Thread: Does motor temp affect performance?
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Unread 09-04-2010, 19:43
sanddrag sanddrag is offline
On to my 16th year in FRC
FRC #0696 (Circuit Breakers)
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Re: Does motor temp affect performance?
I've machined an aluminum heat sink for a CIM, and installed it with thermal paste. I think it had about 40 fins, about 3/16" wide, but only about 1/8" tall. It was the length of the motor. Didn't make any appreciable difference in temperature after running. I installed a high-flow fan pointed straight at the back of the motor (directed along the length of the fins). Didn't make any appreciable difference. I was running the motor under a constant load that made it draw about 25 amps continuous. Within 4 minutes, it was time to stop and cool for 10 minutes.

The heat comes from the windings within, with not a lot of ways out. Time, and dropping the temperature of the surroundings (endbell especially) is the only thing that will cool it sufficiently.
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Teacher/Engineer/Machinist - Team 696 Circuit Breakers, 2011 - Present
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