Unless otherwise specified, a general-purpose DC motor is reversible. A DC motor can be reversed by changing the polarity of the field or the armature, but not both. When rapid reversing is necessary, the armature circuit is reversed. In some cases, it is frequently more advantageous to reverse the field connections of shunt motors, since the controls have to handle much less current, especially on large motors, than do armature-circuit contactors. An AC motor is reversed by reversing the connections of one leg on three-phase power or by reversing the leads on single phase.