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ELECTRIC MOTORS: HOW TO READ

THE NAMEPLATE

When it comes to purchasing an electric motor,

it is critical to understand the speciFcations
detailed on the motor nameplate. The
information on the nameplate communicates
what the motor can do and provides the
information needed to choose the right electric
motor for your application. Having the right
motor ensures eIciency and product longevity
and can translate into major cost savings for
your business.

We’ve assembled some basic terms and

deFnitions to help get your started.
Understanding these concepts will allow you to
ask the right questions and select the right
motor for your application and industry.

ELECTRIC MOTOR NAMEPLATE

The nameplate of an electric motor provides
necessary information that helps you select the
right AC motor for your speciFc application.
We’ll use the following illustration of a 150
horsepower AC motor nameplate as an
example. The nameplate offers speciFcations
for the voltage and amps, speed in RPM, service
factor, class insulation based on NEMA
standards, motor design, and eIciency.

VOLTAGE AND AMPS

By design, electric motors have standard
voltages and frequencies at which they operate.
On the nameplate, you can see this sample
motor is designed to be used on 460 VAC
systems. 169.5 amps is the full-load current for
this motor.

REVOLUTIONS PER MINUTE (RPM)

The nameplate includes the based speed given
in RPM. Base speed is where the motor
develops rated horsepower at rated voltage and
frequency. Base speed indicates how fast a
fully-loaded output shaft will turn the connected
equipment when proper voltage and frequency
is applied.

The sample motor has a base speed of 1185

RPM at 60 Hz. The synchronous speed of a 6-
pole motor is 1200 RPM. When fully loaded,
there will be 1.25% slip. If the connected
equipment operates at less than full load, the
output speed (RPM) will be slightly greater than
what’s stated on the nameplate.

SERVICE FACTOR
When an electric motor is designed to operate at
its nameplate horsepower rating, it has a service
factor of 1.0, meaning it can operate at 100% of
its rated horsepower. Depending on your
application, you may need a motor to exceed its
rated horsepower. In that case, you can say you
need a motor with a service factor of 1.15. The
service factor can be multiplied to the rated
power, so a 1.15 service factor motor can be
operated 15% higher than the motor’s
horsepower mentioned on the nameplate. For
example, the 150 HP motor with a 1.15 service
factor can be operated at 172.5 HP. Keep in
mind that any motor that continuously operates
at a service factor greater than 1 will have a
reduced life expectancy compared to operating
at its rated horsepower. Operating at a service
factor greater than one will also affect how the
motor performs, such as the full load speed and
current.

CLASS INSULATION
Different operating environments have various
motor temperature requirements. To meet these
requirements, The National Electrical
Manufacturers Association (NEMA) established
four insulation classes: A, B, F, and H. Class F is
the most common and Class A is hardly ever
used. Before a motor is started, its windings are
at ambient temperature – temperature of the
surrounding air. The standard ambient
temperature according to NEMA should not
exceed 40° C (104° F) within a deFned altitude
range for all motor classes.

NEMA Insulation Classes

Once the motor starts, the internal temperature

rises. Each insulation class allows for a
speciFed temperature rise. When the ambient
temperature and allowed temperature rise are
combined, they equal the maximum winding
temperature in a motor. For example, when a
motor with Class F insulation operates at a 1.0
service factor, the maximum temperature rise is
105° C. The maximum winding temperature is
40° ambient plus 105° rise, so 145° C. A point in
the center of the motor’s windings where the
temperature is higher is called the motor’s hot
spot.

Operating the motor at the right temperature

leads to eIcient operation and a long life. If you
operate a motor above the limits of the
insulation class (155° C for Class F insulation),
you reduce the motor’s life expectancy. If the
operating temperature increases by 10° C for a
signiFcant amount of time, the motor’s
insulation life expectancy can decrease as much
as 50%.

ELECTRIC MOTOR DESIGN

NEMA has established standards for electric
motor construction and performance. NEMA
design B motors are most common.

EFFICIENCY
The eIciency of an electric motor is expressed
as a percentage. It indicates how much input
electrical energy is converted to output
mechanical energy. You can see the nominal
eIciency for this motor is 95.8%. The higher the
percentage means the more eIciently the motor
converts incoming electrical power to
mechanical horsepower. A 150 HP motor with
an eIciency rating of 96.0% consumes less
energy than a 150 HP motor with a rating of
86%. Greater eIciency helps you save
signiFcantly on the cost of energy. High
eIciency motors lead to lower operating
temperature, longer life, and lower noise levels.

NEMA MOTOR CHARACTERISTICS

STANDARD ELECTRIC MOTOR DESIGNS
To match speed-torque requirements of various
loads, motors are designed with certain speed-
torque characteristics. NEMA has four standard
motor designs: NEMA A, NEMA B, NEMA C, and
NEMA D. NEMA A is not commonly used. NEMA
B is the most common. Specialized applications
use NEMA C and NEMA D. A motor must have
the ability to develop enough torque to start,
accelerate, and operate a load at rated speed.
Using the sample 150 HP, 1185 RPM motor
discussed previously, you can calculate torque
by transposing the formula for horsepower.

The NEMA design is most commonly used to

estimate the locked rotor, or starting torque. A
NEMA Design C motor will typically have a
greater locked rotor torque than a NEMA design
B motor.

SPEED-TORQUE CURVE FOR NEMA B

MOTOR
The graph below demonstrates the relationship
between speed and torque a NEMA B motor
produces, from the moment it starts until it
reaches full-load torque at rated speed.

STARTING TORQUE
The starting torque, also referred to as locked
rotor torque, is labeled on the graph. Torque is
developed when the rotor is kept at rest with
rated voltage and frequency applied. This
happens every time a motor starts up. When
rated voltage and frequency are applied to the
stator, there is a brief amount of time before the
rotor turns. In this brief moment, the NEMA
design B motor operates at about 150% of its
full-load torque.

This is a basic introduction to an electric motor

nameplate, with terms and deFnitions. If you
have any questions or are interested in learning
more, don’t hesitate to contact us and we’d be
happy to discuss feasibility, potential business
return for your electric motor, and if WorldWide
Electric is the right Ft for your company.

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