Motor insulation checking.

Terminal checking, Phasing out &

Motor drying.

By,
Pradeep Yadav,
Retd.Director.
NPTI.
 • Ohm’s law–
Current is the basic actuating
quantity in a circuit
• Effects of current
1.Electromagnetism - Maxwell R.H thumb rule
2.Heat – I
3.Divert to earth (least resistive path – equipment body)
Resulting in earth fault- L-G. L-L-G. L-L-L-G
2

Factors affecting Insulation

• 95 °cel. - Alarm
R1.Heat α Class of Insulation
• 105 °cel. - Trip • Class B- 130°cel. Class F – 155 °cel.
Class H -180°cel . Class C – > 180°. 220°cel.
2.Overvoltage 3.Physical damage 4.Presence of moisture

Electrical fault is Insulation damage

 MEGGA (INSULATION TESTER)

• Power circuit (PMG) & measurement circuit

• Two coils – Voltage coil & current coil at right angle to each
other in a permanent magnetic field. It’s a PMMC instrument
θ α I
I α 1/R
θ α 1/R
Pointer deflection is inversely prop. to Resistance to be measured
Large Resistance Minimum deflection
Less Resistance Maximum deflection
 (Infinity) On the left & Zero(0) on the right of the scale
• Multipurpose test instrument. To be used only in off line
• Measure Insulation High resistance in KΏ / MΏ
circuit
• To check insulation leakage & conductance
• To locate intermittent shorts, defective
electrical connections
• Available in 100V, 500V, 1KV, 2.5KV, 5.0KV(motorised)
• Digital form too.
 Testing

• Uses 1.5V x 6 DC batteries cell. Versatile. Accurate reading.

• Can be operated single handedly.
 • Selection of meggar
• As a general rule,test should be made at
a voltage 2 to 3 times the rated voltage of
the apparatus under test.
Equipment voltage Meggar voltage
Lighting & Control Ckt. 100V
100 to 400V 500V
> 400V 1.0 KV
> 1 KV 2.5 KV
> 2 KV 5.0 KV
 • Testing of meggar:
• Meggar testing clip:
• Open circuit test: Keep terminals
Earth & line open; current in volta
coil only. Pointer will deflect in one
direction(-Left)
• Short circuit test: Short terminals
Earth & line directly ; Current in
both coil.As current coil is
shorted, large current in it.
Pointer will deflect in the other
direction (0 - Right)
• By the equipment: Connect equipment of resistance value R between Earth &
line terminal.
• θ α 1/R
• If R is less, More current & More deflection & vice – versa.
 • When to use meggar
• Meagering to be done off line

• Before commissioning of an equipment

• If there is any doubt in the equipment
• After an overhaul

• After submerging of the equipment

• Procedure:
• Ensure that the power to the equipment is off
• Get permit to work
• Select suitable meggar( according to equipment
voltage)
• Use hand gloves
• Keep meggar on wooden & balanced support
• Discharge the equipment to earth
• Meggar the equipment
• Discharge the equipment after meggaring
(Charging & discharging time should be equal)
 Meggaring:

Note down:
a. Equipment voltage.
b. Temp.
c. Meggar voltage.
d. Meggar Sr.No.

• I.R.Value in M(minimum) = Rated KV of equipment + 1(at 75°C)

e.g. 6.6 KV motor =6.6 + 1 = 7.6 M at 75°C.

Double this value for every 10°C fall in temp.
 • As temperature cannot be measured exactly, IR
value will also not be exact.
• To eliminate the dependence on temp.
PI ( polarized Index) is measured by taking
the ratio of two IR values.
P I Value = IR value at 60 secs.
IR value at 15 secs.(For manual megger)

P I Value = IR value at 600 secs.

IR value at 60 secs.(For motorized megger)

 2
• Terminal checking & Phasing out of motor
• Let the motor be 3 phase. 440 V.
• Name plate details will have type of motor
connection – Star or Delta or Star Delta.
• Six motor leads are available.

With the help of a multimeter on continuity or a suitable

megger, find each phase winding. a-d R, b-e Y, c-f B.
 • To find start & end of each
• winding
Required to connect correct polarity of
windings with each other
• Connect winding c - f to R1-R2 &

a low voltage AC supply 230V, across the

winding R1- R2 (a-d)
• Connect a volt meter of 0-300V range,
across a (R1) & f

• If Voltmeter show less / more value than the applied

voltage, terminals connected are opposite / same.

• Similarly find Y1,Y2

• To connect motor winding in star
• Star(Neutral) point can be formed
by R1 Y1 B1 Or R2 Y2 B2

• Delta connection

• Resistance of each arm is same in Delta

 • Star delta motor

Motor rotation direction

• Before coupling a motor to load, its direction of rotation as
given, should be checked by no-load trial( without coupling
mech. Load)
Phase rotation meter may be used, without connecting motor to
supply, by manual turning of the motor shaft. Mark the terminals
for correct rotation. RYB
• RYB sequence of the supply side should also be check with the
phase rotation meter.
• Motor rotation direction can be changed by interchanging any
2 of the lead.
 Drying Out of Motor

• Drying out is required If any water or any moisture is

observed in an electric motor or if it is submerged.
Methods (4) :
1. A convenient method is to block the rotor from rotation and
apply a very low voltage, about 10% of the normal to the terminals
• In case of Slip ring Motor, the rotor windings should be short-
circuited. Close supervision is necessary during this process.
• The heat generated in the windings (I²R) will expel the moisture
2. Hot air can be blown into the motor. The air must be clean &
dry at a temperature not more than 85° centigrade.
3.Motor can be dried out by placing 6 to 12 carbon filament lamps
close around the frame of a motor. Properly hung to the fixtures
for more than 24 hours under observation.
4. A large motor can be dried out, by applying DC Current (less
than 80 % of the motor rated current) controlled through a
“rheostat” continuously to the stator.

• Ensure that : the small vents, if provided, on both the sides

of a motor should be kept open for an escape of moisture.
• cover the motor with asbestos clothing to prevent heat radiation
• A tested temp. gauge (capillary type) should be placed on the
motor to record the winding temperature below 85° Cent.
• I.R. value must be measured every hour till it stabilizes. Then,
drying out should be ended.
• When the motor cools down to the ambient temperature, It will
have favourable IR value.
Any questions?
Questions:
1.In a megger scale, Infinity is indicated on------- side
2. Megger measures ------- resistance in -----------Ohms._
3.Formula for I R is ___/KV + 1Mega ohm at ------- deg. cent.
4. Calculated I. R value is double for every -------- fall in temp.
5. I R value is ---------- proportional to temp.
6. P I value = ---------------------- (with manual megger)
7 During drying out, winding temp. should be less than___deg.Cent
8. P I value is ----------------- of temp
8. Megger is also known as ---------- tester
9.During Open ckt.test megger show--------, Short ckt.test ________
11.An Induction motor direction can be changed by interchanging
any____ leads.
12.Induction motor is of ________ & ___________ type.

13.For drying out of the motor, not more than ___% of the rated
motor voltage should be applied while rotor is _______.
 • Connect 2 winding R & Y.

Connect a low voltage AC supply 230V, at the free ends of

the windings.
• Short the third winding B terminals.

• A spark will be observed at the third winding terminal,

if the 2 winding’s opposite ends are connected.
• Repeat for the third winding