What is the difference between Brushed Motors and Brushless Motors?

Brushed motors and Brushless motors differ in the way they transfer electric current to the commutator or electromagnets, which causes the rotor to keep rotating. Brushed motors transfer current mechanically to the electromagnet with the help of a fixed magnet on each side; one of the magnets rotates on a positive pole while the other rotates on a negative pole.

Electromagnets are made with a series of coils, which are called commutators. When the motor is switched on, the current is passed to the coils of the commutators by metallic brushes. While in the Brushless motors, the reverse of the brushed is the case, the magnets are now placed on the rotor. The current is transferred through the surrounding coil in series, which attracts the magnet and keeps the rotor rotating. The brushless motor requires an electronic controller to apply current to each electromagnetic coil.

Brushed motors use metallic brushes to provide current to the motor windings. It can be easily understood that brushless motors do not have brushes. Brushless motors employ control circuitry instead of using brushes. Brushless motors are adept with transforming electrical energy into mechanical energy, and they do not require regular upkeep due to a lack of brushes.

They operate effectively at all speeds with less noise. The difference is that total power being used by the motor, which is converted into rotational force is lost because of heat. Brushless DC motors use brushes to charge the commuter, which delivers current to the motor.

Brushed Motors make use of a motor coil, which acts as the rotor that will be connected to a commutator, and a pair of permanent magnets which function as the stator. The major source of power for brushed motors is a direct current that is transferred to the coils and then causes the rotor to rotate. Brushless Motors, on the other hand, do not employ the use of the commutator and the brushes. However, the rotation of the motor is caused by the integration of a power switch, which changes the electric current coming from a DC power source into an AC electric signal.

Although there is no big difference when it comes to how they work, they differ when you consider the mechanism that produces the rotational force in the two. The use of brushes to supply electric current to the commutator is an important aspect of brushed motors, whereas this method is absent in brushless motors. In terms of price, brushed motors are cheaper than brushless motors.