Feature

How you might be damaging your electric motor

Electric motors are generally considered some of the most reliable pieces of equipment on a production floor. Despite their resilience, there are things that, when done repeatedly, can rapidly compromise their efficiency and drastically reduce their lifespan. Here, Chris Robson, Sales Director at Houghton International, explains how you might be damaging your electric motor.

31/08/2022 12:54:58

The factors that impact the functionality and lifespan of electric motors don’t usually lead to immediate failure, but progressively cause wear. For example, two of the main culprits of motor failure are winding insulation issues and bearing wear, which are mainly caused by overheating and power quality issues. These conditions can arise from a wide variety of factors, but many of them are the direct consequence of repeated stresses caused by improper use or less than ideal operating conditions.

The good news is that, with a proactive predictive maintenance strategy, it is possible to spot potential issues early and take appropriate action. The bad news is, since motor failure doesn’t normally happen instantaneously, there might ongoing problems that are hard to notice but contribute to your motor’s slow death.

Read the full article in DPA's September issue

Written By Sophia Bell

Sophia Bell is the Group Editor of DPA, Connectivity, and PBSI. She joined the team in 2020 as Assistant Editor after achieving a First-Class Honours BA in English Literature and Film Studies from the University of East Anglia. In her current role, she leads the editorial strategy, driving digital growth and ensuring each title continues to deliver trusted, relevant insight for engineering and manufacturing professionals.