Has your electric motor failed? Ensuring that your motor is operational is critical to businesses. All electric motors have a predetermined life-span. Usually, this is around 30,000 to 40,000 hours. This is highly dependant on proper maintenance and care. We have put together a list of the six most common ways electrical motors fail. Understanding these causes and putting measures in place will help you motor operate better and live longer.
1. Heat
The most significant cause of motor failure is excessive heat. When a motor is running, it is critical to ensure it is running within its operatable temperature. There are many reasons why an electric motor may fail due to heat. These include wrong motor type, inadequate lubrication and the ambient environment. The other four reasons why electric motors fail listed in this post are damaging because they can cause overheating issues.
Keeping motors running at optimal temperatures is key to ensuring a long life, here are four tips to ensure that your electric motor does not fail due to heat.
- Install the correct motors. Installing the correctly rated motor is essential as a motor too small will have to work harder.
- Reduce ambient temperatures. Reducing the temperature where the motor is working will allow it to cool more effectively.
- Correct voltage supply. Ensure that you are providing the correct voltage supply for your motor.
- Unblock the ventilation holes. Keep your motor clear of obstacles and dust build up this will restrict airflow into the crucial components in the electric motor.
2. Dust & Other Contaminants
Nobody likes dust, especially motors. Dust is one of the leading causes of motors overheating and failing. Dust and other contaminants block ventilation holes and even find their way into critical components.
When selecting or upgrading an electric motor it is important to choose the right level of IP (ingress protection) for the environment and use case for the electrical motor. This will prevent dust and other contaminants from making their way into the motor and causing damage.
While in some environments dust can be hard to prevent, regular cleaning and maintenance is key to ensuring that your motor continues to work and operate optimally.
3. Power Supply Issues
Clean and stable power is essential for all electrical components. Everything from incorrect power supplies to power surges can cause an electric motor to fail. Choosing the right power supply is critical in ensuring that your motor is getting the power it needs to operate optimally.
4. Humidity and Moisture
Most motors do not like humidity and moisture. When a motor is exposed to moisture it can cause corrosion of the internal components and with the other particles in the air, this can cause the motor to cease working.
Again, choosing the right IP rating for your environment is crucial for expanding the lifespan of the motor.
5. Poor Lubrication
Motor lubrication is a delicate balancing act that can be very difficult to get right. Both over and under-lubrication can cause problems along with contaminated lubricant. Another critical issue is selecting the wrong type of grease for the application.
As with most motor issues, it is vital that you select the correct components and ensuring that you are using the proper lubricant for the application and it is applied correctly and in the right quantities to ensure that your electric motor lasts.
6. Vibration
Vibration can cause many issues with motors. Motor vibration can be caused by a number of different factors including; being positioned on uneven/unstable surfaces, loose bearings, misalignment or even corrosion. Reducing vibrations will significantly improve the life-span of the motor. Correct installation and maintenance can greatly reduce vibrations from the motor.
While there is more way electrical motors fail, this is a simple list of the five motor common reasons for motor failure. Looking after your motor correctly can extend its life and improve its performance. But remember that too many repairs to your motor can also damage the motor so knowing when it is the right time to upgrade is important. If in doubt get in touch with the Rowse team for advice.
