Space Heaters

Introduction
Space heaters and drains are used to prevent damage to the motor windings and internal parts, which can be caused by moisture condensing within the motor. Premature motor winding failure can result if moisture or condensation is allowed to settle within the motor frame. Modem non-hydroscopic insulation systems are highly resistant to moisture, however, they are not 100% effective if a large amount of water is present. Internal parts can also be damaged by corrosion or oxidation caused by the presence of excessive moisture. Condensation can form in a motor due to the inherent moisture content of the earth's atmosphere and the heating and cooling cycles of a motor. The characteristic of air is such that warm air will hold more moisture than the same quantity of cooler air at the same pressure. The air inside of a running motor is warmer and thus, less dense than the air outside of the motor. When the motor is shut down, the air within it will cool down and the volume will decrease (become more dense). As the air volume decreases, air is drawn in from the outside to equalize the air pressure. This is known as motor "breathing". As the moisture laden air within the motor is cooled below a certain temperature (the dew point) and the pressure is equalized, condensation will begin to form on the windings and internal parts of the motor. Motors operating outdoors are especially susceptible to internal condensation since this condition can generally be anticipated when the ambient temperature is 50 degrees F or less. Motors which are subjected to the above conditions and to a continual running and idle cycle can experience a sufficient collection of internal condensation to cause a premature winding failure.

Space Heaters
The space heaters which are commonly used to prevent condensation in motor applications are basically resistant wire heating devices. They are used to maintain the internal motor air temperature above the dew point. (The dew point is the temperature at which water will condense from air which is being cooled at a given pressure and water vapor content.) The type of space heater typically used by Reliance is a strip heater. The space heater meets 150 deg. 0 max sheath temperature specification. The heater is mounted directly on and wrapped around the coil head at the opposite end from the connections (as shown in figure 1). This ensures maximum heat transfer through the coils to both ends of the motor. Therefore, only one space heater per motor is required. The heater requires no additional mounting hardware. Repairs and modifications can be achieved by lashing a new heater to the coil and coating with spray varnish to secure the lashing. (Varnish is not required as an insulator for the space heater.) The strip heater is approved by UL and CSA.

Figure 1 Flexible strip space heater mounted on motor coil (Per Dwg. 603866-93)

Flexible Strip Space Heaters For E Line Motors (All Enclosures)

Frame Voltage Watts 120 180 240 440 575 120 210 240 440 575 120 250 240 440 575 120 280 240 440 575 120 320 240 440 575 120 360 240 440 575 120 400 240 440 575 120 440 240 440 575 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 48 48 48 48 72 72 72 72 90 90 90 90 119 119 119 119 160 160 160 160 225 225 225 225 Heater Part Number 404667-9 A 404667-9 B 404667-9 C 404667-9 D 404667-9A 404667-9 B 404667-9 C 404667-9 D 603866-94 A 603866-94 G 603866-94 N 603866-94 V 603866-94 B 603866-94 H 603866-94 P 603866-94 W 603866-94 C 603866-94 J 603866-94 R 603866-94 X 603866-94 D 603866-94 K 603866-94S 603866-94 Y 603866-94 E 603866-94 L 603866-94 T 603866-94 Z 603866-94 F 603866-94 M 603866-94 U 603866-94 AA Assembly Instructions 603866-91 A 603866-91 B 603866-91 C 603866-91 D 603866-91 A 603866-91 B 603866-91 C 603866-91 D 603866-93 A 603866-93 B 603866-93 C 603866-93 D 603866-93 A 603866-93 B 603866-93 C 603866-93 D 603866-93 A 603866-93 B 603866-93 C 603866-93 D 603866-93 A 603866-93 B 603866-93 C 603866-93 D 603866-93 A 603866-93 B 603866-93 C 603866-93 D 603866-93 A 603866-93 B 603866-93 C 603866-93 D

Trickle Heating
This form of motor heating is used today only on rare occasions due to the high cost of the special controls

and transformers required, and to the characteristic Power Factor reduction effect. Trickle heating is the application of low voltage single-phase A-C power (usually taken from one leg of the three-phase distribution system) to the motor windings while the motor is shut down. The winding is thus used as a resistance type heater and warms the motor insulation and internal air sufficiently to prevent condensation.

Typical Space Heater Data Click image to view full size in a new window. Last Updated September 1, 1998