--- title: "Washdown Motors: More Reliable with AEGIS" description: "A washdown motor must be two things: Cleanable and reliable. If it is run by a VFD, it will be more reliable if it has an AEGIS shaft grounding ring inside." image: https://blog.est-aegis.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/washdown-150x150.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/) - 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In addition to environmental hazards, washdown motor bearings are also at risk from internal hazards, when motors are controlled by variable frequency drives (VFDs).  All motors on drives are susceptible to electrical bearing damage because of the nature of drives' output.  VFD power causes voltage to build up on the motor shaft.  Without protective measures, this voltage will discharge by arcing through the bearings, causing damage and eventual failure.  A shaft grounding device can make washdown motors more reliable by mitigating this damage.  But USDA regulations would prohibit an external shaft grounding brush.![LEESON-ExtremeDuck-Cutaway-wh](https://blog.est-aegis.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/LEESON-ExtremeDuck-Cutaway-wh.jpg?width=300&height=245&name=LEESON-ExtremeDuck-Cutaway-wh.jpg) Instead, a washdown motor needs an internally mounted long-lived shaft grounding ring, like the AEGIS® SGR.  Unlike spring-loaded carbon grounding brushes, AEGIS grounding rings don't require adjustment and don't typically wear out over a motor's lifetime.  So they can prudently be installed inside of motors.  AEGIS rings are also the only shaft grounding product to offer a warranty against electrical bearing damage.  In fact, they carry a two-year extended warranty, on top of the manufacturer's warranty. Washdown motors are available with AEGIS rings factory-installed.  For ![leeson_duck_postcard](https://blog.est-aegis.com/hs-fs/hubfs/leeson_duck_postcard.jpg?width=300&height=186&name=leeson_duck_postcard.jpg) example, [LEESON](https://est-aegis.com/oems-leeson.php) has two lines of stainless [Washguard® motors](https://www.est-aegis.com/where-to-buy/oems-with-aegis/) that come with AEGIS inside by default: the Premium All-Stainless and Extreme Duck Ultra lines. The whole point of a washdown motor is to have a motor that will keep running reliably in spite of the severe cleaning it's subject to.  With that in mind, why would you *not* want the motor to be as reliable as possible?   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)   [Motors on VFD](https://blog.est-aegis.com/tag/motors), [Motors with AEGIS Installed](https://blog.est-aegis.com/tag/motors-with-aegis-installed) ### Subscribe To Our Blog ## Read On ### [New Baldor-Reliance Food Safe Motors with AEGIS](https://blog.est-aegis.com/new-baldor-reliance-food-safe-motors-with-aegis?hsLang=en-us) Washdown motors must be, above all else, safe, cleanable, and reliable.  Baldor-Reliance® Food Safe... ### [Baldor General Purpose Motors with AEGIS Shaft Grounding](https://blog.est-aegis.com/baldor-general-purpose-motors-with-aegis-shaft-grounding?hsLang=en-us) Over the past 100 years, [Baldor](https://baldor.com) has become one of the best known and most trusted American brands... ### [Rugged and Reliable Vertical Motors for Inverter-Duty Applications](https://blog.est-aegis.com/rugged-and-reliable-vertical-motors-for-inverter-duty-applications?hsLang=en-us) Vertical motors run on variable frequency drives are susceptible to electrical bearing damage and... 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