Three-Phase Motor Testing Procedure

Three Phase (3-Phase) System

Phase systems are power supplies that utilize alternating current

and are classified according to how many phases they possess.

Dual-phase, sometimes known as split-phase power, is made up of

2 alternating currents delivered by two wires, whereas single-
phase electricity provides 1 phase at 120 volts.

Three single-phase AC supplies define a power circuit type known

as three-phase power.

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By dividing each phase by 120 degrees, the system shares a return
path, generating greater power overall and constant power over
each cycle.

Three-phase power arrangements provide 1.732 times more

electricity on the same current as single-phase power, making the
system cheaper generally.

Three-phase systems are developed differently to meet different

requirements.

Ex: A wye design may be utilized when a power supply must feed
both single-phase & three-phase demands, such as lights &
heaters.

The amount of power might also vary. Most commercial buildings

utilize 208 Y / 120 V systems to increase flexibility in feeding both
high-power & low-power loads, whereas industrial plants employ
480 Y / 240 V setups to enhance power availability for high-
powered machinery.

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Three Phase Motor Test

Three phase motors are frequently utilized in house, residential,

industrial, and commercial applications.

We use several types of motors, but when one of them fails, we

inquire what went wrong.

If the motor fails to perform properly, it will need to be tested. After

testing, we can learn about the current state of motor health.

Three-phase Motor Test Connection Diagram

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Different Types of Testing for Three-Phase Motors

If a three-phase motor fails to start, overheats, or has an irregular

supply, you can examine it using a wide range of testing
instruments and methods. The tools & methods are explained
below.

However, before you conduct motor testing, make sure to follow

all necessary safety precautions. This includes:

Wearing protective safety gear: It include grounding straps,

gloves, & other environmental protective gear.

Keeping all tools easily accessible: Popular testing tools include

multimeters, clamp meters, temperature sensors, and
oscilloscopes. Having this equipment on hand may help us prevent
leaving the motor unattended.

Disconnecting the motor from supply: When you’re all set, move
the transformer’s motor disconnect switch to turn it off. Make sure
the electricity is turned off – on certain motors, the disconnect
switch is identical as the on/off switch, so turning it on will power
the motor. Also, disconnect all equipment & wiring that will not be
used in the testing process.

Discharge before & after testing: Before starting testing, and after
each electrical test, discharge the motor, which has an inherent
capacitance. This can be performed by connecting wires to ground
and to each other before rejoining.

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Check the nameplate: The nameplate (or) motor specifications
contain essential information about the motor, such as its intended
amperage. This information can be utilized to examine the motor’s
health in relation to its intended design.

At this step, get your multimeter ready for testing. This involves
setting the multimeter to measure AC voltage and adjusting the
voltage range to an appropriate level based on the box’s
specifications.

This tool will be used extensively in the following three-phase

motor tests; thus, we will describe how to test a 3-phase motor with
the multimeter.

1). General Inspections

The most fundamental type of inspection is visual. Once the motor

has been turned off and you are ready to begin the inspection,
remove the motor cover.

When this is removed, we can start to inspect the motor for visible
signs of damage. A few aspects to look out for during this
procedure are:

Step-1: General damage is easy to see. This may take the

appearance of burn marks (or) indentations. Check the motor for
any signs of heat (or) environmental damage.

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Step-2: Manually rotate the motor shaft to check its condition. This
should be simple, except the motor is particularly huge. The shaft
must rotate smoothly, without any catches or loose components.

Step-3: Newer motors can have difficulties rotating because of

tight tolerances, inactivity, (or) ambient moisture, that can be
remedied with oiling and additional examination. However, older
motors can have additional problems that require repair or
replacement.

Step-4: Check all of the connections inside the motor for signs of
wear or damage, and inspect any wires outside the motor for
potential breaks.

Step-5: Any broken wires must be handled & replaced with care.

Step-6: Once the motor has passed a general inspection, verify

your inspection instruments and start troubleshooting its electrical
qualities.

2). Continuity Tests

• Continuity testing measures the resistance across two

points.
• If the resistance is low, the two points are connected to
electricity. If the resistance is high, the circuit is open.
• The earth continuity test establishes if the motor is linked
to the ground.

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 • To complete the earth continuity test, switch the multimeter
to continuity mode.
Once done, put one point on the motor’s frame and the other on a
known earth connection, preferably in close proximity to the motor
installation. A decent motor should give a reading of less than 0.5
Ω.

If the value is larger than 0.5 Ω, it indicates that the motor’s

insulation is failing & could cause an electric shock. Identifying the
causes of this failure can require additional testing.

3). Power Supply Test

The next test that must be performed is the power supply test. This
ensures that the incoming power supply works as expected and
meets the motor’s design parameters.

• The power supply test may be performed by measuring the

voltage applied to the motor using a multimeter.
• Check this with the parameters listed on the nameplate.
• If the applied voltage is much lower or greater than
indicated, this could be the root of the complications.
In addition to this test, ensure that the power supply terminal is in
perfect condition. Damage and inadequate connections could also
be responsible for any variations or performance concerns.

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4). AC Motor Winding Continuity Test

• Check the interior of the motor and the cables that carry the
three-phase current.
• Set & calibrate your multimeter for voltage, then locate the
6 wires of the three-phase motor.

