Advanced Energy Motors and Drives Program Update

AHRI 1210: Advanced Energy recently re-signed a contract to continue testing for the Air-Conditioning, Heating, & Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) 1210 standard. Advanced Energy is the sole source in the world able to perform this testing, and the new contract will allow the lab to carry on through 2020.

AHRI 1210 is a voluntary standard that was written and developed by leading variable frequency drive (VFD) manufacturers in the HVAC industry. To meet the standard, drive manufacturers must report values of system efficiency, total harmonic distortion, peak voltage and rise time to AHRI for each VFD model they want to be certified. A random subset of drives is then selected by Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL) and delivered to the Advanced Energy lab for testing. Advanced Energy tests each of the selected drives and sends the results back to UL, who verifies whether they are compliant with those reported by the manufacturer. If they are, that model of drives becomes certified by AHRI 1210. Click here to see the list of current models certified.

ANCE MRA Renewal and NOM Designation: Advanced Energy recently renewed its mutual recognition agreement with the Asociación Nacional de Normalización y Certificación, A.C. (ANCE) to test to two standards: NOM-016-ENER-2016 (for three-phase motors) and NOM-014-ENER-2004 (for single-phase motors). Since 2012, Advanced Energy has been the only independent motor efficiency testing lab outside of Mexico to receive NORMA Oficial Mexicana (NOM) designation for electric motor testing. In 2018, the lab will receive a new audit from ANCE, which conducts assessments every three years.

Proven Efficiency Verification: Advanced Energy’s Proven Efficiency Verification (PEV) program is a first-of-its-kind third-party quality assurance program that ensures consistency and reliability in motor repairs while achieving energy savings. The program assesses facility standards and processes for repairing ac-induction, three-phase electric motors used in industrial and commercial applications. The accreditation begins with an application and on-site evaluation that assesses at minimum:

• Specific equipment operation, maintenance and calibration
• Choice of parts and materials for repair
• Skill of employees and their training experience
• Management and overall commitment to quality
• Repair procedures and associated documentation

Once this initial evaluation is completed, the facility must perform before-and-after rewind testing in Advanced Energy’s lab to prove efficiency was maintained during rewind. This testing aspect of the PEV program sets it apart from other third-party repair programs. Annual renewal requirements must also be met to continue accreditation.

EASA Accreditation and Wallace Electrical Spotlight: Service centers who initially joined the Electrical Apparatus Service Association’s (EASA’s) accreditation program through Advanced Energy are now going through their second round of external on-site audits, showing their dedication to the program.

EASA launched its program in 2014, and Advanced Energy has been one of just four entities worldwide to be sanctioned by EASA as a third-party auditor. The program evaluates motor service centers to ensure they are using prescribed industry good practices (based on ANSI/EASA AR100-2015) to maintain motor efficiency and reliability during repairs. Auditors perform an on-site assessment in the first year of the program, and then internal assessments with auditor oversight are conducted the following two years. In the fourth year, the process starts over with a second on-site visit by the auditor and is a requirement to maintain accreditation.

Advanced Energy would also like to congratulate Wallace Electrical Systems LLC in West Frankfort, Illinois, for being the newest member to receive EASA accreditation and thank them for their commitment to high-quality motor repair. “We appreciated the suggestions and guidance that was given to our team to achieve the excellence that Wallace Electrical Systems strives for and look forward to any new ideas or procedures to benefit our motor program,” said Randy Puckett, vice president of sales and marketing, Wallace Electrical Systems. “Our hats off to Advanced Energy and EASA who helped raise the bar for Wallace Electrical Systems Motor Shop Facility.”

Utility Services: Since its inception, American Electric Power (AEP) Ohio’s EMotor Rewind Program has provided rebates to 21 motors totaling 8,975 Hp and 196,870 kWh of energy savings. The program offers AEP Ohio customers a $2 per Hp incentive on qualifying rewinds up to 5,000 Hp when they use a certified motor service center. These service centers also receive a $1 per Hp incentive for each qualifying repair. They are required to maintain PEV accreditation annually.

Advanced Energy has also been continuing its motor trainings. Training events are offered coast to coast and can be customized to specific client needs, combining classroom instruction with hands-on activities. Recently completed trainings in Greensboro (Oct. 17) and Raleigh (Oct. 19), North Carolina, featured one-day classes on fundamentals / basic principles and practices of motors and drives. The next upcoming training will occur on November 15 in Greenville, South Carolina, and will be sponsored by Duke Energy.

Contact Us: Please feel free to contact Kitt Butler or Michael Lyda of the Advanced Energy Motors and Drives team for more information on any of the programs listed above or for your general motor and drive testing needs.

Kitt Butler, Program Manager: kbutler@advancedenergy.org and 919-857-9017

Michael Lyda, Motor Lab Manager: mlyda@advancedenergy.org and 919-716-6391