What does intermittent duty mean for high torque motors?

• A. Not continuous; has downtime between operations
• B. Continuous operation with no delay
• C. Requires cooling only after peak usage
• D. Runs at variable speed continuously

Answer: (A)

Intermittent duty means the motor runs in bursts with downtime between operations, allowing heat to dissipate and the motor to cool before the next burst. For high torque motors, this matters because producing high torque generates a lot of heat; keeping the motor running continuously can push it toward overheating, reducing efficiency and shortening life. The planned on/off pattern lets the motor work hard when needed and then rest to cool, maintaining performance and reliability.

Continuous operation with no delay describes a motor on all the time, which is not intermittent. Cooling only after peak usage implies cooling happens after peak demand rather than as part of the on/off cycle, which doesn’t capture the built-in on/off nature of intermittent duty. Running at variable speed continuously suggests a steady, uninterrupted operation with changes in speed, not bursts with downtime.