Dynamic Braking
It is electrical braking done by short-circuiting the motor terminals, usually by turning on the two low-side switches of the H-bridge together. The back EMF of the still-turning motor drives current through the winding, and this current produces torque opposing the rotation. The stop is noticeably shorter than with free coasting.
The braking torque is proportional to speed: it is strongest at high speed, weakens as the motor slows, and disappears completely at zero speed. For this reason dynamic braking stops the load but does not hold it where it stopped.
The energy released during braking turns into heat in the winding resistance and the switches. With high-inertia loads this heat is not negligible; hard stops made one after another heat the power stage.
- Where it is suitable: Horizontal movements, doors and barriers, mechanisms whose position is held mechanically.
- Where it is not sufficient: Lifting applications where the load must be held in the air; here a spring-applied mechanical brake is required.
The product data states that the KS250 has an active brake circuit; since no detail is given about the type of braking, this feature is not characterised as dynamic or regenerative. Do not rely on an electronic brake in a mechanism that lifts.
The context in which this term is used: DC Motor Driver Selection Guide