IT.

Altitude Considerations
Application Note

Electromechanical
Contactors and Starters
IT. Electromechanical Contactors and
Starters are designed for operation at
up to 6,562 feet (2000 m) altitude,
when applied within their temperature
and power ratings. This note provides
guidance for those applications that
require operation at altitudes in excess
of 6,562 feet (2000 m).
As altitude increases, the air density is
reduced. The reduction in air density
affects both the cooling and voltage
breakdown of various electrical components. As a result, a derating factor
must be applied to compensate for the
lesser capabilities at higher altitudes.
First, the current rating of the IT. Contactor or Starter is reduced because of
the reduced cooling effect. Second, a
derating factor is applied to the voltage. This derating factor is related to
the voltage impulses present on the
power system and the breakdown ratings of the components used within
the contactor or starter. Since this is
difficult to evaluate in a field situation,
for simplification, a derating factor is
applied to the operating voltage level
to suggest the use of a higher utilization voltage (Ue) level.

For IT. electromechanical products, the following derating factors are to be applied.
Table 1. Derating Altitudes above 6,562 feet (2000 m)
Altitude (ALT)

Voltage Factor (VF)

Current Factor (CF)

6,562 feet (2000 m)

8,202 feet (2500 m)
9,843 feet (3000 m)

1
0.93
0.87

1
0.97
0.95

13,123 feet (4000 m)

16,404 feet (5000 m)

0.77
0.67

0.90
0.85

Note: Interpolation between values is permitted.

As an example of using the derating

factors, an installation will be made at
11,483 feet (3,500 m) for which the
application requires a 32 ampere contactor at 480 volts. Which IT. Contactor
should be selected? In this situation,
because the Altitude (ALT) is between
tabulated values, the required current
would be divided by an interpolated
Current Factor (CF), and the voltage
divided by an interpolated Voltage
Factor (VF).

AP03901002E

Rated Current (Required Current) /

((CFLOW CFHIGH) x (ALTREQ
ALTLOW) / (ALTHIGH ALTLOW) +
CFHIGH).
Rated Current 32 / ((0.95 0.90) x
(3500 3000) / (4000 3000) + 0.90).
Rated Current 32 / ((0.95 0.90) x
(500 / 1000) + 0.90).
Rated Current 34.6 amperes.
Rated Voltage (Required Voltage) /
((VFLOW VFHIGH) x (ALTREQ
ALTLOW) / (ALTHIGH ALTLOW) +
VFHIGH).
Rated Voltage 480 / ((0.87 0.77) x
(3500 3000) / (4000 3000) + 0.77).
Rated Voltage 480 / ((0.87 0.77) x
(500 / 1000) + 0.77).
Rated Voltage 585 volts.

For more information visit: www.cutler-hammer.eaton.com

From the IT. Contactor catalog, an IEC

E111C40X3N or NEMA N111DS2X3N
would be selected. This 40 ampere IEC
Contactor or 45 ampere NEMA Contactor is the smallest which exceeds the
calculated rated current minimum of
34.6 amperes. Since all of the IT. Contactors are rated for up to 600 volt
operation (Ue), the calculated rated
voltage limit is also met.

Application Note
Page 2

IT. Altitude Considerations

Effective: February 2002

Eaton Corporation
Cutler-Hammer business unit
1000 Cherrington Parkway
Moon Township, PA 15108-4312
USA
tel: 1-800-525-2000
www.cutler-hammer.eaton.com

2002 Eaton Corporation

All Rights Reserved
Printed in USA
Publication No. AP03901002E
February 2002