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Alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) drives work by having a positive charge and a negative charge each chase itself in a circular motion. This motion provides the constant charge of energy needed to power the device, whether it be an air conditioner, a conveyor belt, or even a car. Both AC and DC drives have advantages and disadvantages to them. Read on to learn where you might find these two types of motor equipment. AC motors are generally smaller than direct output motor equipment. Also, they are commonly found in household devices, such as refrigerators and air conditioning units. But this does not apply universally. Direct current, for example, is often found in large machinery in factories, such as conveyor belts. The advantage to having this type of motor equipment in a conveyor belt is that the speed of direct current power is easily controlled at a high torque. So, if a lot of weight is placed on the conveyor belt, then the motor is more likely to retain the same speed, whereas an alternating current would have trouble keeping up with the extra weight. As for household items, however, direct output drives are usually found inside of toys, flashlights, or anything powered by a battery. This is because the electricity flows in one direction, from the battery, which then powers the device. The disadvantage to this type of drive is that some projects will require motor equipment that gives off constant power. AC, for example, works well because the electromagnetic field is constantly changing direction. This change in magnetic polarity is what creates the electric current. Because of this, any job that requires the device to continue running without interruption would benefit from an AC drive because the constant change in polarity allows the electric flow to remain running without stopping. DC, on the other hand, would require an extra device in order to change the direction of the power flow. This results in DC requiring more maintenance, more often. On the other hand, for any job that requires a high torque start up, DC drives are the best option. While the power output might be easily interrupted in a DC drive, they work well for high power jobs. New technology has allowed AC to catch up with direct current as far as precision and speed control. For awhile, DC was the go-to equipment for any job that required very precise speed control. But today, alternating output is better performing, and in some cases, lower costing than DC. AC has a much lower start-up speed, which allows them to work well in a factory setting where the engine must be started immediately. Also, AC drives generally do not require a lot of maintenance, so they are more readily used as explosion-proof motors or on job sites where the users do not anticipate having to access the motor frequently. Because direct current is more likely to require internal maintenance, the user must be able to access the inside with ease. To learn more about motor equipment, visit http://www.industrialmotors.com/products/baldor.html.
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