When motors are designed to operate at two voltage levels, how are windings connected for the lower voltage?

When motors are designed to operate at two different voltage levels, the windings for the lower voltage configuration are connected in parallel. This allows the motor to draw more current while still providing the necessary voltage for operation.

When two windings are connected in parallel, the voltage across both windings remains the same, but the total current capacity of the motor is increased because it can draw from both windings simultaneously. Operating the motor in this configuration at a lower voltage allows it to maintain its performance characteristics while accommodating the electrical requirements dictated by the lower voltage supply.

In contrast, connecting windings in series would lead to a higher total voltage drop across the windings and is more suitable for higher voltage applications. The other configurations—series-parallel combination and independent connection—do not provide the necessary characteristics for lower voltage operation. Therefore, the parallel connection best aligns with the principles of motor design for multi-voltage applications.