--- title: Does Your System Need Shaft Grounding Technology? description: Using variable frequency drives to control AC motors is still a terrific idea to help increase hydronic HVAC commercial system performance. However, care should be taken so that VFDs don't do damage to the motors due to bearing current. image: https://blogs.heattransfersales.com/hubfs/SGRs-250.jpg --- [![HTS_Logo_RGB_and_White](https://blogs.heattransfersales.com/hs-fs/hubfs/HTS_Logo_RGB_and_White.png?width=270&height=81&name=HTS_Logo_RGB_and_White.png "HTS_Logo_RGB_and_White")](http://www.heattransfersales.com) - [Home](https://heattransfersales.com/) - [Products](https://heattransfersales.com/products) - [Manufacturers Represented](https://heattransfersales.com/products) - [Packaged Systems](https://heattransfersales.com/products) - [Customer Service](https://heattransfersales.com/customer-service) - [Parts](https://heattransfersales.com/parts) - [Pump Repair](https://heattransfersales.com/pump-repair) - [Service](https://heattransfersales.com/service) - [Pump'nFlo](https://heattransfersales.com/pump-nflo) - [Resources](https://heattransfersales.com/resources) - [Training](https://heattransfersales.com/training) - [Sustainable System Concepts](https://heattransfersales.com/sustainable-system-concepts) - [Airside HVAC](https://heattransfersales.com/hvac-equipment) - [Plumbing Equipment](https://heattransfersales.com/plumbing-equipment) - [Building Automation](https://heattransfersales.com/building-automation) - [Blog](https://blogs.heattransfersales.com/blog) - [Careers](https://heattransfersales.com/careers) - [About Us](https://heattransfersales.com/about-us) - [History](https://heattransfersales.com/history) - [Privacy Policy](https://324b4bc7-5729-4ace-b8c0-bc77b425b76e.filesusr.com/ugd/ff46b9_f6100e8b535d465f9fb060f60f8049cc.pdf) - [Terms of Use](https://324b4bc7-5729-4ace-b8c0-bc77b425b76e.filesusr.com/ugd/ff46b9_8a108a4c73734c8ca00866bdecf7cb60.pdf) - [Contact](https://heattransfersales.com/contact) ### Topics - Select a Topic ### Stay up to date SUBSCRIBE TO OUR BLOG ### Stay up to date [Energy Savings](https://blogs.heattransfersales.com/blog/topic/energy-savings) [HVAC Design Tools](https://blogs.heattransfersales.com/blog/topic/hvac-design-tools) [Variable Frequency Drives](https://blogs.heattransfersales.com/blog/topic/variable-frequency-drives) # Does Your System Need Shaft Grounding Technology? ![Picture of Kelly Patterson](https://blogs.heattransfersales.com/hubfs/Blog_images/10801587_10152577444568382_8583161712827376882_n.jpg) By [Kelly Patterson](https://blogs.heattransfersales.com/blog/author/kelly-patterson) on November, 16 2018 [mailto:?body=https://blogs.heattransfersales.com/blog/does-your-system-need-shaft-grounding-technology](mailto:?body=https://blogs.heattransfersales.com/blog/does-your-system-need-shaft-grounding-technology) ![SGRs-250](https://blogs.heattransfersales.com/hubfs/SGRs-250.jpg) We are huge advocates of utilizing VFDs to control AC motors in most instances.  It isn't often that we need to run a pump motor at full speed, so we can reduce our energy consumption (*lower costs*) while being a little kinder to our motors by installing VFDs in our systems.  Rarely in life do we encounter anything that is flawless, however, and VFDs are no exception.  They do lower our operating costs and can increase system performance, but they also create shaft voltage.  Simply put, VFDs induce voltage onto the shaft of the driven motor.  This can cause pitting, fluting and, if left unchecked, bearing and motor failure.  Addressing motor failure has become a significant problem in HVAC systems and in industrial systems.  **"The largest motor manufacturer in the United States has cited eliminating drive-related motor failures as its number one engineering challenge."** *(from AEGIS white paper, Preventing VFD/AC Drive-Induced Electrical Damage to AC Motor Bearings)* **We are here to help you solve this problem. ** Well, actually, a company named AEGIS is here to help you solve it.  While Heat Transfer Sales does not represent AEGIS products, we are intent on helping engineers solve system problems.  From what we've seen, AEGIS products address this problem nicely.  AEGIS offers a variety of shaft grounding rings designed to divert bearing currents to ground. They even offer a few free resources for engineers, including technical white papers: [White Paper:  Preventing VFD/AC Drive-Induced Electrical Damage to AC Motor Bearings](https://est-aegis.com/TechPaper.pdf) [White Paper: To Be Considered "True Inverter Duty," Motors Need Bearing Protection](https://www.est-aegis.com/datasheets/True_Inverter_Duty_Motors_need_Bearing_Protection.pdf) [Click here](https://www.est-aegis.com/techpapers.php) for the full list of white papers and technical resources available from AEGIS. Take a look at this short video before and after AEGIS Ring installation:   The benefits of using VFDs are numerous, but we want to take care to protect our motors from any side-effects created by utilizing VFDs.  If you need questions answered about VFD selection or other equipment, please contact your local manufacturer's representative.  We are here to make your life a little easier.   [![Click here to learn about the Q-Link VFD with easy smartphone start-up, troubleshooting and reporting](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/715354/14679f6a-3e52-4951-a2e4-cc1f15d88e72.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/715354/14679f6a-3e52-4951-a2e4-cc1f15d88e72)               ###### About The Author [More from this author](https://blogs.heattransfersales.com/blog/author/kelly-patterson) ![](https://blogs.heattransfersales.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_images/10801587_10152577444568382_8583161712827376882_n.jpg?height=100&name=10801587_10152577444568382_8583161712827376882_n.jpg) ###### Kelly Patterson Kelly Patterson is an avid fan of marketing HVAC and plumbing equipment and does it on a daily basis for all the Hoffman family of companies. #### Recommended Articles [![Predictive Maintenance Can Prevent Boiler Problems](https://blogs.heattransfersales.com/hubfs/Predictive%20Maintance.png)](https://blogs.heattransfersales.com/blog/predictive_maintenance_prevents_boiler_problems-0) ###### [Predictive Maintenance Can Prevent Boiler Problems](https://blogs.heattransfersales.com/blog/predictive_maintenance_prevents_boiler_problems-0) - 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