What Might Be Wrong if My Electric Motor Won’t Run?

If you’re having issues getting your electric motor to run, not only is it going to be a nuisance, but it’s also going to cut revenue for your company because it will damage your production output. There are several common reasons why motors begin to fail. When yours does, it’s important that you have an experienced technician come out to analyze it as soon as possible, so you can diagnose and repair the issue to get the motor back up and running.

Here’s a quick overview of some of the most common causes of electrical motor problems in Lubbock, TX:

• Wiring issues: If the wiring isn’t in good condition, that’s going to lead to some problems with the motors. It might be that the wiring has come loose, or is simply of the wrong gauge. You might also have broken or frayed wiring. All of these issues could prevent the motor from starting up. Make sure you carefully inspect all of the wiring in the starting circuit of the motor. It’s a good idea to check your owner’s manual for diagrams of the motor so you can follow the path of the wiring without having to do any guesswork.
• Bad starter coil: Another common problem leading to motor issues is a bad starter coil. It might simply have worn out over time due to extended use. There’s also a chance that starter coils that have already been replaced could prevent the motor from starting if the incorrect type of part was chosen for the replacement. If you don’t notice any signs of damage to the starter coil, you should make sure you’re using the correct coil before you take any additional steps, such as replacement.
• Blown fuses: This is perhaps the most common problem resulting in electric motors failing to turn on entirely. If a fuse blows somewhere in the system, you’ll need to replace it with another fuse of the exact same amperage, and you’ll need to reset the breaker before trying to start the motor back up. There are a variety of reasons why fuses blow, the most common being excessive draw of electrical current, so if it continues to happen repeatedly, you might need to make some additional repairs to the motor to prevent these electrical current issues from continuing to cause problems.
• Bad starting capacitor: Not every type of motor will use a starting capacitor, but for the ones that do, it’s important that you check them to make sure they’re in good condition and that there is sufficient resistance. A lack of resistance (or insufficient resistance) in the starting capacitor means you’ll probably need to replace the part.
• Corrosion on control switch contacts: Carefully examine the control switches. If they’re burnt, dirty or corroded, this could prevent electricity from properly flowing through the motor. You should check the control switch contacts if motors do not start; if they’re dirty, they are frequently able to be cleaned and you won’t have to go through the trouble of replacing them.

For more information about electrical motor maintenance in Lubbock, TX, contact M.B. McKee Company, Inc. today.

Categorised in: Electric Motor Repairs

This post was written by Writer