All motors need servicing and maintenance, especially if you want to extend their life. 

AC induction motors are powerful tools. They can be AC motor speed controls for braking systems and even power entire houses. But without proper care, they won’t be of much use. With a series of preventative measures and regular checks, though, there’s no need to worry. 

Keep reading to learn about key maintenance checklists you should follow, and we’ll teach you how to keep your electric motor in tip-top shape and help you get the most out of your investment. 

Practice Protective Maintenance 

As the title suggests, protective maintenance is the idea of taking preventative measures.

It’s the idea of completing standard weekly, monthly, and annual checks of specific areas to make sure your motor is fine and to catch issues early on.

Whether it’s a DC motor or an AC motor, it’s important not to wait for something to fail or break before looking into the problem.

Visual Checks 

Visual checks consist of taking a general scan of any visible issues, without having to get into the nitty-gritty. These types of checks are great for weekly checklists and can involve:

  • Checking the motor for dust and dirt
  • Checking for any vibrations 
  • Checking for any grease or oil from the bearing

The goal is to record and fix any physical abnormalities.

Along with sight, use your sense of smell. Any burning smells or odors can be signs of overheating or dirt somewhere it shouldn’t be. Keeping the motor clean is only half the battle. Keeping the surrounding environment in a healthy condition is this other. 

Bearings

Inspecting the bearings is a bit of a no-brainer, but it’s a crucial no-brainer. Bearing faults are often the result of incorrect lubrication, stress on the machine, or incorrect assembly. Cleaning out the grease from the ball or bearings, or removing and replenishing the grease ball or roller bearings are important maintenance tasks. 

These aren’t typical actions to do every week, but every six months, these are vital checks to complete. Along with checking the bearings, you should:

  • Deep clean the motor
  • Replace brushes that are more than half worn
  • Clean brush holders
  • Examine and tighten connections

Again, these are not maintenance tasks that you need to do every week. If you notice specific issues in the listed areas during the weekly checks, then fix them straight away, but every six months should be often enough. 

AC Induction Motor 101

Above is a great starting point for building your AC induction motor checklist, but there’s always more to do. Electric motors are complex units full of moving parts and jobs. To take the best care of your motor, familiarize yourself with its interior and exterior build, or if you’re not a professional, take the time to see one for routine inspections. 

Here at Ambitech, our goal is to educate as much as it is to help with repairs. So if you liked this article, then head over to our blog or contact us to learn everything you need to know about electronic brakes!