If you have ever used anything with 12 volts of power, such as the power windows in your car, you have reaped the benefits of a 12V motor, which is direct current, or DC. While these motors may seem a little complex because of all of the wiring, they are actually fairly simple. You will find that these motors can be worked on by nearly anyone who has a basic understanding of how they work and electronics in general. Then, if you have done laundry or washed dishes before, you have reaped the benefits of a 12V electric motor, which uses alternating current, or AC. Before you attempt to work on any of these, you should understand how they work.
12V DC Motor
A 12V DC motor is a motor that uses direct current between two magnets to power a particular object, but there is a little more to it than just the magnets. Between the magnets, you will discover a small bar, which is referred to as the armature. The armature spins 180 degrees between the two magnets, but how does it accomplish this task? Well, the bar is conveniently metal as well, which allows it to be attracted to the two magnets on the side. Now, there are essentially two types of DC motors, which are known as brushed and brushless. A brushed motor is the more simple design because it essentially uses brushes that attract electric current to help send the armature towards the respective magnet. The downside to a brushed DC motor is that the brushes will wear out over time, they can be fairly noisy, and they can even be susceptible to fire. A brushless motor, on the other, hand uses a shaft instead of brushes to send the armature toward the proper magnet. This is a more complex design, but it runs quieter, and it is safer.
12V Electric Motor
Since not ever 12V electric motor is DC, you should also understand something about AC motors. AC motors are substantially more complex than DC motors, but the good news is that they are still not impossible to work on. An AC motor uses magnets just like the DC motor does, but every AC motor also uses a shaft, which is somewhat similar to the more complex, brushless DC motor. When the shaft turns the armature, it turns towards the proper magnet. If you remember from elementary school, the north magnet will repel another north magnet, and a south magnet will repel another south magnet, but north attracts south and vice versa. This magnetic theory is what determines the direction that the armature will rotate.
Now that you know a little more about the 12V motor in the device you are using, you will have a basic understanding of how it works. You will find that these motors can be worked on fairly easily if you have the proper tools. The basic concepts may allow you to fix a problem before you have to pay high rates to a technician.