For anyone who specifies, installs, or maintains electric motors, gear reducers, and AC/DC drives, LEESON’s Basic Training Industrial-Duty And Commercial-Duty manual is something of a rite of passage. First released in the late 1990s and most recently updated in 2014, this ~100-page handbook walks readers from motor theory to troubleshooting—complete with wiring diagrams, NEMA/IEC tables, and drive-application notes.
Table of Contents
Book at a Glance
| Full Title | Basic Training Industrial-Duty & Commercial-Duty: Electric Motors, Gear Reducers, Gearmotors, AC & DC Drives |
| Publisher / Year | LEESON Electric (Regal Rexnord) / 2014 |
| Length | 104 pp. (PDF) |
| Format | Free PDF download; legacy print listed at US $20 (2001) |
| Primary Audience | Maintenance techs, panel builders, OEM engineers, apprentices |
| Core Focus | Motor selection & replacement, gear-train basics, adjustable-speed drives, IEC/NEMA dimensional data |
Why Basic Training Industrial-Duty And Commercial-Duty Still Matters
- Practical first, theory second – The manual opens with motor history but quickly pivots to service-factor charts, frame-size look-ups, and replacement guidelines you’ll actually use on the shop floor.
- Multi-product coverage – Motors, gear reducers, gearmotors, and drives live in one slim volume, so you aren’t juggling four separate datasheets.
- IEC ↔ NEMA translator – Handy tables compare frame sizes, enclosure ratings, and protection indices—gold for export builds or metric retrofits.
- Troubleshooting flow-charts – AC and DC motor fault trees shorten downtime for field technicians.
Chapter Highlights
| Sec. | Focus | Key Take-aways |
|---|---|---|
| I – Introduction | Motor history & principles | Clear refresher on induction vs DC fundamentals |
| II | Replacement guidelines | Nameplate decoding, service-factor math |
| III | Major motor types | Pros/cons of single-phase, three-phase, DC, PMAC |
| IV | Mechanical considerations | Frame sizes, mounting, belted-load tips |
| V | Electrical characteristics | Voltage, phasing, torque-speed curves, starters |
| VI | Metric designations | IEC frame/table cross-reference |
| VII | Maintenance | Lubrication intervals, fault diagnosis checklists |
| VIII | Typical applications | Elevator, HVAC, and conveyor examples |
| IX | Gear reducers/gearmotors | Right-angle vs parallel-shaft, maintenance |
| X | Adjustable-speed drives | AC drive derating, motor/drive pairing |
| XI–XII | Engineering data & glossary | Conversion charts, quick reference terms |
Strengths
- One-evening read – At ~100 pages, it’s quick to absorb yet dense with field data.
- Visual learning – Colour photos, exploded-view diagrams, and wiring schematics minimise guesswork.
- Field-tested tables – Pulled straight from LEESON’s tech bulletins, so torque and current numbers feel grounded in reality.
Limitations
| Limitation | Impact | Work-around |
|---|---|---|
| Brand-centric examples (LEESON part numbers) | Non-LEESON shops must cross-reference | Use as functional template; swap catalogue codes |
| Dated electronics section (pre-sensorless VFD era) | Lacks SiC drives & IIoT diagnostics | Pair with a 2020+ VFD application note |
| Mostly US units | Metric readers rely on included conversion tables | Mark favourite pages or export to metric cheat-sheet |
How It Compares
| Feature | Basic Training (2014) | Baldor “Motor Basics” Series | WEG Motor Specification Guide (2024) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pages | 104 | ~40/article | 120 |
| Coverage | Motors, gears, drives | Motors only | Motors & starters |
| IEC/NEMA cross-tables | ✔ | ✖ | ✔ |
| Troubleshooting charts | ✔ | ✔ | Limited |
| Price | Free PDF | Free PDF | Free PDF |
| Best for | Quick all-round primer | Deep-dive articles | Spec writing |
SEO-Friendly FAQ
Is Basic Training Industrial-Duty And Commercial-Duty good for beginners?
Yes—the tone is plain-English, and sections start with definitions before diving into equations.
Does the manual include VFD wiring?
Section X covers AC and DC drives, including basic derating and wiring diagrams, though it predates today’s sensorless vector drives.
Where can I download the latest PDF?
Several distributors host the free file; search “LEESON Basic Training PDF” or visit LEESON/Regal Rexnord’s literature page.
Can I reuse the diagrams in my own documentation?
LEESON allows personal and training use; for commercial reprints, request permission via their marketing department.
