I have seen heating tapes used for condensation in motors , can some tell me how trickling power is used in motors for condensation removal?
Also can drain plugs be used for the same thing and if so what part of the motor would they be installed ?
Trickling power heats the insulation by using the coils of the motor. Motor inulsulation is better than ever but it is still hygroscopic- that is it absorbs water. A running motor is warm and heat generated in the windings keeps the water out of the insulation.
When a running motor stops and cools down moist air can be drawn into the case and the air in the case cools down and the water condenses and can be drawn into the insulation. Heating schemes keep the temperature of any air in the case above the dew point.
I don't think much of trickling power through the coils. It can be expensive to install and may void the listing of your starter.
My first step would be:
1.) Get all the information on a trickling system and determine where the components are going to go, what conduit and wiring you'll need and estimate you cost and down time.
2.) Check the price of just buying new motors with strip heaters. Us an "a" contack in the starter to operate the heater.
#2 has worked for me in that the downtime was less. YMMV
Either way you should have a source of power seperate from the motor power system. For example using power from an MCC mounted transformer and panel defeats the purpose of a motor heater. When the MCC goes down every motor fed from it (with a heater source fed from that MCC) is going to start sucking water.