Premium Efficient Motors

The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA) took effect December 19, 2010. It helped define the premium-effiicient motor category in the 1 hp to 200 hp range of general purpose motors.

A further initiative of the U.S. Dept. of Energy (DOE) seeks to draw smaller electric motors into the energy-efficiency picture. The so-called DOE Final Rule, “Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for Small Electric Motors,” published in March 2010 in the Federal Register (10 CFR Part 431), covers general-purpose, open drip-proof, three-phase electric motors — typically below the 1 hp rating, but extending up to 3 hp for some types. Specifically, this ruling applies energy conservation standards to motors ¼ hp to 3 hp with 2-, 4-, and 6-pole designs and frame sizes 42 through 56. Single-phase, capacitor-start motors of the same power range and pole count, as well as applicable IEC motors and corresponding frame sizes, are also included. The effective date of this ruling is March 2015.

What effect will this expanded ruling have on your business?

I have run into a few replacement motors that due to the new energy ratings are now under powered and over amping.

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Originally Posted by 22nomo

I have run into a few replacement motors that due to the new energy ratings are now under powered and over amping.

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That's pretty interesting. Can you give me some details on what type of application these were for?

These were smaller pumps for tower loop/condenser, maybe 5-7 hp I dont have the exact info with me. But the motor shop we use (reputable) said these are direct factory replacements (motor manufacturer) for the motor we had. We installed them and they were overamping, called the motor shop back and they said the new Hi-Effic. motors were scaled down to decrease energy use. The pumps we had seemed to be maxed out for the water flow required so dropping the HP of the motor, which is what they are telling me is being done, pushed it into a overloaded condition. They are not running on VFDs so not sure if that would have made a difference.

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Originally Posted by 22nomo

These were smaller pumps for tower loop/condenser, maybe 5-7 hp I dont have the exact info with me. But the motor shop we use (reputable) said these are direct factory replacements (motor manufacturer) for the motor we had. We installed them and they were overamping, called the motor shop back and they said the new Hi-Effic. motors were scaled down to decrease energy use. The pumps we had seemed to be maxed out for the water flow required so dropping the HP of the motor, which is what they are telling me is being done, pushed it into a overloaded condition. They are not running on VFDs so not sure if that would have made a difference.

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horsepower is horsepower....a lower amp draw is due to efficiency. if the horsepower on the nameplate is a lie, i would think that i would use a different motor manufacturer.

We went back to using OEM if they tell us its a new hi-effic motor.

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Originally Posted by jayguy

horsepower is horsepower....a lower amp draw is due to efficiency. if the horsepower on the nameplate is a lie, i would think that i would use a different motor manufacturer.

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The sad part is the number of fractional HP motors which are overrated according to their nameplate HP markings. Blower motors are notorious for a 1/3 hp not being a actual 1/3 HP (1/8, 1/4, 1/2 HP ect). I found years ago to match the FLA instead of HP when replacing a motor to keep from changing it twice...