Motors and Motor

Circuit Calculations
2017 NEC Requirements

Copyright 1999-2019 Dan Dudley

2017 NEC Motor Circuit
Requirements and
Calculations
Copyright 1999-2019 Dan Dudley
 NEC Motor Calculations
Basic Information
• 430.6(a)(1) Basic Calc information
• Name Plate Values (430.6(a)(2) are only used to size overloads
• Otherwise use T.430.247, 248, 249, & 250
• 430.22(a) Single motor 125% cont. duty (3 hrs. or more)
• T.430.22(e) Note Cont. Duty unless nature of apparatus is otherwise.

Copyright 1999-2019 Dan Dudley

 NEC Motor Calculations
Basic Information
• 430.52(c)(1) exception
• Next higher standard size overcurrent protective device.
• 430.62 Feeder O.C. Protection
• Largest S.C. – G.F. Protective device plus the sum of the F.L.C. of all
other motors supplied by the same feeder
• No provision for going UP to next standard size must go down to next
standard size

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Copyright 1999-2019 Dan Dudley
 Hp Phases FLC Voltage

Hz

Locked
Temp Service Insulation Rotor
Rise Factor Class Letter
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Line side

Nameplate Data

Actuating Coil

Overload Relays

Load Side
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 For all other
calculations use
Table values

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Copyright 1999-2019 Dan Dudley
¾ @120 5 @208 Copyright 1999-2019 Dan Dudley
 25 HP
208 Volts 50 HP
Synchronous
200 HP
440 Volts
480 Volts

25-208 50 sync – 440 200 - 480 Copyright 1999-2019 Dan Dudley

Copyright 1999-2019 Dan Dudley
 10HP 240V 1Φ FLI
44

What minimum size THHN conductors are required for this

motor ?

Name Plate Not used

430.248: 10hp @ 240v = 50 amps
430.22(a): 50 X 125% = 62.5 amps
310.15(b)(16): 62.5 amps = #4 THHN
Copyright 1999-2019 Dan Dudley
 25HP 480V 3Φ FLI
32.5

What is the minimum ampacity of the branch circuit conductors for a 25 HP ,

480-volt, 3 phase, squirrel cage motor with nameplate FLI of 32.5 amps ?

Name Plate value not used

430.250: 25hp @480v = 34 amps
430.22(a): 34 X 125% = 42.5 amps
310.15(b)(16) : # 6 THHN @60ºC and 55 amps
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 Circuits with more than one Motor
• Step 1. • Decide which motor has largest
FLI rating
(This may not be the largest HP)

• Step 2. • Largest FLI of one motor X 125%

(only increase one)
• Add FLI rating of all other
motors
• Step 3. (straight from tables)

Copyright 1999-2019 Dan Dudley

 5HP 3Φ 208V 5HP 3Φ 208V

What is the minimum ampacity of the branch circuit conductors for the
two motors as shown ? 3Æ, 208V

430.250: 5 hp @ 208v = 16.7 amps

430.24: Ampacity = FLI 1st motor X 125% + FLI 2nd motor
Ampacity = 16.7 X 125% + 16.7 = 37.575 amps

Copyright 1999-2019 Dan Dudley

 5HP 1Φ 230V 2HP 1Φ 230V

What is the minimum ampacity of the branch circuit conductors supplying the two
motors as shown ? 1Æ, 230V

430.248: 2hp @ 230v = 12 amps

430.248: 5hp @ 230v = 28 amps
Ampacity = Largest FLI X 125% + Second FLI
28 X 125% + 12 = 47 amps

Copyright 1999-2019 Dan Dudley

 10HP 3Φ 480V 25HP 3Φ 480V 30HP 3Φ 480V
Squirrel Cage Squirrel Cage Synchronous

What is the minimum ampacity of the branch circuit

conductor serving the three motors as shown
above?

Copyright 1999-2019 Dan Dudley

 10HP 3Φ 480V 25HP 3Φ 480V 30HP 3Φ 480V
Squirrel Cage Squirrel Cage Synchronous

430.250: FLI’s, 3-phase, 480v

10hp Squirrel cage = 14 FLI
25hp Squirrel cage = 34 FLI
30hp Synchronous = 32 FLI
34 X 125% + 14 + 32 = 88.5 amps
Copyright 1999-2019 Dan Dudley
 88.5A 10HP 3Φ 480V 25HP 3Φ 480V 30HP 3Φ 480V
Squirrel Cage Squirrel Cage Synchronous

What Size THWN conductors are required for:

1: Ungrounded Conductors
2: Grounded Conductor Design
3: Grounding Conductor A
T.310.15(b)(16) & 110.14(c) = #2 THWN Ungrounded 60°C
No Grounded Conductor Required
T.250.122 Grounding Conductor (EGC) = #8 Cu or #6 Al

Copyright 1999-2019 Dan Dudley

 6000 watts 1HP 1Φ 120V
Incandescent Lighting FLI 12.4

What is the minimum size branch circuit conductors supplying the motor and
incandescent lighting above ?

