Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) are energy saving devices that came into popularity in the late 1970’s. VFDs intercept incoming electricity from the utility and modify it using Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) to meet, but not exceed, the load requirements for your specific application. VFDs are best used in applications with variable torque loads, which may not always need to run at full bore for the entirety of their lifetime. This helps you to use less energy than running a motor at full power all of the time. This also helps to reduce wear on the motor over time.

Benefits to using a VFD:

Applications that can Benefit from a VFD Include:

Drawbacks to using a VFD:

Using a VFD is a technical decision that needs the input of experienced technicians and industry experts who know the details of your specific application and can help you to weigh the benefits and drawbacks. The initial cost can be outweighed by the energy savings you can accrue throughout extended use of your VFD. You can find an energy savings calculator here. To help you decide if a VFD is right for your application.

Got Questions About Installing or Servicing VFDs? We Can Help!

Call 800-595-5315 Or Connect With Our Expert Technicians Here:

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John Guldner

John is a marketing specialist working out of EMC’s Salt Lake City office. He oversees the articles and blog content for Energy Management Corp. On the weekends, you can catch John skiing at the resorts in Little Cottonwood Canyon.

The Electrical Apparatus Service Association (EASA) is an international trade organization of more than 1,800 electromechanical sales and service firms in nearly 70 countries. EASA also “provides engineering consulting services to members and works with manufacturers, industry organizations and government agencies to promote better repair standards and assure the highest quality professional service for customers“ (EASA). Through their association, and a sanctioned third party auditor, your motor shop can become EASA accredited, but why should you and what does that entail?

Why Does EASA Accreditation Matter?

EASA accreditation should matter to both your customers and your business. Accreditation signals that your motor shop follows strict standards throughout the entire motor repair process. These standards help to guarantee the best possible outcome and preserve motor efficiency. They also signify that your shop has gone through a rigorous inspection of its repair processes and proper calibration of all equipment. Successfully acquiring EASA accreditation shows your customers just how much effort your shop puts into each and every motor repair job that comes through your door. Out of the 1,900 EASA member shops, only 138 are accredited. Energy Management Corporation is one of those 138!

What Does an Accreditation Audit Entail?

EASA approved auditors will inspect your process and workspace in 23 different areas including:

• Housekeeping
• Employee Training
• Internal Audits
• Identification and Condition Assessment
• Terminal Leads, Connectors and Boxes
• Cooling System
• Shafts
• Bearings (Ball, Roller; Sleeve)
• Lubrication
• Frame and Bearing Housings
• Squirrel Cage Rotors
• Balancing
• Accessories
• Winding Removal and Core Integrity
• Rewind Data (Specification)
• Stator Windings, Insulation System, Conductors and Coils
• Winding Impregnation
• Winding Insulation and Coil Tests
• High-Potential Tests
• Bearing Insulation
• No-load Tests
• Finish and Handling
• Calibration

EASA requires that certain tools be on-site and their calibration be verified by the auditor. The auditor will check the calibration of each of these pieces of equipment and may possibly request a calibration certification from any companies you may outsource work to. The tools that will be inspected for calibration include:

Electrical

• Milli-ohmmeter
• Ohmmeter
• Voltmeter (AC)
• Ammeter (AC)
• Wattmeter (AC)
• Megohmmeter
• High-potential tester
• Surge tester
• Core tester AND/OR Loop test
• Growler (functional)
• Test Panel (To motor rated voltage; individual instruments calibrated)

Mechanical

• Inside micrometers
• Outside micrometers
• Dial indicators (Verification by service center)
• Digital tachometer (Verification by service center)
• Terminal crimpers (Verification by service center)
• Vibration meter
• Balancing machine (Outsourcing is permissible)
• Gauge blocks (if applicable; periodic verification by gauge block manufacturer or other qualified external source)

Physical

• Temperature meters
• Burnout oven part temperature control
• Burnout oven analog or digital recorder
• Burnout oven water mist system (Verification by service center.)
• Bake oven temperature control
• Winding machine with turns counter (Verification by service center)
• VPI system vacuum gauge (Only applies if service center has VPI system. VPI process outsourcing is permissible)
• VPI system pressure gauge (Only applies if service center has VPI system. VPI process outsourcing is permissible)

(You can find the entire checklist as well as all applicable criteria on EASA.com)

Are There Any Exclusions?

