Overview

SGS™ shaft grounding systems prevent electrically induced bearing damage on variable frequency drive motors. An early pioneer of this industry, DP&A Sales and SGS™ have developed over a 30-year scientific and field-tested knowledge base across many industries.  This is far greater than any other competitor on the market.  Our shaft grounding systems were developed in the pulp and paper industry where long term reliability, performance and maintainability were required. 

SGS™ shaft grounding systems have a class leading reputation for being the de facto long-term solution for controlling capacitive discharge that leads to electrically induced bearing failure. Our reputation has been built on word of mouth and positive outcomes over a long period of time.  Our customer base is geared towards the end user and heavily reflects those who have tried other grounding systems only to be disappointed that their initial attempts for a solution failed.  Our design philosophy always keeps in mind the end user and their needs whether it's controlling maintenance costs, decreasing the risk of production loss or lost comfort due to a downed HVAC system.

We understand that providing a long term and cost- effective solution for controlling electrical bearing damage involves more than just making brush to shaft contact.  Our well thought out designs and robust non-drive end and drive end (split ring) shaft grounding systems ensure that the necessary target voltages are achieved and maintained for the life of the brush. SGS™ non-drive end systems offer the unique distinction of being the only effective grounding system that can be maintained (brush change) while the motor is in operation.   

Together, the founders of  SGS™ and DP&A Sales discovered in the 1980s they had a serious and costly problem with electrical bearing damage at the paper mill they worked. Out of practical necessity, they created and brought to market the first and only effective long-term shaft grounding solution for controlling electrically induced bearing damage. 

We want to hear from you so that we can help. Please give us a call or send us an e-mail and we'll discuss your particular application.  

SGS™ Highlights-Must Read

• Click here first to read field feedback on SGS™ performance relative to other shaft grounding attempts.
• Only long-term shaft grounding solution that is field tested and proven to eliminate electrically induced bearing damage.
• SGS™ CR and SR series shaft grounding systems have proven to run for over 10 years at 1800rpm on VFD powered motors without the need for maintenance while eliminating electrical bearing damage.  This proven performance and reliability is exclusive to SGS™ products.
• Only end-of-shaft application on the market that allows for class leading maintainability.  Infrequent maintenance can be done on the fly.  
• Robust, industrial grade systems that are designed to withstand harsh environments. SGS™ is often called upon for harsh marine and mining environments because they are the only shaft grounding device that can withstand harsh operating conditions while eliminating electrically induced bearing damage over the long term. 
• System designs provide a clean running surface at all times (standard on all models) while maintaining excellent low impedance route away from the bearing for the entire life of the brush.  This feature is unique to SGS™ shaft grounding systems and is why SGS™ products are the preferred solution for critical applications such as found in computer chip plants and data centers.
• All systems are designed for field installation with handheld tools and without the need for uncoupling the motor.
• To specify SGS™ products, please contact us and we will provide you with the necessary documentation to help you with this process.

Why Not a Different Grounding System?

• Non-SGS™Carbon Brush Systems:  Leading competitor carbon brush grounding systems have poor wear allowance, are not inherently maintainable and require the motor to be offline to perform maintenance.  Their running surfaces are exposed to the environment and quickly lead to poor path of least resistance and consequently electrical discharge through the bearing.  It's important to note that carbon brushes are the gold standard for creating a path of least resistance away from bearings, however, flawed grounding system designs prevent long-term effective use of a carbon brush based system.  SGS™ patented designs are not prone to these common problems.

• Fiber/Filament Technology:  Fiber/filament-type grounding systems state to be friction free despite advertising they can run for millions of miles directly on a shaft, can run for 22+ years continuously and can effectively ground without making shaft contact if the fibers lose shaft contact.  Our field experience, direct customer feedback and  lab tests show those assertions are simply false. These systems are highly prone to environmental contamination and their lack of design robustness make it a poor choice for most environments. Our lab studies show that the achievable shaft voltages obtained by using this technology is at best short lived and from the outset does not  achieve what we know to be the target voltage threshold for controlling capactive discharge through the bearing.  In addition, these systems are not maintainable.  This technology may somewhat slow down electrical bearing damage, but it does not eliminate the problem.

• Inductive Absorbers: An old technology that has been rebranded, inductive absorbers claim to "clean-up" the power leading to the motor by clipping the voltage spikes and therefore eliminate the shaft voltages leading to electrically induced bearing failure. Our studies from decades ago show inductive absorbers can not decrease the shaft voltages generated by the VFD's gated process down to the threshold needed to eliminate capacitive discharge through the bearing.  If testing shaft voltages with an induction absorber in place, you will likely see a small reduction in shaft voltage readings, however, it's not enough of a reduction to eliminate electrically induced bearing damage.  In short, it will slightly slow down the process of electrically induced bearing damage (as with most shaft grounding products), however, it does not eliminate the problem long-term.