Marathon Motors Frequently Asked Questions
Use "Ctrl-F" to search for specific words in this FAQ.
Question:
What style of motors do we carry?
Answer
AutomationDirect carries various motor lines, like:
- IronHorse
- Marathon
- WEG
- Toshiba
- US Motors
Please see the Motor Selections on our website for all the various models available.
FAQ ID: 1141
Question:
What type of motors DON'T we carry?
Answer
AutomationDirect carries a wide array of motors, but we don't have *every* type of motor available, like explosion-proof.
Please see the Motor Selections on our website for all the motors that we do have available.
FAQ ID: 1143
Question:
What is the shaft diameter in your CAD drawings?
Answer
Dimension "U" represents the shaft diameter.
FAQ ID: 1145
Question:
What motors can be used with a drive (inverter)?
Answer
All the 3-phase AC motors we sell can be used with AC Drives (do not try to use a single-phase motor with a drive - it won't work!). The main restriction on using a motor with a drive is "how slow can you turn the motor while it is fully loaded". Since many of the motors we sell are Totally Enclosed Fan Cooled (TEFC), they must run above a certain speed for the fan to cool the motor. All our 3-phase motors have specification tables that specify the "Minimum Speed" that the motor can be driven when fully loaded. If the motor is fully loaded and driven at a slower speed, the motor will overheat. Many of our general purpose IronHorse motors can run 1/4 to 1/10th of their base speed. Some of the inverter-duty Marathon can run 1/1000th of their base speed (an 1800RPM MicroMax motor can run 1800/1000 = 1.8RPMs fully loaded).
Also, we recommend always using a line reactor wired between the drive and the motor. A line reactor can reduce the peak voltages generated from any AC drive that can prematurely break down the motor insulation. Google "AC drive reflected wave" for more information.
FAQ ID: 1147
Question:
What are the part #'s for the encoder connectors on the -A77x motors?
Answer
We sell solderable MS connectors and a pre-made MS cable to connect to the Marathon -A772, -A774, and -A775 encoder options. The pre-made cable part number is TRDA-25CBL-VWD-xx (10, 20, & 30 ft lengths) and the replacement MS connector is TRDA-25CON-VWD.
We also sell the replacement Marathon encoder kit (part numbers A772, A774, A775) that includes the encoder and all mounting brackets. The Marathon BlackMax, BlueMax, and BlueChip encoder motors have Dynapar HS351024844B7 encoders installed (w/MS connectors). Marathon MaxPlus motors have Dynapar HS201024BX4BX11 encoders installed (w/field-wirable screw terminals).
FAQ ID: 1286
Question:
How do I find info on Marathon's website? (wiring diagram etc)
Answer
AutomationDirect has a lot of information on each motor's item page (and a link to the motor Specifications).
If you would like further information, go to
www.marathonelectric.com Choose Motors North America, then enter your motor's catalog number into the "Product Search" field.
FAQ ID: 1325
Question:
Can I use these on electric vehicles?
Answer
No.
Electric vehicles require motors specially designed for use in automotive applications.
AutomationDirect is a direct seller of automation and industrial control products such as PLCs, sensors, pushbuttons, AC drives/motors, enclosures, operator interfaces, and much more. AutomationDirect is aware that many engineers and hobbyists are currently designing or converting vehicles from internal combustion engines to electric engines. Our current drive and motor products are intended to be used in industrial applications. As a result, AutomationDirect does not currently support or encourage the use of our products in electric vehicles. We apologize for this, and may revise this policy at a later date if more suitable equipment becomes available.
FAQ ID: 1355
Question:
Are there any mounting restrictions on Marathon motors?
Answer
The only restriction is the shaft can't be pointing up. But always check each model's Specification pages to determine any limitations.
FAQ ID: 1429