What does EC mean in fans?
electronically commutated
An electronically commutated (EC) fan design delivers the combined benefits of AC and DC Fans. The EC fan’s power comes from a brushless DC motor, but it offers the control that AC induction fans have over the fan rotor through a printed circuit board.
How are EC fans controlled?
EC fans achieve speed control by varying the DC voltage delivered to the fan. Independent testing of EC fan energy consumption versus VSDs found that EC fans mounted inside the cooling unit created an 18 percent savings. With new units, EC fans can be located under the floor, further increasing the savings.
Are ECM motors direct drive?
ECM (electronic commutated motor) is a brushless DC motor with a permanent magnet rotor and a built in inverter. DC motors are more efficient than AC motors. They are also more expensive.
Are ECM motors AC or DC?
DC motor
ECMs 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.
What is the difference between EC and AC fans?
To summarise, the difference between an AC fan and EC fan is: An AC fan has an alternating current and is very expensive to control without making it hum or buzz. An EC fan is basically a digital fan. It’s a lot easier to control.
Are EC motors AC or DC?
DC
An electronically commutated (EC) motor is designed to run on an alternating current (AC) power supply, but it in fact bears a closer resemblance to a direct current (DC) motor. It is essentially a permanent magnet, brushless DC motor that incorporates on-board electronics.
Do EC motors need VFDS?
No. Because EC motor electronics convert incoming 50 or 60 Hz AC power to a DC voltage within the motor, the speed of the motor will be the same with 50 or 60 Hz AC power input (except in the case of ECR 82/92 motors, which are “mains synchronous”).
What controls an ECM motor?
In an ECM, this process is controlled electronically by a microprocessor and electronic controls, which provide the ability to increase or decrease the speed of the motor. The type of ECM currently used by most residential HVAC systems is a brushless dc three-phase motor with a permanent magnet rotor.
Does a ECM motor require a capacitor?
The ECM is one way of saving on energy costs. One of the characteristics of the ECM is that they do not require adding an external run or start capacitor.
Why EC motor is more efficient?
NOTE: An EC motor CANNOT be connected directly to AC line voltage. It uses DC voltage, and the external control converts to DC so that the motor can run. Put simply, EC motors are approximately 30 percent more efficient than AC motors because: Lamination and copper heat loss is reduced by 50 percent.
Do EC fans have poles?
The on-board electronics include a rectifier that converts the AC supply to DC. An integrated controller then directs the right amount of current, in the right direction, at the right time, through each of the windings. This develops magnetic poles in the stator, which interact with the permanent magnets in the rotor.
Are all ECM motors 3 phase?
Most of the HVAC ECMs are three-phase permanent magnet motors. The significant difference here is that the ECM has the motor and speed control built into a single unit.
Are ECM motors DC or AC?
brushless DC motors
Electronically 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.