Electrical Conduction Damage and Its Consequences – Electrically Insulated Bearings as Prevention
Electrical Conduction Damage and Its Consequences
When using rolling bearings in:
- Wheelsets and traction motors (Rail Vehicles)
- DC and AC motors (Drive Technology)
- Generators (Wind Energy)
there can be electrical conduction. Under unfavorable conditions, this can lead to damage to races and rolling elements, resulting in premature and unexpected failure of a motor or generator. In addition to the cost of repairs, this translates to extra expenses due to machine or production downtime. It is significantly more economical to consider the use of electrically insulated bearings during planning. This increases customer benefits through reduced maintenance costs and greater machine availability. Generally, it is sufficient to interrupt the circuit between the housing and the shaft to apply electrically insulated bearings at one or both bearing points depending on the installation situation. Electrically insulated bearings (ceramic-coated or hybrid versions) typically show a significantly higher resistance to electrical conduction compared to standard bearings.
Electrically Insulated Bearings (Coated) as Prevention
With electrically insulated bearings, you can protect your applications. We possess extensive expertise in this area, as well as a comprehensive product range for numerous applications.
Insutect A
With their optimized aluminum oxide layer, Schaeffler Insutect A of the J20G series provide a cost-effective alternative to hybrid bearings with ceramic balls for various requirements.
Hybrid Bearings
In situations where maximum protection is required – whether in traction motors of rail vehicles or in generators of wind turbines – hybrid bearings with ceramic rolling elements from Schaeffler offer optimal protection against severe damage due to electrical conduction.
Source: Schaeffler
For more extensive information on the topic, please refer to the following PDF from Schaeffler:
