The Direct Current (DC) motor is an electrical device which converts DC electrical energy to

the mechanical force.

The current carrying conductor experiences a mechanical force when it is placed in a magnetic
field. The direction of this force is described by Flemings left hand rule. The force is denoted by
thumb, magnetic field is denoted by fore finger and direction of current is denoted by middle
finger. The magnitude of force depends on the strength of magnetic field, current magnitude,
length of the conductor, and the angle between field and the direction of current.
F BIl sin

900
For maximum force condition, .Hence, the equation reduces to,
F BIl

B I l
Here, is strength of magnetic field, is current and is length of the conductor.

Based on excitation given to the device, the DC motors are classified as self-excited and
standalone excited DC motor. Self-excited machines are further classified into series, shunt and
compound DC motors. DC motors have numerous applications in various fields. DC series type
motors are used in locomotives, trains, cranes and air compressors. DC shunt motors are used for
fans, lifts, hoists, spinning machines, blowers and so on.