--- title: How to Protect VFD-Driven Motors In Ski Resorts description: Ski lift & snowmaking pump motors are usually run by variable frequency drives. But drives damage motor bearings, if they aren't protected with AEGIS Rings. image: https://blog.est-aegis.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/skilift-300x208.jpg --- [![Electro Static Technology](https://blog.est-aegis.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/public/images/electro-static-technology.svg "Electro Static Technology")](https://www.est-aegis.com/) [![Aegis](https://blog.est-aegis.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/public/images/Aegis.svg "Aegis")](https://www.est-aegis.com/) - [+1 866-738-1857](tel:+1%20866-738-1857) - [Products](https://www.est-aegis.com/products/) - [AEGIS® SGR – for motors under 500 HP/375 kW](https://www.est-aegis.com/product/sgr/) - [AEGIS® uKIT – for common NEMA/IEC frame size](https://www.est-aegis.com/product/sgr-ukit/) - [AEGIS® RPPR – for reactor recirculating pumps](https://www.est-aegis.com/rppr-resources/) - [AEGIS® EV and EVO Rings - for electric vehicles](https://www.est-aegis.com/product/ev-evo-rings/) - [AEGIS® PRO Series – for motors over 300 HP/225 kW](https://www.est-aegis.com/product/pro-series/) - [Shaft Voltage Testing and Accessories](https://www.est-aegis.com/product/mounting-accessories/) - [Online Product Catalog](https://catalog.est-aegis.com/) - [AEGIS® 2-Year Extended Warranty](https://www.est-aegis.com/product/extended-warranty/) - [Applications](https://www.est-aegis.com/applications/) - [Electric Vehicle Solutions](https://www.est-aegis.com/applications/electric-vehicle-solutions/) - [Food & Beverage](https://www.est-aegis.com/applications/food-beverage/) - [HVAC](https://www.est-aegis.com/applications/hvac/) - [Industrial & Chemical](https://www.est-aegis.com/applications/industrial-chemical/) - [Other Industries](https://www.est-aegis.com/applications/other-industries/) - [Power Generation & Renewable Energy](https://www.est-aegis.com/applications/power-generation-renewable-energy/) - [Transportation](https://www.est-aegis.com/applications/transportation/) - [Water Treatment](https://www.est-aegis.com/applications/water-treatment/) - [Bearing Protection](https://www.est-aegis.com/bearing-protection/) - [Shaft Voltage & Bearing Currents](https://www.est-aegis.com/bearing-protection/shaft-voltage-and-bearing-currents/) - [Fluting & Bearing Inspection](https://www.est-aegis.com/bearing-protection/fluting-and-bearing-inspection/) - [Best Practices & Installation](https://www.est-aegis.com/bearing-protection/best-practices-and-installation/) - [Resources](https://www.est-aegis.com/resources/) - [AEGIS® Bearing Protection Handbook](https://www.est-aegis.com/resources/handbook/) - [IEEE-841, Hazardous Locations, & AEGIS®](https://info.est-aegis.com/technical-codes-and-ieee-841-standards) - [Recorded Webinars Library](https://www.est-aegis.com/resources/recorded-webinars/) - [Installation Instructions](https://www.est-aegis.com/resources/installation-instructions/) - [Videos](https://www.est-aegis.com/resources/videos/) - [Technical Papers](https://www.est-aegis.com/resources/technical-papers/) - [Case Studies](https://www.est-aegis.com/resources/case-studies/) - [Specifying AEGIS®](https://www.est-aegis.com/resources/specifying-aegis/) - [Request Training](https://www.est-aegis.com/resources/training/) - [Product Sheets](https://www.est-aegis.com/resources/product-sheets/) - [About](https://www.est-aegis.com/about/) - [News](https://blog.est-aegis.com/) - [Tradeshows](https://www.est-aegis.com/about/tradeshows/) - [Blog](https://blog.est-aegis.com/) - [Where to Buy](https://www.est-aegis.com/where-to-buy/) - [Distributors](https://www.est-aegis.com/where-to-buy/distributors?type=Distributor) - [Trained Installers](https://www.est-aegis.com/where-to-buy/installers?type=Installer) - [Explosion Proof Installers](https://www.est-aegis.com/where-to-buy/installers?type=Explosion%20Proof%20Installer) - [Motors & Seals with AEGIS® Installed](https://www.est-aegis.com/where-to-buy/oems-with-aegis/) [Contact Us](https://www.est-aegis.com/contact/) - [+1 866-738-1857](tel:+1%20866-738-1857) # Protecting VFD-Driven Motors In Ski Resorts [Home](https://www.est-aegis.com/) » [Blog](https://blog.est-aegis.com/) » Protecting VFD-Driven Motors In Ski Resorts [AEGIS](https://blog.est-aegis.com/author/estaegis) Sep 5, 2019 Ski resorts use tremendous amounts of energy in their day-to-day operations.  