CONSIDERATION OF MOTOR CONTRIBUTION IN SERIES RATINGS
George D. Gregory, Member IEEE
Square D Company
Cedar Rapids, IA
I. ABSTRACT
Motor short circuit contribution is a real
consideration in low-voltage systems. It must
be considered in deciding whether to apply
series ratings of overcurrent protective devices.
Virtually every electrical system has motors in
it someplace. This paper:
- Confirms the existence of low-
voltage motor short circuit contribution by test,
- Examines some of the relevant
literature,
- Explores typical installations,
- And recommends application
guidelines.
11. INTRODUCTION
A series rating is: "A short-circuit interrupting
rating assigned to a combination of two or
more overcurrent protective devices which are
connected in series and in which the rating of
the downstream device(s) in the combination is
less than the series rating" [lo]. The device
nearest the source (main) assists the device
nearest the load (branch) in the interruption and
may provide partial protection for the branch.
The three significant steps to certify a series
rating are as illustrated in figure 1:
A. The supply side or main device (fuse or
circuit breaker) is short circuit tested alone at
its interrupting rating at or above the level of
the series rating. The load side or branch
circuit breaker is tested individually at its
intermpiing rating.
B. The series combination is short circuit
tested together as a unit at the series rating
level and required lower levels.
C. The series combination is short circuit
tested in the equipment in which it is to be used
at the equipment short circuit level.
In applying a series rating, it is the intent that
the series rating match or exceed the short
circuit available at the branch while the
interrupting rating of the main must match or
exceed the short circuit available to it.
0-7803-3008-0195$4.00 0 1995 IEEE
Erma1 Curd, Member IEEE
Square D Company
Lexington, KY
a
Individual
Circuit
Breaker
b
Series C
Equipment
Fig. 1. Three test steps for series ratings.
If one or more motors are connected to the bus
between the main and branch as in figure 4,a
short circuit on the load side of the branch may
initiate short circuit current contribution from
the motor(s). The motor contribution will flow
through the faulted branch in addition to the
current through the main. Since this added
current was not specifically considered in the
testing of the series, the system designer needs
guidelines to decide whether a series rating is
suitable. The alternative is a fully rated system
in which the branch has an interrupting rating
suitable for combined primary system and
motor contributions.
With a short circuit electrically near the motor
terminals, a motor will become a generator for
instants following initiation of fault under some
conditions. The conditions include:
- The motor is on line and running at
or near full speed at the time of the short
circuit.
- The short circuit reduces the voltage
at the motor terminals sufficiently that the
machine begins generating rather than
motoring.
- The motor field remains energized
for the time period of interest.
1178
The significance of the added short circuit
current from motors depends on a number of
factors such as:
The size of the motor.
0 The presence of other protective devices in
the circuit such as relays or undervoltage
releases.
The distance in Ohms from the motor to
the fault point.
0 Phasor combination of resistive and
reactive components of currents flowing .
Synchronization of current from the motor
to other current flowing. (Rotor speed and
synchronization effects.)
Some existing literature as well as the
complication of considering the above factors
has suggested neglecting smaller motors and
low-voltage motors in short circuit studies and
has left open the statement of how to apply
series ratings when motors are present. This
paper will provide some analysis of the factors
and recommend some guidelines for
determination of whether series ratings can be
used with motors present.
111. MOTOR CHARACTERISTICS
Rotating machines are generally classed as
synchronous or induction. The significant
difference relative to short circuit calculations
is that synchronous machines obtain their field
excitation from a separate source that may not
be electrically connected to the machine being
considered. The induction machine receives its
excitation from the line. If the line voltage to
the induction machine drops, the induction
machine excitation is reduced and its ability to
drive the mechanical load is lost or greatly
impaired. In the event of a 3 phase short circuit
at the machine terminals, the machine's residual
excitation will force currents into the fault for
the first 1/2 to two cycles after the fault with
currents that should not be neglected even
though they may not be significant. Some of
these details are discussed in Analysis of
Faulted Power Systems [9].
Synchronous motors are seldom found in
systems in which series ratings would be
considered. However, their treatment during
the first cycle after fault initiation would be
similar to that discussed here.
