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Fundamentals of DC Operation & Repair Tips

Course length: Two days
Available as a condensed course: Available in 1 day and half day sessions (see list)
Maximum number of students: 30

Course description

The seminar will cover DC machine theory and operation, as well as repair tips. Topics will include testing and winding of armatures, fields, interpoles and compensating windings, machine work, balancing, assembly and final testing. The theory portion is structured so that it can be grasped by entry-level personnel, while the overall material is in-depth enough that those with 30 years of experience or more will benefit.

Partial list of topics covered in the seminar include:

  • DC machine operation explained pictorially
  • Importance of symmetry to proper performance
  • Disassembly, test & inspection tips
  • Comparison and explanation of electrical test methods
  • Data-taking tips, with emphasis on critical information
  • Commutation and commutation difficulties
  • Armature and field winding tips
  • Field compounding
  • Assembly tips & test methods
  • Accessories, including tachometers
  • Troubleshooting techniques

The accompanying book is not meant to replace the many good texts that cover the theory and design of DC machines, but to supplement them. Its purpose is twofold: to help the technician understand DC machine theory without complex formulae; and in a larger sense, to record in one place the repair procedures and tips usually learned the hard way during a long career of DC machine repair. It may take a decade or longer for a technician to become proficient and knowledgeable. We hope this book will cut many years from that timeline.

The text begins with DC theory (no math, we promise!), and then follows the logical progression of a DC machine through the service center. Disassembly, inspection and testing are covered in the initial chapters. 

Subsequent chapters are organized around the main parts of a DC machine. The final chapters cover assembly, final testing and application issues. Sections focusing on components explain how those parts work, how they are made and how they can best be repaired.

Repair tips gleaned from EASA members’ decades of experience are liberally sprinkled throughout the book. While many texts about DC machines explain how they should work, this is the first (to our knowledge) to discuss all the exceptions that a repairer is liable to run across during a lifetime of working with DC machines. These might otherwise be labeled “lessons learned the hard way,” except that the reader can benefit from having all these special cases collected in one source. When possible, it is better to learn by reading than by trial and error; otherwise, the first encounter with a unique design can result in a painful “learning experience.”

A DC machine can be used interchangeably as a motor or generator, simply by changing the connection. Any DC motor can be driven and used to produce power, and any DC generator can be motorized to provide mechanical power. Although this text predominately refers to “motor;” the material applies to both motors and generators.

As with the other EASA publications—Principles of Large AC Motors, Mechanical Repair Fundamentals of Electric Motors, and Root Cause Failure Analysis—each section is designed to stand alone. The small amount of duplication is intentional, to save the reader from flipping back and forth between sections.

Table of Contents

  • Nomenclature and Nameplate Information
  • DC Motor Theory
  • Disassembly and Inspection
  • Testing
  • Armatures
  • Commutators
  • Frames
  • Ventilation and Accessories
  • Motor Assembly and Final Testing
  • On-Site Troubleshooting
  • Failure Analysis

Who should attend: This session will be helpful to techs, customer service reps and salespeople new or relatively new to the industry. 

Instructor(s) available to teach the course: 

  • Tom Bishop, PE, EASA Senior Technical Support Specialist
  • Chuck Yung, EASA Senior Technical Support Specialist

Cost

  • Chapter/Region fee (+expenses): $3600 + $45/student
  • Member company fee (+expenses): $5300 + $60/student
  • Nonmember fee (+expenses): $8800 + $65/student
  • (Additional fees may apply if travel time exceeds 5 hours. Contact EASA for details.)

Condensed courses available

Fundamentals of DC Motors (1 day)
Taken from "Fundamentals of DC Operation and Repair Tips" this one day course addresses DC motor and generator basics, testing, disassembly, armatures and field frame (shunt, series and interpoles), and assembly and final testing. Discussion will cover methods, materials and recommended repair practices as they relate to DC motor and generator basics, testing, disassembly, armatures and field frame (shunt, series and interpoles), and assembly and final testing.

