How to Calculate Motor Inrush Current

By Michael Logan, eHow Contributor

A motor, with the power turned off, presents little resistance to
electricity because the motor windings act almost like a short
until they become energized. When power is turned on, the
current flow may be many times what the current flow is when
the motor is operating at rated speed under a load. This inrush of
current lasts only a fraction of a second. No calculation for the
exact inrush current is possible, but a range may be determined if
the manufacturer's documentation does not specify it.
Difficulty:
Moderately Easy
Instructions
Things You'll Need
NEMA locked rotor code table
1.
o 1
Read the motor nameplate on the motor and find the voltage listed on it.
The National Electric Code mandates all motors have a nameplate that
provides information specific to the electrical operating characteristics of
the motor.
o 2
Look for the "Locked Rotor Letter Code" or "Locked Rotor Code" on the
motor nameplate. This code will be a letter from "A" to "V" but will not
include "I," "O" or "Q." These letters are omitted to avoid confusion.
o 3
Consult the NEMA Locked Rotor Code Table and find the letter code on
it. Follow the letter code row to the right and find the range given. The
range is given in thousands of Volt-Amps, or kilowatts.
o 4 Multiply each number in the range by 1,000. Divide each result by the
motor voltage found on the nameplate. The resulting range is the inrush
current range. For example: A 3.5-horsepower, three-phase motor
nameplate lists the motor voltage as 230 volts and the locked rotor code
is "K." The range given on the table is 8.0 to 8.99 KVA. Multiplying by
1,000, the range becomes 8,000 to 8,990 VA. Dividing by the motor
voltage of 230 volts gives the inrush current range as 34.8 amps to 39.1
amps.
Tips & Warnings
The inrush current is only momentary and if the circuit breaker is sized
properly, it will not trip in the fraction of second the current spikes. As the
motor windings become energized, they present resistance to the flow of
current and the current begins to drop. As the motor comes up to full
speed, the current level will be at the level specified on the motor
nameplate as the full-load current.
The voltage is important to determining inrush current. If the motor
nameplate lists multiple voltages, the voltage being used must be
determined. An easy place to measure this is at the motor disconnect. The
type of voltage determines how the measurement is made. Measure three-
phase current between two hot terminals and double it. Split phase current
is measured between two hot terminals. Single phase current is measured
from the hot terminal to ground.
Resources
Engineering Toolbox: Electrical Motor Locked Rotor Indicating Code Letters