430.248: 1hp @ 120v = 16 amps

Lighting: I=W / E = 6000 / 120 = 50 amps
430.24(a): Ampacity = motor FLI X 125% + Lighting I
16 X 125% + 50 = 70 amps
#4 THHN Cu (60°C)
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81.25

26.25

123.25

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Time Delay Fuses 20HP 3Φ 480V
FLI 29

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 Time Delay
20HP 3Φ 480V
Fuses
FLI 29

T.430.250: 20hp = 27 amps

T.430.52: Time Delay Fuse = 175%
Max. O.C. device = 27 X 175% = 47.25 amps
430.52(c)(1) exception #1: Next Larger size permitted
240.6(a) Next Larger Std size = 50 amps

Answer: 50 amp Time Delay Fuse

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 Non-Time Delay 20HP 3Φ 480V
Fuses FLI 29

T.430.250: 20hp = 27 amps

T.430.52: Non-Time Delay Fuse = 300%
Max. O.C. device = 27 X 300% = 81 amps
430.52(c)(1) exception #1: Next Larger size permitted
240.6(a) Next Larger Std size = 90 amps

Answer: 90-amp Non-Time Delay Fuse

Copyright 1999-2019 Dan Dudley
 Inverse Time 20HP 3Φ 480V
Breaker FLI 29

T.430.250: 20hp = 27 amps

T.430.52: Inverse Time Breaker = 250%
Max. O.C. device = 27 X 250% = 67.5 amps
430.52(c)(1) exception 1: Next Larger size permitted
240.6(a) Next Larger Std size = 70 amps

Answer: 70-amp Inverse Time Circuit Breaker

Copyright 1999-2019 Dan Dudley

Selecting Minimum Size Overloads 430.32(A)(1)
n Service Factor n Temperature Rise

n Less than 1.15 use 115% n 40°C or less use 125%

n 1.15 or greater use n Over 40°C use 115%

125%
n No Temp Listed use
n No Service Factor Listed 115%
use 115%

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 Selecting Maximum Size Overloads 430.32(C)

n Service Factor n Temperature Rise

n Less than 1.15 use 130% n 40°C or less use 140%

n 1.15 or greater use n Over 40°C use 130%

140%
n No Temp Listed use
n No Service Factor Listed 130%
use 130%

Copyright 1999-2019 Dan Dudley

 Motors with a Duty Cycle - Welders
Solution:

Welder No.1
630.11(a) Nonmotor Generator
Duty cycle 30 Multiplier = 0.55
I=RPCXM
I = 28 amps x 0.55 = 15.4 amps

Welder No.2
630.11(a) Nonmotor Generator
Duty cycle 80 Multiplier = 0.89 RPC 28A
I=RPC xM Duty Cycle RPC 18A
I = 18 amps x 0.89 = 16.02 amps 30% Duty Cycle
630.11(b)
Total = No.1+ No.2 80%
Total = 15.4 + 16.02 = 31.42 amps
Ans. 31.42 amps

Copyright 1999-2019 Dan Dudley

 5HP 230V 1Φ
FLI 24.5
Periodic Duty
15 Min

Solution:

Nameplate current rating is used.

Table 430.22(e)
FLI 15 min. periodic duty = 90%

Ampacity -Nameplate FLI x 90%

= 24.5 x 90% = 22.05 amps.
Answer: 22.05 amperes
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 15HP 230V 3Φ
FLI 16.5
Varying Duty

Solution:

Nameplate FLI is used

430.22(e)
Continuous use, varying duty= 200%
Ampacity = nameplate FLI x 200 %
Ampacity= 16.5 x 200 = 33 amps

Answer: 33 amperes

Copyright 1999-2019 Dan Dudley

 Motor Efficiency
• Efficiency = Output / Input
No motor is 100% efficient
• 5HP, 240V, 1Æ = 28A F.L.C.
Efficiency = Output / Input T.430.248
• W = E X I = 240V X 28A = 6720 VA
• 6720 VA input and 5712 VA output
• 5712/6720 = .85
• 6720 VA X .85 = 5712 VA output
• 85% efficiency

Copyright 1999-2019 Dan Dudley

 Motor Duty Rating
n Intermittent Duty = T.430.22(e)
n Nameplate F.L.C. used
n 50HP,480V,3Æ, 15-minute rated elevator motor, Name Plate FLC
=61.2A
n 430.22(e) = 85%
n Name Plate FLC = 61.2 X 85% = 52.02A Branch Circuit
Ampacity
n Conductor Required = #6 (60°C column)

240.6 430.52 310.15(b)(16) 110.14 Copyright 1999-2019 Dan Dudley

Motor Calculations
Practice Questions
30 Minutes
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Copyright 1999-2019 Dan Dudley
Copyright 1999-2019 Dan Dudley
 25-208 50 sync – 440 200 - 480
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Copyright 1999-2019 Dan Dudley
Copyright 1999-2019 Dan Dudley
Copyright 1999-2019 Dan Dudley
Copyright 1999-2019 Dan Dudley
Copyright 1999-2019 Dan Dudley
Copyright 1999-2019 Dan Dudley
Copyright 1999-2019 Dan Dudley
Copyright 1999-2019 Dan Dudley
Copyright 1999-2019 Dan Dudley
Question 1 Keywords
What size short circuit/ground fault protection is
required for the branch circuit serving motor #1 in
motor diagram #1?

What size short circuit/ground fault protection is

required for the branch circuit serving motor #1 in
motor diagram #1?
We are looking for the smallest fuse or circuit breaker
required to protect motor #1 on Motor Diagram #1.
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Question 2 Keywords
What is the minimum size overloads required for motor #2 on
motor diagram #1 ?

What is the minimum size overloads required for motor #2 on

motor diagram #1 ?

We are looking for the smallest heater/overload size allowed for

motor #2 on motor diagram #1.
Overloads = name plate full load current times either 115% or
125% depending on S.F. and/or Temp Rise.
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Question 3 Keywords
What is the minimum size THHN feeder required for the six motors as
shown on Motor Diagram #1 ?

What is the minimum size THHN feeder required for the six motors as
shown on Motor Diagram #1 ?
We are looking for the smallest legally allowed THHN copper conductor
to feed these 6 motors. Feeder conductor = three steps:
1 find largest FLA motor and multiply by 1.25 (125%)
2. Add FLA of all other motors on same feeder
3. Can’t go up in size = drop down to standard at 240.6

Copyright 1999-2019 Dan Dudley