Motor load
An electric motor is a device that converts electrical energy into mechanical energy to act on a mechanical load. The load placed on the motor due to this mechanical activity is called the motor load. Properly matching the motor load to the motor is important to prevent motor damage or inefficient and unnecessarily expensive operations.
 
The tasks performed by the motor include moving an item from one place to another, cutting it, changing its shape, and more. Devices can be rated based on several factors including power output, voltage, current, and temperature. The power rating is sometimes arbitrarily referred to as the size of the motor. This rating represents the allowable motor load under ideal ambient conditions. Typically, the motor is selected such that the actual load of the motor will be slightly less than the load capacity to allow for non-ideal conditions.
 
The use of a significantly oversized electric motor constitutes an unnecessary expense in both the initial cost of the electric motor and the ongoing operation of the electric motor compared to the electric motor load. On the other hand, when the expected peak load is significantly larger than the typical load, a substantially oversized motor may be required. The motor can be damaged if it is run under an overload that exceeds its rated capacity. If the motor is working harder than it is designed to, waste heat may be generated faster than it is dissipated under operating ambient conditions. This can lead to reduced motor efficiency, shortened lifespan, and possibly even burnout of the motor.
 
Motors can be designed to run continuously at an almost constant load, such as the operation of a blower or conveyor belt. Such motors are more efficient than those designed to deal with sudden heavy loads. Motors designed for peak motor loads are less efficient, but may be desirable in settings involving heavy loads such as being lifted by cranes or other discontinuous loads. These peak loads must be considered when choosing the right motor.
 
Occasional overloads may be addressed by a variable called the motor's maintenance factor. This service factor represents the amount by which the motor can be overloaded without causing significant damage under otherwise ideal environmental conditions. This overload can only occur occasionally and in each case for a short period of time without significantly reducing motor life. This should not happen under non-ideal conditions such as high temperature or dirty motor surfaces.