Show Notes
In this episode of the Pumps & Systems podcast, learn why bearings can fail and how to mitigate electric current arcing with Schaeffler Sr. Application Engineer Paul McNeill.
Schaeffler Group is the presenting sponsor of the podcast. Visit them on the web at www.schaeffler.com.
Questions asked include:
What are ways that bearings could deteriorate in a pump system?
How does a VFD system work, especially as it relates to anything creating parasitic voltages across the bearings?
How do bearings resist this voltage?
What are some examples of current passing through the bearing as well as the resulting damage?
What are some common approaches to minimizing risks for bearing damage?
Email podcast host Drew Champlin at [email protected].
More from Pumps & Systems Podcast
In this episode of the Pumps & Systems podcast, we’re continuing our Industry Veterans special series by speaking with John Merrill, manager of reliability engineering, Americas for EagleBurgmann. He’s going to tell us about his experiences learning on the job in a friend’s startup, what changes he’s seen in the industry over the years, his thoughts on the transfer of knowledge between generations of workers and what he thinks the future might hold for the industry. For more information on our 2026 Industry Veterans of the Year, visit: https://www.pumpsandsystems.com/tag/industry-veterans-2026/ Tune in the first Wednesday of every month for new episodes of the podcast!
In this episode of the Pumps & Systems podcast, we're speaking with Les Flynn from CAPE HydroTek, who is going to tell us about catalytic water treatment systems and what kinds of challenges that technology can help with. Tune in the first Wednesday of every month for new episodes of the podcast!
In this new series, we’re speaking to three industry veterans to get their views on the past, present and future of the pumps industry. In this episode, Cathy Wilson talks about starting out in the 1980s, her advice for newcomers, how the industry has changed over the years and the importance of going above and beyond. For more information on our 2026 Industry Veterans of the Year, visit: https://www.pumpsandsystems.com/tag/industry-veterans-2026/
In this episode of the Pumps & Systems podcast, we’re speaking with Nick Terranova from Homa Pumps. He’s going to be giving us some pro tips about pump troubleshooting, including first steps and finding the source of the issue. Tune in the first Wednesday of every month for new episodes of the podcast!
In this episode of the Pumps & Systems podcast, we’re speaking with Guy Voss, president of the Water Collaborative Delivery Association (WCDA). He’s going to tell us about collaborative delivery methods in the water industry - what they are, why they’re useful and how you can learn more. Tune in the first Wednesday of every month for new episodes of the podcast!