SPLIT PHASE MOTORS BASIC INFORMATION AND TUTORIALS



Split-phase motors have two stator windings, a main winding (also referred to as the run winding) which we will refer to with the subscript 'main' and an auxiliary winding (also referred to as the start winding) which we will refer to with the subscript 'aux'.

As in a two-phase motor, the axes of these windings are displaced 90 electrical degrees in space, and they are connected as shown in Fig. 9.3a. The auxiliary winding has a higher resistance-to-reactance ratio than the main winding, with the result that the two currents will be out of phase, as indicated in the phasor diagram of Fig. 9.3b, which is representative of conditions at starting.

Since the auxiliary-winding current iaux leads the main-winding current Imain, the stator field first reaches a maximum along the axis of the auxiliary winding and then somewhat later in time reaches a maximum along the axis of the main winding.

The winding currents are equivalent to unbalanced two-phase currents, and the motor is equivalent to an unbalanced two-phase motor. The result is a rotating stator field which causes the motor to start.

After the motor starts, the auxiliary winding is disconnected, usually by means of a centrifugal switch that operates at about 75 percent of synchronous speed. The simple way to obtain the high resistance to-reactance ratio for the auxiliary winding is to wind it with smaller wire than the main winding, a permissible procedure because this winding operates only during starting.

Its reactance can be reduced somewhat by placing it in the tops of the slots. A typical torque-speed characteristic for such a motor is shown in Fig. 9.3c.

Split-phase motors have moderate starting torque with low starting current. Typical applications include fans, blowers, centrifugal pumps, and office equipment. Typical ratings are 50 to 500 watts; in this range they are the lowest-cost motors available.

Figure 9.3 Split-phase motor: (a) connections, (b) phasor diagram at starting, and (c) typical torque speed characteristic.

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