What aids a shaded pole motor in starting?

The shaded pole motor relies on phase shift to aid in starting. This is achieved through the construction of the motor's stator, which includes a shading coil that creates a delayed magnetic field. When AC power is applied, the magnetic field produced in the shaded part of the pole is slightly out of phase with the magnetic field in the unshaded part. This phase shift creates a rotating magnetic field, which induces a current in the rotor, thus generating the initial torque that helps the motor to start.

The design of the shaded pole motor is simple and effective for low-power applications, making it popular for small fans and other low-torque devices. This self-starting feature is one of the defining characteristics of shaded pole motors, allowing them to operate without additional starting mechanisms or components that are commonly found in other types of AC motors.