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Articles in Industry Publications

The Big Four Factors Affecting Motor Health

Tips for improving the efficiency and reliability of your motor-driven systems

  • May 2022
  • Number of views: 3502
Trade press article

Balancing plant maintenance costs and activities with the need to achieve production goals is a daily challenge for most maintenance professionals. Since the motor-driven system is often a critical component in this dynamic, this article looks at some best practices to help it achieve those goals and meet customer demands.

Electric Motor Noise: How to Identify the Cause and Implement a Solution

A methodical approach can narrow down which of the primary sources is to blame: magnetic, mechanical or windage noise

  • May 2021
  • Number of views: 22351
Trade press article — Plant Services

Determining the source of noise in an electric motor is often more challenging than correcting it. A methodical investigative approach, however, can narrow the possibilities and make it easier to resolve the issue—with one caveat. If the noise is due to something in the motor design (e.g., a manufacturing defect or anomaly), a solution may be impossible or impractical.

Why permanent magnet motors and reluctance motors are finding increased industry application

Squirrel cage induction motors should thrive for the foreseeable future, alongside emerging motor technologies that will present exciting opportunities to improve energy efficiency and reliability.

  • June 2020
  • Number of views: 8634
Trade press article — Plant Services

Those familiar with industrial electric motors have heard “DC is dead” for decades as advances in variable-frequency drive (VFD) technology for AC squirrel cage induction motors (SCIMs) seemed destined to replace their DC counterparts in every conceivable application.

But just as DC’s demise was greatly exaggerated, so too is the prospect of successor technologies replacing the installed base of SCIMs any time soon – whether for new applications or replacement motors.

Converting motors from horizontal mount to vertical mount

Examine mechanical factors that should be considered when applying a horizontal ball-bearing motor in a vertical mounting position

  • October 2019
  • Number of views: 8743
Trade press article — Plant Services

Occasionally an end user wants to take a motor designed for horizontal mounting and use it in a vertical position. This article addresses some of the key mechanical factors that should be considered when applying a horizontal ball-bearing motor in a vertical mounting position.

Know your degree-of-protection codes

What level of protection do your machine enclosures offer? Here's a guide.

  • January 2019
  • Number of views: 13378
Trade press article — Plant Services

The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standard 60529, “Degrees of protection provided by enclosures (IP code),” addresses the degrees of protection for electrical machines (motors and generators). The “IP” acronym means “international protection” but is sometimes referred to as “ingress protection.” The IP code is commonly displayed on the nameplates of metric machines that are manufactured to IEC standards.

What's causing your high motor current?

Understand the source of the problem to tackle it effectively and efficiently

  • February 2018
  • Number of views: 9392
Trade press article — Plant Services

The most frequent concern about high current with a three-phase motor is high no-load current. But the broad issue of high no-load current isn’t the only three-phase motor issue to which plants should pay heed.

How to ensure effective motor repair and rewind

Speak the same language as your service center when it comes to setting performance expectations

  • May 2016
  • Number of views: 8092
Trade press article — Plant Services

Electric motor efficiency can be maintained during repair and rewind by following defined good practices. This article builds on a previous discussion of PM and PdM for three-phase squirrel-cage motors ("PM and PdM for electric motors") by outlining some of the expectations and good practices for repairs of these types of motors.

Loaded question: How much do you know about motor load?

Careful evaluation of motor load requirements could yield long-term savings

  • January 2016
  • Number of views: 6924
Trade press article — Plant Services

Right-sizing of three-phase induction motors for different applications – and striking a balance between reliability and efficiency – isn’t always easy, but it can be cost-effective.

PM and PdM for electric motors: Build the right balance of predictive and preventive tactics to extend long-term operating service life

  • May 2015
  • Number of views: 7313
Trade press article — Plant Services

We often hear the terms preventive maintenance (PM) and predictive maintenance (PdM) of electric motors, but far less often do we give consideration to the tasks associated with these methods of maintaining motor operation and extending operating service life.