  • Nomenclature
    • Interpreting motor nameplate
    • Motor and electrical components nomenclature
    • Bearing nomenclature
  • Theory
    • Motor theory
    • Magnets and magnetic force
    • Compound fields, interpoles and compensating windings
    • Brush neutral and working neutral
  • Disassembly
    • Covers and ventilation
    • Commutator condition
    • Brushholders and brushes
    • Bearings
  • Testing
    • Armatures
    • Commutators
    • Field coils
    • Interpoles
  • Armatures
    • Winding terms
    • Rewinding cautions and tips
    • Banding
    • Troubleshooting rewinds
    • Frog-leg windings
  • Frames
    • Compound fields
    • Rewinding tips: shunt, series, interpoles, compensating
    • Converting from aluminum to copper wire
  • Assembly and Final Testing
  • Pre-assembly steps
  • Assembly steps
  • Post-assembly steps
  • Final testing: no load, load testing

- Chapter/Region fee (+ expenses): $2300 + $45/student
- Member company fee (+ expenses): $5300 + 60/student
- Non-member fee (+ expenses): $5800 + $65/student

DC Motor Theory, Disassembly and Testing (Half day)
Taken from "Fundamentals of DC Operation and Repair Tips" this half day course addresses DC motor and generator theory, disassembly, and testing. Discussion will cover methods and recommended repair practices as they relate to DC motor and generator theory, disassembly, and testing.

  • Theory
    • Motor theory
    • Magnets and magnetic force
    • Compound fields, interpoles and compensating windings
    • Brush neutral and working neutral
  • Disassembly
    • Covers and ventilation
    • Commutator condition
    • Brushholders and brushes
    • Bearings
  • Testing
    • Armatures
    • Commutators
    • Field coils
    • Interpoles

- Chapter/Region fee (+ expenses): $1200 + $45/student
- Member company fee (+ expenses): $2300 + $60/student
- Non-member fee (+ expenses): $4900 + $65/student

DC Motor Fields, Interpoles, Armatures and Commutators (Half day)
Taken from "Fundamentals of DC Operation and Repair Tips" this half day course addresses DC motor and generator fields, interpoles, armatures and commutators. Discussion will cover methods and recommended repair practices as they relate to DC motor and generator fields, interpoles, armatures and commutators.

  • Frames (Fields and Interpoles)
    • Compound fields
    • Rewinding tips: shunt, series, interpoles, compensating
    • Converting from aluminum to copper wire
  • Armatures
    • Winding terms
    • Rewinding cautions and tips
    • Banding
    • Troubleshooting rewinds
    • Frog-leg windings
  • Commutators
    • Basics and design
    • Banding
    • Turn and undercut
    • Testing prior to rewind

- Chapter/Region fee (+ expenses): $1200 + $45/student
- Member company fee (+ expenses): $2300 + $60/student
- Non-member fee (+ expenses): $4900 + $65/student

DC Motor Theory, Assembly and Testing (Half day)
Taken from "Fundamentals of DC Operation and Repair Tips" this half day course addresses DC motor and generator nomenclature, theory, and assembly and final testing. Discussion will cover methods and recommended repair practices as they relate to DC motor and generator nomenclature, theory, and assembly and final testing.

  • Nomenclature
    • Interpreting motor nameplate
    • Motor and electrical components nomenclature
    • Bearing nomenclature
  • Theory
    • Motor theory
    • Magnets and magnetic force
    • Compound fields, interpoles and compensating windings
    • Brush neutral and working neutral
  • Assembly and Final Testing
    • Pre-assembly steps
    • Assembly steps
    • Post-assembly steps
    • Final testing
      • No load
      • Load testing

- Chapter/Region fee (+ expenses): $1200 + $45/student
- Member company fee (+ expenses): $2300 + $60/student
- Non-member fee (+ expenses): $4900 + $65/student

Course manual available for sale

Unable to participate in this training event? The manual that accompanies this seminar is available for sale.

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Schedule a private seminar

To schedule a private seminar for your group, contact:

Dale Shuter, CMP
Meetings & Expositions Manager
+1 314 993 2220, Ext. 3335
dshuter@easa.com

Hosting requirements

In addition to the seminar fees, the seminar sponsor will be responsible for:

  • All seminar promotion involved
  • Breaks (if provided)
  • Meeting room (approx. 1,000 square feet)
  • Instructor's travel and living expenses
  • Audio/visual equipment
  • Shipping costs of materials
  • Meals (if provided)