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A shaded-pole motor is a type of single-phase induction motor. It's designed to be self-starting, meaning it doesn't require an external mechanism to begin rotating. This is achieved by a unique feature: a short-circuited winding, called a shading coil, placed on a portion of the motor's poles. This coil delays the magnetic flux in that area, creating a small rotating magnetic field at the start.12

Because of this design, shaded-pole motors have low starting torque and are not very efficient. They are best suited for light loads that increase with speed, like small fans and household appliances, where their low initial cost is more important than energy efficiency.2

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