Performance tester checks motors via power cables

The new Explorer MkII motor performance tester from Whitelegg Machines offers nonintrusive monitoring of electric motors via their power cables.

The new Explorer MkII motor performance tester from Whitelegg Machines offers nonintrusive monitoring of electric motors via their power cables.

Ideal for the monitoring of all sizes of LV and HV electric motors and in particular large underwater pumps, rolling mill machinery and where routine inspection access is difficult or impossible, the Explorer offers the solution to catastrophic failure and expensive downtime.

The Explorer can look at a wide range of variables within the motor's performance profile and uniquely, torque analysis, which can deliver a very clear mechanical indication of motor condition.

Powered direct from the mains, or via the in-built rechargeable batteries, the portable Explorer II is designed for fully remote monitoring from the motor control centre (MCC) via a simple plug-in device.

This online motor analyser was developed to conduct complete predictive and preventative routines and offers 'root-cause' analysis through the separation of mechanical and electrical issues.

The instrument can thus pinpoint voltage source, variable frequency drive (VFD) and the motor or load challenges that face rotating machinery.

Now, for the first time, this 'root-cause' analysis enables the maintenance engineer to select and examine power conditions, motor performance, motor condition, current signature, torque signature, broken rotor bars and the activities of VFD applications.

Once testing is completed, results can be saved for each motor as part of a total predictive maintenance programme that allows the recall of previous information for true trending reports.

Test results are collected, stored, recalled, and managed using standard MS Access relational database file formats.

(This was Engineeringtalk's Top Story on 18 December 2002).

Back to top