Electric motors play an important role inside a workshop. But when they don’t perform like they used to, owners of these machineries are faced with two choices; they can either replace it entirely or simply have it rewind. The first option is a great way to have your workplace’s operations moving again. However, it can be costly at times, especially if a simple rewind technique can fix the problem. As such, you should ensure that the right decision is made for maximum cost-effectiveness.
Whether it’s motor or generator rewinding – this type of service is definitely a more cost-effective option especially if your workplace deals with larger size motors which, needless to say, cost a significant amount to replace. As a matter of fact, the cost of motor rewinding is just a mere 40% of the total expense needed to buy a brand new motor.
So, how do you know if it’s time to replace your motor or if rewinding will do the trick? What are the signals that a motor rewind is needed? Before you throw out your motor for recycling and replacement, it’s best if you hire a professional who specialises in services like generator overhauling and retrofilling so that they’ll know what exactly needs to be inspected.
Read on below for the possible issues that may occur, so that you can send it for servicing if really needed.
1. Deteriorated parts
In general, the presence of deteriorated motor parts such as burns, rust formations, and broken parts can hinder the performance of your motor.
This is so despite the fact that modern electric motors are designed to withstand many elements so they can last longer – an eventual wear-down of their components is still possible. However, these problems can usually be resolved by a simple rewinding or upgrade – just ensure you go for electric motor overhauling to examine the equipment and assess the most optimal method.
2. Deficiency in winding resistance
When an electric motor is not performing the way that it should, one of the first thing that a technician or engineer does is measure the motor’s winding resistance. This determines whether or not the motor’s shorted coils are the main source of the problem.
In most cases, the optimum level of a motor’s winding resistance can be found engraved on its nameplate or printed on its documentations. If the results from the technician’s test do not match with the numbers specified on the nameplate or documentations, a rewind might be called for.
3. Insulation resistance issues
Most of the time, issues with a motor’s insulation resistance are to blame for various winding faults. Insulation ensures that the heat inside the equipment is under control, and if the motor’s insulation resistance is low, there can be issues such as low lubrication which puts the motor’s components at a high risk of damage.
With most electric motors, issues with their insulation resistance are part of their lifespan because of prolonged exposure to vibration, foreign objects or contaminants, and erratic power surges. In short, motors will most probably experience some issues with their insulation resistance along the line, regardless of how much you paid for them. But rewinding them can help solve the issues with the insulation and subsequently solve the problems that it wrought.
When your electric motors don’t work like they used to, consider hiring an electric motor repair professional to look at your equipment’s condition to draw out its full potential, improve their performance, and and extend their lifespan.
