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Output Devices

This week, our group assignment is to measure the power consumption of an output device. We measured the power consumption from a 9V DC motor.

We used our lab’s WANPTEK DC Power Supply to test the motor since it provided current, voltage, and power that it produced while running.

We hooked up the leads of the motor to power and ground through alligator clips to test it.

We found that power consumption increases exponentially as voltage increases. This makes since because power is the product of voltage and current, and current increases as voltage increases. At 9V, the motor consumed on average 2.4 watts of power. At 5V, below the rating of the motor, it consumed on average 1.2 watts. We also put the motor to its limits at 12V, where it consumed on average 4.2 watts of power.


Last update: May 10, 2021