1179
This discussion relates to induction motors of
the wound rotor and cage (squirrel cage) types.
Since the focus is series ratings, the systems are
600 Vac and lower. At this time, the only
series ratings considered are those using a
molded-case circuit breaker (MCCB) as the
branch circuit device. Most of branch circuit
breakers in series ratings will start interruption
in the first half cycle after fault initiation.
Many of these will also clear the fault within
the same first half cycle if they are of frame
sizes 250 A or less. Transient current in this
first half cycle must be considered. Of course,
some of the branch circuit breakers will clear in
the second or third half cycles after fault
initiation depending on the actual fault level,
size of the circuit breaker and its design.
A comprehensive study would require
modeling each motor with inclusion of transient
and sub-transient impedance. For low-voltage
systems this kind of analysis is generally not
practical. For systems under design,
knowledge of the motor nameplate data is rare.
At best, the expected horsepower is available.
Even when nameplate data is available, sub-
transient impedance data is not usually
available with it. Further, motors are
frequently replaced during the life of an
installation and the replacement motor may
have a different characteristic than original. A
general approach is needed.
IV.STANDARDS AND LITERATURE
REVIEW
1. IEEE Standards
ANSVIEEE C37.13 [3] says the following
regarding motor contribution section 10.1.4.2:
"Where the impedances for the installation are
not known, it should be assumed that the
induction motors contribute 3.6 times their full-
load current and that synchronous motors
contribute 4.8 times their full-load current....
"For nominal system voltages of 120V and
208Y/120V, it should be assumed that the
connected load is 50% lighting and 50% motor
load. This corresponds to an equivalent
symmetrical contribution of approximately
twice the full load current.
“For nominal system voltages of 240V to
600V, it should be assumed that the load is
100% motor load and, in the absence of exact
information, that 25% of the motors are
synchronous and 75% induction. This
corresponds to an equivalent symmetrical
contribution of approximately four times the
full-load current.”
This analysis is accepted and applied in
Chapter 2 of ANSI/IEEE Standard 242 [2] and
Chapter 4 of IEEE Standard 141[1].
2. IEC Standards
IEC 78 1, “Application guide for calculation of
short-circuit currents in low-voltage radial
systems” [7], states in clause 7.3:
“The contribution of asynchronous motors to
the short-circuit current Ik” is disregarded if
where:
Z I r=~ sum of rated currents of
motors connected directly (without
transformers) to the network where the short
circuit occurs.
Ik” = initial symmetrical short circuit
current without the influence of motors [Ipin
figure 41
I Motor hp
I VoltasxPhase
“If there are motors at more than one voltage
level, or in other cases, see IEC Publication
909 (Clause 13).”
Yet, IEC 909 [8] states in sub-clause 13.2.1,
“Motors in low-voltage public power supply
systems may be neglected.”
3 . Canadian Electrical Code
The Notes on Rules section of the 1994
Canadian Electrical Code [6], contains a new
statement in Appendix B, Section 14-014
which states, in part,
“Where motors are connected in the
system between the series connected
devices, any significant motor
contribution to the fault current should
be considered. It is generally agreed
that the contribution of asynchronous
1180
motors to the short circuit current may
be neglected if the sum of the rated
currents of motors connected directly
to the point between the series
connected devices is 1% or less of the
interrupting rating of the downstream
circuit breaker. (See IEC Publication
781.)”
V. MOTOR TESTS
To confirm that contribution is present for low
voltage systems and motors, the authors
conducted a simple test in a short circuit
laboratory. The test circuit of figure 2 was
used. Two motors, one a 7.5 hp and the other a
20 hp motor, were separately connected in the
test. A prospective short circuit of 10,700
amperes at 487 V (open circuit), 3 phase, at a
49% power factor was available at the test
terminals. For the test, the circuit breaker CB 1
was open as the test circuit was closed making
voltage available to the motor. About 30
cycles (U2 sec) later, CB 1 was closed on the
short circuit. Results are summarized in Table
1. An example of current recorded is indicated
in figure 3 .
TABLE 1
Summary of results of short circuit tests with
motors.
NEMA Class I Code
RPM
Motor Nameplate FLA
Motor Steady State
Current amperes (no load)
Motor Short Circuit
Contribution, amperes
(average from 3 passes)
Motor Short Circuit
Contribution amperes, rms
(from highest phase, no
load)
Max.Ph
ContnbutioAA Ratio
 *Test Station Terminals 2. Motor speed slows rapidly. Motor current
contributed is not quite in phase with primary
short circuit current even during the first half
Motor cycle of current. The peaks are about .0005
seconds out of phase. Maximum current values