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 • When checking at the box, one should notice six cables, 3
on each side. The wires should be attached to terminals on
every side of the box.
• On one side, terminals will be labeled L1, L2, and L3, or
Line 1, Line 2, and Line 3. The terminals on the other side
will be designated T1, T2, and T3, which stand for Load 1,
Load 2, and Load 3.
• L terminals represent line wires carrying incoming current,
and T terminals represent outbound wires.
• The only exception is European motors, which will be
designated U, V, and W.
These cables should be examined to establish the condition of the
motor’s power supply.

This may be assessed via the methods listed below:

No Power Incoming Test: While the box is turned off, set the
multimeter probes on various combinations of the L terminals to
measure the incoming voltage. Take a reading on the L1 to L2
connection, L1 to L3 connection, and L2 to L3 connection. These
readings must be identical if the motor is functioning properly. For
a 230/400V system, the predicted voltage between each three-phase
supply line is 400V.

Line to Neutral Test: If a neutral terminal is accessible, connect one

multimeter probe to it and one to each of line terminals. The
voltage value must be half of the value that was measured during
the last test.

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No Power Outgoing Test: This test is identical to the one above,
but it measures the outgoing voltage. While the box is still off,
measure the distance between the T1 & T2 leads, T1 and T3 leads,
and T2 and T3 leads. In this situation, the voltage reading must be
0 for all tests.

Power Outgoing Test: Very carefully turn on the box & repeat the
foregoing tests, testing each combination of the T leads. Each lead
combination should be nearly identical.

If the readings vary from the expected results & the power supply
test revealed no difficulties, the three-phase AC motor’s health
may be compromised.

Typically, this implies that the motor has burned out.

5). Insulation Resistance Test

The next step in determining the motor’s overall condition is to

perform an insulating resistance test.

This is accomplished by measuring the resistance across each pair

of motor phases & between every motor phase & the frame.

This can be accomplished using an insulation tester (or) megger.

Tests should be completed as follows:

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 • Phase Resistance: Set the insulation tester at 500 V. Take
each end & place it on a different combination of L1, L2, and
L3, recording each reading.
• Phase to Earth Resistance: Using the same setting on the
insulation tester, examine each lead from the phase to the
motor frame. The minimum insulation resistance must be 1
MΩ. If the resistance is less than 0.2 MΩ, replace the motor.
Any faults discovered throughout this round of testing may
suggest insulation difficulties which are important to the motor’s
safety and functionality.

6). Running Amps Test

The final test indicates the amount of energy is required to drive

the motor. More stronger motors will consume more current
(measured in amps).

Before testing, make sure your motor’s amperage draw is correct;

this is normally indicated on the nameplate.

When ready, follow the steps below to learn how to measure 3-

phase current.

Step-1: Prepare for the test: Set the multimeter up to measure

amperes and adjust it to the appropriate ampere range for the
motor based on the specifications on the nameplate. To avoid
electric shock, wear rubber hands during the test.

Step-2: Turn on the motor: Start the motor & locate the terminals.
The positive terminal shall be identified with a plus symbol &

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attached to a red cable. The negative terminal shall be identified
with a minus symbol & attached to a black cable.

Step-3: Place the Sensors: Connect the multimeter’s negative

sensor to the motor’s negative terminal, followed by the positive
sensor. To avoid harm, always keep your hands away from moving
parts.

When the sensors have been connected, they measure the amperes
& switch off the motor.

If everything is working properly, the ampere reading needs to be

within the acceptable range.

The ampere reading should not exceed the manufacturer’s

specification, but rather be at (or) slightly below the stated
amperage consumption.

If the ampere value is significantly below specification (or) out of

range, it could indicate a problem with the motor.

7). Open Circuit Test

Open circuit tests are performed on both running and starting

windings. After this, we can determine whether both windings are
open or closed.

This test may be performed in two ways: with a testing lamp or

with a multimeter.

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8). Short Circuit Test

Short circuit testing is performed on both the starting and running

windings. Following this, we may determine whether both
windings are short or not in the body (or) each other.

This test can be performed in two ways: with a testing lamp or with
a multimeter.

Different Types of Testing Methods

Testing methods include identifying faults when a motor fails to

function properly.

There are three types of motor testing procedures available, as

indicated below.

1. Lamp testing methods.

2. Multimeter test methods.
3. Megger test methods.

1). Lamp Testing Methods

• A three-phase motor will be examined either when it is

malfunctioning or after it has been rewinding.
• In order to test or verify a three-phase motor, there are
several different ways available.

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 • One of the most used testing methods is the testing lamp
method.
• It is a circuit for testing instruments that connects in series
with equipment that is considered to be fault.

2). Multimeter Test Methods

• Multimeter testing of a three-phase motor provides

different methods to assure proper operation.
• To verify healthy windings, measure the resistance
between every pair of motor terminals.
• No open circuits should be found during a continuity test
of the motor’s internal connections & windings.
• Insulation resistance tests can also detect motor winding
insulation breakdowns.
• Finally, testing voltage levels throughout each phase while
the motor is running may identify power supply faults or
phase imbalances that could influence motor performance.
• These multimeter tests completely evaluate the three-phase
motor and helps identifying any faults.

3). Megger Test Methods

• Three-phase motor insulation durability is assessed by

megger testing using high-voltage insulation resistance
measurements.

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 • High voltage is applied across the motor windings & frame,
then current flow resistance is measured.
• This test detects insulation faults that could affect motor
performance (or) safety.
• Megger testing helps determine insulation repair or
replacement to prevent malfunctions or electrical risks.
• This testing instrument is essential for three-phase motor
system reliability and longevity

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