Paper Mill Motor Remains in Service after Failing DC HiPot Test

In January 2005, a pulp and paper

manufacturer, purchased an AWA IV to
revitalize their motor testing program.
Since then a number of faulty motors have
been identified and repaired or replaced
without any downtime.

This paper mill located in the upper Northeast operates four paper machines.
The mill is capable of producing over 1400 tons per day of light weight coated
groundwood papers for offset and rotogravure printing.

Nameplate Information A 100 hp motor on a reel pulper agitator was

tested on a routine washout day for faults.
Amps-Rating - 131 The motor passed all low voltage tests
(winding resistance, Meg-ohm, and PI).
RPM - 1180
Only by elevating the voltage above
Frame - 8143 operating voltage was the unstable
groundwall insulation detected at 1060 volts.
Manufacturer - GE
The groundwall insulation should be tested
HP/KW - 100
to typical voltages seen during daily
Volts-Operating - 460 operations. 480 volt motors consistently see
upwards of 2000 volt spikes during starting
Amps - Operating - 0 and stopping. This is why all motors at this
paper mill are tested with the DC HiPot.
Enclosure - DP

Service Factor - 1.15 The current production schedule would not

permit this motor to be pulled out of
Freq - HZ - 60 operation so this motor was scheduled for
change out one month later, was restarted
and ran until the next scheduled shutdown
without costing the company any
unscheduled downtime. This motor takes
approximately 5 - 6 hours to change and
saved nearly $36,000 in production time
since it was caught prior to failure.

Baker Instrument Company -4812 McMurry Avenue - Fort Collins, CO - (800) 752-8272- www.bakerinst.com