Motors are essential to many industry processes, although, through extended use, motors can become worn and less efficient, driving associates costs up for businesses.

The initial cost of an electric motor makes up just 2% of its entire life-cycle cost. With maintenance and repairs producing such a large cost hare in relation to electric motors, specialists in motor rewind, Houghton International, share their points for extending your electric motor’s life.

Adequate lubrication
Your motor needs to be frequently lubricated given its many intricate rotating parts. Whether the morrow uses grease or oil, lubricants prevent friction and heat by separating rolling or sliding surfaces and they also reduce the overall wear. They also work to stop corrosion and contamination.

Major problems can be caused by over-or under-lubrication your electric motor. If the electric motor is under-lubricated, there is not enough oil or grease to protect the motor’s internal parts, leaving it susceptible to wear and tear. If you over-lubricate, shields can become damaged and the oil or grease can lose their lubricating capability, as caused by rising operating temperatures cause by friction.

It’s recommended to make sure the oil or grease is used compatible, otherwise your efforts could be pointless. If you fail to choose the correct grease or oil the negative impacts can vary, from midly increase bearing wear to complete machine failure. It can also lead to unusual increases in:

 Vibration
 Unusual colour shifts in lubricants
 Foreign particles
 Foaming
 Heat generation
 Fluid separation
 Metal Wear
 Nose
 Leaks caused by viscosity changes
 Emulsion formation

Overall, the damage caused can depends on how high the level of compatibility is. As a rule of thumb, use the same oil or grease that is already in the motor bearings

Temperature increases
If the temperature increases, this can cause significant damage to your motor. There are multple reasons why temperature may increase, including overloading, over-voltage, under voltage and improper ventilation. An incorrect temperature can meaningfully impact the performance of your electric motor, it’s important to monitor and maintain the correct temperature.

Giving the motor time to cool down, will likely avoid this type of temperature damage. Also, if you keep it operating environment free of dirt and debris to ensure vents do not get obstructed and prevent hot air from being recirculated throughout the motor.

If the temperature suddenly increases, it could be an indication of another problem. If you monitor changes than you can prevent issues from arising.

Regular Maintenance

It is important to perform regular maintenance. There are three types of maintenance: preidtive, preventative and reliability-based maintenance.

Preventative maintenance
Preventative maintenance has the purpose to identify issues before they have an opportunity to take effect. This type of maintenance can include electrical tests, measuring winding resistance and mechanical assessments.

Predictive maintenance
This type of maintenance uses trend analysis, to forecast when maintenance or repairs will be required. In essence, this allows you to predict the lifespan of the motor’s parts.

Reliability-based maintenance
This type of maintenance allows you to start the most suitable maintenance solution to ensure motor longevity. It also reduces maintenance to the most cost-effective activities