PowerTips

Snippets and Infolets about Electrical Engineering.

Friday, November 19, 2010

Motor Starting and Running Currents and Rating Guide

A word of caution: The following article is based on National Electrical Manufacturers' Association (NEMA)
tables, standards and nomenclature. This is somewhat different from Indian and European practice. The
class designations are applicable only to NEMA compatible motors which are in use in the US only. However,
the logic and pattern of calculations are the same everywhere. Hence the reader is cautioned to follow only
the logical sequence of the calculations.

Motor Starting Current

When typical induction motors become energized, a much larger amount of current than normal operating
current rushes into the motor to set up the magnetic field surrounding the motor and to overcome the lack
of angular momentum of the motor and its load. As the motor increases to slip speed, the current drawn
subsides to match (1) the current required at the supplied voltage to supply the load and (2) losses to
windage and friction in the motor and in the load and transmission system. A motor operating at slip speed
and supplying nameplate horsepower as the load should draw the current printed on the nameplate, and
that current should satisfy the equation

Horsepower = (voltage X current X power factor X motor efficiency X √3) / 746

Typical induction mo
tors exhibit a starting power factor of 10 to 20 percent and a full-load running power factor of 80 to 90
percent. Smaller typical induction motors exhibit an operating full-load efficiency of approximately 92
percent, whereas large typical induction motors exhibit an operating full-load efficiency of approximately
97.5 percent.

Since many types of induction motors are made, the inrush current from an individual motor is important in
designing the electrical power supply system for that motor. For this purpose, the nameplate on every
motor contains a code letter indicating the kilovoltampere/horsepower starting load rating of the motor. A
table of these code letters and their meanings in approximate kVA and horsepower is shown in the following
table.

Code Letter on motor kVA per HP with locked rotor

name plate Minimum Mean Maximum
A 0 1.57 3.14
B 3.15 3.345 3.54
 C 3.55 3.77 3.99
D 4 4.245 4.9
E 4.5 4.745 4.99
F 5 5.295 5.59
G 5.6 5.945 6.29
H 6.3 6.695 7.09
J 7.1 7.545 7.99
K 8 8.495 8.9
L 9 9.495 9.9
M 10 10.595 11.19
N 11.2 11.845 12.49
P 12.5 13.245 13.99
R 14 14.995 15.99
S 16 16.995 17.99
T 18 18.995 19.99
U 20 29.2 22.39
V 22.4 No Limit No Limit

Using these values, the inrush current for a specific motor can be calculated as

Iinrush=(code letter value X horse power x 1000) /( √3 X Voltage)

An example of this calculation for a 50-hp code letter G motor operating at 460 V is shown below
Because of the items listed above, motors that produce constant kVA loads make demands on the electrical
power system that are extraordinary compared with the demands of constant kilowatt loads. To start them,
the overcurrent protection system must permit the starting current, also called the locked-rotor current, to
flow during the normal starting period, and then the motor-running overcurrent must be limited to
approximately the nameplate full-load ampere rating. If the duration of the locked-rotor current is too
long, the motor will overheat due to I2R heat buildup, and if the long-time ampere draw of the motor is too
high, the motor also will overheat due to I2R heating. The National Electrical Code provides limitations on
both inrush current and running current, as well as providing a methodology to determine motor disconnect
switch ampere and horsepower ratings.

Table 430-152 of the National Electrical Code provides the maximum setting of overcurrent devices
upstream of the motor branch circuit, and portions of this table are replicated below

% of Full load current

Instantaneous &
Single element Dual-element Inverse time
Motor type Magnetic trip
fuse time delay fuse breaker
breaker
Single phase
 motor 300 175 250 800

Three phase
squirrel cage 300 175 250 800
motor
Design E three
phase squirrel 300 175 250 1100
cage
Synchronous 300 175 250 800
Wound rotor 150 150 150 800
Direct current 150 150 150 250
For example, a 50 hp, Design B, 460V 3 phase motor has a full load current of 65A at 460V.
The maximum rating of an inverse time breaker protecting the motor branch circuit would be
65A x 250%, or 162.5A. The next higher standard rating is 175A (US), so 175A is the maximum
rating that can be used to protect the motor circuit.

Motor Running Current

The following figures illustrate the calculations required by specific types of motors in the design of
electric circuits to permit these loads to start and to continue to protect them during operation.

Table of full-load currents for three-phase ac induction motors (A part of table 430-150 of NEC).

