Electric motors have many different types and sizes. According to the difference current,electric motors can be divided as two types: Alternating Current (AC) motors and Direct Current (DC) motors. AC motor uses alternating current, and DC motor uses direct current.

Further, we can divided the AC motor into single phase and three phase motors. Single phase AC electrical supply is usually supplied in a home while three phase electrical power available in a factory setting. The most common single phase AC motor is known as a universal motor. This is because this motor can also run with DC current.

This type of motor is very inefficient but can be very inexpensively made. It is also used almost exclusively for small factional horse power AC motors. The other advantage this AC motor has is that the rotational speed of the motor can be easy changed. This type of AC motor is commonly found in mixers, hand drills, and any other application requiring variable speed and low cost and small size.

For larger single phase AC motors, a electrical component known as a capacitor is used to create a second phase from the single phase AC current. This type of AC motor is known as an induction motor and there are two basic types; a capacitor start motor and a capacitor run motor. The capacitor is used to create a second phase from the single phase power source and it is the interaction between these two phases that causes the motor to turn.

This introduction of a second phase eliminates the need for the brushes used in a universal AC motor. This greatly increases the both the efficiency of the AC motor and increases the life expectancy of the AC motor as brushes are a major source of wear and failure. This type of motor is a fixed speed motor. It is commonly used as the drive for refrigerator compressors, shop air compressors, and as a general utility type AC motor.

AC motors are usually sized in horsepower. The most common sizes are what are called fractional horsepower motors, i.e. ½ horse power or ¼ horsepower. Larger motors are typically only found in factories, where they can range in size to thousands of horsepower.

AC motors also come with various speed ratings. Speed is usually specified as rotations per minute (RPM) at no load condition. As the motor is loaded down, the speed will slow down. When the AC motor is running at its rated power draw, the speed of the shaft measured in RPM is the full load speed. If the electric motor is loaded too heavily, the motor shaft will stop. This is known as the stall speed and should be avoided. All of these speeds are typically listed on the specification sheet for an AC motor.

Finally, before you order an AC motor, you should determine the mounting type you require, the start up torque, the type of enclosure required, and the type of shaft output required. There are many choices in each of these categories. Hopefully, you just need to replace an existing AC motor that has failed and the salesperson can help you find a direct replacement. Otherwise, specifying the correct AC motor can be a daunting task.