What is an ECM motor?
ECM motor has a microprocessor which is a crucial factor in its ability to have higher performance. The microprocessor is used to sequentially energize and de-energize each winding of the stator, generating an electrical current.
Can an ECM motor overheat or fail?
Some older ECM motors will overheat and even fail when constantly running in over-amped conditions. Newer models are designed to drop airflow but time will tell on how well they will hold up. Other consequences of high static installations include noise at the registers from higher air velocities.
Do I need an ECM for my furnace or air handler?
A furnace or air handler with an ECM can work flawlessly when mounted on a good vent, coil, and filtration device with static pressures under reasonable design parameters.
What is the difference between PSC motors and ECMs?
PSC motors, therefore, cannot respond as fast (or sometimes at all) to dynamic situations as can ECMs. PSC motors produce a lot of vibrations and noise, which can deter some from using the design; however, since they are often used in fans, this is not a huge downside.
What components make up an ECM motor?
An electronically commutated motor is a three-phase, brushless DC motor. It comprises three major components: a circuit board, an electronic control module, and a three-phase motor with a permanent magnet rotor, as shown in Figure 1. The module and motor make up the actual ECM.
How does an ECM motor operate?
An ECM can be described simply as a basic electric motor, operated by a microprocessor- based motor control. Instead of line voltage being provided directly to the winding (speed taps) to energize the motor (as in PSC and shaded-pole motors), line-voltage power is supplied continuously to the motor control.
What type of motor is an ECM?
ECM stands for an “electronically commutated motor” which basically means a motor that uses electronic controls to vary its speed. There are three types of ECM motors: constant cfm, constant rpm, and constant torque. Since cfm, rpm and torque are all related, the basic prinicples are the same.
Why is an ECM motor more efficient than conventional motors?
ECMs are essentially DC motors that uses built-in inverter, which converts AC current to DC current, to create stator field and permanent magnet rotor. As these motors do not need to use power to create rotor field, they provide better performance over PSC motors. In addition, ECMs offer greater controllability.
How do you test a ECM motor?
This plug carries control signals between the IFC and the ECM Motor. If the motor does not run, make sure you have power to the IFC board and then check the voltage between pins 4 and 5 of the 5 pin plug on the motor. You should read 115 volts. If voltage is not present, the motor will not run.
Why do ECM motors fail?
A major cause of failure occurs when a blower is applied to an application with static pressure above . 8” WG. This not only shortens the life of an ECM, but also a PSC. With an ECM this will cause a failure of the metal oxide varistor (MOV), a disk in the controller.
Are ECM motors DC or AC?
brushless DC motorsElectronically commutated (ECM) motors are brushless DC motors where the direction of the electric current is switched using electronic controllers. ECM motors have the ability to have variable speed control while lasting equal to or longer than traditional motors.
Do EC motors require a starter?
Do EC motors require motor starters? The EC motor controller provides all of the required protection and functionality that a starter provides.
Does an ECM motor need a VFD?
Ease of Control: ECMs are DC motors that function using a built-in inverter and a magnet rotor (no external VFD). The motor's operation is simply controlled by software allowing customers to optimize and integrate the motor, fan and controller with the application.
How do you change the speed of an ECM motor?
For an ECM blower motor with wires exiting the module (shown above), the speed is changed at the control board by moving the colored wire terminals. Only 3 of the 5 colored wires may be used at a time. These three are connected to the "Cool", "Heat", and "Fan" terminals on the control board.
Do ECM motors have overload protection?
Included in most EC motor electronics is protection against: voltage overload, low voltage conditions, phase loss, power surges, locked rotor and overheating.
Are ECM motors variable speed?
The term "Variable Speed" actually refers to the blower motor inside the furnace or air handler. It's an Electronically commutated motor, or (ECM). ECM's are DC motors that function using a built-in inverter and a magnet rotor, and as a result are able to achieve greater efficiency than most AC motors.
Is an ECM motor AC or DC?
DC motorECMs are a type of DC motor. They are also called DC fan motors, EEM fan motors, and variable speed fan motors. They function using a built-in inverter and a magnet rotor, and as a result, can achieve greater efficiency in air-flow systems than some kinds of AC motors.
Do EC motors require a starter?
Do EC motors require motor starters? The EC motor controller provides all of the required protection and functionality that a starter provides.
Does an ECM motor need a VFD?
Ease of Control: ECMs are DC motors that function using a built-in inverter and a magnet rotor (no external VFD). The motor's operation is simply controlled by software allowing customers to optimize and integrate the motor, fan and controller with the application.
How does an ECM motor change speed?
For an ECM blower motor with wires exiting the module (shown above), the speed is changed at the control board by moving the colored wire terminals. Only 3 of the 5 colored wires may be used at a time. These three are connected to the "Cool", "Heat", and "Fan" terminals on the control board.
