Electric Motor Winding Insulation

After a motor is rewound the windings must be further insulated with resin or varnish.

Electric motor winding insulation.

Winding insulation test primarily for non submersible type pump motors prep determine testing voltages determine minimum acceptable resistance at 40 c short all three phases together at terminals use a multimeter to measure resistance between the leads and grounded motor frame. There are four types of varnishing methods that we will describe below. Most repair shops will use a megger or a ground insulation tester. The electrical insulation system is sometimes referred to as insulation class or thermal classification the different classes are defined by nema underwriters laboratories ul and iec.

The megger will help to detect areas of deteriorating insulation where the windings may soon short. Electrical insulating material product categories electrical insulating material coated cloth products 26 insulating compounds 23 insulation paper and film 193 rigid laminate 44 sleeving tubing 190 standoff insulators 22 surge rope 12 varnish resin 462 wedges 80. Dip and bake epoxy varnishing trickle varnishing vacuum pressure impregnation and. When a bad motor winding cannot be found by a physical inspection many times an ohmmeter may show that there is a defective winding.

There are four insulation classes in use namely. All four classes identify the allowable temperature rise from an ambient temperature of 40 c 104 f. A b f and h. This insulation protects the windings from contamination shorting electrically and also make the windings more mechanically rigid.

If the value returned is. The electrical insulation system for wires used in generators electric motors transformers and other wire wound electrical components is divided into different classes by temperature and temperature rise. If a motor is subjected to an ambient temperature higher than 40 o c it must normally be de rated or a higher insulation class of material used. Nema motor insulation classes describes the ability of motor insulation in the windings to handle heat.

The highest voltage is normally seen by the first turn of the winding. Regular checks of motor insulation resistance the key to prolonging the life of any electrical device is periodic checks maintenance the insulation resistance of stored and active motors should be checked regularly. The correct insulation of the winding of a motor is determined by both the temperature rise in the motor and the temperature of the ambient air. If the motor is not put into operation immediately upon arrival it is important to protect it against external factors like moisture high temperature and impurities in order to avoid damage to the insulation before the motor is put into operation after a long period of storage you have to measure the winding insulation resistance.