Our customers enjoy the fact that our motors are made in the USA from high quality materials, and are manufactured locally. We engineer and build standard and custom motors to fit your needs, as well as design replacements for Baldor-Reliance gear motors. Selecting a motor that meets your application requirements can be a daunting feat. You need to find a DC gear motor that meets several specifications, which can include speed, torque and power. However, these factors may not be enough to meet all of your motor specifications. The following list will provide several checks you can do, that may prevent damage to your motor.
- Ambient temperatures are too high: If the environment your motor is running in is higher than your motor was designed for, this can cause overheating, as it may be difficult for the motor to properly cool down. You always want to check the insulation class of your motor to ensure proper ambient temperatures.
- Intermittent motor running continuously: Motors that are rated for intermittent duty applications should only be ran at or below their duty cycle. These motors need time to cool down between cycles, in order to run at the rated performance specifications. These motors will become increasingly hotter, should they not be permitted to cool down properly between cycles; this will lead to the motor, eventually, overheating.
- High altitude: If you are located at a higher elevation (above 3300 feet sea level), motors cool less efficiently. This is due to the thinner air. If you at a higher elevation, talk to one of our professionals to be sure your motor is rated appropriately.
- Ventilation holes blocked: Be sure that the motor ventilation holes are unobstructed. These holes allow for heat to escape.
- Too small of motor for application: Ensure the motor you are using is the proper size for the application, duty cycle and environment. A motor that is too small will not be able to get rid of excess heat fast enough and will overheat.
- Voltage supply too high or too low: Be sure the power supply is sufficient for the amp draw. In order for a motor to overcome inertia at a stand still, the current will be much too high under load. If the voltage supply is incorrect, it will cause the motor to work harder, which will eventually lead to the motor overheating.
If you have any questions regarding one of these issues, or something specific to your motor, please contact our Racine, Wisconsin facility and one of our friendly and knowledgeable team members will help you today!