Excluded from the scope of the EASA accreditation program are specific requirements, certifications, and inspections required for listed explosion proof, dust-ignition-proof, and other listed machines for hazardous locations. Also excluded are specific or additional requirements for hermetic motors, hydrogen-cooled machines, submersible motors, traction motors, or Class 1E nuclear service motors (EASA).

How Does My Shop Become Accredited?

The steps outlined on EASA.com are as follows:

1. Download applicable documents that form the foundation of the EASA Accreditation Program from EASA.com and review them.
2. Download and complete the EASA Accreditation Program application and pay your non-refundable application fee payment ($300 for current members, $1500 for non-members. The fee covers three years in the program).
3. Select an EASA-sanctioned auditor. Their fees are separate from the application fee and vary from auditor to auditor.
4. After you select an auditor, pay any fees charged by the auditor as well as provide them with a copy of the receipt for payment of the EASA Accreditation Program enrollment fee.
5. Prepare for and schedule your initial third party (on site) audit. (Note: Third-party audits are required every three years. During years between third-party audits, accredited service centers are required to conduct internal self-audits that will be reviewed by an EASA-sanctioned auditor).
6. Conduct the initial third-party (on-site) audit. If disapproved, the auditor will describe the unacceptable conditions and list corrective actions that must be taken; completion of corrective action often can be approved remotely by email, photos, etc. (There is no time limit for completing the initial third-party audit).
7. After successfully completing you initial third-party (on-site) audit, the auditor will sign and date the audit checklist. This date will become your service center’s anniversary date in the EASA Accreditation Program.
   • The auditor will also forward to EASA a copy of the final signed audit checklist which will become part of your service center’s permanent record. At this time, EASA will issue to the service center:
     • A customized EASA Accreditation logo for use on company websites and marketing materials.
     • A company listing as an EASA Accredited repair firm on EASA’s website.
     • Placement of the EASA Accreditation logo next to its member records in “Find a Member” lookups on EASA’s website.
     • 100 serialized Accreditation Repair Labels for used on accredited repair jobs. (Additional labels are available for purchase in packages of 100.)
     • A customized press release that announces the firm’s accreditation and explains the importance of EASA Accreditation for maintaining or improving the efficiency and reliability of repaired motors.
     • A customized Accreditation Certificate (printed and PDF)
     • A customized, tri-fold marketing brochure that you may print and distribute to your customers.
     • Announcement of accreditation in EASA’s newsletter, Currents.
     • Secure storage of the completed audit (PDF) in the firm’s password-protected company record at EASA’s website.

The benefits for becoming EASA Accredited outweigh the cost when you think about the peace of mind you bring to your customers and your technicians. If your technicians have faith in their shop’s processes and equipment, they will be more efficient, happier to come to work, and much more likely to recommend their shop to friends and family. Customers who recognize that you put in the time and effort to becoming EASA Accredited will feel much safer trusting you with their mission critical projects.

Next time you’re trying to find a motor shop to take care of your equipment, look for shops that are EASA accredited. If you are a motor shop looking for new ways to ensure that your customers know that they will be well taken care of by technicians who know what they are doing, think about becoming EASA accredited.

Looking For A Well-Qualified And Trusted Motor Repair Shop? Look No Further!

Call 800-595-5315 Or Connect With Our Expert Technicians Here:

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John Guldner

John is a marketing specialist working out of EMC’s Salt Lake City office. He oversees the articles and blog content for Energy Management Corp. On the weekends, you can catch John skiing at the resorts in Little Cottonwood Canyon.

Recertified in Utah, California, and Wyoming

Energy Management Corporation has re-certified it motor repair shops located in Salt Lake City, Utah; Pomona, California; and Rock Springs, Wyoming. These shops serve local industrial and commercial companies such as mines, refineries, pipelines, water/wastewater facilities, ski resorts, and many other industries.

