You indeed can measure three-phase power in a motor with just two wattmeters. Part 3 of this FAQ concluded with a simplified diagram showing a test setup that included a programmable power supply, a motor under test, a mechanical load, a power analyzer, and host computer. The programmable power supply could simulate the AC line […]
Electromechanical
How do I choose an electric motor, and how do I test it? part 3
Motors follow the path of less reluctance to rotate. Thus, you need timing of applied power to get them moving. Part 1 and Part 2 of this FAQ looked at brushed and brushless DC motors, permanent-magnet and wound-rotor synchronous motors, and induction motors. These motors all have drawbacks, including mechanical wear of commutators, slip rings […]
How do I choose an electric motor, and how do I test it? part 2
Learn the basics of back EMF, how to measure it, and the advantages and disadvantages of different motor types. In Part 1 of this FAQ, we looked at brushed DC and brushless DC (BLDC) motors, with the latter having some similarities to a permanent-magnet synchronous motor (PMSM). The simplified PMSM diagram in Figure 1 resembles […]
How to choose and test an electric motor: part 1
Motors bridge electronics with electromechanical devices. To learn how to test motors and their electronics, you should first understand how motors work. Electric motors are ubiquitous, appearing in everything from electric toothbrushes to electric locomotives. There are, however, seemingly almost as many motor types and configurations as there are applications, which makes choosing and testing […]
