TASI TA813B+ for Pump and Motor Maintenance Malaysia
TASI TA813B+ for Pump and Motor Maintenance Malaysia
Pumps and electric motors are among the most common rotating machines in factories, commercial buildings, water systems and HVAC installations.
When a pump develops a problem, technicians should not look only at vibration or only at electrical current.
A more useful approach is to consider both:
Electrical Condition + Mechanical Condition
The TASI TA813B+ True RMS Digital Clamp Meter can support the electrical side of pump and motor troubleshooting through functions such as AC/DC current measurement, True RMS, Inrush Current, VFD voltage and frequency measurement.
When combined with vibration measurements, technicians can build a clearer picture of equipment condition.
Understand the Complete Pump System
A typical motor-driven pump system contains several components:
Electrical Supply
↓
Starter / VFD
↓
Electric Motor
↓
Coupling
↓
Pump
↓
Process
A problem observed at the pump may originate somewhere else in this chain.
For example, poor pump performance does not automatically mean that the pump itself has failed.
The problem may involve the motor, drive, power supply, mechanical load or process conditions.
Start with Motor Current
Running current is one of the simplest electrical measurements to record on a motor.
Using the TA813B+, technicians can measure current on the appropriate individual conductor and compare the result with:
Previous measurements
Motor information
Equipment specifications
Similar equipment
Current operating load
The most useful question is often not:
“Is this current high?”
but:
“Has this current changed from the normal condition?”
Trending measurements over time can provide better maintenance information than a single isolated reading.
Measure Motor Inrush Current
Running current tells only part of the story.
A motor may operate normally after startup but experience an abnormal condition while starting.
The TA813B+ includes an Inrush Current function that can help technicians capture this startup event.
This is useful when investigating complaints such as:
Breaker trips when pump starts
Motor struggles during startup
Pump takes longer to reach operating speed
Generator struggles when the pump starts
Excessive voltage drop occurs during startup
The maintenance record can therefore include:
Inrush Current → Running Current
instead of recording only steady-state current.
Pump Current Is Higher Than Before
Suppose a pump motor historically operated at a certain current level.
During a routine inspection, the technician notices that current has increased significantly under comparable operating conditions.
This does not automatically prove that the motor is defective.
Possible areas for investigation may include:
Pump mechanical load
Bearing condition
Alignment
Coupling
Blockage
Process pressure
Motor condition
Electrical supply
VFD settings
The current measurement acts as a warning signal for further investigation.
Combine Current and Vibration Measurements
This is where pump maintenance becomes more powerful.
A clamp meter tells technicians about electrical behaviour.
A vibration meter provides information about mechanical vibration.
Consider four simplified situations.
Normal Current + Normal Vibration
The machine may be operating normally based on these two indicators.
Continue routine trending.
High Current + Normal Vibration
Investigate electrical loading, operating conditions, supply and process load.
Normal Current + Increasing Vibration
Investigate mechanical conditions such as bearing condition, imbalance, looseness or alignment.
High Current + Increasing Vibration
The equipment deserves closer investigation because both electrical and mechanical behaviour have changed.
These are troubleshooting indicators rather than automatic diagnoses.
Pump Maintenance with Vibration Meter
For important rotating machinery, a useful maintenance combination is:
TASI TA813B+
Current
Voltage
Frequency
Inrush
Electrical behaviour
Vibration Meter
Vibration level
Mechanical behaviour
Together, these measurements provide more information about the motor-pump system than either instrument alone.
This is especially relevant for:
Water pumps
Chilled-water pumps
Cooling-water pumps
Process pumps
Booster pumps
Circulation pumps
Industrial pumps
VFD-Driven Pump Troubleshooting
Many modern pumps use Variable Frequency Drives.
The system becomes:
Power Supply → VFD → Motor → Pump
The TA813B+ provides a VFD voltage measurement function, which is useful for technicians working with drive-controlled motors.
When troubleshooting a VFD-driven pump, technicians may need to consider:
Incoming electrical supply
VFD fault code
VFD parameters
Operating frequency
Motor current
Motor condition
Pump load
Process conditions
Do not diagnose a VFD problem from a single clamp-meter reading.
