PM, repair, overhaul and upgrades Motor control panels, pumps and motors of all types

How often should panels and pumps get PM?

It depends on the system and the actual work. Wastewater treatment systems, for example, usually get PM every 30–45 days. Some sites set PM in levels: level 1 is daily PM for an overall condition check and basic readings, level 2 is monthly PM with a detailed system check and water samples sent for analysis, and level 3 is yearly PM that adds changing the machinery's lubricating oil.

Motor overhaul or replacement: which is worth it?

It depends on the damage. If the winding is burnt out but the rotor and stator are still sound with no cracks, an overhaul is far better value, as the motor then performs close to a new one.

Our overhaul covers these basics:

• Rewinding Even if the old winding is intact, it can be damaged while the motor is taken apart.
• New cable Submersible pumps have a cable from the pump to the control panel. We replace it every time we take a pump apart.
• New bearings Worn bearings are the main reason pumps and motors draw high current or fail to turn.
• Shaft balancing A bent or off-centre shaft is another reason motors run poorly. We machine it back into balance.

What is checked on each PM visit?

An example of the wastewater treatment PM we carry out:

• Piping Check for leaking, cracked or blocked pipes, which cause water to flood or back up into buildings.
• Machinery Check how the machines run, e.g. abnormal noise or current above rating.
• Cleaning Clean the pumps and float switches. Grease builds up in wastewater sumps and can make them malfunction.
• Control panel Check for loose terminals and measure voltage, current, winding resistance and machine insulation.
• Wastewater sampling Send wastewater samples to a lab for parameter analysis, measure SV30 in the aeration tank and make a first assessment of the treated water.
• Records and reports Record results on a checklist, give a first report to the people involved, and report the lab results when they come back.

Do you fix work done by other contractors?

Yes. We normally assess the site in person and work out the approach with the customer. Most of our work is repairing and fixing systems that have problems or don't work the way the customer needs.