Electric Motor / Testing and Commissioning

How to measure insulation resistance of a motor

By Edvard June, 9th

2014

Winding insulation resistance

If the motor is not put into operation immediately upon arrival, it is important to protect it against external factors like
moisture, high temperature and impurities in order to avoid damage to the insulation. Before the motor is put into operation
after a long period of storage, you have to measure the winding insulation resistance.

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 How to measure insulation resistance of a motor (photo credit: elecls.cc.oita-u.ac.jp)

If the motor is kept in a place with high humidity, a periodical inspection is necessary.

It is practically impossible to determine rules for the actual minimum insulation resistance value of a motor because
resistance varies according to method of construction, condition of insulation material used, rated voltage, size and type. In
fact, it takes many years of experience to determine whether a motor is ready for operation or not.

A general rule-of-thumb is 10 Megohm or more.

Insulation resistance value Insulation level

2 Megohm or less Bad
2-5 Megohm Critical
5-10 Megohm Abnormal
10-50 Megohm Good
50-100 Megohm Very good
100 Megohm or more Excellent

The measurement of insulation resistance is carried out by means of a megohmmeter – high resistance range ohmmeter.
This is how the test works: DC voltage of 500 or 1000 V is applied between the windings and the ground of the motor.

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 Ground insulation test of a motor

During the measurement and immediately afterwards, some of the terminals carry
dangerous voltages and MUST NOT BE TOUCHED.

Now, three points are worth mentioning in this connection: Insulation resistance, Measurement and Checking.

1. Insulation resistance

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 The minimum insulation resistance of new, cleaned or repaired windings with respect to ground is 10 Megohm or
more.
The minimum insulation resistance, R, is calculated by multiplying the rated voltage Un, with the constant factor 0.5
Megohm/kV.

For example: If the rated voltage is 690 V = 0.69 kV, the minimum insulation resistance is: 0.69 kV x 0.5 Megohm/kV
= 0.35 Megohm

2. Measurement

Minimum insulation resistance of the winding to ground is measured with 500 V DC. The winding temperature should
be 25°C ± 15°C.
Maximum insulation resistance should be measured with 500 V DC with the windings at a operating temperature of 80
– 120°C depending on the motor type and efficiency.

3. Checking

If the insulation resistance of a new, cleaned or repaired motor that has been stored for some time is less then 10
Mohm, the reason might be that the windings are humid and need to be dried.
If the motor has been operating for a long period of time, the minimum insulation resistance may drop to a critical
level. As long as the measured value does not fall below the calculated value of minimum insulation resistance, the
motor can continue to run.

However, if it drops below this limit, the motor has to be stopped immediately, in order to avoid that people get hurt
due to the high leakage voltage.

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 Reference: Grudfos – Motor Book

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About Author
Edvard Csanyi

Electrical engineer, programmer and founder of EEP. Highly specialized for design of LV/MV switchgears and LV high power
busbar trunking (<6300A) in power substations, commercial buildings and industry fascilities. Professional in AutoCAD
programming. Present on Google+

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 31 Comments

This article is really helpful to me and solved half of my worries concerning resistance insulation. But there is
something that is not clear to me or maybe I don’t understand it. Well, its base on resistance in ohms.
Mikegen please, tell me the general rules guiding winding resistance in ohms.
FFE
EBB 1144,, 22001177

I will be very glad if you can solve this worries of mine.

Thanks.

(reply)

My candit option is the article have been so explicit, however, you have said the IR, varies, depend on the
type of material used, the size… Is it in kW? Pl use another example, because, .35mohms/kV, is not clear to
Jerry me. I want to know how to calculate the minimum IR, of an electric motor.
O
OCCTT 2200,, 22001166

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 (reply)

Is it common to test the resistance between the windings as wells as the one between winding and ground?

(reply)
Tsvetan
M
MAAR
R 0088,, 22001166

Nice ,articles provides good practical knowledge

(reply)
Ketan
O
OCCTT 1122,, 22001155

75HP (55KW) motor has 0.1M ohms L1 – L2 – L3 conductors and 0.0M ohm conductors to GND after three
idle years. It was cleaned, dried by 1000W lamp heat and re-vanished to get 2.2G ohms conductors to GND.
Emeka Thereafter, motor draws currents 22A on NO-Load and 149A when coupled to 75HP Fire water pump which
S
SEEP
P 2211,, 22001155
caused over heat to 250Kw and 350Kw power generator. What is the fault of the above procedure and
possible solution?

