A ? about starters.

[Guest]

What is the difference in material between the black graphite brushes in some electric motors and the bronze colored ones in a starter?

[Anonymous]

Re: A ? about starters.

What is the difference in material between the black graphite brushes in some electric motors and the bronze colored ones in a starter?

I wonder if its the ability to conduct??

[redliner1973]

the main difference between black brushes and teh gold coloured ones is the blacks are all carbon, the golds are a carbon/copper or carbon/brass mix. Used to help prolong the life of the brushes, and for a (debateable) better conduction of electricity due to the metal in the mix.

[Anonymous]

the main difference between black brushes and teh gold coloured ones is the blacks are all carbon, the golds are a carbon/copper or carbon/brass mix. Used to help prolong the life of the brushes, and for a (debateable) better conduction of electricity due to the metal in the mix.

Dont start a mystery and not finish it. Please give a little more information on the debateable ability to conduct issue. I wont sleep unless you fill me in in not too complicated terms--cant the diference be measured???

[Clone]

So what am I going to sacrifice if I use black brushes, can't find the bronze ones in the parts bins? Just life, or will cranking power suffer too?

[focus frenzy]

you will be giving up power using the black carbon brushes.
I have never seen high power electric motors that used plane carbon brushes, they all used metalic brushes, I have even seen silver brushes used in racing RC electric motors.