Laboratory – 2

Configure DC Machine as a DC Motor

Course Learning Outcome (CLO):

CLO1: ‘Demonstrate the working operation of various types of DC machines’.

Pre-Lab Reading
 Article 8.4 (Chapman)
o Key Highlights: Figure 8.5
 Article 8.6 (Chapman)
o Key Highlights: First paragraph & Figure 8.20

Lab’s Agenda
 Configure a separately excited DC motor.
 Configure a shunt DC Motor.
 Now connect voltmeter and ammeter to measure armature voltage VA, field voltage VF,
armature and field currents IA & IF of a separately excited DC motor.
 Connect a voltmeter and ammeter to measure total current IT, armature current IA, field
current IF and armature voltage VA of a shunt motor.
 See the demonstration of a series motor as shown by the instructor.
 Don’t turn on any machine before showing connections to the instructor

Lab Procedure
Separately Excited DC Motor
1. Connect armature winding and field winding with separate supplies. Use voltmeter and
ammeter with the terminal board to measure the voltage and current of respective winding.
First turn on the field supply and set its voltage nearly 100V. Then turn on the armature
supply and gradually increase the armature voltage and see its effect on speed.
 2. To turn off your machine always switch off field circuit first and then switch off the
armature supply. Reverse procedure can cause machine to accelerate quickly which can
result in mechanical damage and due to reduced back EMF the armature current will be
very high which can result in electrical damage.

Shunt DC Motor
1. Now connect armature and field windings in parallel and repeat the above procedure. Only
one supply will be used in this case. Note down various types of currents as mentioned in
Lab’s Agenda.

Lab Tasks
Task – A: Separately Excited DC Motor
 Vary armature voltage VA and see its effect on speed ω (5 observations)

Sr. # Armature Voltage (V) Speed (rpm) Speed (rad/sec)

VA N ω =2πN/60

 Vary field current IF and see its effect on speed ω (5 observations)

 Sr. # Field Current (A) Speed (rpm) Speed (rad/sec)

IF N ω =2πN/60

 Your graphs & observations must be attached with the manual (instructions have already
been given regarding it in 1st Lab session)
o Graph – A: VA versus ω
o Graph – B: IF versus ω

Task – B: Shunt DC Motor

 Vary armature voltage VA and see its effect on speed (5 observations)

Sr. # Armature Voltage (V) Speed (rpm) Speed (rad/sec)

VA N ω =2πN/60

 Note down armature current IA, field current IF and total current IT (5 observations)
 Sr. Armature Voltage Field Current Armature Current Total Current
# (V) (A) (A) (A)

VA IF IA IT

 Your graphs must be attached with the manual (instructions have already been given
regarding it in 1st Lab session)
o Graph – A: VA versus ω

Important Precautions
 For a separately excited DC motor, always apply field voltage first and then the armature
voltage. If armature voltage will be applied prior to the field voltage then the fuse will be
damaged.
 Field current should not be zero as speed can go to infinity for a separately excited DC
motor. In case of zero field current, the fuse will be damaged. The proof of this relationship
will be discussed in theory’s class.