Baldor single phase motor problems. Anyone found a better brand, or done 3 phase?

[doublj70]

Hello,
I have been having a lot of problems with my single phase Baldor L1408T motors failing. It seems like the quality is going down fast. I have been replacing motors that are 1 year old and there have been a few under a year. The symptom most of the time is when you start up a bay, the motor makes a loud hum, and you can smell a burnt smell. Then it ether quiets down and works normally, or it trips the overload. It starts out intermittently, then happens more frequently until it's dead.
Has anyone found a better quality single phase motor? Or have you had good luck switching to a 3 phase motor with an inverter or VFD (which I have seen some mention of in other threads)? I have two locations with three phase, and I've never replaced a three phase motor in 10 years. I looked into adding three phase power at one point, but the utility wanted like $80,000 to do it.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks, John

 

[OurTown]

I can't answer your questions but would suggest talking to some local motor shops. Also you should complain to Baldor because they should have feedback on their quality going down hill. You are not the first one on here complaining about their newer motors.

 

[Randy]

I would take them to a motor shop and have the start capacitor tested. You could have a start capacitor going bad. There are 2 capacitors, a start capacitor and a run capacitor. If the capacitor is weak it will burn up the motor, the burning smell is not a good sign. If you buy a start capacitor, don't buy them at Grainger, they are garbage.

 

[wash4me]

Get a meter that checks mfd or microfarads to check your capacitors.

 

[JGinther]

Most single phase pump motor failures I have encountered are indeed because motor manufacturers have cheapened up the motors. Almost every failure has been due to the centrifugal switch literally breaking apart - assuming from the slamming on and off again - mostly from people "guess and see" switching the rotary switches around until they find the option they want. If you don't have contactor delays I would strongly suggest adding them. A pricey upgrade is the VFD route and changing to 3 phase, but you will have way less problems. A vfd is very easy to set up to just turn on and run full speed with ramp on/off, so don't feel like they are too technical. They can do a whole lot more and do get very technical, but on/off at 60 hz is pretty simple. A good control electrician should be able to do it for you. But, keep in mind, you have to DOUBLE SIZE THE VFD IF you are feeding it with single phase power! A 5 hp motor needs a 10 hp VFD unless specifically called out in the specs.

 

[mac]

You can usually tell if a capacitor is bad by simply looking at it. Most have a small "hole" about the size of a pencil eraser that is covered with cardboard. If the cardboard is swollen in the least, the thing is bad. If you are replacing some motors under a year you are getting screwed, and not even kissed afterwards. They all come with a one year warranty. Sometimes Grainger will offer an extended warranty that goes to 3 years. And yes, 3 phase is always a better choice. Also and yes, most are now made in China. That's the place that gave us poisoned dog food, Chinese drywall, and Lord knows what else. Welcome to car washing in the 21st century.