East West Manufacturing Blog

Motors 101: How do a SP, PSC, and EC Motor Compare?

Written by Jennifer Catalan | June 11, 2015

Looking to learn more about the different types of motors out there and which one may be right for your business? Here is a brief rundown on the three most popular types. 


Shaded Pole Motor

  • The cheapest motor due to the older design and technology
  • Typically used for light ventilation applications
  • The least efficient motor because it generates the most heat versus power applied
  • Around 30% efficiency

PSC (Permanent Split Capacitor) Motor 

  • Most commonly used motor
  • A capacitor is usually used to help run the motor and generate more torque
  • These motors can run either single or multiple speeds.
  • A PSC motor is usually 40-60% efficient, meaning you're only going to get about 40-60% output power from the motor

EC (Electrically Commutated) Motor

Curious to see if EC motors are right for you? Download our free case study here.

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