What are the most common causes and consequences of motor failure?
In our experience, winding insulation breakdown is the most common cause of motor failure, but we find that this condition arises for many different reasons, typically relating to issues with power quality or variable frequency drives (VFDs).
With regard to power quality, the typical issues we encounter include transient voltage, which can erode or cause insulation breakdown in your motor windings. These transients originate from thunderstorms and lightning, but switching loads are a more obvious cause. Think of electric motors switching on.
Voltage imbalance is another potential problem...
Read the full article in DPA's August issue