Ecmweb 17156 Motor Facts 1117 Pr
Ecmweb 17156 Motor Facts 1117 Pr
Ecmweb 17156 Motor Facts 1117 Pr
Ecmweb 17156 Motor Facts 1117 Pr
Ecmweb 17156 Motor Facts 1117 Pr

Tips for Storing Electric Motors the Right Way

Nov. 20, 2017
How correct storage can extend electric motor life

In many businesses, electric motors are a vital cog in the machine. If they fail, processes can grind to a halt, causing losses in both time and revenue. In the event of planned downtime, such as site inactivity, correct storage is essential to ensuring your electric motor is kept well protected and in good working order. Failing to do so can severely impact the lifespan of the motor. The following discussion explains the optimal storage methods to extend your motor life.

Determine how long it will be stored

How an electric motor is stored will largely depend on how long it will be out of use. If it’s less than one month, then your main concerns will be protecting it from the weather and maintaining its winding temperature — so it remains 5°C to 10°C above the ambient. For motors that will be stored for longer than a month, you’ll need to consider the above as well as periodic maintenance, which may need to be carried out to ensure it remains protected.

Storage preparation

When preparing your electric motor for storage, the following should be considered:

Indoors or outdoors?

Where possible, it’s always preferred to store your electric motor indoors, as this minimizes the impact weather damage can have. It should be stored in a clean, dry, heated area. However, due to space limitations, it’s not always possible to store electric motors indoors, especially over extended periods of time. When storing electric motors outdoors, cover them with a loose tarpaulin that reaches the ground to cover all of the motor yet is loose enough to aid air circulation and minimize condensation. You’ll also need to consider the location of the motor; it should be stored away from areas prone to flooding or near harmful chemical vapors.

Consider vibration sources

Ambient vibration is another aspect of motor storage you’ll need to consider. Placing motors near heavy construction equipment, production floors, busy roads, or rail lines can expose them to ambient vibration, which, over time, can cause damage to internal bearings even in low levels of exposure. Your motor should preferably be stored away from these areas, although again this isn’t always possible. If so, lock the shaft of the motor to prevent damage.

Minimize condensation

If condensation is allowed to accumulate on motor windings, it can cause substantial damage and significantly reduce the lifespan of the motor. Controlling the climate of the storage area is recommended — around 5°C  to 10°C above the ambient temperature.

There are alternative methods of preventing condensation if the area isn’t climate controlled. Where possible, use space heaters or try “trickle heating” one phase of the winding on low voltage. Blowing warm air into the heater can help keep the winding warm too.

Pests

A particular problem when storing motors outdoors is that pests like insects, rodents, and birds can enter the motor, damaging the winding insulation and blocking drain openings and ventilation. Precautions should be taken to minimize the impact pests can have on the motor.

Correct insulation resistance

If the insulation resistance of your motor is below a standard temperature, you’ll need to correct it before putting it in storage, as failing to do so can cause further issues.

Oil vs. grease

Whether you’re dealing with oiled or greased motors, lubrication is important to prevent corrosion and contamination while in storage.

Grease-lubricated bearings

If your electric motor has grease-lubricated bearings, then you’ll need to clean the grease fitting, remove the drain plug, and insert compatible grease before storing it over an extended period. After lubrication, run the motor for a minimum of 30 min. with the drain plug removed to purge excess or old grease from the grease chamber.

When stored for many years, the grease will likely harden, and the drainpipe may be clogged with dried grease. In this scenario, the motor should be disassembled, the old grease removed, and then lubricated.

Oil-lubricated bearings

Before moving the motor, make sure you drain the motor of oil. Failure to do so can cause oil to spill, contaminating windings or causing a suction effect on the oil reservoir. Once in your chosen storage area, fill the motor’s reservoir with compatible oil and rust/corrosion inhibitors. The oil should cover the bearings completely without overflowing the stand tube or labyrinth seal. Oil should be drained and replaced once the motor has been removed from storage.

Electric motors are a vital part of most plant operations. So if they’re going to be out of action, proper storage is essential in order to keep the units in full working order — saving your business both time and money. Put the effort in now and reap the benefits later.           

Whitfield is a technical account manager with Houghton International (http://www.houghton-international.com/services/in-house-services/ac-dc-traction-motor-services/).

About the Author

Stuart Whitfield | Technical Account Manager

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