Motor Current Signature Analysis (MCSA)

Motor current signature analysis detects mechanical and electrical faults by analysing the electrical current drawn by a motor — no sensor on the machine itself. It reveals rotor-bar breaks, winding faults and load-side problems such as imbalance and misalignment in the driven equipment.

How it works

The motor's current is sampled and its frequency spectrum analysed. Faults modulate the current in characteristic ways: broken rotor bars create sidebands around the line frequency, while mechanical problems in the motor or the driven load (pump, fan, conveyor) appear as other current components. Because it reads from the motor control cabinet, it can monitor assets that are hard or unsafe to reach.

What the data shows

Sidebands around the line frequency indicate broken or cracked rotor bars; specific current components flag winding faults; load-related current patterns reveal imbalance, misalignment or flow problems in the driven equipment.

Motor Current Signature Analysis (MCSA) by equipment

Glossary: Motor Current Signature Analysis (MCSA) →