I CB1 1 Current
are not directly additive.

w
Measurement
3. Motor contribution decays very rapidly. By
CTs (6) the second half cycle, it is becoming negligible
as well as far out of phase with primary short
Current Measurement circuit current. Field energy is falling off.
Shunt Resistors
Obviously, this simple set of tests is not an
exhaustive study of motor contribution. There
Fig. 2. Diagram of test circuit used in short circuit are a variety of motors and conditions that will
tests with motors. impact short circuit current contributed by
motors that are not represented here. This test
lym , I 150
does indicate the presence of motor
contribution and some of the variations that
will be typical.

VI. MOTORS IN TYPICAL SYSTEMS

In this section, several typical systems

representing a variety of motor applications is
examined for potential impact of motor
contribution under short circuit conditions.
Consider the simplified and generalized system
of figure 4. Motor contribution, summed as IM,
is added to the short circuit from the primary
source, Ip, to a total short circuit, Ip + IM ,seen
at the faulted point. The contribution is
affected by each element in the system
including the motors and the impedance of wire
and components in each motor circuit.

In examining specific motors, the motor sub-

transient impedance is commonly used for
calculations. Sub-transient impedance is not
commonly available for motors considered
here. For simplicity here, calculations assume
that the motor will generate voltage of the same
value as system voltage and in phase with it.
rm.1”h.o) These calculations also assume that each motor
has an internal reactive impedance in each
Fig. 3. Record of 10,OOO ampere short circuit test phase such that a current equal to six times full
with motor contribution. load current results from system voltage.
These simplificationswill yield contributed
There are several key points that can be current slightly greater than those generally
observed from these tests. calculated using sub-transient impedance.

1. Motor contribution is clearly present and at The calculation system used was that of figure
values anticipated by textbook calculations [9]. 5 . Wire impedances were calculated from
values in Table 9 of Chapter 9 of the 1993
National Electrical Code [4] assuming wires to

1181
be copper and run in PVC conduit. Impedance
values for components are typical. Starter
components are the largest practical NEMA
size units.
These calculations consider that all motors
shown were on line and running at speed when
the short circuit occurred and that none of them
were taken off line by components in their
branch circuits.
Calculation results are summarized in figure 6.
Cases A, B, and C are extracted from actual
industrial installation plans as regards motors
and wire runs (but may not represent what was
actually installed). They represent heavy
installations of relatively large motors.
I 1. Size and number of motors.
Fig. 4. One line diagram of simplified circuit.
Main IP 1,
I I I I
Z1,Z2 and Zn contain impedance values for the motor,
the combination starter unit and connecting wire.
Fig. 5. Single phase circuit diagram used for
calculations
Case D is an extraordinary case for reference
purposes only, with three 500 hp motors on the
same bus. Case E is one example of a
commercial system that may have one large
motor and perhaps several appliance motors.
Cases F and G represent residences with the
largest motors and greatest number expected
with present construction.
Without relating to series ratings, some
observations can be made:
1182
1. There is a wide range of motor contribution
from several hundred to thousands of amperes
in the various systems.
2. Large motors produce large contributions by
these calculations.
3. Contribution in the residential cases, F and
G of figure 6, is insignificant when compared
to short circuit current values. Available test
current metered from one circuit to another for
short circuit testing of the branch will vary by
more than the 310 amperes.
VII. FACTORS
Factors affecting the short circuit contribution:
2. Total potential contribution.
3. Number of motors running at the time of the
short circuit.
- Facility scheduling.
- Interlocking of circuits preventing
simultaneous running of some motors.
4. Disconnecting of the motor by branch
circuit components in the event of a short
circuit such as contactors [13, p 811,
undervoltage relays, or circuit breakers. Action
of these devices may be too slow to affect the
interruption.
5 . Presence of drives in the circuit.
6. Synchronization of contributed motor
current with other short circuit current flowing.
Motor speed changes will impact this factor.
7. Time of interruption as affected by motor
speed. After about one cycle, motor
contribution becomes negligible.
8. As Chattopadhyay points out: “The speed
drop may increase when several motors are
connected at the same time and interact during
a fault.” [ 13, p. 821
Factors affecting a series rating:
1. Prospective short circuit compared to the
series rating.
 480V 480V
3 ph, 25,600kA 3 ph, 16kA
I800A
i)AIR=35kA
ZFLA=233
-. I AIR=65kA
1200A Z FLA = 156
X FLA
Ip=15,940 A1 I, A Branch AIR = 03796

