What does motor insulation Class mean?
It describes the ability of motor insulation windings to handle the heat. Using class, we can specify the allowable temperature rise from an ambient temperature of 40°C.
For more details about motor data, Read also my article: motor specs and name plate understanding
The insulation of a motor are divided into classes based on the thermal designation and evaluation.
There are 5 Classes of insulation on the motor; A, E, B, F, and H.
Each class of insulation refers to an upper limit of the temperature that it can tolerate to work normally.
Why is Motor Insulation Class Important?
Motor insulation class has an important role in the safety of motors. It keeps the motor working within safe temperature.
As we know, with the flow of current electrical conductor heats up, and if we don’t make proper attention it can cause damage to the system.
The same is the case for motor windings. If it overheats, insulation can get damage. And as a result, a short circuit can occur and damage the motor.
For this purpose, a standard insulation classes system has been introduced.
How to determine motor insulation classes?
If We have a motor with insulation class F, this motor is running at 110°C. Then the important question now is, Is this motor running too hot?
The short and direct answer is No, This motor is not running too hot. Let’s find out why!
From NEMA insulation class table above, this motor has maximum Temperature Rise of 105°C, adding this temperature to the ambient temperature of 40°C gives us 145°C.
The surface of the motor is usually 30°C lower than the winding temperature, So this motor winding temperature is 110+30 = 140°C.
Which means that this motor is running at 5°C lower than its maximum Temperature Rise (Which is 145), and 15°C lower than its maximum permissible winding temperature (Which is 155). This is why this motor is not running too hot however its temperature is 110°C
For a motor with F class, the temperature rise is 105 + 40 = 145°C at service factor 1, F class insulation has 155°C maximum temperature, So this motor has 10°C margin.
If we have a motor with insulation class F and a temperature rise B this motor is normally refereed to as F/B, this means that it has temperature rise of 80 + 40 = 120°C, While it maximum allowable temperature is 145°C. This motor has 145 – 120 = 25°C
Motor Insulation Class A,B,F and H
Major and most commonly used motor insulation classes include A, B, F & H. However, N, R, and S classes are also in use.
| Class: A | 105 Degrees C |
| Class: B | 130 Degrees C |
| Class: F | 155 Degrees C |
| Class: H | 180 Degrees C |
Before we dive into details, you should be aware of the following:
- NEMA allowable rise (maximum permissible winding temperature). This is the maximum temperature that the winding can handle.
- maximum temperature rise, This is the maximum temperature rise that the motor generates at full load and a certain service factor.
- Temperature margin (or hot spot Over Temperature), This is the subtract of NEMA allowable rise and Winding maximum temperature rise.
Class A
If the room temperature is 60 degrees around the motor with insulation type Class A, the motor can work just okay.
Beyond that motor will be affected. While the temperature of motor windings must not exceed 105-degree Celsius.
There is a limit of 5 degrees Celsius above 105 degrees just for the purpose of protection.
Class A motor insulation has
- Maximum permissible winding temperature of 105°C.
- Maximum Temperature Rise is 60°C.
- The allowed Hot-spot Over Temperature is 5°C.
- In this type of class insulation materials like silk, cotton, or paper as the dielectric material.
Class B
For Class B motor insulation, the motor can tolerate a maximum temperature of 130 degrees Celsius. While the ambient temperature range is up to 80-degree Celsius.
In this class, we have a limit of 10 degrees above the temperature limit.
This gives us more facility to activate the cooling system until the temperature is 10 degrees beyond the limit.
Class B motor insulation has:
- Maximum permissible winding temperature of 130°C.
- Maximum Temperature Rise is 80°C.
- The allowed Hot-spot Over is 10°C.
- Class B insulation materials consist of glass fiber, mica, and asbestos.
Class E
For Class E insulation, the motor has tolerance temperature of 75 degrees Celsius around the motor (ambient temperature).
The Motor will work just fine if the room temperature is 75 degrees around the motor with insulation type Class E.
While the temperature of motor windings must not exceed 120-degree Celsius. Like class A, there is a limit of 5 degrees Celsius above 105 degrees just for the purpose of protection.
Motor insulation Class F
For Class F, the insulation can stand winding temperatures up to 155 degrees Celsius. While the ambient temperature range is up to 80-degree Celsius.
In this class, we have a limit of 10 degrees above the temperature limit. This gives us more facility to activate the cooling system until the temperature is 10 degrees beyond the limit.
Class F motor insulation has:
- Maximum permissible winding temperature of 155°C.
- Maximum Temperature Rise is 105°C.
- Allowed Hot-spot Over Temperature is 10°C.
