ELECTRIC MOTOR DIAGNOSTIC CHART

Dominant
Cause Frequency Plane Power Cut Comments
Misalignment Primary 2x 1.) 2x can dominate during coastdown
Radial & Axial Drops slowly with speed
1.)Bearing Some 1x 2.) 2x is more prevalent with higher misalignment
Primary 2x 1.) Parallel causes radial forces and angular causes axial
2.) Coupling Radial & Axial Level drops slowly with speed
Some 1x 2.) Bearing misalignment can give rub symptoms
1/4x, 1/3x, 1/2x or 10- Disappears suddenly as 1.) Full rubs tend to be 10-20x higher
Rub (Seal or bearing) Radial
20x can be seen. some lower speed 2.) Bearing misalignment can give rub symptons
1/4x, 1/3x, 1/2x & 1x
Rub (Rotor) with slip frequency Radial Severe pounding
side bands
Looseness
1.) Bearing (non- Disappears at some lower 1.) Bearing seat looseness
2x (3x may be seen) Radial
rotating) speed 2.) Looseness at bearing split
2.) Rotor Core 1-20x with 1,2 & 3 1.) Drops with speed 1.) End plates loose
Radial
(rotating) predominant 2.) Can disappear suddenly 2.) Core ID loose
3.) Pedestals (non- 1-10x with 2 & 3
Radial & Axial
rotating) predominant
Radial & Axial -
1x & 3x 1.) Drops with speed
4.) External fans ODE
2.) Can disappear suddenly
Unbalance rotor 1x rotor speed Radial Level drops slowly Rotor has unbalance - can be due to thermal problems
2x primary (1x may be DE runout should give higher 2x axial at that end. Normal
Bent shaft Axial Level drops slowly
seen) runout on core is 1-2 mils.
Air gap ratios from one side to the other. Should be 0.10 or
Strong 120Hz. Some
Eccentric air gap Radial Immediately drops greater
1x may be seen
Very load sensitive
1.) Eccentricity limit 1-2 mils
1x primarily. Some
Eccentric rotor Radial Immediately drops 2.) Load sensitive
60 & 120Hz
3.) Slip beat changes with speed
1.) Heat related
1x Dominant (120Hz 2.) Examine rotor stack for uneven stack tightness or
Rotor Bow (thermal Some drop but high level
may be seen slip Radial looseness
bow) would come down with speed
beat) 3.) Shorted rotor iron
4.0 Check bar looseness
1.) Dependent upon
1.) Sparking in the air gap may be seen
no. of broken bars
2.) 1x with twice slip 2.) Long term variation in slot frequencies can be indicator
Broken rotor bars side bands Radial Immediately drops of bar problems
3.) High stator-rotor
3.) Broken bars cause holes in the magnetic field
slot frequencies
4.) Large current fluctuations
5.) Current analysis shows slip frequency side bands
1.) Stator & rotor slot 1.) Considerable
1.) Immediately disappears 1.) Average data required because of variation
frequency variation
2.) Possible balance 2.) O.1 ips at idle
2.) Note that these frequencies vary normally by a factor of
effect with thermal may be 2.) Load sensitive
2-3 free idle to full load
sensitivity questionable
Loose bars 3.) Stator slot 3.) Imbalance effect can
3.) Monitor change 3.) Excessive looseness can cause balance problems in
frequency plus side suddenly disappear at some
with time high speed motors.
bands @ + (Ns-Nr) lower space
4.) Amplitude
pulsates at slip 4.) Immediately disappears
RPM x # of poles
Unbalanced line Steady 120Hz &
120Hz Immediately disappears
voltages possible beat
(RPM x # of rotor
Electrical noise
slots) / 60 +/- 120, Steady Immediately disappears
vibration
240 etc.
Oil film instability (Oil Approx. 1/2 rotational
Steady
whirl) (.43 - .48)
Anti Friction Bearing
Steady
Problems.
Resonant Parts Steady Drops rapidly May be adjacent parts