1. An effective motor maintenance program will minimize unscheduled outages and downtime. For more important information on motor maintenance, refer to All About Motors issue AAM9 on Maintenance

2. Regular preventive motor maintenance should include lubrication, cleaning, inspection and testing. Keep a log of the test results and maintenance performed to help develop a predictive maintenance program.

3. Using too much lubricant is just as bad for your motor as using too little. Call Brithinee Electric for a copy of our suggested lubrication chart.

4. Regular cleaning of your motors will keep them clean and free of dirt and debris so they can dissipate the heat that develops.

5. Excessive vibration can indicate bearing wear, mechanical looseness, misalignment, defective belts, defective rotors and electrical unbalance among others. Performing regular vibration tests can help extend the useful life of your motors.

6. Operating a three-phase motor with unbalance voltage or on an open-delta distribution system can cause serious overheating that will shorten your motor’s life dramatically. Refer to the All About Motors issue AAM24 on Voltage Unbalanced for the answers to your voltage unbalance questions.

7. One of the best ways to guarantee economical performance and long motor life is to operate your motors at nameplate voltage. For more information on motors operating on less than nameplate voltage refer to All About Motors issue AAM8 on Low Voltage.

8. An annual insulation resistance test will help you determine when to remove a motor from service for overhaul and/or rewind. Call Brithinee Electric for information on performing this test.

9. If your motor is located in a humid area, the installation of space heaters will prevent moisture buildup within the motor when it is not running. Refer to the All About Motors issue AAM19 on Space Heaters for information on how they work and why you may need them.

10. Starting your motor too often or not allowing enough “rest” time between starts can cause premature failure. For more information on motor starting, refer to All About Motors issue AAM2 on Allowable Starts.

11. Your motor’s foundation should be sturdy, free of cracks and strong enough to support the motor and base. It is important that the foundation be level to ensure proper installation and alignment of your motor and the driven load.

12. Store your spare motors in a dry, clean, vibration-free area. Rotate the motor shafts periodically (at least quarterly) to keep the bearings lubricated.

13. If your driven load requirement is less than half the current horsepower rating, you may improve the efficiency of the system by purchasing a lower horsepower motor. But depending on the size of the motor and the size of its load, you may actually save money running your larger motor at 1/2 or 3/4 of its rated capacity. For more information on this issue refer to All About Motors issue AAM15 on “Rightsizing” Your Motors.

14. The most common cause of motor failure is related to bearing failure. Bearings can fail because of contamination of lubricants, too much or too little lubricant or even the wrong kind of lubricant.

15. Independent lab tests show that motors repaired using industry best practices can maintain their original operating efficiencies. Call us for a copy of EASA Tech Note 16 which list these recommended repair practices.

16. Did you know it costs a large industrial company over $118,000 per year to operate a NEMA Premium Efficiency 100 HP motor?

17. Don’t cut corners in your motor repair. A good motor repair takes time. The best materials cost money. Cutting corners can result in a poor repair which can lead to higher operating costs and premature motor failure. Call us for a copy of “Guidelines to a Good Motor Repair”.

18. Your motor application may involve severe duty conditions like exposure to excessive dirt, corrosive materials or chemicals that make using a standard TEFC motor impossible. But you can purchase a motor that will fit your needs. Refer to the All About Motors AAM23 on Unusual Service Conditions for the answer to your dilemma.

19. When you experience problems with your motor system, it helps if you can do some basic troubleshooting BEFORE you call us. Having the answer to a few simple questions will help us pinpoint the problem quickly and effectively. Refer to the All About Motors issue AAM22 on Troubleshooting for some hints.

20. Pumping operations introduce unique and often serious thrust problems into the motor application. To help you better understand the issues involved, refer to All About Motors issue AAM21 on Thrust Loads.

21. Temperature is a very important factor affecting the overall life expectancy of your motor. Excessive temperatures can reduce the life of lubrication, bearings and winding insulation. Refer to All About Motors issue AAM20 on Temperature for information on the importance of temperature.

22. Reduced voltage starting or “soft starting” can reduce the mechanical shock to the driven equipment and reduce or eliminate a severe voltage dip on your system. But this method of starting doesn’t result in lower utility costs. For more information on soft starting, refer to All About Motors issue AAM18 on Soft Starts.

23. Motor users often confuse soft starting or reduced voltage starting with starting using an adjustable frequency drive or a solid state starter. They all have a place in normal motor applications but their functions and advantages can be confusing. Refer to All About Motors issue AAM17 “‘Soft Starting’ vs. ASD”

24. Operating your motor with service factor can allow temporary overloading without damaging your equipment. But relying on that service factor for continual operation of your equipment will increase the temperature of the motor and shorten its life. For more information on service factor, refer to All About Motors issue AAM16 on Service Factor.

25. Many motor applications need built-in braking capabilities that will stop the motor rotation quickly and hold it in place. To determine if you need this feature and how this braking works, refer to All About Motors issue AAM14 entitled “Putting on the Brakes”.

26. Power factor controllers have their place in some motor applications to adjust the motor voltage to conform to the motor load but they may not do what you expect in terms of saving money. For more information these devices, refer to All About Motors issue AAM12 on Power Factor Controllers.

