American University of Sharjah

School of Engineering
Department of Electrical Engineering

ELE371L: Electric Machines & Power Systems Lab Spring 2015

Lab #1: Split Phase Induction Motor

Done by:

Saleh Al Ali @41570 __________________

Amna Abdullah @45563 __________________
Safwan El Khatib @44060 __________________

Lab instructor: Mr. Kashif Bangash

Date of Submission: Wednesday 04 March, 2015

Abstract

The aim of this experiment was to learn the basic motor wiring connection and observe the
starting and running operation of the split phase motor. This has been done by first
observing the motor’s reaction with one winding then with the auxiliary winding connected
too. Using the two windings, the rule of reversing the rotation of a split phase motor has
been determined; by interchanging winding leads. We measured the starting and operating
characteristics of the split phase motor under load and no load conditions. During the full
load operation an electrodynamometer is connected to the motor and hence we varied the
torque and measured the line current, power and motor speed from which the
characteristics are then determined. Similarly, for the no load operation the
electrodynamometer is disconnected and the same variables are determined by varying the
power supply voltage. We also determined the power factor and efficiency of the split
phase motor.

2
Table of Contents

Equipment Used ...................................................................................................................4

Procedure .............................................................................................................................5
Conclusion .....................................................................................................................…14

3
Equipment used:

S.No. Description Module No. Quantity

1 8251 1
Capacitor start motor
2 AC voltmeter 8426 1
3 Power supply 8821 1
4 Hand tachometer 8920 1
5 Single phase wattmeter 8431 1
6 Electrodynamometer 8911 1
7 Timing belt 8942 1
8 Connection leads 8941

Table 1

4
Procedure:

A)
1. Adjust the power supply for an output of 150 V ac (Phase voltage).
2. Connect the AC voltmeter across power supply terminals 4 and N.
3. Turn off the power supply.

B)
1. Connect terminals 1 and 2 of the main winding of the capacitor
start motor to terminals 4 and N of the pre-adjusted 150 V ac output of
the power supply.
2. Turn on the power supply switch for no longer than 10 seconds.
3. Did the motor growl? Yes
4. Did the motor run? No
C)
1. Loosen the top screws of the motor module’s front panel and lower the
panel.
2. Turn on the power supply switch for no longer than 10 seconds.
3. Take hold of the motor shaft and spin it.
4. Did the motor run? Yes
5. What determined the direction of rotation of the motor?
Direction of the spin

D)
1. Return the front panel of the module to its normal position.
2. Disconnect the main winding, terminals 1 and 2, from the power supply.
3. Connect the auxiliary winding, terminals 3 and 4 to the pre adjusted 150
V ac output of the power supply terminals 4 and N.
4. Turn on the power supply switch for no longer than 10 seconds.
5. Did the motor growl? Yes
6. Did the motor run? No
E)
1. Connect the main winding, terminals 1 and 2, in parallel with the
auxiliary winding, terminals 3 and 4.
2. Connect the parallel winding to the pre adjusted 150 V ac out put of the
power supply.
3. Turn on the power supply switch for no longer than 10 seconds.
4. Did the motor start? Yes
5. Was the motor noisy? Yes
6. Note the direction of the rotation Clockwise
F)
1. Interchange the leads connecting either the main winding or the
auxiliary winding.
2. Turn on the power supply switch for no longer than 10 seconds.
3. Note the direction of the rotation Counter clockwise

5
 4. Give a rule for reversing the rotation of a split phase motor.
Once the leads are interchanged, the direction will be reversed.

G)
1. Connect the circuit as shown in the figure 1. The centrifugal switch is
connected in series with the auxiliary winding and both windings are
connect in parallel across the 150 V ac power source terminal 4 and N.
Note that the capacitor, connected between terminals 4 and 5, is not used
when the module is operated as a split phase motor.

