Universal Motors

A universal motor is defined as a motor which may be operated on either d.c. or single phase a.c. supply at very high speed in the range of 3000 to 7000 rpm or so. It has starting torque and variable speed characteristics. Universal motor are designed for weak field to minimize commutation difficulties. The stator core is laminated and high resistance brushes are used.

Universal Motor
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Construction

The construction of universal motor is similar to that of DC Machine. The field poles are mounted on stator winding. Field winding is wound on the field poles. Both the stator field poles and armature is laminated to minimize the Eddy current losses while working on a.c. supply. The armature has straight or skewed slots and the commutator and brush arrangement is resting on it. 

Universal Motor - Construction

Working

Such motors develop unidirectional torque regardless of whether they operate on A.C. or D.C. supply. The motor runs on the same principle as d.c. motor i.e., force between the main pole flux and the current carrying armature conductor. The universal motor produces the electric torque proportional to the quadrate of the supply current. Since the same current flows through the field winding and the armature, it follows that ac reversals from positive to negative, or from negative to positive, will simultaneously affect both the field flux polarity and the current direction through the armature. This means that the direction of the developed torque will remain positive, and rotation will continue in the same direction. Thus, a universal motor can run both on dc and ac. So the electric torque has the same torque direction at any current polarity and in addition at AC power. The starting torque of a universal motor is determined by the current that flows through the armature and field windings. Due to the inductive reactance of these windings the AC starting current will always be less than the DC starting current.Consequently, the starting torque on AC power will be lower than the starting torque on DC power. The characteristics of universal motor are very much similar to those of D.C. series motors, but the series motor develops less torque when operating from an A.C. supply than when working from an equivalent D.C. supply.

Torque-Speed Characteristics

Torque speed characteristics of Universal Motor

Application

1. Universal motors are used in most hand held power tools such as jigsaw, routers, drills and sanders.
2. They also find their use in household appliances like vacuum cleaner, drink and food mixers and sewing machine.