ECE/ME-101 Laboratory

Background
The speed of an electrical motor is proportional to the back-emf generated by the motor. The
torque generated by a motor is proportional to the current through the motor. These relations can
be given by the equations:
ω=K v V
T =K t I
where ω is the speed of the motor, T is the torque generated, KV is the speed constant, Kt is the
torque constant, V the back-emf, and I is the current through the motor.

Ideally, if a potential source is placed across an unloaded motor there will be no current through
the motor because it will not generate any torque. From Kirchov’s voltage law, the motor will
generate a back emf equal to the potential source connected across it. However, all motors will
have some friction thus requiring some torque and a small internal resistance that will dissipate
some energy as heat. Consequently, there will be a small current through the motor.

The internal resistance of the motor can be determined by stalling the motor. In this situation,
there will be no back-emf and from Kirchov’s voltage law, the potential across the motor internal
resistance must balance the applied potential. (Do NOT stall the motors, it will damage the
motor.) By using Ohm’s law, the internal resistance can be calculated.

A dynamometer or “dyno” is a piece of machinery that is used to measure the torque and power
output of an engine, as well as other important parameters. The testing can be done either with
the engine in the chassis or removed from the car. When the engine is connected directly to the
dyno there are no losses to consider due to the transmission, tire friction, or other sources.
Engine testing with the engine in the car is usually done on a chassis dyno. There are many
variations of dynos in existence, but they all operate on the same basic principles. In this lab we
will use a simple “Proney Brake” dyno to examine the performance of small electric motors.

The torque is calculated by multiplying the applied force times the distance. For this lab, it is
simply:

T = (F)*(r)

where F is the applied load and r is the pulley radius. The power is a product of the torque and
speed. In units of Horsepower, this is:

2 TN
HP 
33, 000

where N is the rotational speed in revolutions per minute (rpm), and the torque T is measured in
units of foot-pounds.

1
ECE/ME-101 Laboratory

Lab Equipment Setup

The schematic and photograph below show the equipment setup. In the schematic, “V” is a
power supply, “A” is the ammeter and “M” is the motor/gear train/dynamometer (the switch is
actually the power switch on the power supply). A string is suspended over the pulley, weights
are added (this is the dynamometer) and a hand-held tachometer is used to measure motor speed
in rpm.

Procedure
a) Check the circuit against the schematic.
b) Record the overall gear ratio on the data sheet. (Note: the individual gears, connected to
form a gear train, have the following ratios; Yellow 2:1, Red 3:1, Green 4:1 and Blue
5:1)

2
ECE/ME-101 Laboratory
c) Turn on the power supply and adjust the voltage to 7.0 volts.
d) With nothing hanging from the dyno pulley, measure and record the no-load rpm and the
current in Table 1. The torque applied by the weights is (weight) * (pulley radius). The
pulley radius is 1.91cm or 0.75 in, so the formula is:
T = 1.91 * weight (grams) g cm output
T = 0.75 * weight (oz) in oz output
In this case, since the weight added to the pulley was 0.0 grams, the torque will be 0.0 in oz.
But, because the motor has frictional drag and internal wiring, it WILL have a small current
going through it. The torque is not really 0.0 in oz, but it is small enough to be negligible.

e) With only the weight hanger (no weights) on the string, measure and record the no-load
rpm and the current in line 2 of Table 1.
f) Gradually add weights and record the motor speed and current in the provided table in the
GRAY areas only. Do NOT do any conversions or calculations for torque or horsepower.
Only record the weight added, the rpm and the current. Leave the
conversions/calculations alone. Record these for 6-8 different weights.
Do NOT stall the motor.

g) Give your data sheet to your instructor. Copies of all data sheets will be put on Canvas.
Conversion from grams to oz:
Weight in oz = weight in grams * 0.0352

Conversion from torque (in oz) to torque (ft lb) for HP calculation:
Torque (ft lb) = Torque (in oz) * 0.00521
After the lab (as a team)
h) Select three data sheets (your own plus two others), each with different gear ratios.
i) Complete the columns in the data sheet labeled Torque (T in oz AND ft lb) and
Horsepower (HP). Be especially careful of your units.

3
ECE/ME-101 Laboratory
j) Generate graphs (plots) using Excel for the following items:
1) Torque vs. Motor speed
2) Horsepower vs. Motor speed
3) Current vs. Torque

Note: In 1) and 2) above, motor speed should be on the horizontal axis and torque should be on
the horizontal axis for 3).

****IMPORTANT NOTE****

All three (3) teams’ data should be on each graph. For example, for Torque vs Motor Speed,
there should be ONE graph with all 3 teams’ data on it. Not a graph for each team. When the
report is written, I should see 3 graphs with 3 sets of data on each one…NOT 9 graphs.

k) Write one lab report as a team in accordance with the outline shown in Canvas. Your lab
report must be neatly typed using a computer and submitted on the syllabus due date.
Report must also be submitted to turnitin.com.

4
ECE/ME-101 Laboratory

Data
Team Number ___________________________

Team Members ____________________________ _________________________________

____________________________ _________________________________
____________________________ _________________________________
Date ____________________________
Gear Ratio ____________________________

Table 1 – Lab Values

Recorded Calculated Pulley Recorded Recorded Calculated Calculated Calculated
Weight Weight Radius rpm Current I T T HP
(grams) (oz) (in) (N) (amp) (in oz) (ft lb)
0.0
0.75 0.0 0.0 0.0
50.0
0.75
(hanger)
0.75
0.75
0.75
0.75
0.75
0.75
0.75
0.75
0.75
0.75
0.75
0.75
0.75
0.75
0.75
0.75
0.75