DC motors require changing of Brushes due to wear and tear, AC motors however need little to no change for years. Moreover, AC motors are cheaper to maintain even if their stator is screwed. 

DC Motors

Nevertheless, Brushless DC motors are almost as reliable and maintenance-free as their AC motor counterparts. 

Application Of AC & DC Motors

Applications of AC Motors

Ceiling fans and household appliances like refrigerators and air conditioners

Water pumps, compressors, and irrigation systems

Industrial machinery for processes like conveyor belts, blowers, and grinders

Large-scale manufacturing plants and equipment requiring continuous operation

Electric generators in power plants

Electric vehicles such as TESLA

Applications of DC Motors

Ceiling fans & household juicer blenders

Hybrid cars

Robotics and automated systems that require precise speed control

Portable electronics such as laptops and cordless tools

Elevators for variable speed control

Small appliances like toys, hobby tools, and handheld fans

These applications seem to be quite overlapping, and they are, but there is a specific company that’s making the best of both worlds. 

How Tamoor Fans Utilize AC & DC Motors for Use?

Fans, Ceilings, pedestals, brackets, or exhausts are of primary use to every house, office, and living space. Tamoor fans have a wide range of fans in AC, DC, and even AC/DC motor categories. Tamoor’s AC fans are ideal because they offer long-term reliability, unparalleled cooling, and Pakistan’s best energy saving. Tamoor’s AC/DC fans and DC fans are the perfect fit for your Solar inverters and UPS. 

 

Tamoor fans use the most premium BLDC motors for their DC fans and superior motor technology in AC fans. So, with Tamoor you can say goodbye to all your summer troubles and enjoy perfect cooling even on the hottest of days in south Punjab or Sindh. 

Conclusion

One of the key differences between the AC & DC motors is their ability of speed and torque control which can be collectively termed as Performance. 

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