Fault Finding Three Phase Induction Motors

Problem Possible Cause Tests Solution

Motor will not start. 1. Fault with supply. 1. Check for correct voltage 1. Fit new fuses,
2. Motor or load at motor terminals. reset circuit
locked up. 2. Make sure motor and load breakers, etc.
3. Wrong connections are free to turn. 2. Remove clamps,
in control circuit. 3. Check to ensure contactors locks, etc.
operate. 3. Sort out control
circuit.

Supply or Breaker trips 1. Wrong or loose 1. Check all lugs are 1. Fix up
out at start. connections. properly crimped or connections.
2. Motor overloaded. soldered, and connections 2. Change motor for
3. Inertia of load too are tight. correct size.
high. 2. Check load performance 3. Change cables for
4. Low Voltage due to data against motor correct size.
volt drop in cables performance data. 4. Correct setting of
5. Overload or circuit 3. Measure voltage at motor overload or
breaker incorrectly terminals while motor breaker or change.
set or sized. starting.
4. Check settings of overload
and circuit breaker and
allow for starting current

Motor starts but has no 1. Incorrect 1. Check connection diagram 1. Sort out and
torque. Motor does not connection. and nameplate data. correct
reach full speed or 2. Delta wound motor 2. Check load performance connections.
takes a long time to connect in star. data against motor 2. Check timer and
accelerate. 3. Star/Delta starter performance data. starter control
staying in Star. 3. Measure voltage at motor circuit.
4. Inertia of load to terminals while motor 3. Change motor for
high. starting correct size.
5. Motor overloaded. 4. Change cables for
6. Low voltage due to correct size.
volt drop in cables.

Motor Overheating. 1. Motor overloaded. 1. Check load performance 1. Fix problem with
2. Ineffective cooling. data. load or fit larger
3. Excessive ambient 2. Check fan and air flow motor.
temperature. and temperature of air. 2. Clean motor. Sort
4. Wrong connection. Look for build up of dirt. out cooling of air
5. Delta wound motor 3. Check connection diagram temp. and flow.
in star. and nameplate data. 3. Sort out

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 6. Motor Single 4. Check volts and amps in connections.
Phasing. all three phases. 4. Restore supply to
7. Wrong voltage or 5. Check nameplate all phases.
frequency. 6. Measure phase to phase 5. Correct voltage or
8. Supply voltage voltage accurately frequency.
unbalanced. 6. Balance supply or
accept unbalance.

No load amps in excess 1. Incorrect 1 & 2. Check 1 & 2. Sort out and
of Full load amps connection connection/circuit diagram correct connections
2. Star wound motor and nameplate data. at motor terminals.
connection Delta. 3. Correct supply
3. Voltage in excess 3. Measure voltage at motor voltage
of nameplate. terminals. 4. Change motor for
4. Motor supplied for 4. Compare supply voltage correct voltage and
different voltage or and frequency to nameplate. frequency
frequency.

Mechanical Noise or 1. Thrust from load 1. Check gap between 1. Re-align

Vibration. Noisy or misalignment. coupling halves and couplings
bearings. Bearings 2. Damaged bearings, alignment. 2 & 3. Clean
overheating. too much grease, 2 & 3. Turn shaft slowly by bearing housing,
no grease, or hand and feel for roughness change bearings and
foreign matter in or stiffness. Check for bent repack with fresh
grease. shaft or fan rubbing. grease.
3. Rotor pulling or 4. Run motor disconnected 4. Fix up out of
foreign matter in from load and then with balance items
air gap. pulley or coupling removed. 5. Loosen belt
4. Out of balance 5. Run motor without belts. tension
load, coupling or 6. Check design and 6. Increase strength
pulley. construction foundations of foundations
5. Excessive belt pull.
6. Motor foundations
not rigid.

Motor amps in excess 1. Motor overloaded. 1. Check load and 1. Fix problem with
of nameplate full load 2. Low supply voltage. performance data. load or fit larger
amps on load 3. Wrong voltage or 2. Measure voltage at motor motor.
frequency. terminals 2. Fix problem,
4. Wrong 3. Check nameplate. maybe with larger
Connections. 4. Check nameplate cables.
5. Motor Single- 5 & 6. Check volts and 3. Correct voltage or
Phasing. amps in all three phases. frequency.
6. Supply voltage 7. Measure motor speed 4. Sort out and
unbalanced. and check load speed correct.
7. Motor Speed not requirements. 5 & 6. Restore
balanced supply to

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 matched to load. all three phases.
7. Change motor for
correct motor speed.
Excessive electric 1. Wrong connections. 1. Check connections 1. Fix up
noise 2. Wrong voltage. 2. Check voltage with connections
3. Motor Single- nameplate 2. Correct voltage.
Phasing 3. Check volts with amps in 3. Restore supply to
all three phases. all three phases.

Unbalanced amps in Unbalanced supply Measure phase to phase Balance supply or

different phases when voltage voltage accurately accept unbalance
motor loaded
Motor runs in wrong Wrong connections. Watch shaft rotation Swap any two phases
direction of supply.