Many (perhaps even most) AC motors are induction motors, which are brushless, though this terminology is not used much for AC.

Universal motors are AC/DC; how would they be classified?

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The whole idea of customs duties could be debated; Setting up a complex decision tree with unrealistic categories is insane.

Yes it could be debated but of course debating with politicians is sort of like the special olympics ya know

If your really interested in just how insane it is here is the link for chapter 85 of the Canadian tariff. Motors are under section 8501

http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/trade-commerce/tariff-tarif/2009/t2009-06/ch85-eng.pdf

Back to the original question, from your answer there are brushless motors that are other than strictly DC. Thats what I needed to know I will continue to inquire even when the invoice reads brushless.

Just to give you an idea what I have to deal with, an invoice from a supplier will often just say "motor". Then I have to call either the importer or the exporter and ask....

1. AC,DC or universal.
2. How many watts output (or horsepower if the supplier is American)
3. Is it a gear motor.
4. And as thay answer these I can narrow my questions as I close in on the correct tariff.

But if I get a helpful technician or engineer on the phone I can learn a ton of stuff from one phone call. And the next shipment I work on will be something completely different. Like is your "soap" a surfactant or not? It is .... anionic, cationic or non-ionic? We brokers get to play in everything, the job has its bright spots.

In fact your tariff is correctly describing Brushless motors.

1.Classification of Brushless Motors are pointing Brushless DC motors.

2. AC motors are entirely brushless. They don't need brushes. But the Brushless terminology is not covering AC motors.

3. Brushless identification is essentially pointing out the DC motors, of which in fact must have the brushes, but the need to brushes have sorted out in some other way by using semiconductor technology to avoid the need for replacing the brushes after a working time.

4. Universal motors are out of all classifications. They are AC motors but having brushes. Their starting torque is higher than other AC motors. (Such as drills, Kitchen mixers etc.)

Therefore your suggestion that ONLY DC motors come in the brushless variety is correct. No need for new confussions.

Kindest Regards

Both AC and DC motors can use brushes or be brushless.

A DC permanent magnet motor can be built with or without brushes.

An AC induction motor is brushless, unless it utilises Secondary Resistance for Current or speed control at startup in which case it is a wound rotor with a set of brushes.

Regards,
Sapper

What is new?

The motor, either built for AC or DC, now that it has brushes, it is not in the coverage of Brushless motor classification.

The guy is asking Brushless motors.

Brushless terminology is covering DC motors, of which are in fact need brushes, but the need for brushes is eliminated in an another technologic way .

Regards

Wound rotor (and syncronous) AC motors that have "brushes" are not called "Brush type", they are called "Slip Ring AC motors", different classification.

As it was explained to me many moons ago when I used to export to Canada (and I sympathize with the hassle, believe me), is that they differentiate because, in general, BLDC (Brushless DC) motors are those small power motors typically used in robotics and motion control applications, which falls under a different NAFTA class of imports and exports. Although there are large HP BLDC motors used quite often in the lumber industry, the reason they want to know the power rating (wattage or HP) is because those big ones fall under the same classifications as AC motors, Industrial Rotating Machinery, in other words, NOT robotics and motion control.

Although AC and DC machines come with or without brushes, the unwritten law in the industry is: When you talk about a brushless motor it is a DC motor.

And you thought this would be easy.

Brushless AC electric motor

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search

A Brushless AC electric motor, also known as a permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM), is similar to a brushless DC electric motor in that the magnetic field of the rotor is supplied by the permanent magnets rather than by electromagnets. However, the stator windings of a brushless AC motor are sinusoidally distributed windings, while those of a brushless DC motor are salient field coils. ^[1]

Many thanks to all who took the time to replay to this paper pusher. You guys on CR4 are all great. I never fail to learn something from this web site whether it be from reading the daily recap of all the question (the bright spot of my mornings) or from a specific question I have posted. Usually I learn stuff that I didn't even know I didn't know .

Since finding CR4 I have changed the way I try to gather the information I need to do my job. My phone calls to exporters/manufacturers no longer start with "Can I speak to someone about one of your products?" Now I ask first "Can I speak to one of your engineers?" Saves much time. Previously I would go from the receptionist (who's sole interest is in clearing her switchboard), to sales department (interested only in making a new sale) who upon learning the call is about a past sale suddenly know nothing about anything, to the shipping department (interested only in moving stuff out) who upon learning that the shipment has already left promptly forget what was in it.

But once I get an engineer on the phone, my day is made. I have never met one who is not only completely knowledgeable about their produts but also fully willing to explain the underlying principles and answer my "noob" questions. They are patient while I explain a bit about the tariff to illustrate what information I need and then helpful in describing the product in the exact terms used in my "bible" (the HS tariff). Each time I speak to an engineer I learn something that makes me better able to deal with the next phone call. Thanks to you guys I can usually suprise the experts on the other end of the line by not appearing totally ignorant about the "way things work".

Best wishes to you all for the holiday season (which ever one it is for you) and thanks again.

You're welcome Apothicus.

Pls. dont hesitate to contact us when needed.

Kind Regards

U Guys are great.

Its a good thing we know even frm our books that the word BRUSH AND BRUSHLESS hasnt got to do wt AC,but DC.

Even in Universal motors,AC side goes wt AC and DC side goes wt DC.

Patrick Whowha