Digital simulation and implementation of a power factor correction (PFC) zeta converter based adjustable speed controlled voltage source inverter (VSI)fed permanent magnet brushless DC (PMBLDC) motor for mining application is presented in this paper using low cost embedded controller. The main attractive feature of the zeta converter is that it has a naturally isolated structure, which allows a regulated output voltage with only one power processing stage. The VSI is used as an electronic commutator for the motor. This drive ensures high power factor at the input side. The speed control scheme has the concept of DC-link voltage control proportional to the desired speed of the PMBLDC motor. The speed is regulated by a proportional-integral controller. The proposed PFC zeta converter based PMBLDC motor drive is designed, modelled and simulated using MATLAB/Simulink environment. The results of PFC zeta converter system are compared with the results of VSI-fed PMBLDC drive with L-filter and T-filter at the input side. The power factor is found to have improved using zeta converter. The hardware is implemented using reduced cost embedded controller with zeta converter as PFC converter. Merits of the proposed power converter include improved power factor, less harmonic content and simplified control strategy. The experimental results are compared with the simulation results. © Institution of Engineers Australia, 2014.