HP 208 V 230 V 460 V 575 V

0.5 2.5 2.2 1.1 0.9
0.75 3.5 3.2 1.6 1.3
1 4.6 4.2 2.1 1.7
1.5 6.6 6 3 2.4
2 7.5 6.8 3.4 2.7
3 10.6 9.6 4.8 3.9
5 16.7 15.2 7.6 6.1
10 30.8 28 14 11
15 46.2 42 21 17
20 59.4 54 27 22
25 74.8 68 34 27
30 88 80 40 32
40 114 104 52 41
50 143 130 65 52
60 169 154 77 62
75 211 192 96 77
100 273 248 124 99
 125 343 312 156 125
150 396 360 180 144
200 528 480 240 192

Calculating Motor Branch-Circuit Overcurrent Protection and Wire Size

Article 430-52 of the National Electrical Code specifies that the minimum motor branch-circuit size must be
rated at 125 percent of the motor full-load current found in Table 430-150 for motors that operate
continuously, and Section 430-32 requires that the long-time overload trip rating not be greater than 115
percent of the motor nameplate current unless the motor is marked otherwise. Note that the values of
branch-circuit overcurrent trip (the long-time portion of a thermal-magnetic trip circuit breaker and the
fuse melt-out curve ampacity) are changed by Table 430-22b for motors that do not operate continuously.

This is illustrated with a sample problem. Consider the circuit shown.

A 40 HP, 460 V, 3 phase, Code letter G, Service factor of 1.0 is planned for operation from a 460 V, 3 phase
system. The name plate ampere is 50A. The motor is rated for continuous duty and the load is continuous.
Solve for minimum sizes of branch circuit elements?

1. Take motor full load current from table 430-150 as 52A which is higher than name plate value.
2. Determine wire size: 125% of 52A = 65A.
3. Determine inverse time breaker setting: 250% of 52A = 130A, next standard rating is 150A.
4. Determine the rating of thermal overloads: 115% of 50A (name plate current) = 57.5 A
5. Determine disconnect switch ampere rating: 115% of 52A = 59.8 A
6. Determine controller HP rating: 40 HP (same as motor nameplate HP)

The completed circuit will look like this.

NEC Torque classes and characteristics

Starting Stalling
Relative Slip in %
Design Letter Starting current (%FLC) torque torque
Efficiency rpm
(%FLT) (%FLT)
Depends upon name
A plate code letter High 3% 120-250% 200-275%
Normally 630-1000%
B Normally 600-700% High 1.5-3% 120-250% 200-275%
C Normally 600-700% High 1.5-3% 200-250% 190-225%
D Normally 600-700% Medium 5-8% 275% 275%

Excerpts from EC&M's Electrical Calculations Handbook, by John M Paschal, Jr: Published by McGraw-Hill
2001.

Sajith at 9:02 PM

Share

39 comments:

cantfindagoodname February 6, 2013 at 5:53 PM

Hello Sajith, this is a great explanation even for someone like me who has no great electrical
background.

I do have a question for you. The Code Letter on motor name plate will help me find the locked
rotor KVA for three phase motor. Can I use the same for single phase motor?

I am using this information to size a generator for a pump station and I understand that I need
the starting KW (KVA) for sizing.

Thanks very much

Hardik
Reply

Replies

Sajith February 6, 2013 at 8:06 PM

Hardik,

Please read the word of caution at the beginning of the post. The letter symbol for
starting current is applicable only for NEMA motors in the U.S. IEC and Indian
standards don't mention this. You can take 6-times full load current as the starting
current as typical.

Focus Engineerrs April 20, 2016 at 4:11 PM

I like your blog on this topic is well-written and original

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Reply

sunnerindia July 8, 2014 at 12:51 PM

Hi,

It is very informative and very helpful on my research regarding seo techniques. Thanks for
sharing this post.

Induction Motor
Reply

Replies

Focus Engineerrs May 9, 2016 at 4:04 PM

Thank you for the article bro it is really helpful
chemical dosing system

Reply

Affan Khan January 6, 2015 at 8:31 PM

HI Sajith
Can we calculate the KVA rating of motor with HP Power of motor without using power factor ?
Reply

Replies

Sajith January 6, 2015 at 9:15 PM

No, Affan, you've to know the power factor to get kVA. The steps are as below
1. Get kW from HP x 0.75
2. Get full load pf from name plate, or assume 0.85 - 0.9
3. Divide kW obtained in step 1 with PF in step 2 and you get kVA (shaft)(mech)
4. Divide kVA (shaft) obtained in step 3 with motor rated efficiency from name plate
or standards to get input kVA (elec)

Pratik Shaha June 20, 2016 at 3:14 PM

hi sajith,

normally motor takes 6 times more current than idle current during starting, then
why overload relay not tripped the motor initially??

