Why Perform Surge Testing?
Insulation deterioration is one of the first signs that a motor is going
to fail electrically. Since secondary insulation is least able to sustain
wear, shorting usually occurs here before the thicker, ground wall
insulation is affected. Surge testing is a non-destructive test and
detects the early stages of secondary insulation deterioration.
The cost of motor failure is measured by interruption of plant output
as well as extent of repair or replacement. Surge testing greatly
decreases both. It detects failure early enough so that repair or
replacement can be scheduled during a normal shutdown rather
than an emergency outage. In addition, damage to the motor is
minimized.