Motor will not start.

Supply or Starter trips out at start.

Motor Starts but has not torque.
Motor does not reach full speed.
Motor takes a long time to reach full speed.
Motor overheating.
No load amps in excess of Full load amps.
Mechanical noise or Vibration.
Noisy bearings.
Bearing Overheating
Motor amps in excess of nameplate full load amps on load.
Excessive electrical noise.
Unbalanced amps in different phases when motor on load.
Motor runs wrong direction.
 Problem Possible Cause Tests Solution
Motor will not start. 1. Fault with supply. 1. Check for correct 1. Fit new fuses,
2. Motor or load locked voltage at motor reset curcuit
up. terminals. breakers, etc.
3. Wrong connections 2. Make sure motor and 2. Remove clamps,
in control circuit. load are free to turn. locks, etc.
3. Check to ensure 3. Sort out control
contactors operate. circuit.

Supply or Started 1. Wrong or loose 1. Check all lugs are 1. Fix up

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

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

Motor Overheating. 1. Motor overloaded. 1. Check load 1. Fix problem with

2. Ineffective cooling. performance data. load or fit larger
2. Check fan and air motor.
3. Excessive ambient.
flow and temperature 2. Clean motor. Sort
4. Wrong connection. of air. Look for build out cooling of air
5. Delta wound motor up of dirt. temp. and flow.
in star. 3. Check connection 3. Sort out
6. Motor Single diagram and connections.
Phasing. nameplate data. 4. Restore supply to
7. Wrong voltage or 4. Check volts and all phases.
frequency. amps in all three 5. Correct voltage or
8. Supply voltage phases. frequency.
unbalanced. 5. Check nameplate 6. Balance supply or
6. Measure phase to accept unbalance.
phase voltage
accurately

No load amps in 1. Incorrect connection 1 & 2. Check 1 & 2. Sort out

excess of Full load
amps 2. Star wound motor
connection diagram and correct
connection Delta.
3. Voltage in excess of and nameplate data. connections at
nameplate. motor terminals.
4. Motor supplied for
3. Correct supply
different voltage or