This article explains in layman’s terms what electromechanical professionals refer to as circulating currents, why they exist in three-phase electric motors and to offer practical solutions. 

Este artículo es explicar en términos sencillos a qué se refieren los profesionales de la electromecánica como corrientes circulantes, por qué existen en los motores eléctricos trifásicos y ofrecer soluciones prácticas.

This webinar recording discusses the equalized connections found in an increasing number of factory windings, explains why they are used, and addresses whether or not they are needed when converting a concentric winding to a lap winding. Alternatives, such as changing the number of circuits, or the special extra-long jumpers, are also compared.

This webinar recording looks at several aspects of winding design to prevent increased temperature rise and decreased efficiency.

The effects of excessive temperature on motor performance are notorious. After moisture, they are the greatest contributor to bearing and winding failures. Understanding the source of increased temperature is key to correcting the problem and improving the reliability of your facility’s motor fleet.

While shaft currents are not a new problem (papers on the subject date back prior to 1930), what is "new" is our understanding of how to solve the problem. Shaft currents have been described as shaft voltages, circulating currents, bearing currents and circulating voltages. This article will refer to the phenomenon as "shaft currents" because it is the current that causes the damage.

"I have rewound a two-speed, two-winding motor. The high speed runs fine — the no-load current seems right. But when I test the low speed, the amps are far too high at rated voltage. It draws significantly above the rated current, at no-load! I know that the winding data is correct. What could be wrong?" This is one of the most common problems we encounter at the EASA office. The solution is almost always the same.