When your conveyor motor stops working, do you know what you need to know to replace it quickly? How do you even know what the original motor was rated?
Cisco-Eagle is a premier Hytrol distributor and can help you find precisely the right number for your conveyor. Contacting us is the easiest way. We will typically need the Hytrol FO number or Serial number to get started. Hytrol’s serial numbers are provided with each conveyor.
Here’s how to proceed if your conveyor isn’t Hytrol:
Electric motors are required to have a metal nameplate before they are released for purchase or insertion into mechanical equipment. That nameplate provides the following information:
Now we’re getting somewhere. You can just look at the nameplate on the old motor and then re-order that same model. But what do all those bits of information mean? Is there a way to get a more efficient motor when you choose a replacement? Which nameplate info is the most important if you can’t find a motor with all the same characteristics?
Each item included on the nameplate tells you about the capacities and performance you can expect from that motor. Understanding motor standards will help you make better choices when replacing a motor.
This is often the best information you can have – you simply order the exact same model as that given here. If that model is no longer available, or you want to see if you can improve on the efficiency of the equipment, you will need to rely on more information on the nameplate.
This is the number the motor was given during its assembly. Serial numbers can be used to track down the manufacturer, repair parts, and other information about that particular motor. If you think the motor may be under warranty, the serial number becomes extremely important.
The motor you choose must match the load requirements of the equipment the motor will be running at. Those load values are expressed by the horsepower (HP) and the revolutions per minute (RPM).
Horsepower is basically the output of the motor’s strength, or, as the technical papers describe it, the rate at which work is done. Horsepower is usually expressed in numeric values from fractional (1/4, 1/2, 3/4, etc.) to whole number values (1, 2, 5, 10, etc.). The base standard of 1 HP is equivalent to 746 watts of electricity generated.
RPM is how fast the motor is turning per minute to produce the needed torque and HP. The rpm rated for any motor is the maximum revolutions per minute the motor can sustain without damaging the motor (the full-load speed). Preferably, the motor will be worked at a lower rpm than that rated, so that the motor’s life will be longer.
This is the means by which power from the motor is transmitted to the mechanical equipment (conveyor belt, rollers, equipment gears, etc.). Most electric motors transfer power through a drive shaft that turns pulleys, belts, chains or discs that in turn transfer power to additional parts of the equipment. (Note: Not always shown on the nameplate)
Frame size is the standard for dimensional design. North America uses NEMA standards that range from fractional (48 or 56 frame) to integral horsepower motors (143 through 449, and denoted with a “T” – ex: 143T or 449T). The frame size is determined by the horsepower, speed and enclosure used. International standards use the IEC standards with a range from 56 through 355 and more.
Motors come in one of two types: open or enclosed. Open motors are often designated “drip-proof”, meaning contaminants cannot directly enter the motor from a 15-degree angle over the motor. Enclosed motors come as totally enclosed, non-ventilated (TENV) or totally enclosed, fan-cooled (TEFC). There are also various other levels of enclosure such as severe duty and IEEE 841, washdown, hazardous duty, high-performance, and inverter duty motors, as well as a variety of mounting options.
This is the electrical power the motor is designed to operate with. Standard voltages in North America are 115/230V, 230/460V, 208-230/460V, and 575V. You must be sure the voltage in your power lines matches the voltage the motor is rated for. If the wrong voltage is supplied to the motor, the motor will quickly burn up and you’ll be needing another replacement.
Frequency is the AC (alternating current) value of the electric current coming into the motor. Typically, this will be either 50Hz (European AC power) or 60Hz (North American AC power). If there are additional frequencies shown, you will also find other parameters defined on the nameplate.
CHANGLI ELECTRIC MOTOR contains other products and information you need, so please check it out.
This is the type of electrical input that makes the motor run. Phase tells you how many power wires supply the power the motor needs. DC (direct current) usually means the power comes from a battery, or other DC power source. If the electrical power coming into the motor is not correctly matched to what the motor needs, you will either not get the level of performance you expect or the motor will burn up. It is very important to pay attention to this information.
The nameplate information tells you the exact standards that must be met in order for a replacement motor to provide the power needed to your mechanical equipment. If you can’t find the nameplate on the old motor, go to the mechanical equipment specs for power ratings and motor information. You should be able to gather enough information there to provide you the basic data shown on the nameplate. Now, you find a motor with all those same values.
If your equipment is not new, you may also want to dig a little deeper into the additional specs on the motor (sometimes also included on the nameplate). Using the model number or serial number, you can find out the service rating, efficiency rate, and more. Compare those numbers against the same standards in the new motors you are looking at. Once all the basic standards are met, getting the best efficiency and service ratings means your motor will be more energy efficient and provide a more consistent level of performance, maybe even greater longevity.