All ski resorts must transport skiers from the base of a mountain to its peaks or to the start of various slopes or trails, without ![skilift](https://blog.est-aegis.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/skilift.jpg?width=216&height=150&name=skilift.jpg)jerkiness.  To improve control of lift operations, many resorts are installing variable frequency drives (VFDs).  VFDs can smoothly adjust the speed of chair lifts, gondolas, carpets, and high-capacity trams to accommodate varying passenger loads, weather conditions, and other factors.  In addition to giving precise control, these drives can also save energy when they run snowmaking pumps or HVAC equipment. For most ski resorts, lift and snowmaking operations account for more than 80% of total energy costs. Although VFDs can yield smooth operation and energy savings, they can also damage the motors they control.  They create stray voltages on motor shafts, and this voltage can discharge by arcing through the bearings.  These arcs cause pitting, fluting, and eventually premature failure.  Without bearing protection, the benefits from of VFDs can be canceled by the high costs of downtime and motor repair/replacement. AEGIS® Shaft Grounding Rings solve this problem by providing a low-resistance path![ringse](https://blog.est-aegis.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/ringse.jpg?width=216&height=173&name=ringse.jpg) from the motor shaft to the frame.  So shaft voltage discharges through the AEGIS ring, instead of through the bearing.  This protects the bearings and motor against premature failure and protects the user from the costs of downtime and motor repair or replacement.  (Larger motors also require one insulated bearing, to protect against the second cause of electrical bearing damage.) AEGIS rings can easily be mounted on in-service motors.  They're also available factory-installed on hundreds of motors from manufacturers like Baldor/ABB, Marathon, WEG, US Motors, and more.  You can search all motors with AEGIS at industrialmatrix.com.   AEGIS Rings also come with a [2-year extended warranty](https://www.est-aegis.com/product/extended-warranty/) against bearing fluting damage. No other form of protection against VFD-caused bearing damage offers a warranty like this. [![2-Year Extended Warranty](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/20974229/3b258d08-3058-4c7f-a866-2991b627f2e0.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/20974229/3b258d08-3058-4c7f-a866-2991b627f2e0) To learn more about AEGIS shaft grounding and best practices for electrical bearing protection, [sign up for a training](https://www.est-aegis.com/resources/training/). We offer monthly live training webinars, and - pandemic restrictions permitting - we can also visit your facility to review your exact application. [![Sign Up For Training](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/20974229/69dd56c7-bbd1-4ad0-ae5c-29de322039f0.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/20974229/69dd56c7-bbd1-4ad0-ae5c-29de322039f0) [Motors on VFD](https://blog.est-aegis.com/tag/motors) ### Subscribe To Our Blog ## Read On ### [Protecting VFD-driven Motors in Plastics Production](https://blog.est-aegis.com/protecting-vfd-driven-motors-in-plastics-production?hsLang=en-us) Today, there are hundreds of types and blends of plastics, and they can be formed, molded,... ### [Without Bearing Protection, Motors Can Fail](https://blog.est-aegis.com/without-bearing-protection-motors-can-fail?hsLang=en-us) ##### VFD-induced shaft voltage damages motor bearings and shortens motor life If you’re using variable... ### [Pumping Systems on VFD Need Bearing Protection](https://blog.est-aegis.com/pumping-systems-on-vfd-need-bearing-protection?hsLang=en-us) In most pump applications, running the pump at full speed is not always necessary. Flow rate has... 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