DC Motor

Jayloyd M. Lara
Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering,
University of San Carlos, Talamban Cebu City, Philippines
jayloydlara88@gmail.com

Abstract – In this experiment, the operation of the DC motor was torque per ampere of line current drawn, it is advisable to
investigated. We had to go over three separate procedures to energize the field first and later the armature [1]. The armature
acquire three separate data. First was operating a shunt motor current of the dc shunt motor is given by,
and knowing the basic relationship between the armature
rheostat resistance and the beginning of the armature current.
Second was to know how the armature rheostat affected a few
more parameters. Third was how the current was affected three Object 14

variables in the circuit.

Equation 1
Keywords – DC Shunt motor, Speed, RPM, Direction of rotation,
Shunt field winding, Armature, Armature rheostat, Armature
current, Armature Voltage, Tachometer, DC ammeter, Resistance Where: Object 16 = armature current (A)

Object 18 = armature voltage (V)

I. INTRODUCTION K = constant depends on the machine parameters
Electric machines utilized to power hundreds of devices, Object 20 = flux per pole (Mx)
every mechanical development is accomplished by an electric N = speed of rotation of the armature (rpm)
motor. An electrical motor is a machine which converts
electric energy into mechanical energy. Its action is based on Object 22 = armature resistance ( Object 24

the principle, when the current carrying conductor is placed in

a magnetic field; it experiences a mechanical force whose
direction is given by Fleming’s left-hand rule [1]. Dc Motor is
and electric motor that runs on direct current power. A DC
motor's speed can be controlled over a wide range, using
either a variable supply voltage or by changing the strength of
current in its field windings.
Even though the load varies the advantage of this type of
motor is that it has good regulation of speed but does not have
the initial starting torque of a dc series motor. These motors
are generally used in industries, control speed applications
such as tools used in machines and tensioners [2]. The speed
of the armature can be derived from the equation 1.

Object 26

Equation 2

DC shunt motors are ideal for applications where precise

Fig. 1 Circuit Diagram of Shunt Motor
A dc shunt motor consists of an armature and field winding
connected in parallel to the supply and placed between north
and south poles of a permanent magnet. It is due to the
magnetic repulsion and attraction that the rotor rotates [2]. If
armature and field of dc shunt motor are energized together,
large current is drawn at start but the torque builds up
gradually as the field flux increases gradually. To improve the
speed control is required. However, that they cannot
produce high starting torque, so the load at startup must be
small.
II. METHOD
Sixteen procedures were followed, making necessary changes
from the given circuits as directed. An observation was made
from each procedure and were all very important in
understanding the DC shunt motor.
III. APPARATUS
 that the DC source will be turned off every time the armature
rheostat resistance is being reduced. This was repeated until
the armature rheostat resistance has been decreased to the
lowest, zero.

For the control of the direction of rotation we then decreased

the speed of the motor to minimum by increasing the armature
rheostat resistance. First, the direction of the field current was
determined. We have done it by looking at the diagram given
at fig. 4. These initial observations were then recorded. The
direction of the armature current was then determined and
recorded. Its rotation was also recorded.

The field winding connection was reversed so as to reverse the

Object 34 and the last two procedures mentioned above were then

Fig. 2 Apparatus used during the experiment

TABLE 1
MATERIALS

MATERIALS QUANTITY
DC Motor 1
Tachomter 1 repeated and the results were recorded.
DC ammter (0-6 A) 1
Analog Multitester 1
Connecting wires -

IV. PROCEDURE
Firstly, the resistances from the following were recorded: a.)
Armature resistance, Object 28 , b.) Shunt field resistance, Fig. 5 Dc shunt motor with reversed field current

c.) Series field resistance, Rsc .

Object 30
The armature current Object 36 was reversed after reversing the
field winding connection to the original. The results were then
Second, the given diagram was connected after the armature
recorded.
rheostat’s resistance was set on maximum.

