Brushless Motors

Brushless motors

A brushless DC electric motor (BLDC motor or BL electric motor), also called electronically commutated electric motor (ECM or EC engine) and synchronous DC motors, are synchronous motors powered by DC electricity via an inverter or switching power supply which creates an AC electric current to drive each phase of the motor with a closed loop controller. The controller provides pulses of current to the motor windings that control the rate and torque of the motor.

The construction of a brushless motor system is normally similar to a long term magnet synchronous motor (PMSM), but may also be a switched reluctance electric motor, or an induction (asynchronous) motor.

The advantages of a brushless electric motor over brushed motors:

high power to weight ratio,

high speed,

electronic control,

and lower maintenance.

Brushless motors discover applications in such areas as computer peripherals (disk drives, printers), hand-held power tools, and vehicles ranging from model aircraft to automobiles.