27. Several organizations including the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) and Underwriters’ Laboratories (UL) produce extensive standards governing the dimensions and performance characteristics of most of the motors you use. To better understand what these organizations do and what they control, refer to All About Motors issue AAM11 on Motor Standards.

28. Your motor’s nameplate contains a wealth of information, much of which is essential to getting a good motor repair or replacing your motor with a new one. To learn what those nameplate designations mean and why they are important, refer to All About Motors issue AAM10 on Motor Nameplates.

29. Proper lubrication will not only prolong the life of your motor but will raise your motor’s efficiency too by reducing friction. For more information on motor efficiency refer to All About Motors issue AAM6 entitled “Lubrication & Motor Efficiency”.

30. Did you ever wonder what the difference was between starting torque and breakdown torque, or starting current and locked-motor current? Knowing what those terms mean and using them correctly can make the difference between getting the right motor for your application and getting one that won’t work for you. For definitions of some of the most common, and often most confusing terms, refer to All About Motors issue AAM7 on Language.

31. What does the term “motor life” actually mean? It means different things to different people. For more information on a motor’s life expectancy, refer to All About Motors issue AAM5 entitled “How Long Should a Motor Last?”

32. Hazardous location definitions can be very confusing but they are critical if your motor will be operating in an area with flammable fumes or dusts. For more information on what “explosion-proof” really means and when you need an “explosion proof” motor, refer to All About Motors issue AAM4 on Explosion-proof.

33. Do I really need a TEFC motor or will a drippoof model do just as well? What’s the difference? Why should I care? For answers to these and other questions about motor enclosures, refer to All About Motors issue AAM3 on Enclosures.

34. If you have 208 volt wiring in your building, you may find your motors – even those reading 208/230 volts - giving you problems. Operating motors under voltage can cause serious problems. For more information on undervoltage issues refer to All About Motors issue AAM1 on 240 vs. 208 volts.

35. You’ve heard the term “power factor” but do you really know what it means or how it affects the operation and efficiency of your motor? For more information on these issues refer to All About Motors issue AAM13 on Power Factor vs. Efficiency.

36. Each year more motor horsepower is repaired than is sold new. For every new motor sold, approximately 2.5 motors are repaired. It is estimated that motors are repaired every five to seven years. Since motors frequently operate for 20 to 30 years, a motor may be repaired three to five times in its service life.

37. In 1992, the Energy Policy Act (EPAct) established minimum efficiency standards for most industrial electric motors. Because of EPAct, standard-efficiency motors manufactured today are likely to be more efficient than older motors and premium efficiency motors offer still additional savings.

38. According to the U. S. Department of Energy, greater attention to motor system management can reduce motor energy costs by 18% while increasing productivity, reliability and profitability.

39. Even though having a Motor Management Program in place enables companies to respond quickly to motor failure, ensures that the best motor for each application is available when needed and that motor efficiency is maintained during repairs, only a small number of companies have such a program in place. Call us for more information on setting up a Motor Management Program for your company.

40. NEMA premium efficiency motors are 1-4% more efficient than motors meeting federal minimum efficiency standards (EPAct). Since many motors operate 40 to 80 hours per week or more, even small increases in efficiency can make a large impact on your bottom line.

41. Sound motor management will reduce downtime caused by motor failure, increase reliability by specifying NEMA premium motors, boost productivity by reducing required maintenance and repair and reduce operating and energy costs by maximizing motor efficiency. See AAM26 on Managing Your Motors. 

42. If you have electric motors operating fans, centrifugal pumps and compressors for heating, ventilation and air conditioning units and processing equipment, you might find adding a variable frequency drive to modulate the speed of the motor will result in huge savings. 

43.  To help you with your premium efficient motor needs, we stock NEMA Premium motors from 1 to 200 HP.

45.  If you don’t have a specification for the repair of your electric motors, go to the Products section and click on Complimentary Repair Specifications for a copy of ours.  This document will outline the important aspects of a good motor repair and tell you how we address them.

46. Plant-wide energy assessments identify opportunities to improve your overall operations and the efficiency of your processes and utility systems and are available through the US Department of Energy, as well as Southern California Gas and Southern California Electric.

47. Stainless steel shims are desirable for proper motor mounting because they won’t rust or deteriorate in harsh environments.  Rusting or material deterioration can result in misalignment over time. 

48. There is no convincing proof to support claims that transient voltage suppressors alone save energy.  For more information refer to AAM25 on Power Quality Devices.

49. Energy efficient motors can trip some circuit breakers because they have higher inrush currents than “standard efficiency” motors of the same size.  That’s because the rotor squirrel cage resistance is sometimes reduced. 

50. Continuous duty motors should not be used in applications that require frequent starting or reversing unless special provisions are made. Check your application with Table 3 “Allowable Starts and Starting Intervals” in the publication “How To Get The Most From Your Electric Motors”.

51. Although adjustable-speed drives reduce mechanical stresses, they usually increase the electrical and thermal stress in motors and should be used with care.

52. Using a clutch to engage and disengage the drive allows the motor to continue to run and eliminates the heat generated by a succession of starts.