200A l>c 16,850A

AIR
=18kAI
J<
short
circuit
hP= 125
FLA= 156
Case A
Case E

120v
480V lph, 2OkA
3 ph, 256OOkA
FLA = 361
1. 200A FLA = 79

z FLA
Branch AIR = '.*%

FLA=77 34
Case B
11 27 40
short
circuit hp= 3

FLA = 34
x88 Case F
12 AWG

2 otors

0.75

13.8
3 m tors

0.25

5.8

120v
Iph, 20kA
480V
3 ph, 33.6kA 1. 200A I:FLA = 35
Z FLA = 825

AIR

short
circuit FLA = 13.8 9.8 5.8
ho= 75 60 125 40 Case G
FLA = 96 77 156 52
Case C

480V
3 h.30kA
2500A Z FLA = 1770

1 34,880 A

=ZkA Fig. 6
Motor contribution calculation
short for a variety of systems
circuit
ho = 500 500 500 Cases A - G.
FLA = 590 590 590
Case D

1183
2. Motor contribution anticipated beyond the
short circuit from the primary source.
3. Branch circuit breaker interrupting rating
compared to total calculated short circuit
(primary plus motor contribution).
VIII. SERIES RATING CONSIDERATIONS
A series rating works to provide protection at
the location of the branch by one of two ways
and usually a combination of the two. The first
is simply the added impedance of the main
device plus its connections. In a small fraction
of cases this added impedance is sufficient to
permit the branch circuit breaker to function
without having the main open. The second is
that both the branch and main share the energy
of interruption. In sequence, the branch starts
to open which generates a voltage drop across
the opening pole(s). Then while the branch is
in the process of interruption, the main starts to
open and generates a voltage drop across its
pole(s) such that as clearing occurs, the branch
and main are sharing the voltage, and thus the
energy of interruption.
Related to short circuit contribution from
motors on a bus between the main and branch
devices, the main will not see the current flow
from the motors and cannot assist the branch in
interrupting it. The branch must provide all of
the protection for this portion of fault current.
However, series ratings were never intended
for systems with large concentrations of
motors. On most systems in which series
ratings are considered, the potential contributed
short circuit current from motors is small when
compared with primary short circuit current.
The guideline from IEC 781 [7] may help to
quantify what is considered negligible.
It seems clear that all short circuit contributions
must be considered. To that point, the practice
of assuring that the series rating is a no less
than the sum of the primary short circuit
current plus the motor contribution must be
held. This point is emphasized by cases A and
C from figure 6 in which the prospective short
circuit at the main device is lower than the
prospective short circuit at the branch device.
There have been suggestions that series rating
tests be conducted with motor contribution
injected as part to the test. Although this
1184
practice would satisfy the condition of a
particular installation, it is impractical as a
general rating technique. First, constructing
such a test in the laboratory is difficult at best
and maybe impossible with presently available
laboratories. Second, the variety of conditions,
motor sizes, and device combinations would
make such a rating method unmanageable.
Third, the history of usage of series ratings
indicates no problem related to application with
motors, even without guidelines. Additional
testing would not solve a problem.
This section concludes that series ratings are
suitable for application where motors are
connected on the bus between the main and
branch when (1) the series rating is at least as
great as the primary short circuit current plus
the motor contribution and ( 2 ) motor
contribution is small compared to prospective
primary short circuit current.
IX.PUTTING IT TOGETHER
In this paper, we have confirmed that low
voltage motors become generators during a
short circuit and contribute current. We also
identified a number of factors that will reduce
the contributed current. Guidelines in
ANSI/IEEE C37.13-1990 and other IEEE
standards [ 1,2] are about as practical as
possible for the variety of conditions
anticipated for computing motor contribution in
short circuit studies. They do not explain how
to apply them to series rated systems, so let us
put together some points that may help to fill
that gap. Under Series Rating Considerations
above, two points were identified that apply.
One point considers the guideline of IEC 78,
Clause 7.3 in determining a combination of
motors that will deliver small contribution
compared to primary available current. This
guideline has been included in Appendix B of
the Canadian Electrical Code [6] directly
related to series ratings. there it indicates that
motor contribution may be neglected when the
sum of motor full load currents is 1% or less of
the interrupting rating of the branch circuit
breaker, when applied to series ratings.
Looking at cases A and B, motor contribution
