One industry that utilizes single phase motors is construction, which uses them to power essential building equipment such as electric power tools and portable lighting. Read More…

Leading Manufacturers
Electric Motor Solutions
Mankato, MN | 612-746-7624At Electric Motor solutions, our goal is to provide the best motors and equipment to meet the needs of your application. Products include linear actuators, electric motors, speed reducers, custom motors, vacuum cleaner motors, AC motors, and more.

ElectroCraft, Inc.
Stratham, NH | 844-338-8114We manufacture motors, motion control and rotating products for OEMs. The electric motors obtainable through us include AC motors, AC/DC motors, brushless DC motors, stepper motors.

Carter Motor Company
Monroe, WI | 608-325-9161Since our inception in 1932, Carter Motor manufactures AC universal motors, small motors, DC universal motors, DC permanent magnet motors, DC shunt wound motors and gearmotors, and many others. All of our products are designed and assembled here in the USA. Our team is here to help you determine the best motor to fit your application and to ensure the process is efficient and stress-free. We are ISO 9001:2015 certified.

SPG USA Inc.
Schaumburg, IL | 847-439-4949Quickly rising as the world’s leading motor specialized company, SPG Motor pioneers the electric motor market in innovation & advanced quality assurance. Our AC motors, DC motors & gearheads are ISO 9001 certified for automation equipment & appliances made by top companies like Whirlpool, Maytag & GE.

Merkle-Korff Industries
Elk Grove Village, IL | 847-439-3760Merkle-Korff Industries is a manufacturer of both AC motors and DC motors, standard gear motors, AC and DC stock gear motors, AC/DC stand actuators and AC stock actuators. Provides high-quality products to various industries.

Graham Motors & Controls
El Paso, TX | 915-599-2727We have been in business since 1936 so you know you can count on Graham Motors and Controls to deliver the highest quality product. Located in El Paso, Texas we ship nationwide through our extensive network. Turn to us for all your motor and control needs. Call us today for more information or visit our website to see our products and services for yourself.

Single phase electrical power works much like a three phase electric power, in which the voltages of the power supply can alternate between three different circuit conductors, except with the single it is on power supply providing the voltage. Therefore 3 phase motors are able to self-start and produce a rotating magnetic field by itself, whereas single phase motors require the use of an additional power supply in order to start and produce the magnetic field.
Three phase motors are more commonly found in industrial manufacturing applications; however, single phase motors are also utilized in a wide range of applications and industries including: residential, for use in household appliances such as dishwashers, washing machines, blenders, dryers and more; commercial, for use in equipment and parts such as fans, swimming pool pumps and air conditioners; industrial, in small workshops used to power smaller-horsepower (HP), lighter-duty machine tools such as gear motors; and aerospace, for use in smaller power, motion control applications.
Since single phase motors are incapable of producing a rotating magnetic field on their own, they require an external power supply in order to produce power and effectively convert electrical energy into mechanical energy. A common external power supply used to start single phase motors is an assembly of a combination of either a capacitor and an auxiliary winding, which is also known as a start switch and actually is a seconding winding in the motor itself.
Another combination could be that of a capacitor, an auxiliary stating winding and a centrifugal switch. Through the external power supply, an AC current is applied to the single phase motor. When the AC current is applied, both the start winding and the run winding function to produce magnetic fields. Of the two windings, the start winding has a much stronger current and as a result, a stronger magnetic field is created which causes the motor to begin rotation.
It is only when the motor reaches the point of about 80% of its rated speed that the centrifugal switch is activated and disconnects the start winding from the motor. Once the start winding is disconnected, the motor is able to main a strong enough rotating magnetic field that it is able to operate on its own without the external power supply.