(reply)

Tank u for de help pls we need more information about magger

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 (reply)

Ernest
Anderson
JJU
ULL 11
11,, 22001155

Very useful artciles are take place here. As an unexperienced engineer those articles are very educating and
informative.
Murat
Baykal (reply)
M
MAAR
R 1100,, 22001155

How about the ratio one min per 15s and 10mins per 1 min?
Thanks
Yphamngoc
N
NOOV
V 1166,, 22001144 (reply)

Am a bit confused on the illustrations on insulation resistance test. If 2 megaohm is considered bad base on
the thumb rule and you calculated the minimum insulation resistance in the example to be 0.35megaohm is
Michael this not below the 2megaohms considered bad? Pls clarify
Okikiri
N
NOOV
V 0066,, 22001144
Michael okikiri

(reply)

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 In general, it is considered as 2 M ohms. But for critical operation this can be lowered to 0.35 M Ohms as
stated. Once the emergency situation is out, the cause of low insulation should be attended.
Tv
N
NOOV
V 1166,, 22001144 (reply)

I want to learn more about electrical engineerinf department

(reply)
Farai
Benie
O
OCCTT 3300,, 22001144

how could i download the pdf of this article?please help me…

(reply)
Awny
O
OCCTT 0011,, 22001144

how could i download the pdf of this article?please help me…

(reply)
Mustafa
Rabiul
Hassan
S
SEEP
P 1188,, 22001144

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 As a lecturer in electrical department I find this page very useful.

(reply)
Nombuso
S
SEEP
P 0099,, 22001144

I think we can use EASA or IEEE std. 43, table 3

(reply)
Arif
Wahyudi
S
SEEP
P 0033,, 22001144

Nice presentation!

(reply)
Todd
Thomassen
A
AUUG
G 0022,, 22001144

What may be the cause when you meggar between L1 and L3 and get results of less than 0,5 Megohm?
and when you meggar between other phases you get more than 0,5 Megohm even between phases and
Malesela earth is 0,5 Megohm.
Godfrey
JJU
ULL 0066,, 22001144
(reply)

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 L1 & L3 always should show zero resistance with megger. So, also between L1 & L2, L2 & L3. But, with
respect to Earth the value should be higher the resistance higher the benefits. The symptoms that you
Vijay wrote clearly shows that the windings are pretty bad. Requires overhauling.
O
OCCTT 2211,, 22001144
Vijay

(reply)

Thanks

(reply)
Nigel
Chikanv
JJU
ULL 0033,, 22001144

very useful ………

(reply)
VIKAS
PRAKASH
SINGH
JJU
UNN 2288,, 22001144

I agree with John that there is an contradiction about the minimum insulation resistance.

The example above is saying that 0,35Mohm is the minimum IR for a 690V motor. I don´t agree.

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 There is another point that I don´t know if I didn´t understand or if there is an error:

2 Measurement
Matias
Azambuja
JJU
UNN 2266,, 22001144 Minimum insulation resistance of the winding to ground is measured with 500 V DC. The winding
temperature should be 25°C ± 15°C.
Maximum insulation resistance should be measured with 500 V DC with the windings at a operating
temperature of 80 – 120°C depending on the motor type and efficiency.

In my opinion there is no reason to measure de IR in 2 different temperatures. Also, when we increase the
temperature the IR tend to reduce not increase because isolating material have a behavior different from
conductive materials.

(reply)

Muy buena nota! !!

(reply)
Pablo
Delgado
JJU
UNN 2222,, 22001144

It is good article sir,

Thank u
ANIL
KUMAR.M (reply)
JJU
UNN 1199,, 22001144

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 Very very useful for me

(reply)
Meenakshi
Sundaram
Balu
JJU
UNN 1188,, 22001144

Hi John !

H Santa Good Morning.

Rao
JJU
UNN 1155,, 22001144 It is because of An Electrical Equipment for that matter should run at High Value of IR.based on Operating
Voltage and current as well.

i.e We can Charge an apparatus but we cannot take risk of continued charging an apparatus with minimal
Safe Value of IR which may vary depends on Site Conditions.

for further details refer the standard Books on Electricity Utility.

(reply)

Hi
I need some info about electromotor rtd’s. such as:wiring;how to work & position in electromors
Hadi
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 JJU
UNN 1133,, 22001144
Thanks
Hadi

(reply)

The above article reads partially as follows:

John “2 Megohm or less Bad”

McGraw
JJU
UNN 1122,, 22001144 ” The minimum insulation resistance of new, cleaned or repaired windings with respect to ground is 10
Megohm or more.
The minimum insulation resistance, R, is calculated by multiplying the rated voltage Un, with the constant
factor 0.5 Megohm/kV.

For example: If the rated voltage is 690 V = 0.69 kV, the minimum insulation resistance is: 0.69 kV x 0.5
Megohm/kV = 0.35 Megohm”

There appears to be a contradiction here unless I am missing something. How can .35mOhm be ok if
anything under 2 is Bad and the recommended is 10?

(reply)

Hi eng john , i think this calculated values it true when the applyed voltage 1000 V, otherwise your point is
5stars
Haytham
JJU
UNN 2211,, 22001144

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 (reply)

ya its fine

(reply)
Sha Baba
JJU
UNN 11
11,, 22001144

Very useful article sir. Thanks….

(reply)
Sajna
Soman
JJU
UNN 1100,, 22001144

hi sanjana how do u do nice I also appreciate

(reply)
Sha Baba
JJU
UNN 11
11,, 22001144

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