Glossary of General Electrical, Variable Frequency Drives, Electric Motors, and Power Quality

This glossary hub brings together technical definitions used for general electrical terms, variable frequency drives, electric motors, and power quality parts. These terms are commonly referenced when selecting, configuring, or troubleshooting VFD-driven motor systems in industrial and commercial applications.

Each glossary focuses on a specific part of the system. Use the descriptions below to jump directly to the glossary that matches what you are working on.

General Electrical Glossary

The General Electrical Glossary explains foundational electrical concepts such as voltage, current, impedance, power, and frequency used throughout motor, drive, and power systems.

View the General Electrical Glossary

Variable Frequency Drive Glossary

Definitions related to how variable frequency drives operate and control motors. This glossary covers drive control modes, braking methods, modulation techniques, setup parameters, and communication concepts used in modern VFDs.

If you are sizing a drive, configuring control modes, or trying to understand how a VFD interacts with a motor, start here.

View the Variable Frequency Drive Glossary

Electric Motor Glossary

Definitions covering electric motor types, construction, torque and speed characteristics, thermal behavior, losses, and mechanical components. This glossary applies to AC induction motors, permanent magnet motors, servo motors, and related motor technologies.

Use this glossary when you need to understand motor performance, nameplate data, efficiency, or how motor characteristics affect VFD selection.

View the Electric Motor Glossary

Power Quality Glossary

Definitions related to the electrical system supplying VFDs and motors. This glossary includes voltage and current terms, harmonics, grounding, protection ratings, rectification methods, and line-side components that affect power quality.

This glossary is most useful when evaluating electrical compatibility, compliance, harmonics, or system-level impacts of VFDs on the power distribution network.

View the Power Quality Glossary

Not sure which glossary you need?

Learning electrical fundamentals like voltage, current, watts, or frequency:
Start with the General Electrical Glossary

Looking up control modes, braking, or VFD settings:
Start with the Variable Frequency Drive Glossary

Researching motor torque, speed, efficiency, or construction:
Use the Electric Motor Glossary

Dealing with harmonics, voltage, current ratings, or grounding:
Go to the Power Quality Glossary

How these glossaries work together

Variable frequency drives, motors, and power quality are tightly connected. Changes in one area directly affect the others. These glossaries are designed to work as a set, with cross-links between related terms so you can move from drive behavior to motor performance to electrical system impact without losing context.