Figure 1

H)
1. Turn on the power supply switch. The output voltage control should
remain on 150 V ac.
2. Did the motor start? Yes
3. Did the centrifugal switch operate? Yes
4. Estimate the starting time. 3 Sec.
5. Using the tachometer measure rpm. 1350
6. Reduce the input voltage to 100 V ac and measure the rpm. 1350
7. Return the voltage to 150 V ac and turn off the power supply.
I) To measure the speed at which centrifugal switch is closed
1. Connect the circuit as shown in the figure no 2. Note that both windings
are connected in parallel and that the centrifugal switch is in series with the
parallel connected motor winding and the 150 V ac power supply terminals
4 and N.

Figure 2

6
J)
1. Close the power supply switch and note what happens.
2. Observe the operation of the centrifugal switch.
3. At approximately what speed does the centrifugal switch close?
Speed = 800 r/min
4. Return the voltage to zero and turn off the power supply.

K)
1. Connect the circuit as shown in the figure 3. Note that the fixed 240 V ac
(Phase voltage) output of the power supply, terminal 1 and N, is being used.

Figure 3
L)
1. Turn on the power supply and measure the current through the main
windings as quickly as possible with in 10 seconds.
I main winding = 6 A ac
M)
1. Disconnect the leads from the main winding and connect them to the
auxiliary winding, terminals 3 and 4 as shown in figure 4.
2. Repeat the procedure K.
I auxiliary winding = 5.5 A ac

7
 Figure 4
N)
1. Connect both windings in parallel, terminals 1 to 3 and 2 to 4 as shown in the figure
5.
2. Couple the electrodynamometer to the motor with the timing belt.
3. Connect the electrodynamometer to the fixed 240 C ac output of the power supply,
terminals 1 and N.
4. Set the electrodynamometer control knob at its full cw position (to provide a
maximum starting load for the capacitor start motor)/
5. Turn on the power supply switch and measure the starting current as quickly as
possible with in 10 seconds.
I starting = 12 A ac

Figure 5

FULL LOAD OPERATION:

Figure 6

1. Make sure electrodynamometer is connected to the capacitor start motor with the
timing belt.
2. Connect the input terminals of the electrodynamometer to the fixed 240 V ac output
of the power supply (Terminals 1 and N).
3. Set the electrodynamometer control knob at its full ccw position (to provide a
minimum starting load for the capacitor start motor).

8
 4. Turn on the power supply and adjust for 240 V ac.
5. Measure and record the line current, power and motor speed. In the table 2.

TORQUE I S = VI Pin SPEED Pout

(N.m) (A) (VA) (W) (rpm) (W)
0 0 0 0 0 0
0.3 4.5 1080 140 1325 41.605
0.6 4.55 1092 200 1300 81.64
0.9 5.5 1320 260 1275 120.105

Table 2
Pout = 2  N T/60
V= 240V

NO-LOAD OPERATION:

1. Remove belt from electrodynamometer as well as electrical connection from 240

Volt supply.
2. Turn on the power supply and adjust for 240 V ac.
3. Measure and record the line current, power and motor speed in the table 3.
4. Also record the motor vibration.

E I P SPEED VIBRATION
(V) (A) (W) (rpm) Sense the vibration
Strong/medium//low
240 4.5 45 1350 Low
220 4 65 1350 Low
180 3 45 1350 Medium
120 0.6 25 1350 High
60 0.4 15 1350 High
Table 3

9
Conclusion

In this experiment we have learned the basic motor wiring connections and witnessed how
the split motor starts and work. We observed the motor’s reaction with one winding and
auxiliary winding. We also have learned how to reverse the motor’s rotating direction. We
also have observed what changed in the characteristics of the split motor when we added a
load and when we removed it. Moreover, we have learned that when we have a load, we
can vary the torque and hence measure the current and power. Moreover, when we removed
the load, we found that there’s a difference in the power consumption and then we
calculated the efficiency of the split motor with no and without load.

10