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Electric motors - what to know before buying an electric conversion kit?
Learning about electric motors can be a complex but ultimately rewarding endeavour. To begin with, it's important to understand that there are several different types of electric motors, each offering various advantages and disadvantages for different applications. Beyond just the type of motor, purchasing an electric motor requires familiarity with its specifications. Torque, nominal speed, power, voltage, energy efficiency, and many other factors must be considered when selecting an appropriate device. With the right knowledge and understanding of your requirements, you can have peace of mind knowing you've made the right choice!
Basic operation of all motors
A motor is a complex machine that provides mechanical power to operate a variety of objects. At a basic level, all motors operate in the same way. The source energy, such as that generated by fuel combustion or electricity, is transformed through several stages into mechanical energy that rotates a crankshaft. This rotational motion can then be used to power items such as cars, boats, or bicycles.
About electric motors
An electric motor is a quite sophisticated device that can generate motion (mechanical energy) from electrical energy. It operates by implementing the basic principles of electromagnetism to convert electrical current into mechanical energy. By generating a magnetic field, this conversion creates rotation, which can be used to drive a wide range of devices and machines, as mentioned above. The electric motor has become an essential component of modern life and is used everywhere, from cars to household appliances like washing machines and fans. Its efficiency in utilizing electrical energy has made it popular in many industries and will continue to drive technological progress for many years.
BLDC motors vs. traditional electric motors
BLDC motors represent a modern solution in the field of electric drives, offering several advantages over traditional electric motors, such as efficiency, durability, quieter operation, and the ability to operate in different power modes. An important difference between BLDC motors and traditional electric motors is their power supply method. Using batteries as a direct current source, BLDC motors can operate independently of the power grid, providing greater freedom in their applications. They are also characterized by higher efficiency and lower energy consumption compared to their traditional counterparts. Thanks to these advantages, BLDC motors are used in various technological domains—from electric vehicles to unmanned aerial vehicles—offering efficient and flexible propulsion options.
Technical data of electric motors
Understanding the specifics of an electric motor is essential for anyone planning to purchase a motor for use in their own project or electrically powered vehicle, such as an electric bike, go-kart, or boat.
The power of an electric motor directly affects battery consumption. The motor's output power can be measured in watts (W or kilowatts - kW for larger motors) or horsepower (HP) and is crucial for understanding how much work the motor can perform. It is safest to select the appropriate electric motor based on the nominal torque [Nm] at the necessary revolutions.
In other words, knowing only the motor power is not sufficient. For example, a 5kW motor in a drone and a 5kW motor in a motorcycle will be different. That means the power will be the same, but they will have different RPMs and different torque. An electric motor for motorcycles will have relatively low RPM and high torque, whereas a motor for a drone will have relatively high RPM and low torque.
When dealing with electric motors, it is important to understand how voltage affects the system. Voltage affects the compatibility of the motor with the rest of the system and the charging requirements—if the voltage is too high, components may be incompatible, while too low a voltage may prevent proper operation.
Torque is essential when using electric motors, as it affects the amount of rotational force they can generate. It is also important to understand how revolutions per minute (RPM) work to properly use the electric motor. Simply put, RPM refers to how often the motor rotates.
Electric motors come in various sizes depending on the desired application. The size of the motor affects several important aspects, such as output power, voltage, and torque. For example, larger motors typically provide more power at the same voltage, but because they need to rotate faster to produce the same frequency as a smaller motor, they consume more energy.
The higher the energy efficiency class of the motor, the more it can save energy since less power is wasted during operation. This means that electric motors with higher efficiency levels can reduce long-term operational costs. Efficiency is the input power divided by the output power.