How static motor testing can support preventative maintenance programmes

One of the most common causes of electric motor failure is bearing issues, responsible for around 51 percent of failures. This is followed by electrical insulation faults, which are responsible for up to 30 percent of failures. But, while predictive maintenance techniques, such as vibration analysis, are often used to analyse the motor’s health, in comparison, little is done to detect signs of insulation deterioration and failure.

02/08/2021 12:03:53

Here, Chris Robson, Sales Director of electro-mechanical specialist Houghton International, discusses the importance of static motor testing for assessing the full condition of motors.

The problems caused by insulation deterioration can be just as serious as those caused by worn bearings or overheating.

Engineers can use dielectric testing, a non-intrusive condition monitoring technique, which can be carried out as part of an inspection or planned overhaul. These tests are designed to assess the condition of a motor’s windings and to diagnose and predict any early signs of deterioration and ageing. As a result, these tests allow operators to schedule repairs ahead of a failure, which can often be very costly and result in unplanned downtime...

Read the full article in the August issue of DPA