Tags: Baldor, replacement motor, Conveyor, enclosure, electric motor, horsepower, rpm, frame size, voltage, motor, single phase, 3-phase
Motors are used in all industries. In fact, everything that moves and turns is propelled by an electric motor. From small, standard motors found in fans, pumps and conveyors to (very) large motors that drive wind turbines, for example. Large motors usually require customisation, as smaller ones are mostly mass-produced and widely used. Selecting the right motor for your application is a meticulous process, in which a wide variety of criteria play a role. We will list the most important steps for you here.
The first step in choosing the right motor involves determining torque and revolutions per minute. You need this to calculate the desired power. That’s because the motor inside an application needs a certain torque and speed to cause a turning moment. Therefore, the questions you should initially be asking are: what do I need to move, how fast do I need to move it and how heavy is it? To further specify the function of the motor, it is also useful to know whether the motor is just intended to run something, provide constant speed or put something in place. The more accurately you can determine the function of a particular motor, the better the choice of motor type will be. After all, some motors are more suited to a particular function than others.
The next step is determining the installation space for the motor. In some production environments, this space can be quite limited. An example might be AGV systems (Automated Guided Vehicles). Although these should all be able to lift pallets, the space underneath is very limited. In principle, some motors have a higher power density than others. And one type of motor might also be more compact and deliver more power with the same design than another. If space is indeed a challenge, you could look into applying separate parts of a motor, such as a rotor or stator, separately. The benefit of an electric motor is that it comes in different designs and can therefore be mounted in several ways:
The design (or mounting method) is indicated by a European IEC34-7 standard code. This standard defines the dimensions of a motor. These include shaft diameter, shaft length, shaft height and bore spacing. This is particularly valid for standard induction motors. Other engines either follow no or a different standard (NEMA). So, if you have a standard induction motor that meets the IEC34 standard, you should select from electric motor suppliers that are able to supply these IEC34 standard motors.
The frequency of movement produced by the motor largely determines its lifespan. Are we talking about an application that needs to go back and forth once a day, or is it something that runs 24/7? An example might be brush motors. Although these contain brushes for transferring energy, they wear out as they are used more often. Brush motors are nevertheless a great solution for something that needs to move back and forth occasionally, as the brushes will last between 3,000 and 5,000 hours. They are obviously less suitable for applications that run continuously.
A motor converts electrical energy into mechanical energy. The efficiency between electrical energy and mechanical energy represents the efficiency of a motor. For example, car engines have very poor efficiency. You have to put a lot of energy into them to get back a certain amount of mechanical energy. Efficiency classes range from IE1 to IE4, with the highest number representing the most efficiency.
Applications involving the integration of a new motor may no longer use motors with efficiency classes IE1 and IE2. And from , you will only be allowed to buy IE4 motors. Although these engines are more expensive, the extra costs associated with them are recouped in two years at most, and from then on you can start saving on costs. Companies don’t often see this investment in the short term; however, they usually take action when the current motor needs to be replaced, at which point they see that it can also save them money in the long run.
Steps 1 to 5 deal with the characteristics of the motor itself. But how should you control the motor? What kind of interface should the motor have with your system? If you have a system with a controller, and you want to be able to turn it on/off based on a particular output, or you want to have the option of checking the various statuses, so that you can continuously monitor the performance of the motor, the options in these situations are quite wide. There is plenty of choice between different manufacturers, where some have the option of hooking up to an existing system while others don’t. Here, customisation plays a major role.
In this context, the power system also comes into play. What kind of power system do I have? Can the motor be connected to the mains (AC)? Or is it a battery-powered system? If so, this will entail different demands being placed on the motor. A major trend these days involves controls being increasingly integrated into the engine. The benefit of this is that the whole unit is coordinated and compact. As such, the user doesn’t need to buy a separate control box with cables, which reduces the risk of malfunction.
So far, we have mostly talked about the motor and controls. But that's not all. Most motors have high rotational speed and low torque. As far as most systems are concerned, you want the opposite: high torque and low rpm. Similar to your bike and car, there’s a gear somewhere in between, and this usually comes with the motor. The same goes for the reduction gear, where you again have the same choices. Depending on the application, you should also assess which one is most suitable for it. Lifespan and noise are important in this respect. You can also expand the scope of your search by including the drive in the selection process; after all, even if the motor lasts for years, it won’t be of much use to you if the drive unit breaks down within a year. Selection is certainly important in this respect too; with drive technology often coming without maintenance, it simply has to last for a number of years.
ERIKS represents a number of major electric motor manufacturers. As a result, our range consists of motors that meet current standards and have the necessary quality so that they can be used in any production environment. We make calculations and specialise in programming drive systems so that we can provide our customers with the best possible advice when it comes to choosing a motor that best suits their application. We also create and manufacture completely engineered solutions ourselves. By getting us involved early on in the selection or design process, we will be able to develop solutions with you that lead to cost savings and more efficient production.
Want to know more about how to choose the best electric motor for your application and how ERIKS can assist you in doing so? Contact us - we are happy to tell you more.
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