- This class also consists of dielectric materials like mica. Asbestos and glass fiber.
Class H
For Class H, the insulation can stand winding temperatures up to 180 degrees Celsius. While the ambient temperature range is up to 125-degree Celsius.
In this class, we have a limit of 15 degrees above the temperature limit. This gives us more facility to activate the cooling system until the temperature is 15 degrees beyond the limit.
Class H motor insulation has:
- maximum permissible winding temperature of 180°C.
- The maximum Temperature Rise is 125°C.
- And the allowed Hot-spot Over Temperature is 15°C.
- This type of dielectric material consists of silicon elastomers combined with glass fiber and asbestos.
Some other classes are available such as N, R, and S. But these are rarely used.
Read my other detailed articles:
Which insulation class is better?
Class H has the maximum permissible temperature i.e 180°C, So it’s the best of the classes.
But as an electrical engineer I say, This class is the best of the classes, but not the best choice!
The best choice, is the motor with insulation class suitable to the application requires.
This is because, the higher the class the higher the motor price and cost.
Every motor has its own range of temperature during its operation. This is called motor temperature rise.
The higher the difference between the motor rise and the insulation temp. the longer the motor life, but also the higher the price of the motor.
- allowable temperature rises at full load and 1.0 S.F.
| A= | 60°C |
| B= | 80°C |
| F= | 105°C |
| H= | 125°C |
- NEMA allowable temperature rises For a 1.15 S.F. motor
| A= | 70°C |
| B= | 90°C, |
| F= | 115°C. |
| NEMA Insulation Temperature Ratings | Motor Temperature Rises | ||||
| 1.0 SF | 1.15 SF | ||||
| Insulation Class | Temperature | Ambient | Hots pots | Rise | Rise |
| A | 105 | 40 | 5 | 60 | 70 |
| B | 130 | 40 | 10 | 80 | 90 |
| F | 155 | 40 | 10 | 105 | 115 |
| H | 180 | 40 | 15 | 120 | — |
How to measure electric motor insulation resistance?
To perform insulation resistance for a motor you need a high resistance range ohmmeter, DC voltage of 500 to 1000V is applied between winding and motor body the reading should be in mega-ohm (1MOhm and larger is accepted).
This process is widely known as MEGGER a motor. I have written a detailed article about How to megger a motor? Check it out.
How do I choose an insulation Class for a motor?
Based on the temperature, you may choose a motor Insulation Class. Actually, the class of the insulation type is already written on the motor.
Instead of choosing the insulation class temperature we need to observe the ambient temperature of the place where we need to set the motor.
For example, If the sum of ambient temperature and motor temperature is within or equal to the range of an Insulation Class, you can use it.
Let’s take a hypothetical the ambient temperature is 40-degrees Celsius. And the motor being in use generates 50-degrees Celsius. Then it is OK to use Class A insulation class motor.
This Section will become clearer through the motor insulation class chart.
Motor Insulation Chart
| Class | Maximum Operation allowance Degree Celsius | Maximum Operation allowance Degree Fahrenheit | Allowable Temperature at Service factor 1.0 Degree Celsius | Allowable Temperature at Service factor 1.5 Degree Celsius |
| A | 105 | 221 | 60 | 70 |
| B | 130 | 266 | 80 | 90 |
| F | 155 | 311 | 105 | 115 |
| H | 180 | 356 | 125 | 115 and above |
What is motor Insulation Varnish?
Motor Insulation varnish, is n insulating coating applied over the conductors to increase its insulation and protect them from short-circuit.
An Insulation Varnish possesses good chemical, electrical, thermal, and electrochemical properties.
It is a paint or epoxy kind of material that is poured over the motor windings, transformer windings, and generator windings to prevent shorting.
The composition of Insulation varnish consists of pigment (mostly red), base material, curing agent, filler, solvent, and flame retardant. The base material is composed of different kinds of resins.
We, usually in my work , use this varnish to increase winding of motors and generators whenever we rewind a burnt motor or generator. This varnish increase the winding protection against moisture and temperature rise.
Also, when we make an annual preventive maintenance for motors and generators we add varnish to the winding.
Motor Varnish types
There are 2 types of motor varnishes.
Impregnating Varnish
Impregnating Varnish has 2 types. Solvent-free Varnish and Varnish with solvent.
The physical description of Impregnating varnish is close to the paint.
It has good fluidity, fast curing, strong bonding force, can withstand high rpm of motors, excellent electro-thermal properties, and low viscosity properties.
The use of this varnish type is further elaborated in the levels of the Varnish types.
Cover Varnish
Cover varnishes are used to coat the immersed conductors such as coils and windings.
