# Why am I seeing more inductive spikes from my motor at a higher duty cycle?

What is the mechanism that causes more inductive spikes with a higher duty cycle, even if the frequency of the pwm is held constant? Doesn't the motor create voltage kickback only when it is turned off? If that is the case increasing duty cycle doesn't increase the frequency of the motor turning off(since PWM frequency is constant) and so should not increase motor spikes.

I am observing the PWM signal on a scope, and the spikes are more frequent and of larger magnitude. This is my setup:

The left portion of the circuit controls the duty cycle of the pwm, which is generated on the out pin.

• How do you know you are seeing "more" spikes? And what does "more" mean? Bigger" Greater number at a voltage which triggers a scope? Describe your setup and exactly what you're seeing. – WhatRoughBeast Jul 15 '18 at 23:09
• Where are you measuring these "spikes"? Is the motor current continuous? – Spehro Pefhany Jul 15 '18 at 23:41
• @Sphero Pefhany Measuring at the 'out' pin and the 'in' pin. How could I check if the motor current is continuous? – Shock-o-lot Jul 16 '18 at 0:18
• Could be a resonance issue at some pulse-width. – DrMoishe Pippik Jul 16 '18 at 1:50

With more duty-cycle, the windings have more time to ramp up the current further, thus storing more energy.

Why am I seeing more inductive spikes from my motor at a higher duty cycle?

$$V = L\dfrac{di}{dt}$$