Motors & overloads
Won't start, tripping overloads, and running faults.
Motor overload keeps tripping
The thermal/electronic overload trips repeatedly, either on start or after the motor has run for a while. Resetting only buys you a short run before it trips again.
Motor won't start and makes no sound at all
Press start and nothing happens — no hum, no movement, no attempt to turn. The motor is completely dead rather than struggling.
Motor hums but won't start to turn
On start the motor hums or buzzes but won't rotate — it may draw heavy current and trip protection. Often a sign it's only getting two phases or is mechanically locked.
Motor running hot / overheating
The motor runs but gets excessively hot — too hot to touch, smell of hot insulation, or thermal protection cutting in after a while.
Motor noisy or vibrating (bearing / mechanical)
The motor runs but is noisy, rough, or vibrating — grinding, rumbling, or whining noises that point to bearings or mechanical trouble.
Motor with low insulation resistance to earth
An insulation resistance test on the motor reads low to earth — a sign the winding insulation is degraded, damp, or contaminated, risking trips and failure.
Soft starter faulting or not ramping the motor
A soft starter won't ramp the motor up smoothly — it faults out, the motor jerks or doesn't reach full speed, or the bypass doesn't engage.
Motor trips protection on start but runs fine if it gets going
Protection trips during the start/inrush, but on the rare occasion it gets running it's fine — pointing at starting current, settings, or load inertia rather than a running fault.
Motor runs in the wrong direction
The motor runs but the wrong way — pump runs backwards, fan blows the wrong way, conveyor reverses. Usually a phase-rotation issue after wiring or supply work.
Motor draws fluctuating current / unstable running
The motor runs but its current swings up and down, speed surges, or it runs roughly — pointing at load variation, supply, or control instability rather than a hard fault.
Pump motor runs but there's no flow
The pump motor runs normally electrically, but there's little or no flow/pressure — the electrics are fine, so the problem is hydraulic, priming, or direction.