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