eli5 why motors need drivers and cannot be powered directly or with potentiometer

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eli5 why motors need drivers and cannot be powered directly or with potentiometer

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Anonymous 0 Comments

There are may different types of electric motor. some types can run straight off of DC current, others can run straight off of AC current, and some as you say require a driver.

The reality is ALL electric motors require a changing electric current to provide a changing magnetic field. Different motors accomplish this changing current in different ways. Motors that run directly from DC use a “commutator” — essentially a rotary switch built into the motor — to change the current. Motors that run off of AC current can use the sine wave of the input electricity to vary the current.

Using a motor driver (on the right type of motor) can improve efficiency and flexibility in output speed and power over other types of motors.

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