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Carbon Brushes

Carbon Brush Types and Commutation

The term "carbon brush" appeared in electrical engineering history with the change to materials actually made from copper wire, which looked like a brush, to graphite and carbon. Carbon brushes have been evolving for decades.

Replacing Carbon Brushes for Electrical Motors?

Carbon brush grades fall under four main categories based on the manufacturing procedures, the types of carbons and other ingredients. The types of brushes are: carbongraphite, electrographite, graphite and metal graphite.

Tractor manufacturing kept humming via electrical maintenance and inventory

Modern day tractor manufacturing involves automation and conveyor driven processes. John Deere, Caterpillar, Kubota and all leading manufacturers have invested heavily in streamlining operations to both to keep costs down and to protect workers.

Electrical Motor Control Parts: REPCO Greatest Stories Ever Told

To end the year, we’ve dug up and summarized some of our favorite electrical contact and carbon brush "help" articles from the archives with links back to the original article for easy reference.

Ski lifts, Motors, Electrical Contacts, and Motor Controls

If you’ve ever ridden on a ski lift (a.k.a. chair lift) you’ve probably never thought about the mechanics and equipment that keep it running.

Carbon Brushes for Reliance Motors, Electrical Contacts for ABB Motor Controls, Contactor Shunt Offerings

REPCO stocks replacement brushes for Reliance DC variable-speed motors, generators and drives to keep these motors humming.


Supporting electrical distributors in every region across the U.S.

Across the United States from the Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, Southwest, West, and Northwest Repco supplies and supports electrical distributors. It’s why our replacement electrical contacts, carbon brushes, and coils are found coast to coast

Electrical contacts and carbon brushes are woven deeply into the making of fabrics, textiles, and clothing

Today’s textile manufacturing equipment generates hundreds of meters per hour in material with superior quality.

General Electric Contactor and Starter Contact Kit Replacements

REPCO stocks a complete line of replacement electrical contacts for General Electric contactors and motor starters. Replacements are stocked for General Electric contact series.

The modern assembly lines turns 100. Thanks Mr. Ford.

While the precursors of the modern assembly line preceded Henry Ford it was the Ford motor company that fully realized its potential and ushered in modern manufacturing.

Where are electrical contacts used?

Electrical contacts are found and used almost everywhere - from small contacts and/or relays in household equipment to large high-voltage switches in power plants, and every shape and size in between.

Electric motors and controls keep robotic palletizers stacking

Modern factories wisely seek out process improvement in all aspects of production. It saves time, money, and in the case of stacking products onto pallets, it prevents repetitive stress on workers. Mechanized palletizers were invented in the late 1940s.

Will the use of a non-OEM electrical contact or carbon brush void my warranty?

If the unit is out of warranty, then there is no warranty to void by using a competitive replacement product that is less expensive than the original manufacturer’s part.

Motor control in distillery operations

Distilling is an ancient art and holds onto many traditions. The size of the still, types of barrels, length of aging, and other distillation processes may be tightly regulated. However, modern demand requires distillers to embrace automation...

Oil & Gas Drilling Operations Benefit From Strong Electrical Distributor Support

Explosive growth in the Bakken and Marcellus regions has been supply shortages as demand often outpaces supply. Fortunately, Repco inventories 1000s of OEM compatible electrical contacts and carbon brushes.

Steel Scrap Recycling via Electric Arc Furnace

Steel recycling has been going on for over a century and a half. Recycled steel has many advantages. Because recycled steel loses very little of it’s physical properties it’s often more affordable to recycle than to produce new steel from mined ore.

Airport Baggage Carousels

Chances are if you’ve traveled by plane, you’ve stood waiting for your luggage at the baggage carousel. This much maligned activity actually conceals some interesting mechanics that allow modern airports to work efficiently.

Repco and summer fun and amusements

From the tilt-a-whirl to the roller coaster, few of us think much about the mechanical engineering and physics involved in an amusement ride nor the endless maintenance they require. We just buy the tickets and have some fun.

Industrial Air Filtration

To keep air filtration units operating optimally, regular cleaning and maintenance is required. Filters must be cleaned or replaced, collection hoppers emptied and control systems and motors need regular service.

Shipments of Motors Improved in Q4 of 2012

A recent article by EC&M reported NEMA’s Motors Shipments Index showed an increase of 6.5% over the previous quarter. This is a good indicator after a precipitous drop from Q2 to Q3 in motor shipments in 2012.

Repco is your complete source for carbon brushes

Repco is the only company in the world that sells carbon brushes from all major manufacturers (Carbone, Morgan AM&T, and Helwig) along with our own replacement brand of carbon brushes.

Water pump motors and the supporting cast of replacement parts are critical

Water pumps are fairly simple devices. Most use impellers and act like "fans" except they push water instead of air. There are more complex pumps, including vacuum or screw pumps, but what they all have in common is a motor driving them.

U.S. Exports of Industrial Machinery Expected to Grow

Improvements in the United States manufacturing sector always increases the demand for new and replacement parts. Manufacturing lines need maintenance and refurbishment while new products drive an increase for new components.

Waste water treatment facilities and Repco

Wastewater treatment plants are critical infrastructure components for modern society. Filtering municipal influent so it’s safe, protects the environment, and keeps everyone living healthy.

Robots swarm warehouses

Large and small online retailers are continually seeking to improve operations. One of the most labor-intensive environments is "picking and packing" orders. Several companies are attempting to affordably bring industrial robots to the supply chain.

Global demand for cranes, shifting but steady

The September 2012 issue of International Cranes and Special Transport includes several articles discussing regional slowdowns in crane demand - though it’s not all bad news. It’s an excellent interview worth a quick read...

Industrial Turbines Rely On Carbon Brushes

No matter how enormous the turbine or generator or how high the current, a carbon brush is used to transfer the current. Enormous, million-dollar turbines and generators eventually rely on this comparatively small part to transfer current to the grid.

Oil rigs need power too

Oil platforms are a critical component of modern day energy production. Offshore platforms drill wells, extract oil and natural gas, and process and store product temporarily.

Electrical distributors help keep manufacturing going

Because most electrical distributors offer a vast selection of products together with a large standing inventory and competitive prices, they are a single-source provider end-users can rely on for quick turnaround.

Repco is a National Association of Electrical Distributors (NAED) Associate Member

Repco, Inc. has been a proud associate member of NAED since 2000. Repco stands for replacement electrical parts company. They manufacturer and supply replacement electrical contacts, control coils and carbon brushes.

In a down economy replacement electrical parts are affordably appealing

When your department is asked to examine costs and to work within a smaller budget, every purchase decision becomes a cost/benefit analysis. Even motor and control systems, which are critical, must cut costs - which means considering replacement parts.

What is a carbon brush?

A carbon brush is a component used to conduct electrical current between the stationary and rotating parts of a motor typically found in generators.

Just-in-time inventory for replacement electrical contacts, contact kits, carbon brushes, and motor control coils.

Repco manufactures and sells replacement electrical contacts, kits, carbon brushes, and motor control coils for dozens of control manufacturers. Our replacement parts span 100s of current and obsolete series and suppliers.


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