Is ECM a good motor?
The bottom line is that while the ECM is a great motor, as the servicing or installing contractor it’s your responsibility to make sure its application does not cause unintended consequences detrimental to the health and well-being of your customers’ homes and HVAC systems.
Can ECM motors overheat?
When this happens, some ECMs will ramp down and drop airflow significantly. Some older ECM motors will overheat and even fail when constantly running in over-amped conditions. Newer models are designed to drop airflow but time will tell on how well they will hold up.
What is an ECM Motor?
HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) devices are those that heat or cool a certain area. They are particularly critical when constructing large office buildings or climate-controlled settings. One of the primary aims of current HVAC research is to identify ways to improve machine energy quality.
The Use of ECM Motor
The use of ECM motor is increasingly expanding. Today, all motors used in residential and light commercial HVAC (indoor and outdoor) and commercial refrigeration (evaporator and condenser) have an ECM application.
How does an ECM Motor work?
The motor torque and airflow should remain constant until the settings are programmed into the microprocessor and the control board dip switches are set in the area. What WILL shift is the motor’s rpm. Depending on the machine conditions, the motor can need to turn faster or slower to maintain constant torque and airflow.
Is ECM Motor Disadvantageous?
The architecture of an ECM motor is structurally complicated since its stator comprises multiple windings and involves precise timing from some control module to rotate the rotor.
What is an ECM motor?
Electrically commutated motors (ECMs, EC, or ECM motors) are simply a specific version of the popular brushless DC motor; it may, therefore, be useful to review this exciting new technology by reading our article all about brushless DC motors. To summarize, BLDC motors utilize a permanent magnet rotor and wound stator poles, and as such are “electrically” commutated (as opposed to mechanical or “brushed” commutation). The name “EC” motor is used to describe the low horsepower BLDC motors with integrated drives useful to HVAC applications. They have been separated from BLDC motors because designers do not want to confuse buyers, as the term “DC” usually refers to mechanically-commutated machines. ECMs are virtually identical to BLDC machines, except for the fact that they usually come with their own integrated microprocessor circuit that allows for speed and torque control. They are great for applications that do not have the budget for motor controllers such as variable frequency drives (VFDs) and provide all the efficiency, noise reduction, and controllability of the BLDC machine. These motors are quickly outpacing other common motors, as they are now dropping in price and can be used in hundreds of different applications. To learn more, read our article all about ECM motors.
Why are EC motors used in air handlers?
EC motors are quickly becoming the new industry standard for air handler fans and other applications because of their amazing efficiency. PSC motors dissipate heat due to their capacitors which reduces their overall efficiency to around 50%.
What is the difference between a PSC and an EC motor?
PSC motors have a nonlinear torque-speed curve, which means that the torque varies widely at different speeds. EC motors provide a proportional relationship between speed and torque, which allows operators to know what the torque will be at any given speed. When paired with their speed control, this allows EC motors to change speeds ...
How does a three phase motor work?
Usually, three-phase motors use three separate currents to generate a rotating magnetic field (RMF) in their stator , which will electromagnetically induce current (and therefore magnetism) in the rotor. The torque produced from the RMF on the rotor is highest when it is at rest, so three-phase motors are inherently “self-starting”.
Is an EC motor more advanced than a PSC motor?
Since EC motors utilize micro-processing technology, they are naturally more advanced than the older PSC motor. Their design is structurally complex, as their stator contains many windings and requires accurate timing via some control module to pull the rotor around.
Is a three phase motor self starting?
The torque produced from the RMF on the rotor is highest when it is at rest, so three-phase motors are inherently “self-starting”. Single-phase motors, while simpler in terms of their power source, cannot self-start like three-phase designs because a single phase cannot produce a true RMF.
Can a PSC motor be used in a fan?
PSC motors, therefore, cannot respond as fast (or sometimes at all) to dynamic situations as can ECMs. PSC motors produce a lot of vibrations and noise, which can deter some from using the design; however, since they are often used in fans, this is not a huge downside.
Different Types – Different Efficiencies
ECM - Increased Efficiency Due to Better Control
- In addition to not needing the brushes, this microprocessor brings an efficiency advantage through its controllability of the motor. This gives them a better turn down efficiency than PSC of the equivalent size. ECMs are great at bringing the benefits of modulating to a controlling sensor or variable such as airflow (CFM), torque, or rpm into a small package. The microprocessor is pr…
Applications For ECM
- EC motors are very valuable for small motor sizes, where a variable frequency drive (VFD) is not cost-effective. They are also great for installations where constant design flow is required because the motor design is more efficient. For larger motors where the parameters fluctuate (such as VAV or VRF systems), a VFD can vary the motor speed to match the variable load. In th…