How to Meg a 3 Phase Motor

Three-phase motors are powered by a poly-phase electrical supply that delivers continuous current through the use of multiple phases. This high-voltage electrical motor requires the use of a megohmmeter or megger to test the continuity and resistance of the motor and its electrical circuit. This is because only a megger is capable of producing the voltage necessary to travel properly through the motor's circuitry. In addition, the megger can detect small disturbances in the insulation of the circuitry. Megging a three-phase motor is quite simple, so you can easily perform this procedure yourself. It is important to observe safety precautions as you perform this task because the potential for electrical shock is very high.

Instructions
1. 2. 3. 4. Remove power from the circuit that feeds the motor by flipping the breaker off. Padlock the breaker closed to prevent it from being turned on while you meg the circuit. Remove the motor cover and wire terminal screws with a flat head screwdriver. Place one of the megger probes on the end of any wire. Place the other probe onto the motor casing, and crank the handle. This will test for a proper ground. A reading between 20 to 30 megohms is good. Place one probe on another wire, then place the other probe on a motor winding, and crank the handle. Readings between 20 to 30 megohms are normal. Any readings below 20 megohms or above 30 megohms indicates either that the insulation has been compromised and needs to be replaced, or that the circuit is wired incorrectly. If the insulation is the problem, you will need to replace the entire wire for that circuit, because it not possible to solve the problem simply patching the insulation. If the problem is due to incorrect wiring, simply check the wiring and reroute the wiring as needed. Test the circuit with a megger again to confirm that it has been wired correctly. Repeat the procedure for each wire and motor winding

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How to Calculate Cost of Electricity for Electric Motor 3 Phase

By W D Adkins, eHow Contributor

The 3 phase electric motor is usually a large piece of equipment that uses a "polyphase" circuit to draw heavy power loads at relatively low voltages. This improves power line efficiency and provides the smooth power flow required by many such motors. The cost of electricity for electric motor 3 phase operation is based on the kilowatt hours used, just like any other electrical device. However, figuring power usage is more complicated because the conventional equation for power usage must be modified to apply to 3phase motors.
Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions
Things You'll Need
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Motor amperage Electricity rate table Calculator

1
Find the voltage and amperage used by the 3 phase electric motor. The line voltage will be given by the manufacturer's specifications. Most such motors have readouts for the amperage. If that's not the case, use an ammeter designed to handle 3 phase currents to measure the amperage. Follow the ammeter manufacturer's instructions for hooking the ammeter into the power line to measure amperes.

Calculate the power the motor consumes while in operation. The equation is W = AV(sqrt 3) where A is amperes, V is volts, and sqrt 3 is the square root of 33 (about 1.73). W is the power consumption in watts. For example, if the electric motor uses 50 amps at 240 volts, the wattage is 50 x 240 x 1.73, or 20,760 watts. Electricity costs are based on kilowatts (kW), so divide watts by 1000 to convert to kilowatts (20,760 wats/1000 = 20.76 kW).
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3
Record the time the motor is in operation. For example, in a manufacturing plant, a 3 phase electric motor might run 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. This works out to an average of 173.3 hours per month.

Multiply the power consumption by the hours of operation to find kilowatt hours. A 3 phase electric motor drawing 20.76 kW for 173.3 hours per month will use 3771.7 kw/hours of electricity per month.
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Multiply the total kilowatt hours used by the rate per kilowatt hour charged by the power company to find the cost. For instance, the cost of electricity for 3 phase motor consuming 3771.7 kW/hours per month at a rate of $0.10/kW/hr would equal $377.17

How to Figure kW Rating of a 3 Phase Electric Motor

By Michael Logan, eHow Contributor

The National Electric Code requires the nameplate of all motors to list the voltage and the full-load current of the motor, regardless of voltage type or voltage phase. The power a three-phase motor consumes while running under full load at its rated speed is given in watts or kilowatts. Watts and kilowatts are units of electrical power. Power can be calculated directly from voltage and current in a simple calculation.
Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions
Things You'll Need
y 1. o Calculator

1
Find the motor voltage on the three-phase motor nameplate. Some motors may have two or even three voltages given. Select the first voltage for the power calculation. For example, voltage: 230/460V or 230/460V, choose 230 volts for the power calculation.

Find the full-load current on the three-phase motor nameplate. Motors that list more than one voltage will also list a like number of full-load currents. Select the first current given for the power calculation. For example, current: 20/10A or 20/10A, select 20 amps for the power calculation
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3
Multiply the motor voltage by the full-load current. The result is in watts. Divide watts by 1,000 to give kilowatts. For example, 230 volts x 20 amps = 4,600 watts; 4,600 watts divided by 1000 = 4.6 kilowatts.

Tips & Warnings

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It is important to match the voltage with the full-load current. If a motor gives two voltages such as 230/460V, it will give two corresponding full-load currents such as 20/10 amps. Either pair of numbers will give the correct power consumption, in this case 4.6 kilowatts.