Next, before turning on the DC source, we had to make sure to

have been watching the ammeter since the highest value of
current was to be recorded and as it reaches the highest point,
it immediately comes back down. Next, we kept on decreasing
the armature rheostat resistance after turning off the DC
source by approximately 10% or one line until the we reached
or came near to the ammeter’s maximum value of 6A. After
getting to, or close to a value of 6A, we then turned off the DC
source & set the armature rheostat resistance to maximum. Fig. 6 Dc shunt motor with reversed armature current

This time in the experiment, we have been looking at the Lastly, it was asked to reverse both field winding connection
speed of the motor. After turning on the DC source, we had to and the armature current connection. After the observation the
wait until the speed of the motor has been stabilized by using results were recorded.
a tachometer to observe the rpm. Again, the armature rheostat
resistance was being reduced by approximately 10% and each
10% mark will have their respective values be recorded. Note
 5. 60% of max. 85.3 0.7 1334.5
setting
6. 50% of max. 93.3 0.8 1477.8
setting

We can see that from the data gathered, as the armature

rheostat setting is being lowered, all other parameters got
higher. We can say that the Object 56 , Object 58 ,& Object 60
are all
inversely proportional to the armature rheostat.
Fig. 7 Dc shunt motor with reversed field and armature current .
For the control of the direction of rotation, the observed data
were recorded.
TABLE III
V. RESULTS Direction of Rotation of the Armature

Reversed Reversed Reversed

For steps 2 through 5, the following data were gathered. Object 62 Object 64 Object 66

TABLE II
Field current
to to to
direction
Object 68 Object 72 Object 76

Armature Current
Object 70 Object 74 Object 78

ARMATURE RHEOSTAT ARMATURE CURRENT

SETTING AT STARTING (A) Armature
to to to
current
Object 80 Object 84 Object 88

1. Maximum setting 1.0

2. 90% of max. setting 1.2 direction Rsc Object 86 Object 90

3. 80% of max. setting 2.2

4. 70% of max. setting 2.8 Direction of CW CW CCW
5. 60% of max. setting 4.2 rotation
6. 50% of max. setting 5.6
The data from table III tells us that the field current direction
From the data gathered, we have observed that at higher changes with respect only to the current of the shunt field
armature rheostat settings, there were smaller current winding Object 92 . The same goes for the armature current
discrepancies while in lower armature rheostat setting, the
differences were higher. This is shown when at no. 4 to no. 5 direction. It only changes with respect to the direction of
settings, the armature current at starting went from 2.8A to current of the armature Object 94 . These two will then both be
4.2A while in previous settings, it only went up by around
0.2A to 0.6A each setting. reversed if both currents are also reversed.

For speed control using the armature rheostat the following The direction of rotation, however, does not change if only
data were gathered. one of both the currents’ direction is reversed. It can only
change if both the current’s direction is reversed.
TABLE III
VI. DISCUSSION
Object 44 , Object 46 ,& Object 48 Values with Respect to the Armature Rheostat

settings
A shunt field uses field coils with many turns. The coil wire,
being very long has a relatively high resistance compared to a
ARMATURE RHEOSTAT series field coil. Therefore, a series field winding has a
relatively small number of turns of thick wire and, therefore,
Object 54

SETTING
Object 50 Object 52

(V) (A) (rpm) will possess a low resistance.

1. Maximum setting 35.35 0.3 512.6
The starting current must be at a low value because this may
2. 90% of max. 45.1 0.4 680.6
harm the motor and cause a high starting rotation which is
setting
dangerous. This precaution was achieved by starting the motor
3. 80% of max. 58.3 0.5 897.6 with maximum armature resistance so that the starting current
setting is low
4. 70% of max. 73.3 0.6 1127.9
setting VIII. CONCLUSION
 IX. REFLECTION
We agreed that it is really important to read ahead before the
experiment. It is helpful in a way that since we already knew
the theory behind it, we can able to determine on what
operation it will apply. Knowing the correct uses of the
different connection will help us know what application it is
compatible. What we could improve on this experiment is that
we could have evaluated it more to be more precise.
X. REFERENCES
[1] Kriti Shirvastava et al., "Starters for the Dc Shunt Wound and Compound
Wound Motors”

[2] Divyanshu Singh et al., “Starter Designing of DC Shunt Motor and its
Characteristics”

[3] Rohit Kumar,” 3- COIL STARTER USE FOR STARTING D.C MOTOR.
International Journal of Scientific Research Engineering & Technology
(IJSRET)”, March, 2015z