This paper deals with an experimental study for on-line monitoring the performance of a universal motor for vacuum cleaner. Performance tests are conducted on the PC-based virtual instrumentation system designed using the graphical programming language LabVIEW. The proposed monitoring system is capable of performing real time measurement functions, including data acquisition, display, and analyses in the time and frequency domains, as well as data archiving. The measured mechanical and iron loss, voltage, current, input power, power factor, torque, and efficiency characteristics are presented as function of speed.