One of your mission-critical motors failed and while it's out for repairs or rebuild, you installed a new one. There are no words to describe how you felt when that brand new electric motor failed, as well. You’ve got more downtime now, along with additional repair costs.
Why did that new electric motor fail?
A Historical Perspective on Motor Durability
Today's electric motors aren't made the same as they used to be: modern motors are made with less steel, many times not as much service factor, and sometimes they aren't as durable. These changes are actually reflected in the motor frame classifications. Back in 1954, U frame motor classifications were introduced with standardized dimensions. These motors were heavy, rugged, and reliable with the right maintenance. In fact, some would say that they were over engineered: more powerful and heavier than they really needed to be to get the job done.
Things to Consider When a New Motor Fails
If you’re trying to figure out why your new motor just failed, you should consider what happened with the previous motor, the environmental conditions, the operating conditions, whether the motor was installed correctly, and the common failure modes for electric motors.