Use the drive manufacturer's diagnostic information together with actual measurements.
Frequency and Pump Speed
For VFD-driven motors, operating frequency is closely related to commanded motor speed.
If pump performance changes, technicians may need to determine whether the drive is actually operating at the expected frequency.
For example:
Expected Flow Low
↓
Check process
↓
Check VFD frequency
↓
Check motor current
↓
Check pump mechanical condition
This systematic approach can help prevent unnecessary replacement of electrical or mechanical components.
Example: Chilled-Water Pump
Consider a chilled-water pump in a commercial or industrial HVAC system.
The maintenance team reports reduced cooling performance.
Possible investigation areas include:
Chiller
Pump
VFD
Motor
Water Flow
Valves
Cooling Load
Electrical measurements from the TA813B+ can help assess the motor and drive side, while other instruments and system information are required to evaluate the complete HVAC system.
Example: Factory Process Pump
A factory process pump begins making more noise than normal.
Instead of immediately replacing the pump, the maintenance technician records:
Motor Current
Operating Frequency
Vibration
Pump Pressure / Process Condition
If vibration has increased while motor current has also changed, the technician has useful evidence for further inspection.
If electrical measurements remain stable but vibration has increased significantly, attention may shift more strongly toward the mechanical side.
Build a Pump Baseline
Preventive maintenance becomes much more useful when readings are recorded consistently.
For example:
PumpRunning CurrentInrushFrequencyVibrationStatusPump 01RecordRecordRecordRecordNormalPump 02RecordRecordRecordRecordNormalPump 03RecordRecordRecordRecordMonitorPump 04RecordRecordRecordRecordInspect
Measurements should preferably be taken under reasonably comparable operating conditions.
A pump operating at 30% load should not automatically be compared directly with the same pump operating at full load without considering the operating difference.
Don't Wait for Pump Failure
Breakdown maintenance:
Pump Stops → Production Affected → Troubleshoot → Repair
Preventive maintenance:
Pump Running Normally → Record Baseline → Repeat Measurements → Identify Change → Investigate
The second approach gives maintenance teams more information before an unexpected failure occurs.
Electrical Measurement Is Only One Part
The TA813B+ is useful for electrical troubleshooting, but a pump system can require several types of measurement.
Depending on the problem, technicians may also need:
Vibration Meter
for rotating equipment condition.
Thermal Camera
for temperature patterns and abnormal heating.
Tachometer
for rotational speed.
Insulation Tester
for motor insulation assessment.
Pressure / Flow Instruments
for pump and process performance.
The correct instrument depends on the question the technician is trying to answer.
TA813B+ for Motor Preventive Maintenance
The same approach applies to motors driving other machinery.
Examples include:
Fans
Blowers
Conveyors
Compressors
Cooling towers
Production machines
A useful motor maintenance record may include:
Current + Inrush + Frequency + Vibration + Temperature
Tracking changes over time can help technicians decide where further investigation is needed.
Why TA813B+ Fits Pump and Motor Maintenance
The TA813B+ combines several electrical functions useful for rotating-equipment maintenance:
True RMS
AC/DC Current
Inrush Current
VFD Voltage
Frequency
High/Low-Z
Temperature
This allows maintenance technicians to perform several electrical checks with one handheld instrument.
Combined with vibration monitoring, it becomes part of a broader condition-based and preventive maintenance toolkit.
TASI TA813B+ for Pump and Motor Maintenance Malaysia
Looking for the TASI TA813B+ True RMS Digital Clamp Meter for pump, motor, VFD or factory maintenance applications?
Contact:
MTM Precision Sdn Bhd
Showroom & Service Centre
No 29-1 & 2, Jalan Bandar 18,
Pusat Bandar Puchong,
47160 Puchong, Selangor, Malaysia.
Tel: 03-8080 7172
WhatsApp: +6016-660 7346
Email: mtmpre@yahoo.com
Website: www.mtmpre.com.my
Supporting industrial customers throughout Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Johor, Penang, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Perak, Pahang, Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah, Perlis, Sabah and Sarawak.
26 Sep 2026
