Field motor testing: procedures which limit amount of involved risk

When a motor's reliability is uncertain, electrical and mechanical tests can be conducted to determine its state of heath. In the process of conducting some of these tests, it is possible to aggravate a problem, or even create a problem which did not exist before testing. By performing tests which vary in their level of severity from a low level, and incrementally increasing in severity, it is possible to limit the amount of stress imposed on the motor. In doing so, the risk of further degradation (or even total motor failure) is limited to how much information needs to be obtained about the motors condition. This paper presents an argument by which motor testing can be safely conducted, as well as an analysis on the associated risks in conducting these tests.