All EMC motor shops specialize in motor repairs, reconditions, rewinds, and general service. From standard AC squirrel cage induction to permanent magnet DC motors, and wound rotor to vertical, EMC shops have worked on it all. These shops also have machining capabilities, as well as field service vibration and laser alignment.

EASA certification is an important part of the processes that our EMC motor repair shops go through. This accreditation requires third-party testing and auditing to ensure compliance with EASA AR100 standards.

EMC feels that it’s important to maintain this accreditation. Our work speaks for itself in quality and expertise, but we also want to give customers peace of mind. By maintaining these certifications, customers know that we have taken extra steps to maintain the best practices that keep their facilities safe, reliable, and energy efficient.

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John Guldner

John is a marketing specialist working out of EMC’s Salt Lake City office. He oversees the articles and blog content for Energy Management Corp. On the weekends, you can catch John skiing at the resorts in Little Cottonwood Canyon.

Geneva Rock Products is the state of Utah’s largest company for concrete construction and asphalt paving, and the business relies on aggregate mining to source materials for its daily operations. The aggregate mining material that is used in the concrete and asphalt operations is quartzite, and over 75% of the product is sourced from a single location. This location is the Point-of-the-Mountain site found in Draper, Utah. Geneva Rock had been successfully sourcing the quartzite for decades, but faced the cost dilemma of spending excessive resources in collecting and moving the product. The operation included using large haul trucks to transport the quartzite from the mountain to the base pits to be processed. As the mountain is dug into, the distance from the base becomes further and the gradient of the mountain becomes steeper. Continuing to operate like it had before was quickly becoming inefficient for Geneva in terms of cost and safety. The company used Energy Management Corporation (EMC) to assess the situation and determine an innovative solution to reduce costs and maintain profitable.

Geneva Rock Products Using Energy Management Corporation to Transform Mining Site Efficiency

With the assessment from EMC VFD technician Barry Christiansen, it was determined that the Geneva site could install a state-of-the-art overland conveyor system to drastically improve the efficiency of operations. Upon inspection, several of the hauling trucks would be replaced by three downhill conveyor belts controlled by PLCs (Programmable Logic Controls) with Ethernet communication. With this implementation, hauling trucks could load the quartzite into the highest conveyor belt and no longer need to carry the product to the base. In turn, Geneva Rock was able to save millions in operation cost annually.

Equipment Specifications

The three conveyor belts were powered with two 400HP panels (3300mW each) and a 600HP panel (5000mW) which resulted in a total of 11,600mW of power savings. The gravity from the slope of the conveyor belts provided the renewable energy by moving up to 3,000 tons of material per hour. Using these panels specified and installed by Energy Management Corp. allowed for the $11 million investment to pay for itself within 2 years of operation. Following the result of the return on investment, the power generated through the overland conveyor will be able to provide a majority of power for the entire Point-of-the-Mountain site. Because of the professional inspection and installation of the panels from Energy Management, the transportation of the quartzite was automated by variable speed and resulted in clean energy production.

Energy Management Corporation professionally assessed the needs of Geneva Rock Products and transformed the operations of the plant to become profitable. The three PLC panels with Ethernet connectivity running the conveyor systems generated a tremendous amount of savings for the company, allowing for operations to remain possible. After the installation, other significant benefits were achieved at the site. Geneva Rock Products eliminated the need to purchase nine additional hauling trucks, saving substantial purchasing costs along with fuel and wear & tear. With the panels powering most of the transportation, safety was also increased by mitigating scenarios of employees operating machinery at a steep slope.

Energy Management provided the expertise and equipment necessary to transform a cost ineffective operation to an efficient, energy generating system through using Variable Frequency Drive panels to replace slow and outdated trucking options. Using the expertise and automation options from EMC helped the construction business innovate and increase production to remain profitable.

Looking to Make Your Operation More Efficient? EMC Can Help.

Connect with Our Expert Technicians Here:

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John Guldner

John is a marketing specialist working out of EMC’s Salt Lake City office. He oversees the articles and blog content for Energy Management Corp. On the weekends, you can catch John skiing at the resorts in Little Cottonwood Canyon.