Commutator

What is a commutator
1. A commutator is a simple device for reversing the current direction, through an armature every half turn.
What is commutator made with
1. The commutator is made from two round pieces of copper, one on each side of the spindle
  1. A piece of carbon is lightly pushed against te copper to conduct the electricty to the armature,
    1. The carbon brushes against the copper when the commutator spins
What happens next?
1. As the motor rotates, first ne piece of copper, then the next connects with the brush every half turn.
  1. The wire on teh left side of the armature always has current flowing in the same direction
    1. So the armature will keep turning in the same direction
      1. The pieces of copper are held apart in the centre and do not touch each other.
        They look like a ring of copper which is split down the middle.
        This is why it is called a split-ring commutator

Resource summary

	Created by Kate Baldwin over 11 years ago