UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI

DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONICS ENGINEERING

ELECTRICAL MACHINES LABORATORY REPORT
BRAKE LOAD TEST ON A D.C SERIES MOTOR
HARSH ASHOK VORA
F18/137335/2019
Objective
To carry out a brake load test on a d.c series motor and to plot load characteristics curves for
the machines.

Apparatus
1. G.E.C d.c series motor 1hp, 110V, 10.2A, 750 r.p.m
2. Salter spring balance
3. Motor starter

Introduction
The series motor is often called the traction motor due to its very high starting torque and
widely variable speed regulation. To observe the characteristics of a d.c series motor,
measurements should be done with constant voltage supply and with constant speed. A
mechanical brake will here be used as load. Throughout the experiment, make certain that
the motor always has some load on the brake.

Procedure
1. Make a complete instrument list
2. Make the complete circuit and wiring diagram including the necessary
instrumentation.
3. Connect up the apparatus
4. Apply the brake until both balances read 2 lbs and start the motor.
5. Take readings of motor voltage, current, speed and the readings on the balance.
6. Increase the load gradually, so that input current rises in steps of 1 amp till the
maximum of 12 amp is reached. Take readings as above and tabulate speed, current,
voltage, input power, balance loads, net balance load, torque, output power and
efficiency. Convert, when necessary, into MKSA-syst.

Circuit diagram Panel Board connections

Measurement of Output power
In this experiment the output is measured by measuring the shaft speed using a tachometer
and shaft torque by two spring balances on a brake drum.

Results and calculations

Torque = (Load 1 – Load 2) x radius of drum
Radius of drum = 0.115m
Output power = 2 x Torque x Speed(rps)
Efficiency = Output power x 100
Input power

Voltage, Current, Load 1, Load 2, Net load, Input Output Speed, Torque, Efficiency,
V A N N N power, W power, W RPS Nm %
107 5.4 0.22 24.89 24.67 577.80 117.46 20.68 2.84 20.33
107 6.4 1.11 37.33 36.22 684.80 148.87 17.85 4.17 21.74
107 7.4 2.22 44.44 42.22 791.80 158.92 16.35 4.86 20.07
107 8.4 3.33 53.78 50.45 898.80 174.93 15.08 5.80 19.46
107 9.4 4.44 64.05 59.61 1005.80 193.04 14.07 6.86 19.19
107 10.4 5.56 74.67 69.11 1112.80 209.56 13.18 7.95 18.83
107 11.4 6.89 88.44 81.55 1219.80 230.19 12.27 9.38 18.87
Graphs

Torque, Nm, against Input Current, A

10.00

9.00

8.00

7.00
Torque, Nm

6.00

5.00

4.00

3.00

2.00

1.00

0.00
5.40 6.40 7.40 8.40 9.40 10.40 11.40
Input Current, A

Output Power, W, against Input Current, A

250.00

200.00
Output Power, W

150.00

100.00

50.00

0.00
5.40 6.40 7.40 8.40 9.40 10.40 11.40
Input Current, A
 Speed, RPS, against Input Current, A
25.00

20.00

15.00
Speed, RPS

10.00

5.00

0.00
5.40 6.40 7.40 8.40 9.40 10.40 11.40
Input Current, A

Efficiency, %, against Input Current, A

22.00

21.50

21.00

20.50
Efficiency, %

20.00

19.50

19.00

18.50

18.00

17.50

17.00
5.40 6.40 7.40 8.40 9.40 10.40 11.40
Input Current, A
 Torque, Nm, against Speed, RPS
10.00

9.00

8.00

7.00
Torque, Nm

6.00

5.00

4.00

3.00

2.00

1.00

0.00
20.68 17.85 16.35 15.08 14.07 13.18 12.27
Speed, RPS

Conclusions
From the Torque vs Input current graph, it can be seen that with an increase in input current
there is an increase in output torque. In a DC motor, the output torque is directly proportional
to the current through the windings, and is given as:
T = I x kT where I – current through the windings
kT – torque constant (specific to the motor)

From the Output Power vs Input current graph, it can be seen that they are linearly related
i.e., with an increase in input current there is an increase in output power.
P=IxV where V = voltage in volts

From the graph of Speed vs Input current, it can be seen that with an increase in Input
current there is a decrease in angular speed. From the equation below the trend of the graph
can be explained:
V = I x R x kE x ω where R – resistance, kE – electrical constant (inherent to motor),
ω – angular velocity of motor
Making I the subject, we get:
I= V
ω x R x kE
Which explains the relationship between Speed and Input current.
From the graph of Efficiency vs Input current, it can be seen that with an increase in input
current there is a decrease in efficiency. The value of efficiency at 6.40A not following the
trend can be explained by errors made during the experiment, e.g., incorrect readings taken,
faulty equipment, etc.

The graph torque against speed shows a that with an increase in speed there is a decrease in
torque or vice versa, with an increase in torque there is a decrease in speed. This can be
explained by the equation below:
Torque = Power
Speed