These varnishes are used to coat the conductors to protect them from erosion, mechanical, and electrical damage.
Varnishes are chosen based on the motors’ class/temperature range.
Can I use wood varnish as motor varnish?
No. The wood varnish should not be used as the Insulation Varnish of the motor.
The wood varnishes are a simple combination of Carbon and plastic pyrolyze with other organic compounds. It can’t increase motor insulation or protect.
Wood varnish has a limited range of temperature toleration and then, it either decomposes into its components or just evaporates.
The Insulation varnishes used in the motors have different levels based on the temperature ranges of the motor classes. While the wood varnishes do not have such levels.
How do you Varnish Motor Windings?
There are 4 methods to varnish a motor’s windings.
Dip and Bake
“Dip and bake” is the most commonly used varnishing method. Motors after winding are done are dipped into a tank of varnish.
Then, put into an oven to cure. For better results, when the motor is cooled down after curing, it is dipped again and cured again for the second time.
The results are better after the second dip and cure because the varnish lasts longer than a single dip and bake.
But if it is dipped and baked for the third time, it reduces the efficiency of the motor by adding weight to the motor.
Trickle Varnishing
Trickle Varnishing is better than dip and bake. In trickle varnishing, the motor is linked to electric wires and a rotating machine. Then a stream of varnish is poured over it.
The resistance is applied using wires. Once the windings are saturated, the current through the wires is increased for curing purposes.
Vacuum Pressure Impregnation
In this method, the varnish is poured into a tank, then the tank is heated. Then the motor is placed inside the tank and the tank is vacuumed. This method does not satisfy the time constraints.
Ultra-Seal winding
If the motor is to be used in extreme atmospheric conditions, engineers prefer the ultra-seal method of windings. This method is used for motors only.
Coils are sealed with the high molecular mass thermoset resin of polymer.
Top Electrical Insulation varnish manufacturers
- Master Bond.
- Koala Insulation.
- WESCORP.
- Anti-Seize Technology
- Norland Product, Inc.
Does motor varnishing really increase insulation?
The only purpose of Varnishing is to insulate the motor windings. So, the answer is quite obvious that, the motor varnish improves the insulation of the motor windings.
I, in my work, use varnish to increase electrical motor insulation, as well as generators insulation.
However the conductors of the winding are insulated, its a good practice to increase its insulation with insulating varnish. We add varnish to the rewinded motors and generators to protect the windings from moisture.
My work is in the desert, and the humidity is high, in the past before we use varnish, humidity caused the windings to corrode.
Does motor varnish increase its temperature?
The motor over insulation may increase the temperature of the motor windings.
The temperature increases in the motor winding when the same winding is dipped again and again in the varnish for insulation purposes.
The varnishing of the windings blocks the air vents and opening of stator and armature.
The airflow through these vents reduces significantly. This reduced airflow leads to the rise in temperature of motor windings.
So, I recommend to check the winding before varnishing it. If the Insulation of windings is in poor condition, it must be varnished but if the varnish is intact then it is advised not to varnish it again.
For more details about, How does temperature rise affect electrical devices? Read my article.
Why is insulation have paper backing?
To separate the motor windings from each other, insulating paper must be inserted as a good insulation layer. Not only motor winding has insulating paper, transformers do too.
This reduces the chances of the short circuiting. Conclusively, we can state that the paper avoids the Inter-turn Breakdown in the windings and increase the protection against short circuit.
In many cases in my work, short circuit destroy electrical generators and motors if the protection device failed for any reason. Read my detailed article about, What is short circuit? Why is it dangerous?
What Motor Insulation is Inverter Duty?
Class F motor is the Inverter Duty Insulation. The Class F insulation is used for Inverter Duty motors because, the Inverter Duty motor must be insulated with voltage spike-resistant insulation.
In industrial areas, the temperature level is too high. The inverter-duty motors run at a low frequency.
When they run at a lower frequency, the motor cooling fan also moves with lesser speed. This low fan speed slows down the cooling process that increases the temperature of the motor.
This will eventually cause the motor to overheated and may burn out depending upon the safety system used.
But if the class F insulation is used, the chances of these fatal accidents minimize.
Class F insulation has tendency to tolerate temperature up to 155-degrees Celsius. So, the insulation can withstand during higher temperatures.
Even if the temperature increases to 155 degrees Celsius, the insulation will stay intact for 10 more degrees.
For more information, read my articles:
Join my Electrical Engineering YouTube channel
Discover more great content by subscribing to My channel
Looking to stay ahead of the game in the world of electrical engineering? Subscribe to my YouTube channel and gain access to exclusive content you won’t find anywhere else!
Don’t leave empty-handed! Subscribe now.
