Motor Circuit Evaluator - Brief Article

Railway Age, August, 2000

To improve traction motor reliability and performance, PdMA Corporation offers a customizable Motor Circuit Evaluator (MCE[TM]) system that collects data and reports trends. Norfolk Southern uses six stationary MCE motor testers and software, and NS electrical engineer Tom Gardner says short-time failures--when a traction motor is repaired and returned for service in less than a year--have decreased by 40%.

Gardner has created guidelines to determine if a motor needs a complete overhaul or a repair. He points out that "the database information is just beginning to accumulate where we can see the improvements in statistical terms. But I know, for every motor we keep from failing underneath a locomotive, we've saved the company at least $10,000."