This motor is similar to the three-phase motor except that it has only two windings (a-a′ and b-b′) on its stator displaced 90° from each other. The a-a′ winding is connected directly to the single-phase supply. For starting, the b-b′ winding (commonly called the auxiliary winding) is connected through a capacitor (a device that stores electric charge) to the same supply. The effect of the capacitor is to make the current entering the winding b-b′ lead the current in a-a′ by approximately 90°, or one-quarter of a cycle, with the rotor at standstill. Thus, the rotating field and the starting torque are provided.

As the motor speed approaches its rated value, it is no longer necessary to excite the auxiliary winding to maintain the rotating field. The currents produced in the rotor squirrel-cage bars as they pass the winding a-a′ are retained with negligible change as they rotate past the winding b-b′. The rotor can continue to generate the rotating field with only winding a-a′connected. The winding b-b′ is usually disconnected by a centrifugal switch that opens when the speed is about 80 percent of rated value.

Power ratings for these capacitor-start induction motors are usually restricted to about two kilowatts for a 120-volt supply and 10 kilowatts for a 230-volt supply because of the limitations on voltage drop in the supply lines, which would otherwise occur on starting. Typical values of synchronous speed on a 60-hertz supply are 1,800 or 1,200 revolutions per minute for four- and six-pole motors, respectively. Lower-speed motors can be constructed with more poles but are less common.

The efficiency of the motor can be somewhat increased and the line current decreased by the use of two capacitors, only one of which is taken out of the circuit (by means of a centrifugal switch) as the rated speed is approached. The remaining capacitor continues to provide a leading current to phase b-b′, approximating a two-phase supply. This arrangement is known as a capacitor-start, capacitor-run motor.

Capacitor induction motors are widely used for heavy-duty applications requiring high starting torque. Examples are refrigerator compressors, pumps, and conveyors.

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Split-phase motors

An alternative means of providing a rotating field for starting is to use two stator windings, as in the figure, where the auxiliary winding b-b′ is made of more turns of smaller conductors so that its resistance is much larger than that of winding a-a′. The effect of this is that the current in phase b-b′ leads that of a-a′, but only by about 20–30 degrees at standstill. While the field is largely pulsating, it contains enough rotating component to provide a starting torque of 1.5 to 2.0 times rated value. To prevent overheating, the auxiliary winding is disconnected by a centrifugal switch when the speed reaches 75–80 percent of rated value.

These split-phase motors are inexpensive to produce and are installed in many domestic appliances. Where more than one steady speed is required, as in household laundry appliances, the motor may be wound for two alternative pole pairs, one for low speed and the other for high speed.

Shaded-pole motors

The shaded-pole motor is provided with a main winding connected to the single-phase electric supply. In addition, it has a permanently short-circuited winding located ahead of the main winding in the direction of rotation. This second winding is known as a shading coil and consists of one or more shorted turns. The shading coil delays the establishment of magnetic flux in the region that it encircles and thus produces a small component of rotating field at standstill.

The starting torque is small, typically only 30 to 50 percent of the rated torque. As a result, the motor is suitable only for mechanical loads, such as fans, for which the torque is low at low speed and increases with speed.

Shaded-pole motors are inefficient because of the losses in the permanently shorted winding. As a result, they are used only in small power ratings where efficiency is less important than initial cost. Typical efficiencies are up to 30 percent in larger units and less than 5 percent in very small ones. They are used mainly for fans and other small household appliances.