A motor control centre preventive maintenance schedule lists the checks and jobs done on the equipment at fixed intervals, how long each takes, and in what order of frequency, so problems are found before the motor control centre fails. This page gives the schedule used in the PlantOps360 task library for motor control centre (mcc), which follows common industry practice for general-purpose equipment. It is also searched for as MCC, motor control center, starter panel, motor starter panel.
The maker’s manual and your site safety procedures always come first where they differ. Intervals set by law differ by state.
Motor control centre preventive maintenance schedule and checklist
| How often | Task | Estimated time |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly | Check indications, ammeters and unusual noise, heat or smell | 15 min |
| Monthly | Clean air filters and vents; check cooling fans | 30 min |
| Quarterly | Check contactors, overload relays and fuses; check terminal tightness by sampling | 60 min |
| Half-yearly | Thermography of busbars and starters under load | 90 min |
| Annual | Shutdown maintenance: clean, retighten connections, test overloads and protection, check earthing | 360 min |
Motor control centre maintenance frequency and yearly workload
At the estimated times, one motor control centre needs about 32 hours of preventive maintenance a year. The biggest single job is “Shutdown maintenance: clean, retighten connections, test overloads and protection, check earthing” at 360 minutes, done annual. Multiply by the number of units you have to see the workload for your plant.
| Frequency | Tasks | Time per round | Hours per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekly | 1 | 15 min | 13.0 h |
| Monthly | 1 | 30 min | 6.0 h |
| Quarterly | 1 | 60 min | 4.0 h |
| Half-yearly | 1 | 90 min | 3.0 h |
| Annual | 1 | 360 min | 6.0 h |
What goes wrong on a motor control centre without preventive maintenance
- Loose or overheated terminals
- Contactor wear
- Dust and moisture ingress
- Overload relay settings drifting
What to watch between services
- Thermal image of terminals
- Contactor condition
- Overload settings against motor ratings
Safety and statutory notes for motor control centre maintenance
Never open a live panel without the correct permit and PPE. Thermography under load is done through approved procedures.
Where a motor control centre preventive maintenance schedule is used
A motor control centre is found in almost every industry. The industry guides below show how it fits into the wider schedule of each one:
- Preventive maintenance schedule for pharmaceutical plants
- Preventive maintenance schedule for food, dairy and beverage plants
- Preventive maintenance schedule for automotive plants
- Preventive maintenance schedule for chemical, fertiliser and petrochemical plants
- Preventive maintenance schedule for cement, glass, ceramics and building materials plants
- Preventive maintenance schedule for steel, foundry, forging and metal plants
- Preventive maintenance schedule for textile and garment mills
- Preventive maintenance schedule for thermal and hydro power plants
See all industry preventive maintenance schedules.
Related equipment maintenance schedules
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- Dry-type / cast resin transformer preventive maintenance schedule
- HT switchgear preventive maintenance schedule
- LT switchgear preventive maintenance schedule
- APFC panel and capacitor banks preventive maintenance schedule
- Uninterruptible power supply preventive maintenance schedule
- Battery bank preventive maintenance schedule
- Flooded lead-acid preventive maintenance schedule
Browse the full list of equipment preventive maintenance schedules (317 types).
Run this motor control centre schedule in maintenance software
In preventive maintenance software, each row above becomes a recurring task on the asset with its checklist, time estimate and parts. Tasks can be triggered by calendar date, running hours, meter readings or production cycles, each completed task is recorded with the person and date, and a failed check can open a work order. For the method behind it, read the guide to the preventive maintenance schedule, or use the free generator to get a 12-month plan for your whole equipment list.
Build my preventive maintenance schedule (free Excel)
Frequently asked questions
How often should a motor control centre be serviced?
In our schedule a motor control centre has 5 tasks: 1 weekly, 1 monthly, 1 quarterly, 1 half-yearly, 1 annual. The biggest job is “Shutdown maintenance: clean, retighten connections, test overloads and protection, check earthing”, which is done annual. Always follow the maker’s manual where it gives a different interval.
What is included in motor control centre preventive maintenance?
It covers routine checks and jobs such as “Check indications, ammeters and unusual noise, heat or smell”, “Clean air filters and vents; check cooling fans”, “Check contactors, overload relays and fuses; check terminal tightness by sampling”, up to the annual overhaul or inspection. The full list with times is in the table above.
How many hours of maintenance does a motor control centre need per year?
About 32 hours per unit per year at the estimated times in our library, including all scheduled rounds. Use it to plan workload, not as a benchmark.
Is there a free motor control centre maintenance checklist?
Yes. The table on this page is a ready checklist. The free preventive maintenance schedule generator turns it into a 12-month Excel schedule for your list of equipment, with monthly workload hours.