Electric motor ?

tomstractorsandtoys

Well-known Member
We are planning to empty our 60 ft. silo,it has a 5 horse power motor on the unloader.The unloader will be ran continously all day.My question is how many amps can I run it all day without overheating or burnin up my motor? It is an older motor but about three years ago we took it off and had a motor shop go thru it.When we were filing our silage mixer we would run 50 amps but that was only for a few minutes.It is a 16ft diameter silo and we are unloading corn silage.I really do not want to have motor problems and have to lug a motor up a silo shute.We aso have help lined up to haul silage all day to the dairy that is buying it. Thanks Tom
 
An electric motor draws the most amps on startup. If its drawing 50 amps for a few minutes it should draw 50 amps all day. Better check the nameplate and see if it is rated for continuous duty. I think that running it more than 3 hours at a time may qualify as continuous and could be hard on it.
 
I assume the motor is 220 volt. At 5 hp rating it should not be loaded more than 25 amps. Current draw in excess of 25 amps will shorten the life of the motor.
 
7 1/2 hp motor on our 20 foot unloader ran 37 amps on full load, so I"d agree with B&D on the 5 hp rating. Remember to grease the unloader on a regular basis as well.
 
For a 5 HP motor, 50 amps is way over the rated full load amps.

Depending on your application, 5 HP on single phase 240v max continous amps is 32A, 3 phase 240v is 15A.

Most single phase motors have internal overload circuitry, a 3 phase should have overload protection in the starter. Either will protect the motor from damage, but will require cool down time.

Sense it has run for short peroids, it will probably continue to do so providing the motor has overload protection, or should I say overheat protection. Running too long, too overloaded will result in overheat, which will trip the heater, or burn up the motor.
 
Well the up side is that the climb gets shorter with every load out if it. LOL
Now can you change the pulleys /sprockets to achieve a slower unload rate that would reduce the electric draw on the motor? Another words have lees work and turn easier.
 

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Back
Top