DC Motor and H-Bridge
Combine four MOSFETs into forward, reverse, brake and coast, and watch the current path, motor speed and back-EMF together.
MODEForwardQ1 · Q4 ON
Current flowMOSFETs that are on glow yellow; freewheeling current is shown in light blue
Loading the 3D scene
Switch combination
Switch states
- Q1 (upper left)
- Q3 (upper right)
- Q2 (lower left)
- Q4 (lower right)
Motor state Model values
- Average voltage
- Current
- Speed
- Back-EMF
Try this
- Alternate Forward and Reverse. The diagonal pair of MOSFETs that is on swaps, and the current through the motor reverses.
- While the motor is spinning fast, press Brake. The two low-side switches tie the motor terminals together and the current driven by back-EMF (light blue) stops the motor. Watch the current swing the other way in the graph.
- In the same situation press Coast. The current dies quickly and the motor slows down by inertia alone. Compare the stopping time with braking.
- Raise the load torque: speed drops and current rises, because torque is proportional to current.
- Q1+Q2 (forbidden) turns on the upper and lower switch of the same side. The supply shorts without passing through the motor. This is why real circuits need dead time.
Motor equations
V = R·i + L·di/dt + Ke·ω (electrical)
J·dω/dt = Kt·i − B·ω − T_load (mechanical)
Raise the voltage and speed rises; as speed rises, back-EMF Ke·ω grows and current falls. With no load, speed settles where back-EMF approaches the supply voltage.
This lab is also available in Korean. More labs: all 3D labs.