Motor controls

Motor control installation and repair for Edmonton-area industry: starters, VFDs, control panels, MCC buckets and troubleshooting for pumps, fans and conveyors.

What motor controls do

Every motor in a plant needs a way to start, stop and protect it. That job falls to the motor controls: a disconnect to isolate it, a starter or drive to switch it, and overload protection to stop it burning out. Add interlocks, pushbuttons and signals from a PLC, and you have the system that makes your process actually move.

When these controls are badly sized or worn out, you see nuisance trips, burnt contactors, overheated motors and lost production. We install, upgrade and troubleshoot motor controls for pumps, fans, conveyors, compressors and process equipment.

Starters and variable frequency drives

There are two common ways to run a motor. A simple across-the-line starter switches full voltage onto the motor. A variable frequency drive (VFD) ramps the motor up gently and lets you run it at different speeds.

Drives make the most sense on fans and pumps that do not need full speed all the time, where slowing the motor can save a lot of energy. They also reduce mechanical shock on conveyors and belts. They do need attention to cooling, cable type and harmonics, which we account for in the installation.

Troubleshooting

Many of our motor control calls start with a problem rather than a project. Common ones include:

• Overloads tripping on a motor that used to run fine.
• Contactors chattering or welding closed.
• A VFD faulting on overcurrent, overvoltage or ground fault.
• Motors running hot or the wrong direction after a repair.
• Control circuits that stop working in the cold, a real issue in unheated Edmonton buildings.

We diagnose with the right meters and, where needed, motor and insulation testing, then fix the cause rather than just resetting the trip.

Cost and planning

Cost depends on motor size and voltage, starter or drive type, enclosure rating for the environment, control complexity, and whether the work fits into a shutdown. Drives cost more up front than starters, so we look at running hours and load to judge whether the energy savings justify it.

For new lines or bigger changes, see plant retrofits. For regular checks on motors and drives, see industrial maintenance.

Choosing the right enclosure and location

Where controls live matters as much as what they are. A starter that works perfectly in a heated electrical room may fail quickly on a wet processing floor or in a cold, dusty warehouse. We consider:

• Enclosure ratings for dust, washdown or outdoor use.
• Heat from drives, which needs ventilation or cooling in a closed room.
• Cold, condensation and frost in unheated buildings through an Edmonton winter.
• Hazardous locations, where equipment must be approved for the area classification.
• Access for operators and for safe maintenance.

Centralizing controls in a motor control centre (MCC) keeps them clean and organized, while local starters may suit isolated equipment. We help you choose what makes sense for the layout and how your team works.

Questions we hear