Sajith June 20, 2016 at 7:22 PM

Pratik,

Motor's overload relay is designed on the thermal principle. It will not operate on
instantaneous overcurrent. Overload relay protects the motor from heating effect of
sustained overload. If the starting current persists due to overload, it will definitely
trip

Reply

starkindustries March 21, 2015 at 9:42 AM

Good Blog and thanks for your valuable information about Electric Motor. We are also
Manufacturers and Supplier of Electric Motor in Tamil Nadu, India. Keep Blogging. Your Blog is
very useful for us.
Reply

hely fely May 11, 2015 at 4:44 PM

This blog is absolutely useful; I love the piece of informative writing. Brakemotors
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Gliter Jone May 13, 2015 at 10:54 AM

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Anonymous July 1, 2015 at 12:08 PM

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pe lor November 27, 2015 at 3:47 PM

Very useful blog, but I have a question.
How come that the starting current of an induction motor will be 3-4 times larger when 3fases
of 380V are connected in star than when they are in delta connection. (same load)
Reply

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sathesh kumar April 19, 2016 at 10:23 AM

how to calculate starting and running amps for 1.14HP
DC motor
Reply
shane watson August 16, 2016 at 12:05 AM
Thanks for taking the time to discuss that, I feel strongly about this and so really like getting to
know more on this kind of field. Do you mind updating your blog post with additional insight? It
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dooneywoodworks January 20, 2017 at 12:09 AM

i have a motor that is 40hp 460volt 3phase it has a start up 0f 220amps and running load 55
amps i have a large peak demand kw charge on electric bill how to i calculate the inrush to kw
?
Reply

simarpreet Singh February 14, 2017 at 8:20 AM

Hello sir, i have a query. Am dentist and i need an inverter to back up a compressor of
800W.can you please quide, which Kva would be sufficient for me. Thanks
Reply

attar juned March 28, 2017 at 4:26 PM

Hi one of the awesome article which I read. I have query about elevator that
What will be the starting current of 5hp/1hp 3ph and 1ph motor.
How can I calculate.
Reply

Youssef May 5, 2017 at 11:47 PM

What's interesting to me is why the HP refers to the starting current instead of the nominal
running current?? I wonder...
Reply

prasanna kumar August 8, 2017 at 4:45 PM

Your explanation was soo good... But I am still facing problem.. please give explanation for this
nameplate details 2.8 kW, 0.85 p.f.,400V 3phase squirel cage I.M.
Reply

prasanna kumar August 8, 2017 at 4:49 PM

And also please find magnetic contactor rating
Reply

Magnumswitchgear Cm December 14, 2017 at 11:44 AM

Awesome information given in detail about Motor starting and running guide.

DOL Motor Starter Manufacturers Bangalore

Reply

hasrul nizam April 10, 2018 at 3:45 PM

hello sir.. what mean if starting current and full load current is lower than it design.. is there is
any effect to motors..thanks
Reply

TTTT Global April 14, 2018 at 5:26 PM

I pay you really special thanks for sharing this informative content.
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Ram Ekbal Rai June 15, 2018 at 8:10 AM

THANKS for information
Reply

Divya Gsearch July 16, 2018 at 3:45 PM

hello,
Good blog ! keep posting its helps us lot about
Magnetic Motor Starter
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Vimarsh Gowda August 24, 2018 at 11:40 AM

Hello Sir, If i have a 2 HP motor of 12.5 Amps load. Can i start the machine with 3 KW
generator?
Reply
Unknown September 12, 2018 at 7:02 PM
So helpful and it helps the new comers in the electrical engineering field to understand.Great
one and thanks
Reply

Unknown September 24, 2018 at 5:03 PM

What is the starting current and running current of 5 hp, 3 phase ac motor ?
Reply

Industrial Matrix October 25, 2018 at 1:07 PM

This is something easier for anyone how wants to learn about electric motor current.
Reply

Ebloglinee November 1, 2018 at 10:08 AM

Very usefull informaton thanks for sharing this link share for more about AC DC Full Load
Current Calculation Formula Click here
Reply

Unknown November 24, 2018 at 5:46 PM

Thanks for sharing useful information. can you tell me by stopping 3 phase 11KV induction
motor with average current 130 amps how much power will be save for one day.
Reply

Hydrauliques Continental December 7, 2018 at 11:30 AM

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Unknown September 22, 2019 at 1:04 PM

What is the normal starting current of synchonous motor with 7.5 hp, 480v 3phase, 60 Hz?
Reply

Unknown September 22, 2019 at 1:05 PM

What is the normal starting current of synchonous motor with 7.5 hp, 480v 3phase, 60 Hz?
Reply

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About Me

Sajith
Man’s ultimate aim is to become immortal. Innumerable people die every day, yet he wishes
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