Industrial Motor Circuit Testing and Analysis

Induction motor testing and circuit analysis

Induction motor testing

Very common way to test motor in industry is to test its insulation resistance with a high voltage mega ohm meter or Mager. Mager testing is in practice for a long time in industry to test and analyze motor winding and its insulation condition. But problem with mager is it can destroy or runaway the “weak” spot in winding insulation. Mager testing can damage weak insulation in motor winding due to its aggressive testing behavior. Modern test equipment uses to test motor inductance and capacitance without stressing the winding to high voltage.  

There is another technology which is focusing on a 4 wire kelvin resistance, dissipation factor, insulation resistance, capacitance, impedance, inductance, phase angle or power factor, and change the applied frequency output to see the effect on inter -turn capacitance which is I/F current/frequency response of motor.  This type of testing tests all parameters of a motor like motor winding resistance, inductance, impedance as well as rotor and stater air gap.  All these tests are only be applied while the machine is disconnected from power but they can be done on motor disconnected from its circuit or even can be performed from the motor control center or mcc.  

MCA motor testing in practice

MCA Tester or MCA test equipment

The newest MCA devices; like the one shown in figure above, provides both the automated fault detection better/warning/defective as well as it collects data for further analyses on maintenance PC or work station.  Software shows and narrow down the potential problem as well as it provides the ability to load routes for data trending, for compression of data over time and more advanced trending. 

MCA all test pro equipment

MCA can also be used to detect cable problems, DC motors problems, Power transformer faults along with ac generators and motors faults. MCA is the most advanced technology of troubleshooting and diagnostic used in the modern era of industry. Industries aware themselves with the use and need of such new technologies for reliable machines operations and more productivity with reduced down time.