of between 1000 and 2000 amperes may be
available with branch interrupting ratings of
30,000 amperes and satisfy this condition.
Since the series testing method did not consider
this contributed current, these values sound
significant. If the many factors that reduce
contributed motor current are taken into
account, the significance is reduced. And if the
series rating is above the total available current
at the branch, protection is even better assured.
In the absence of other guidelines, this one
from the CEC may be useful but should not be
applied blindly.
A. General guidelines
The use of series ratings may be considered
satisfactory without additional testing and with
motors present on the same bus as the branch
(load side) circuit breaker when all of the
following conditions are met:
1. A series rating may be applied when the
sum of the full load current of the connected
motors is no greater than 1% of the interrupting
rating of the branch circuit breaker.
2. The series rating is equal to or greater than
the sum of the calculated primary short circuit
current plus the all calculated contribution at
the location of the branch circuit breaker.
3. Motor contribution calculations are done
using the guidelines of ANSIAEEE C37.13.
When these conditions are not met, that is,
when the motor current exceeds the value of
guideline 1, a series rating is not appropriate
and fully rated devices must be used.
B. Residences
From calculation cases F and G, in which full
contribution is calculated for heaviest motor
loads anticipated for residences, the
contribution is a maximum of 140 to 310
amperes while the lowest interrupting rating for
a branch is 10,000 amperes for commercially
available circuit breakers. Again, these are
maximums and actual contribution in
residences is some fraction of these calculated
values. The maximum contribution is within
typical variations for testing circuits for these
circuit breakers and should be considered
insignificant for application either with series
rated systems or with fully rated systems.
Using ANSI/IEEE C37.13 guidelines the
symmetrical contribution is 70 and 158
amperes, respectively for cases F and G.
1185
System power factor will generally be higher in
residential applications than industrial or
commercial and will tend to reduce impact of
motor contributions.
These values satisfy the general guidelines
above for application of series ratings. Further,
addition of the contribution to primary short
circuit current will result in a negligible
change.
This analysis indicates that motor contribution
can be neglected when applying either series
rated or fully rated systems in residences.
X. CONCLUSION
This paper has concluded that motor
Contribution to a short circuit is present and
must be considered in the application of series
ratings when motors are present on the system.
General guidelines are presented for
application of series ratings when motors are
present between the main overcurrent
protective device and the branch circuit
breaker. These conditions exclude application
of series ratings in systems having very large
contribution from motors because the series
rating test method does not include motor
contribution. The conditions also conclude that
motor contribution in residences is negligible
and need not be considered.
References.
[ l ] ANSI/IEEE Std 141-1993. Recommended
Practice for Electric Power Distribution for
Industrial Plants.
[2] ANSIAEEE Std 242-1986. Recommended
Practice for Protection and Coordination of
Industrial and Commercial Power Systems.
[3] ANSI/IEEE C 37.13-1990, Standardfor
Low-voltage AC Power Circuit Breakers Used
in Enclosures.
[4] ANSI/NFPA 70-1993. National Electrical
Code.
[5] ANSJAJL 489-1991. Molded-Case Circuit
Breakers and Circuit Breaker Enclosures.
[6] CSA Standard C22.1-94, Canadian
Electrical Code Part I, Canadian Standards
Association, Rexdale, Ontario, Canada.

[7] International Standard IEC 781-1989,

“Application guide for calculation of short-
circuit currents in low-voltage radial systems.”

[8] International Standard IEC 909-1988,

“Short circuit calculation in three-phase a.c.
systems.”

[9] Paul M. Anderson, Analysis of Faulted

Power Systems. Ames, IA: Iowa State
University Press, 1796, Chapter 6.

[ 101 Molded-Case Circuit Breaker Section of

NEMA, “Series Ratings,” IAEI News,
MarcWApril 1994.

[ 111 S. Sriharan, et al, “Reduced Transient

Model of a Group of Induction Motors,” IEEE
Transactions volume EC-8, No. 4, December
1993, pp. 769-774.

[ 121 Donald L. Hornak and D. W. Zipse,

“Automated Bus Transfer Control for Critical
Industrial Processes,” IEEE Transactions n
Industry Applications, Sep/Oct 1991.

[I31 Subhomoy Chattopadhyay and Thomas

S . Key,, “Predicting Behavior of Induction
Motors
During Electrical Service Faults and
Momentary Voltage Interruptions,“ IEEE IAS
Annual Conference, October 1993.

1186