In order for a series dc motor to function effectively on ac, its field poles
and stator frame must be completely lami nated. If they were not completely laminated,
their core losses would be enonnous. When the poles and stator are laminated,
this motor is often called a universal motor, since it can run from either an
ac or a dc source.
When the motor is running from an ac source, the commutation will be
much poorer than it would be with a dc source. The extra sparking at the brushes
is caused by transfonner action inducing voltages in the coils undergoing commutati
on. These sparks significantl y shorten brush life and can be a source of
radio-frequency interference in certain environme nts.
A typical torque-speed characteristic of a universal motor is shown in Figure
10- 2. It differs from the torque-speed characteristic of the same machine operating
from a dc voltage source for two reasons: