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3 Phase Motor Amperage Formula:
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3 Phase Motor Amperage refers to the current drawn by a three-phase electric motor during operation. It is calculated based on the motor's power rating, supply voltage, and power factor, providing crucial information for electrical system design and protection.
The calculator uses the 3 phase amperage formula:
Where:
Explanation: The formula calculates the current required by a three-phase motor based on its power consumption, operating voltage, and the power factor which represents the phase difference between voltage and current.
Details: Accurate amperage calculation is essential for proper motor protection, circuit breaker sizing, wire gauge selection, and overall electrical system design to ensure safe and efficient operation of three-phase motors.
Tips: Enter power in watts, voltage in volts, and power factor as a decimal between 0 and 1. All values must be positive numbers with power factor not exceeding 1.0.
Q1: What is power factor and why is it important?
A: Power factor is the ratio of real power to apparent power, representing the efficiency of power usage. It ranges from 0 to 1, with higher values indicating better efficiency.
Q2: How does voltage affect motor amperage?
A: Higher voltage results in lower amperage for the same power output, which is why higher voltage systems are often used for large motors to reduce current requirements.
Q3: What are typical power factor values for motors?
A: Power factor typically ranges from 0.8 to 0.95 for most industrial motors, depending on motor design, load conditions, and efficiency.
Q4: Why is the √3 factor used in 3 phase calculations?
A: The √3 factor accounts for the phase relationship in three-phase systems where the voltage between phases is √3 times the phase-to-neutral voltage.
Q5: Can this calculator be used for single-phase motors?
A: No, this calculator is specifically for three-phase motors. Single-phase motor calculations use a different formula without the √3 factor.