8502DB0701

09/2007
Data Bulletin Raleigh, NC, USA

Group Motor Installations:

Understanding National Electrical Code® (NEC) 430.53 Requirements

Retain for future use.

Introduction The installation of multiple motors on a single branch circuit, protected by a

single branch-circuit short-circuit and ground-fault protective device, is a
common industry practice. It is often referred to as a “group motor
installation.” However, many questions arise when a designer or installer
attempts to ensure that the installation complies with the requirements of
the NEC.
In its simplest form, “group motor installation” means that multiple motors
and their conductors, or one motor and other loads and their conductors,
are protected by a single branch-circuit short-circuit and ground-fault
protective device. However, numerous requirements must be met for a
group motor installation to be compliant with the NEC. This document
discusses in detail the requirements of NEC 430.53 to assist in your
understanding of group motor installations.

NEC 430.53: Multiple motors or loads can be connected to the same branch circuit in
Paths to Compliance compliance with NEC 430.53 if the installation meets the requirements of:
1. NEC 430.53 (D) and NEC 430.53 (A), or
Figure 1: Paths to Compliance
2. NEC 430.53 (D) and NEC 430.53 (B), or
3. NEC 430.53 (D) and NEC 430.53 (C)
430.53 (D)
Figure 1 illustrates the conditions under which several motors or loads can
be connected to the same branch circuit in a manner that is NEC compliant.
AND Any of the paths illustrated in Figure 1 may be followed to comply with the
group motor installation requirements in NEC 430.53.
The following discussion reviews the component parts of the requirement
430.53 (A) 430.53 (B) 430.53 (C)
one at a time. NEC 430.53 (D) addresses the conductor sizes used in group
OR OR
motor installations and is the starting point for compliance. It applies in all
cases for all group motor installations.
1. NEC 430.53 (A) addresses installations where all of the motors are rated
1 hp or less.
Group Motor Installation
Compliant with NEC 430.53 2. NEC 430.53 (B) addresses installations where the smallest motor is
protected by the single branch-circuit short-circuit and ground-fault
protective device.
3. NEC 430.53 (C) is intended to cover all other possible applications.

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Group Motor Installations: 8502DB0701
Understanding NEC 430.53 Requirements 09/2007

Sizing the Tap Conductor: Establishing the conductor size of the group motor branch circuit taps is a
NEC 430.53 (D) fundamental requirement of NEC 430.53. NEC 430.53 (D) states that any
tap supplying a single motor is not required to be protected by a single
branch-circuit short-circuit and ground-fault protective device as long as it
meets any one of the following requirements:
1. The tap supplies all motor conductors with an ampacity at least equal to
that of the branch circuit conductors.
2. The tap supplies all motor conductors that are no more than
7.5 m (25 ft) long with an ampacity at least 1/3 that of the branch-circuit
conductors, with a minimum ampacity in accordance with NEC 430.22.
This is often referred to as the “1/3 tap rule.” Figure 2 provides an
explanation of complying with NEC 430.53 (D)(3).
3. The tap supplies a listed manual motor controller, which is marked
“Suitable for Tap Conductor Protection in Group Motor Installations.”
This is often referred to as the “1/10 tap rule.” Figure 3 provides an
explanation of complying with NEC430.53(D)(3). In this case:
— If the conductors between the single branch-circuit short-circuit and
ground-fault protective device and the listed motor controller are no
longer than 3 m (10 ft), they must have at least 1/10 the ampacity of
the rating or setting of the branch circuit short circuit ground fault
device.
— If the conductors between the single branch-circuit short-circuit and
ground-fault protective device and the listed motor controller are
longer than 3 m (10 ft), these conductors must have an ampacity at
least equal to that of the branch-circuit conductors.
In addition, the conductors to the motor must have an ampacity in
accordance with NEC 430.22 (Single Motor). NEC 430.22 establishes
the conductor size for the motor load.
The tap rules in NEC 430.53 ensure protection from short circuit and
ground fault only. The overload protection is often found at the load end
of the branch circuit. It is important to note that in 430.53, the tap
conductor size is determined by the branch circuit conductor size and
not the branch circuit overcurrent device size as we are accustomed to
in the general taps rules found in NEC 240.21.

2 © 2007 Schneider Electric All Rights Reserved

8502DB0701 Group Motor Installations:
09/2007 Understanding NEC 430.53 Requirements

Complying with NEC 430.53 (D)(2) Circuit Parameters:

• Main branch conductor: 1/0 THW copper = 150 A from NEC Table
Figure 2: 1/3 Tap Rule 310.16
• Motor:
— 15 hp
Single Branch-
circuit Short-
circuit and
— 230 V
Ground-fault Branch
Protective Circuit — 3-phase squirrel cage motor
Device Conductors

Compliance:
These tap conductors
must have the The tap conductors can be 1/3 the ampacity of the main branch conductors,
No more ampacity of at least
than 1/3 of the Main so:
25 ft Branch Circuit
(7.5 m) Disconnect
in accordance
with 430.109
Concuctors or 125%
of the motor FLA, • 150 A x 1/3 = 50 A.
whichever is larger.
• From NEC Table 310.16, it appears that No. 8 will meet the requirement.
However, we must also meet 430.22, or 125% of motor FLC.
• From NEC Table 430.250, the FLC of our motor = 42 A.
Motor
Controller
• 42 A x 1.25 = 52.2 A,
with
Overload
Relay
So to comply, from NEC Table 310.16 we must use a No. 6.

Motor

Complying with NEC 430.53 (D)(3) Circuit Parameters:

• Main branch conductor: 1/0 THW copper = 150 A from NEC Table
310.16.
Figure 3: 1/10 Tap Rule
• Motor:

Single Branch-
— 15 hp
circuit Short-
circuit and — 230 V
Ground-fault
Protective
Device
— 3-phase squirrel cage motor.

No more than
Branch
Circuit • Manual motor controller listed and marked as “Suitable for Tap
Conductors
10 ft (3 m) Conductor Protection in Group Motor Installations.”

These tap conductors

must have the
ampacity of at least Compliance:
1/10 of the rating or
setting of the branch
Manual circuit short circuit The tap conductors can be 1/10 the ampacity of the main branch
Motor ground fault
Controller protective device or conductors, so:
125% of motor FLC

• 150 A x 1/10 = 15 A.
• From NEC Table 310.16, it appears that No. 16 will meet the
requirement. However, the conductors from the controller to the motor
These must also meet 430.22, or 125% of motor FLC.
conductors
must meet
430.22 - • From NEC Table 430.250, the FLC of our motor = 42 A.
125% of
motor FLC • 42 A x 1.25 = 52.2 A,
Motor

So to comply, from NEC Table 310.16 we must use a No. 6 from the
controller to the motor.

© 2007 Schneider Electric All Rights Reserved 3

Group Motor Installations: 8502DB0701
Understanding NEC 430.53 Requirements 09/2007

Several Motors 1 hp or Less: Specific permission is provided in the NEC for group motor installations
NEC 430.53 (D) + 430.53 (A) where the motors are rated 1 hp or less. For compliance with
NEC 430.53 (A), all of the following requirements must be met:
1. Each of the motors connected to the branch circuit must be rated 1 hp or
less.
2. The full-load current (FLC) rating of each motor must not exceed 6 A.
3. The rating of the single branch-circuit short-circuit and ground-fault
protective device marked on any controller must not be exceeded.
4. Each motor must be provided with individual overload protection in
accordance with NEC 430.32 (Continuous Duty Motors).

Smallest Rated Motor Protected: Another option provided in the NEC for group motor installation is where the
NEC 430.53 (D) + 430.53 (B) motor with the smallest rating is protected. For compliance with
NEC 430.53 (B), all of the following requirements must be met:
1. The smallest motor provided in the branch circuit must be protected by
the single branch-circuit short-circuit and ground-fault protective device.
2. The single branch-circuit short-circuit and ground-fault protective device
must meet the requirements of NEC 430.52 (Rating or Setting for
Individual Motor Circuit).
3. The single branch-circuit short-circuit and ground-fault protective device
must not open under the “most severe normal conditions of service.”
4. Each motor must be provided with individual overload protection.

Table 430.52: Maximum Rating or Setting of Motor

Branch-Circuit Short-Circuit and Ground-Fault
Protective Devices

Percentage of Full-Load Current

Nontime Dual Element Instantaneous Inverse

Delay (Time-delay) Trip Time
Type of Motor Fuse1 Fuse1 Breaker Breaker2
Single-phase 300 175 800 250
motors
AC polyphase motors other than wound-rotor
Squirrel cage 300 175 800 250
—other than
Design B
energy-efficient
Design B 300 175 1100 250
energy-efficient
Synchronous3 300 175 800 250
Wound rotor 150 150 800 150
Direct current 150 150 250 150
(constant
voltage)
Note: For certain exceptions to the values specified, see 430.54.
1
The values in the Nontime Delay Fuse column apply to Time-Delay Class CC fuses.
2 The values given in the last column also cover the ratings of nonadjustable inverse time types
of circuit breakers that may be modified as in 430.52(C), Exception No. 1 and No. 2.
3
Synchronous motors of the low-torque, low-speed type (usually 450 rpm or lower), such as are
used to drive reciprocating compressors, pumps, and so forth, that start unloaded, do not
require a fuse rating or circuit-breaker setting in excess of 200 percent of full-load current.

NOTE: The table is courtesy of the NFPA and is extracted from the 2005
NEC.

4 © 2007 Schneider Electric All Rights Reserved

8502DB0701 Group Motor Installations:
09/2007 Understanding NEC 430.53 Requirements

Multiple Motors Over 1 hp with When applying the requirements of 430.53 (C), the motors can have any
Other Loads: rating. However, the controllers, overload devices, and the branch-circuit
short-circuit and ground-fault protective device must be listed and installed
NEC 430.53 (D) + NEC 430.53 (C)
as a factory assembly or field installed as separate assemblies that are
listed for use with each other.
In addition, each motor must be provided with individual overload protection,
and all of the following requirements must be met:
1. Each motor overload device must be listed for group motor installation,
with a specified maximum rating of fuse, inverse time circuit breaker, or
both.
2. Each motor controller must be listed for group motor installation, with a
specified maximum rating of fuse, inverse time circuit breaker, or both.
3. Each circuit breaker must be listed and must be an inverse time type.
4. The branch circuit must be protected by fuses or inverse time circuit
breakers not exceeding the rating specified in NEC 430.52 (Rating or
Setting for Individual Motor Circuit) for the highest rated motor plus the
sum of the ratings of all additional motors and loads. When this
calculated rating is less than the ampacity of the supply conductors, the
rating can be increased but must not exceed that allowed by NEC 240.4
(B) (Devices Rated 800 Amperes or Less).
5. The branch circuit fuse or inverse time circuit breaker must not be larger
than that allowed by NEC 430.40 (Overload Relays) for the overload
relay protecting the smallest rated motor of the group.
6. Overcurrent protection for anything other than motor loads must be in
accordance with Parts I through VII of NEC Article 240 (Overcurrent
Protection).

Summary Things to keep in mind when applying NEC 430.53 for a group motor
installation:
• The requirements of NEC 430.53 (D) apply in every case.
• In addition, one of three paths, usually selected based on the
application, can be applied to achieve compliance with the NEC.
• Whichever path is chosen, all of the requirements for that path must be
fulfilled in order to be completely in compliance.
• Tap conductor size is determined based on the branch circuit conductor
size and not the size of the branch circuit overcurrent device.
• Conductors to the motor must meet NEC 430.22 (Single Motor).

© 2007 Schneider Electric All Rights Reserved 5

Group Motor Installations: 8502DB0701
Understanding NEC 430.53 Requirements 09/2007

6 © 2007 Schneider Electric All Rights Reserved

8502DB0701 Group Motor Installations:
09/2007 Understanding NEC 430.53 Requirements

© 2007 Schneider Electric All Rights Reserved 7

Group Motor Installations: Understanding NEC 430.53 Requirements 8502DB0701
Data Bulletin 09/2007

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