Peripheral discharge vacuum AC motors have a design where air flows into the bottom of the motor and is discharged through vents in the motor. They are equipped with a cooling fan on top of the motor that blows clean air over the motor for more reliable cooling compared to thru-flow and tangential motors. These motors have a high starting torque, operate at high speed, and create vacuum pressure and suction by a rotating motor fan. They move clean and dry air in commercial canister or utility vacuums, sprayers and foggers, material handling and transfer systems, car wash vacuums, and central vacuum systems.

Tangential discharge vacuum AC motors allow air to flow into the bottom of the motor and discharge it through an air tube on the side, making these models suitable for wet pickup applications since debris and moisture will not contact the motor windings. They have high starting torque, operate at high speed, and create vacuum pressure and suction by a rotating motor fan. These motors move clean and dry air in commercial canister or utility vacuums, sprayer/foggers, material handling and transfer systems, car wash, and central vacuum systems. These motors are not designed to pump water.

Thru-flow discharge vacuum AC motors move vacuumed air over the motor to dissipate heat instead of using a cooling fan. The air flows into the bottom of the motor and is discharged through the top of the motor to provide cooling, making it quieter than other types of vacuum motors. They have a high starting torque, operate at high speed, and create vacuum pressure and suction by a rotating motor fan. Motors must be used in very clean, no-debris environments and are used to move clean and dry air in commercial canister or utility vacuums, sprayers and foggers, material handling and transfer systems, car wash vacuums, and central vacuum systems.