12.

1 NEC CALCULATIONS
Continuously Loaded Conductors and its Proper Sizing
Sec. 220-10(b) Continuously and Non Continuous Loads
Where a feeder supplies continuously loads or any combination of continuous and noncontinuous load, the
rating of the overcurrent device shall not be less than the noncontinuous load plus 125% of the continuous loads.
n general, overcurrent protective devices will malfunction if subjected to more than 80% of their rating for continuous periods of time (note that 125% is simply the reciprocal of 80%),
The UL Electrical Construction Materials Directory (the "Green Book") contains the following rule under the product category "Circuit Breakers, M
"Circui Breakers, Molded Case, and Circuit Breakers Enclosures".
Unless otherwise marked, circuit breakers, should not loaded to exceed 80% of their current rating, where in normal operation the load
will continue for 3 hours or more.
A similar rule applies to fused switches.
Illustration Problem :
On a 120/240V system, there is 16,200VA of continuous load and 12,200VA continuous load. What is the minimum size of
overcurrent protective device and feeder conductors that could be used?

Continuous Load VA = 16,200 x 1.25 = 20,250

Non Continuous VA = 12,200
Total Load VA = 32,450VA
Setting of Overcurrent
Calculated Current = 34,250VA ÷ 240V = 135A
Rating (next larger size per sec. 240-6) = 150A
Setting of Feeder Conductors
Total Load VA = 16,200VA + 12,200VA = 28,400VA
Calculated Current = 28,400VA ÷ 240V = 118A
Ampacity is given using Table 310-6
1 / 0 TW with an Ampacity of 125A
1 THW with an Ampacity of 130A
2 THHN with an Ampacity of 130A
Check : Sec 215-3 requires overcurrent protection for all feeders and in general, Sec 240-3
to not exceeding the ampacity of the feeder conductor.
Remarks ; On the above sizes and Ampacity of conductors only No. 1 THW (130A) and No.2 THHN(130A) would met
Sec 215-3.
The maximum overcurrent device rating to which they can be connected is the next higher standard size or 125A.
12.2 Commercial Load Calculations

Actual Effect of 125%

Receptacle Load Connected Load
80 @ 180 VA = 14,400 VA
10,000VA @ 100% 10,000VA 10,000VA
4,400VA @50% (per Sec 220-13) 2,200VA 2,200VA

General Lighting Load

3000 sq. ft @ 3VA per sq. ft 9,000VA 11,250VA

Show Window Lighting Load

30 sq. ft @v200VA per sq. ft 6,000VA 7,500VA

Outside Sign Circuit Load

(Sec. 600-6© 1,200VA 1,500VA

Total Load 28,400VA 32,450VA

12.3 NEC LOAD CALCULATIONS FOR MOTOR CIRCUITS

NEC says
Motor circuits are unique in that their requirements for conductors size are intentionally divorced from those
for overcurrent protective devices. This is because these circuits split the overcurrrent protective functions, with overloa
protection being handled separately from ground -fault and short-circuit protection.
Therefore ,on mixed feeders, Sec 460-3 may allow short-circuit protective device settings above the ampacity
of the feeder.
In general , Sec 430-6(a) requires the tables at the end of the article to be used for load calculations, instead of
any motor nameplate data. Those table group motors by voltage classes. This is often taken as acommand to use these
voltages in load calculations.
Motor Load Determination
The procedure on any of these circuits is to develop a table of adjusted motor loads. Then the ampere ratings are
converted to volt-amperes by multiplying by the line-to-line voltage on a single phase distributions, by three times the line-
to neutral voltage on wye distributions, or by line- to- line voltage times 1.73 on delta distributions.

Multimotor Load Illustration

230V motors, continuous rated, continuous duty

Tables 430 - 148 @ 240V
FLA VA
5 hp nameplate FLA of 26A 28A 6,720VA
7.5 hp nameplate FLA of 38A 40A 9,600VA
10 hp nameplate FLA of 47A 50A 12,000VA
25% of largest motor 13A 3,000VA
Total 131A 31,320VA

Setting of Feeder Conductor

Calculated Current = 31,320 ÷ 230V = 136A

Setting of Feeder Overcurrent Protective Device

Calculated Current = Largest Breaker in the Group plus other run currents
Assume inverse time breaker protection @ 250%
2.5 x 50 = 125A
Calculated Motor Ratings for Overcurrent Calculation
125 + 52 + 40 = 217A
Total Calculated VA
217 x 240V = 52,080VA
Other Loads = 32,450VA(Lighting , Outlets , from Floor Area Method)
Calculated Feeder = 32,450 ÷ 240V = 352A
Overcurrent Protective Device
As the Sec 430-62(a) limit cannot be exceeded, a 350A breaker is the
maximum permitted.
 Feeder Conductors
31,320 + 32,450 = 63,770VA
Feeder Ampacity = 63/770 ÷ 240 = 265A
Use 300MCM with 75 degree centigrade terminations

12.4 HOW TO SIZE AN UNINTERRUPTIBLE POWER SYSTEM

Abstract ; One of the most misunderstood issues in the specification of a UPS is sizing.
Five (5) steps procedure for determining the proper size of UPS.

Step 1 Make a list of all equipment to be protected (monitors, terminals, external data storage devices any other
crucial peripherals
Exception : You should not connect laser printers and copy machines.
Reasons : They draw enormously high inrush currents during normal operation.
Solution : Oversize the UPS and protect printers and copier machines with a good transient voltage surge suppressors
TVSS with a rating of 20A.

Step 2 Determine the VA requirement of each device

Three(3) ways :
1. Call your computer vendor and request a power profile of your specific system.
2. Nameplate of each device and record its voltage and amperage requirements.
Some devices list their power consumption in watts.
To convert this figure to VA, multiply by 1.43 to account for the distortion power factor of the switch-mode
power supplies in these devices.
3. Add the VA requirements

SIZING CALCULATION

Computer related Equipment Volts amperes VA

CPU 240 6.69 1606
Expansion Cabinet 240 5 1200
Diskette 240 0.67 161
Disk drive 240 2.58 619
Rack 240 0.39 94
Work station 240 2.33 280
Printer 240 10.82 2597
Subtotal 6557
Growth factor @ 25% of subtotal 1639
Required VA 8196
Approximate model based on calculations 10 kVA

Step 3 Calculate the growth factor for the network.

Step 4 Specify the UPS
A standard size by most manufacturer's should be required.
Step 5 Additional Considerations
The UPS is rated to work with computer equipment,, which typically has a high crest factor. UPS must be derated to
work with computers. Electronic devices with switch mode power supplies typically draws large inrush currents when
they are first turned on.
A UPS that cannot deal deal with this temporary overload will switch the protected loads over to raw line power, or
shut down entirely.
Additional Specification
1. UPS shall be rated to handle at least 150% surge current on both line and inverter
2. Shall have 125% overload for at least 10 minutes when running on the line.
3. Ten (10) minutes at 110% overload when operating off the inverter.
4. Back-up runtime 5 to 20 minutes backup power on full-rated load.