Hot motor

[JdoubleU]

Today at work I got a call from a co-worker about the cover of our chilled water pump that was 170 degrees and smelled hot. It is a three phase motor with an amp rateing of between 36-40amps and it was running at 40-42amps. It was wired correctly. Is that to hot.

 

[hillbilly]

If that is 170 degrees Celsius, it's too hot.

What is:

The motor insulation class?
Rated (temperature) Rise?
They're Located on the nameplate.

Motor enclosure Type?
Fan cooled?
Ambient air temperature that surrounds motor?

steve

 

[ptonsparky]

How old is it? Is it brand new and just getting warmed up for the first time or been there for several years and never smelled before? If fan cooled has the fan broken apart? Some of the plastic ones come loose on the shaft.

 

[coulter]

... It is a three phase motor with an amp rateing of between 36-40amps and it was running at 40-42amps. ...

I never seen a motor with an FLA range on the nameplate. What is the nameplate FLA?

Add to steve's list, "service factor" - should also be on the nameplate.

carl

carl

 

[dbnj49]

Did you check the voltage at the motor?

Did you check the voltage at the motor?

Maybe the voltage at the motor is to far below the nominal voltage on the nameplate. I'm thinking that is why the current is higher and in turn raises the temperature. Is the rotor jammed in any way or obstructed from turning efficiently? Because if that is the case the motor will continue to draw more current in order to free the obstruction. That is what locked rotor current really is. Its the current the motor can withstand before you smoke the windings. Let me know what you find.