Calculating Total Load of ERU with 3 Motors

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elecshop

Member
Location
FL, USA
Occupation
Electrical Engineer
I have a cutsheet of an air handler (ERU) by Trane. The cutsheet says:
- Circuit #1: Supply motor fan (each x2): FLA=3.8A, MCA=4.75A, MOCP=15A
- Circuit #2: Exhaust fan motor(s): FLA=6.7A, MCA=8.38A, MOCP=15A
It is rated for 460V, 3phase.
How can I estimate the total power withdrawn by the whole AHU, so that I can size my wires and MOCP correctly? I am not sure if I am using the following formula correctly:
MOCP = (2.25 x FLA of largest motor load) + (other motor loads) + (other resistive loads)
= 2.25*6.7 + 3.82*2 = 22.175 --> 25A breaker
Total load (kVA) withdrawn: 22.175*480*1.732 = 18.435 kVA

Please correct me if I'm wrong. Thank you!
 

suemarkp

Senior Member
Location
Kent, WA
Occupation
Retired Engineer
Calculating the power has nothing to do with calculating the max size breaker. To me, power would be the sum of the FLA's * 480*1.732. It appears you have 3 motors, 3.8 + 3.8 + 6.7 = 14.3A. 14.3 * 480 * 1.732 = 11.9 KVA

If you are tring to make one branch circuit to feed both circuit 1 and 2, I'm not sure that is possible. I would think a 20A circuit would hold and would have sufficient ampacity for the load (1.25*largest motor + the sum of all the other motors). However, if the manufacturer is putting a max breaker limit of 15A on each circuit then I don't think you may use a larger circuit.
 

JoeStillman

Senior Member
Location
West Chester, PA
You could run a 25A circuit up to the ERU and feed 2 x 30/3 fusible switches with 15A fuses. That would pass inspection as long as the nameplate says Fuse or HACR breaker.
 
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