--- title: Shaft Grounding for VFD Pumps | Prevent Bearing Damage description: Discover how AEGIS® Shaft Grounding Rings protect VFD-driven pumps from shaft voltage and bearing failures, reducing downtime and repair costs. image: https://blog.est-aegis.com/hubfs/AdobeStock_221869536.jpeg --- [![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 Pump Systems from Electrical Bearing Damage [Home](https://www.est-aegis.com/) » [Blog](https://blog.est-aegis.com/) » Protecting Pump Systems from Electrical Bearing Damage [AEGIS](https://blog.est-aegis.com/author/estaegis) Sep 5, 2025 Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) enable pump users to control motor speed, improve process control, and optimize energy usage. But with these advantages comes an often-overlooked reliability risk: **premature failure due to electrical bearing damage**. For facilities that depend on operation, unplanned downtime is not an option. That’s where[**AEGIS® Shaft Grounding Rings**](https://www.est-aegis.com/product/sgr/) come in—offering a proven, low-maintenance solution to premature bearing failure to help keep your operations running smoothly. ## The Hidden Problem: VFD-caused Shaft Voltage Drives induce high-frequency voltage onto the shafts of the motors they control. This shaft voltage tends to discharge through the motor or pump bearings, causing - Premature bearing wear and failure - Increased maintenance costs - Unplanned downtime and lost production So while VFDs can save money by reducing energy consumption, they also increase the risk of unplanned downtime and the huge cost of lost production. ## AEGIS Shaft Grounding Rings: How They Protect Your Systems The **AEGIS Shaft Grounding Ring** is designed to bleed voltage off the shaft, preventing it from building up enough to discharge through the bearings.  **Key features include:** - **360° microfiber contact** for continuous grounding - **Virtually frictionless operation** with up to **200,000 hours** of wear life - **Little to no maintenance** after installation - **Multiple mounting options** to fit diverse system configurations Installing a shaft grounding ring on a VFD-driven system is a simple, effective step toward **improving reliability** and **avoiding costly downtime**.   --- ## FAQs: Shaft Grounding for Pump Systems *Q: Do all VFD-driven systems need shaft grounding rings?* **A:** Yes. Any VFD-controlled system is at risk of premature failure from electrical bearing damage. Installing an AEGIS ring is a preventive measure to protect system reliability. *Q: Will a shaft grounding ring improve my system’s efficiency?* **A:** No. Shaft grounding rings protect reliability by mitigating electrical bearing damage, but they do not directly affect energy efficiency. *Q: How long do AEGIS Shaft Grounding Rings last?* **A:** Based on lab testing, AEGIS rings’ conductive microfibers can last up to **200,000 hours**.  In the field, their lifetime will be significantly shorter, but they can still be expected to function much longer than the L10 life of the bearings. *Q: Can AEGIS rings be installed on existing pump systems?* **A:** Absolutely.  While AEGIS rings will not repair any electrical bearing damage already done, they will greatly reduce the risk of further damage. --- ## Next Steps: Protect Your Assets Before Failure Happens AEGIS Shaft Grounding Rings have become the trusted solution for pump operators who can’t afford unscheduled outages. With a low-maintenance design and a proven record of success across many industries, they’re the smart choice for any facility using VFD-driven pumping systems.   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 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)   [VFD Bearing Damage](https://blog.est-aegis.com/tag/vfd-bearing-damage) ### Subscribe To Our Blog ## Read On ### [Electrical Bearing Protection Q&A Part 15](https://blog.est-aegis.com/electrical-bearing-protection-qa-part-15?hsLang=en-us) Part 15 in a series of questions and answers from our Q&A **[webinars](https://www.est-aegis.com/resources/training/)**. ### [Electrical Bearing Protection Q&A Part 7](https://blog.est-aegis.com/electrical-bearing-protection-qa-part-7?hsLang=en-us) Part 7 in a series of questions and answers from our Q&A [webinars](https://www.est-aegis.com/resources/training/). ### [Electrical Bearing Protection Q&A Part 5](https://blog.est-aegis.com/electrical-bearing-protection-qa-part-5?hsLang=en-us) Part 5 in a series of questions and answers from our Q&A [webinars](https://www.est-aegis.com/resources/training/). 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