Electric Motor Testing

Knowledge of the basics together with powerful new test equipment vastly simplifies the job.
Electric motor testing. But smart companies understands is that what this means for maintenance programs is billions of dollars of lost revenue through increased motor repair costs downtime and waste in industrial and commercial companies. The bearings allow the shaft or rotor assembly to turn freely and smoothly in the frame. Basic motor testing with multimeters and ammeters. The most obvious benefit of testing is troubleshooting.
Deviations from rated fla could signify problems with the motor under test. Electric motors have had a reputation for being a mix of science and magic. Electrical motor is the common used in industry all over the world it very important device to made production smoothly to ensure the electrical motor condition is good or not we must know how to testing it. The power quality supplying the motor the motor itself and the driven load.
July 1 2015 by david herres 14 comments. When an electric motor fails to start runs intermittently runs hot or continually trips its overcurrent device there my be a variety of causes. The electric power research institute epri conducted a survey which brought into the light that 48 of motor failures are because of electrical. Basic motor testing with multimeters and ammeters.
Sometimes the trouble lies within the power supply. Minimum test value for a good electric motor is at least 1mω running amps test with the motor running check the full load amps fla with a suitable meter or preferably a clamp on meter and compare with the motor name plate fla. And electrical failures require your maintenance group to go about testing the motors in your care. Motors without brushes and commutators such as ac alternating current induction motors last the longest because of few moving parts.
The electrician or maintenance person must have this skill to determine the electrical motor condition defected or cannot use anymore it can save. Electric motor testing is usuallly the first thing to be sacrificed when cutting back on operational expenses. And press a test probe to this spot and the other test probe to each of the motor leads one at a time. Check c to e s to e r to e.
Ideally the meter should barely move off the highest resistance indication. A motor is one part of a machine system and there are three areas of concern we must address. Many electric motor failures are caused by bearing failures. Ac and dc brush type motors such as those used in vacuum cleaners and power tools produce high power.
When a motor isn t working right or fails you can use testing to track down the most probable cause of the problem. So when a motor fails to operate it may not be obvious what the problem is. Testing electric motors doesn t have to be a mystery.