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The Motors Blog is the place for conversation and discussion about gears all types of motors including AC motors; DC motors; servo, stepper and linear motors; and motor maintenance and efficiency. Here, you'll find everything from application ideas, to news and industry trends, to hot topics and cutting edge innovations. This blog is inspired by the Mechanical Power Transmission newsletter from GlobalSpec, which you can subscribe to here.
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Do High Efficiency (HE) Motors Save Energy?

Posted May 19, 2009 7:38 AM

With standard electric motor efficiencies running at 85 — 90% it's hard to see what a few extra percentage points will mean in the long run for motor applications. Motor efficiency levels are measured at specific output loads, usually 75%. So what if the actual load is different? And since reducing rotor slip (the source of energy savings in HE motors) raises the actual output speed as well as the efficiency, you might just end up using more energy at the higher efficiency level. So it's a legitimate question: Do HE motors really lower your electric bill?

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Del the cat
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Re: Do High Efficiency (HE) Motors Save Energy?

05/19/2009 10:02 AM

Yeah, and what's a few extra CC on my SUV...and who cares if I lob this beer bottle out the window?
It's wooly thinking like this which has got us where we are today, we've been too fat lazy and inefficient for too long.

Must keep pedalling before my PC crashes....puff puff...
Every little helps, slow and steady wins the day, look after the pennies and the pounds will look after themselves, many a mickle maks a muckle...chose your own platitude.
(KrisDelTM have a fine selection of platitudes... $5 the dozen)

Del

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The Jackal
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Re: Do High Efficiency (HE) Motors Save Energy?

05/20/2009 9:15 AM

In order to appreciate HE motors, you need to do a life-cycle costing of your installation.

In my field, motors run 24 hrs a day / 353 days a year for 20+ years (typically). A few percentage points in efficiency gain can result in a payback for your investment in a few years.

I have found that the best way to reduce the electric bill is to correctly size the motor for the application. Many engineers tend to oversize the motor for a 'safety factor'.

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Re: Do High Efficiency (HE) Motors Save Energy?

05/21/2009 9:39 AM

nothing is wrong with a safety factor........fact is, if the engineer has an understanding of the client, and the client basically redlines his equipment, the engineer knows this. this safety factor is well worth the effort and initial costs

phoenix911

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Re: Do High Efficiency (HE) Motors Save Energy?

05/20/2009 5:17 PM

Do HE motors really lower your electric bill?

Yes.

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