Motor Voltage Drop Calculator

This program calculates voltage drop caused by the starting of motors at the
substation transformer primary and secondary leads.
Primary system impedance and transformer impedance is taken into account.
Secondary conductor impedance is not.
Calculator allows use of a autotransformer reduced voltage starter and
provides calculations based on tap setting.
Two calculators are provided. One is based on tables 430-150 & 430-151(B)
from the 1999 NEC. The tables provide current ratings for motors up to
500HP and 575 Volts. The other allows full use of motor nameplate data.

Motor Starting Voltage Impact Calculations

Based on tables in section 430 of the 1999 NEC.
Maximum secondary voltage handled is 600V
For secondary system of 2300V or motors not conforming to NEC tables use other calculator
For 3 Phase alternating current motors, design B, C D or E only
Input Data
1
Nominal
Values

Calculated Data

MVA Base

50
SC MVA

12,470

Volts

2,500

kVA

% Volts
93.1%
Z =

5.75%

Actual
Voltage

pu Z's
0.02000

11,608

EDPH Transformer

0.02300

85.1%

409 Bus voltage when starting

88.8%

409 % rated Volts & Volts @ motor leads)

System Volts
480

A/T Tap
100%
Motor HP
500

0.24620

Motor Design
E

0.28920
Motor
Voltage
FLA
LRA

Input Data

460
590
4682

kVA
pu LR
% X"d

470
7.94
12.60%
Motor
Base

24.62%
System
Base

Calculated Data

Provided Courtesy of GE Industrial Systems

Contact marcelo.valdes@indsys.ge.com if you have any comments

ns

les use other calculator

or E only

ge when starting

s & Volts @ motor leads)

System Voltage

1
2
3
4
5

3
Mtr V

System Voltage

208
240
480
600
2300

480
460

Ampacity tables ( NEC 430-150)

1
2
HP
208
240
1
10
30.8
28
2
15
46.2
42
3
20
59.4
54
4
25
74.8
68
5
30
88
80
6
40
114
104
7
50
143
130
8
60
169
154
9
75
211
192
10
100
273
248
11
125
343
312
12
150
396
360
13
200
528
480
14
250 Not In NEC table Not In NEC table
15
300 Not In NEC table Not In NEC table
16
350 Not In NEC table Not In NEC table
17
400 Not In NEC table Not In NEC table
18
450 Not In NEC table Not In NEC table
19
500 Not In NEC table Not In NEC table

19

590

Mtr Type
3
480
14
21
27
34
40
52
65
77
96
124
156
180
240
302
361
414
477
515
590

4
5
600
2300
11 Not In NEC table
17 Not In NEC table
22 Not In NEC table
27 Not In NEC table
32 Not In NEC table
41 Not In NEC table
52 Not In NEC table
62
16
77
20
99
26
125
31
144
37
192
49
242
60
289
72
336
83
382
95
412
103 3
472
118

1
2

LRA

B, C or D
E

1
10

10

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19

3
1

4
10

5
6
7
2
20
3
BCD 208 E 208
BCD 240 E 240
BCD 480
10
179
249
162
225
81
15
257
373
232
337
116
20
321
497
290
449
145
25
404
621
365
562
183
30
481
745
435
674
218
40
641
911
580
824
290
50
802
1139
725
1030
363
60
962
1367
870
1236
435
75
1200
1708
1085
1545
543
100
1603
2071
1450
1873
725
125
2007
2589
1815
2341
908
150
2400
3106
2170
2809
1085
200
3207
4141
2900
3745
1450
250 Not In NEC table Not In NEC table Not In NEC table Not In NEC table
1825
300 Not In NEC table Not In NEC table Not In NEC table Not In NEC table
2200
350 Not In NEC table Not In NEC table Not In NEC table Not In NEC table
2550
400 Not In NEC table Not In NEC table Not In NEC table Not In NEC table
2900
450 Not In NEC table Not In NEC table Not In NEC table Not In NEC table
3250
500 Not In NEC table Not In NEC table Not In NEC table Not In NEC table
3625

LRA =

4682

8
30
E 480
113
169
225
281
337
412
515
618
773
937
1171
1405
1873
2344
2809
3277
3745
4214
4682

9
4

10
40

BCD 600 E 600

64.8
90
93
135
116
180
146
225
174
270
232
330
290
412
348
494
434
618
580
749
726
936
868
1124
1160
1498
1460
1875
1760
2247
2040
2622
2320
2996
2600
3371
2900
3746

Rev 0 - 11/03/2016

Page 8 of 8

If you do not have motor nameplate data use calculator 1

For calculating voltage drop caused by starting of motors in 3 phase AC systems

Input Data Calculated Data

1 MVA Base
Nominal
Values

50
SC MVA

% Volts

12,470 Volts
2,500 kVA

99.8%
Z=

5.75%

480 Volts

65%
A/T Tap

Actual
Voltage

pu Z's
0.02000

12,444

EDPH Transformer

0.02300

99.5%

478 Bus voltage when starting

67.5%

311 % rated Volts & Volts @ motor leads)

40
HP

9.47317
9.51617

Motor
Voltage
FLA
LRA

460
48
288

kVA
pu LR
% X"d

38
6.00
16.67%
Motor
Base

400.24%
System
Base

Input Data Calculated Data

11/03/2016, 18:17:50, 335759594.xls, Start Voltage Drop Fill in Amps