IronHorse 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 the IronHorse and Marathon motor lines. There are AC and DC motors, from general purpose to invertor rated, etc.
Please see the Motor Selections on our website for all the various models available.
FAQ ID: 1140
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: 1142
Question:
What is the shaft diameter in your CAD drawings?
Answer
Dimension "U" represents the shaft diameter.
FAQ ID: 1144
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 motors 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: 1146
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: 1356
Question:
Can the single phase Ironhorse motors (such as MTR-P50-1AB18) be used with 50 Hz power?
Answer
The motor in question, MTR-P50-1AB18, should not be used with 50Hz power. Other single phase motors we sell can be used with either 50Hz or 60Hz power. Always check the Specifications table to see whether a motor can be fed 50Hz power. That information can also be found on the motor nameplate (see our Media Gallery photos of the motor labels).
FAQ ID: 1367
Question:
Are there any mounting restrictions on the Ironhorse motors?
Answer
No, the motor can be oriented in any direction, shaft up, shaft down, etc. But, always check each model's Specification pages to determine if there are limitations.
FAQ ID: 1371
Question:
What is the max input speed of the inline helical gearboxes?
Answer
1800 RPM
FAQ ID: 1570