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How To Read An IEC Metric Motor Nameplate - Emotors Direct
How To Read An IEC Metric Motor Nameplate - Emotors Direct
How To Read An IEC Metric Motor Nameplate - Emotors Direct
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Home (/) Knowledge Center (knowledge-center) Motors (/knowledge-center/category/motors) How To Read An Iec Metric Motor Nameplate
You’ll notice that an IEC metric motor nameplate looks different than a NEMA nameplate. We’ve outlined how to read an IEC motor nameplate below. This
article also includes considerations for:
For a full overview of the difference between IEC and NEMA, check out our article here (https://www.emotorsdirect.ca/knowledge-center/article/nema-vs-iec-
motor-standards-what-is-the-difference).
IEC Motor Nameplate
You may not see all these specifications on an IEC metric motor nameplate. The manufacturer data package should include the full details of the motor.
Model Number or Product ID: This may be indicated as ‘type’ on the nameplate. This is the number you’ll use to find a replacement.
Serial Number: This number is unique to your motor and can be used by the manufacturer to locate the motor in their database.
Output Mechanical Power: NEMA motors will indicate ‘Horsepower’ or ‘HP’, whereas IEC motors will typically indicate ‘kW’. (1 horsepower = 0.74 KW). kW
is more commonly used around the world.
Line Voltage: this is indicated with a ‘V’.
Full Load Current: this will be denoted with an ‘A’.
Power Supply Frequency: this will be denoted with ‘Hz’.
Power Factor at Full Load: this will be denoted as ‘cos’. This is an expression of energy efficiency and is often expressed as a percentage.
RPM: this will be denoted as ‘RPM’, which indicates how many times the shaft will turn per minute.
Insulation Class: this describes the ability of the motor windings to handle heat. This impacts the motor insulation lifetime. There are four classes for
insulation factor. We typically deal with F and H.
Class Max Ambient Temp (°C) Max Temp Rise (°C) Hot-Spot Over Temp (°C) Max Winding Temp (Tmax) (°C)
A 40 60 5 105
B 40 80 10 130
F 40 105 10 155
H 40 125 15 180
Ingress Protection: this is denoted as ‘IP’. The first number indicates the ability to protect against solids entering and the second number indicates the
ability to protect against liquids entering. Check out our article on IP ratings for all the details.
Motor weight: This will be indicated in kilograms and denoted as ‘kg’.
International Efficiency Classes: this will be denoted as IE1, IE2, IE3, or IE4 and is a classification system to determine the minim energy performance
standards (MEPS). Each government will indicate their MEPS. The nominal efficiency may also be indicated as a percentage.
Frame size: This describes the dimensions of the motor. The motor frame size is often indicated in the model number or ‘type’. See below for more details.
Mounting: see below for details.
Bearing: This will be indicated as ‘DE’ for drive end and ‘NE’ for non-drive end.
Greasing Amount and Frequency: This is often indicated within the motor manual but may also be on the motor nameplate. You may see a number
followed by the letter ‘h’, which indicates that you should grease the motor after a set amount of running hours. For example, ‘3000 h’ means you should
grease the motor after it’s been running for 3000 hours. You'll also see another number followed by cm3. This indicates how many grams to inject at the ‘h’
frequency.
Duty Cycle: This is equivalent to ‘Service Factor’ in NEMA motors . Duty cycle will be denoted as S1-S10 which denotes if the motor can be used
continuously or for shorter periods. It also takes into account starting, braking, no-load, and rest de-energized periods. Applications where the motor is
used intermittently can use smaller motors, as they have less heat to dissipate. If the motor is running at all times, it will need to be oversized to properly
dissipate the heat without damaging the motor windings.
Continuous Running Duty S1 The motor works at a constant load for enough time to reach temperature equilibrium.
Short Time Duty S2 The motor works at a constant load, but not long enough to reach temperature equilibrium. The
rest periods are long enough for the motor to reach ambient temperature.
Intermittent Periodic Duty S3 Sequential, identical run and rest cycles with constant load. Temperature equilibrium is never
reached. Starting current has little effect on temperature rise.
Intermittent Periodic Duty with S4 Sequential, identical start, run and rest cycles with constant load. Temperature equilibrium is not
Starting reached but starting current affects temperature rise.
Intermittent Periodic Duty with S5 Sequential, identical cycles of starting, running at constant load and running with no load. No rest
Electric Braking periods.
Continuous operation with intermittent S6 Sequential, identical cycles of running with constant load and running with no load. No rest
load periods.
Continuous operation with electric S7 Sequential identical cycles of starting, running at constant load and electric braking. No rest
braking periods.
Continuous operation with periodic S8 Sequential, identical duty cycles run at constant loads and given speed, then run at other constant
changes in load and speed loads and speeds. No rest periods.
Non-Periodic Duty S9 The load and speed vary non-periodically.
Duty with Discrete Constant Loads S10 The motor may be operated with a specific number of discrete loads for a sufficient time to allow
(and speeds) the machine to reach thermal equilibrium is specified.
This measurement can often be found in the ‘type’ or catalogue number of a metric motor nameplate.
An ‘S’, ‘M’ or ‘L’ will denote the motors length. Whether the motor is long or short, the frame size, shaft diameter, shaft length, and foot mounting holes will
stay the same.
For example, take this Lafert LME71L4-230-C. The frame size on this motor is ‘71L’. The center of its shaft is 71 millimeters from the base of the motor.
We see B5 and B14 used most often. An IEC B5 is equivalent to a NEMA D flange. An IEC B14 is equivalent to a NEMA C face.
Below are the most common shaft arrangements for IEC motors:
B5 Flange
B14 Face
Is ATEX Certification Applicable in North America?
ATEX (Appareils destinés à être utilisés en Atmosphère Explosive) certifications refer to devices intended for us in explosion atmospheres. You may see ‘Ex’
indicated on a metric motor nameplate. This is comparable to NEMA hazardous locations ratings.
ATEX ratings are used internationally, however, they are not commonly used in North America. Keep in mind, some motors made for use in European
equipment may come with an ATEX rating instead of a NEMA hazardous location rating.
Connection Boxes
Another feature to keep in mind with IEC motors is the connection box. Typically, NEMA motors will have an F-1 connection box by default, meaning, the
conduit box is on the left-hand side of the frame when facing the front of the motor. Whereas the IEC motors typically come in an F-3/F-0 or F-2 mounting. An
F-3/F-0 mounting has a connection box at the top of the motor.
This will factor in if replacing a NEMA motor with an IEC, or vice versa. Ensure the connection box arrangement will fit within your application.
When cross referencing an IEC to a NEMA model, the shaft sizes will be different. If the motor is pully driven, the swap is much easier. If the motor is mounted
with a flange, you cannot cross reference between a NEMA motor and IEC motor because the flanges are not the same size.
WEG offers both a cast-aluminum and cast-iron option. The cast iron motors are more robust and will be able to withstand harsher applications.
Other trusted brands include Lafert, Brook Crompton, Baldor, Leeson, Marathon, Max Motion, and Nidec.
Visit eMotorsDirect.ca/motors/iec-metric-motor (https://www.emotorsdirect.ca/motors/iec-metric-motors) for a full inventory of metric motors. Our inventory
is stocked across the country and most models will be delivered within 1-5 business days.
1-800-890-7593 (tel:+18008907593)
customerservice@emotorsdirect.ca (mailto:customerservice@emotorsdirect.ca)
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