Brushless DC Motors Vs Brushed DC Motors

There are many advantages of a brushless DC motor over a brushed DC motor. Almost every Platinum Gate Opener we carry features a state-of-the-art brushless DC motor. Thanks to the longer life of a brushless DC motor, these Platinum Access Gate Operators have some of the longest warranties in the industry - 10 years for residential and 8 years for commercial! Below you'll find many other advantages of a brushless motor over a brushed one.


  • Torque

    Brushed DC motors are suitable for low-torque applications, while brushless DC motors are much more suitable for high-torque applications. With the same wattage motor, a DC brushless motor can drive a heavier gate than its brushed counterpart.


  • Speed

    Brushed DC motors have a much lower speed range due to all the mechanical limitations of using brushes. Brushless DC motors, however, have a higher speed range due to there being none of the mechanical limitations that are imposed by both the brushes and the commutator.


  • Life

    Brushed DC motors have a typical life expectancy of about 2,000 to 5,000 hours, depending on the application and duty cycle. Brushless DC motors have a typical life expectancy of 10,000 to 20,000 hours, double that of a brushed motor! This is why the brushless Platinum Access Gate Openers warranty is so long.


  • Efficiency

    If you go with a brushless DC motor, you will get a high efficiency - up to 90%, compared to the lower efficiency of 60-70% in a brushed DC motor. If a gate operator with a brushless motor drives the same gate as a brushed motor, much less electrical power will be used. This saves more and more money over time, especially since the operator's life is longer.


  • Maintenance

    In a brushed DC motor, periodic maintenance will be required; eventually, the brushes will have to be replaced. Brushless DC motors require little to no maintenance for the motor's life as there are no brushes or capacitors ever to replace.


  • Heat Dissipation

    Brushless DC motors feature far superior thermal characteristics resulting in better heat dissipation than a brushed DC motor, where the rotor construction results in very limited heat dissipation.


  • Noise

    Brushes emit a very audible noise during rotation. As you can guess, a brushless DC motor is much quieter because it's brushless!


Motor Comparison Chart Brushless vs Brushed



As you can see, there are a ton of positives to choosing a gate operator that features a brushless DC motor over a brushed one. Questions? Our friendly sales team.


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