I have an ac electric motor 7.2hp 3600 mounted to a vertical mixer and gear reducer that is shooting out sparks. Any reason as to why this is happening?
If it is a single-phase motor, it may have a centrifugal starting switch that is opening and closing. Another possibility is a broken wire or loose connection inside the motor. There could be a wire shorting to the motor housing causing a ground fault. The motor's rotor or one of the gears may be grinding against the housing or some piece of metal that has come loose, broken off or gotten into the housing from the outside.
At 7.2 Hp it must be a 3 phase motor. Are the sparks coming from the terminal box or from within the motor (if it is screen protected not TEFC). If the sparks come from within the motor, then it'd probably beyond repair ans will need a rewind or replacement. if they come from the terminal box, check for loose connections, abraded insulation loose connections etc.
Bad carbon brushes, or the tiny springs that hold them tight against the commutator, would be My guess. Do You know exactly what type of motor is there?
