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Doug S
Lv 4
Doug S asked in Science & MathematicsEngineering · 1 decade ago

How do I calculate the power consumption for a 3 phase motor?

I have a 3 phase motor running a water pump for a hydrostatic system for a home.

I measured the current on each phase at 4.90, 4.60 and 4.35 amps. The voltage is 127 vac and the pump runs a total of 19 minutes per day. It only runs for about 30 seconds each time it starts and stops.

So the power per day (P), in kWHr is:

P = (4.90 + 4.60 + 4.35) amps x 127 volts x 19 minutes per day) / (60 minutes per hour x 1000 watts per kW) = 0.557 kWHr per day

Is that about right? Sounds too low.

Should I use a power factor? What value?

Should include the startup current? (15 amps for 1/4 sec?)

Thanks in advance!

8 Answers

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  • 1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    Your calculations are almost correct.

    The startup current can be neglected, since it should only last less than a few seconds.

    You should use a power factor, which is dependent on the motor specifications and its load level. Typical values would be about 0.75 - 0.85 for this small motor.

    You don't mention if the voltage is measured line-to-neutral, but this is a reasonable assumption in the U.S.

    Your calculation of daily energy consumption sounds about right for a small motor (about 2.5 hp) running for only about a half hour per day.

    Source(s): I'm an electric power engineer.
  • 5 years ago

    Calculate Three Phase Power

  • ?
    Lv 4
    5 years ago

    For the best answers, search on this site https://shorturl.im/axqKJ

    Define "electrical consumption". Define "80% load" If I didn't know any better, I'd say the answer is 344 kilowatts. Do I even need to care about power factor or three phase? You specified the motor size in kilowatts? Are you sure you didn't mean to specify kilovolt-amperes? Most equipment sizes are specified in kVA, rather than kW. Yes there is a difference. The kVA represents the naive apparent power, which is what it would be if you multiplied rms current and rms voltage, without considering the time offset, and is usually the quantity most useful when sizing equipment. The kW is the REAL power, which time-averages the instantaneous products of current and voltage. The kW is what you actually pay for, and what actually costs to produce.

  • EE68PE
    Lv 6
    1 decade ago

    The 127 volt reading could be a line to neutral voltage for a motor operating at 220 volt line to line. In the USA, there are three phase systems rated at 208 volts and 240 volts. 220 volts would be within the normal range for either.

    Your calculation would be correct for a line-to-neutral voltage measurement except that you should have multiplied by the power factor. The power factor is likely 0.8 or less. At 0.8 pf, your calculation would give 1407 watts. One horsepower would be 746 watts at 100% efficiency. At 90% efficiency, 1407 watts would be 1.7 horsepower.

    If you use the 220 v line-to-line voltage, 4.6 a average current per phase, and 0.8 pf the calculation is W = V x A X sqrt3 x pf = 220 x 4.6 x 1.73 x 0.8 = 1401 watts.

    The power factor for full load operation may be on the motor's nameplate. If the motor is operating considerably below rated load, the power factor could be much lower.

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  • Anonymous
    5 years ago

    A 20 HP motor, at 746 watts per 1 HP, uses about 14920 watts. Call that 15KW. Putting aside questions of efficiency and duty cycle (and the irrelevant issue of voltage) the 15000 watts is a close approximation of what it will use per hour.

  • 1 decade ago

    for three phase:

    P=3^½* E * I * cos theta, usually p.f.=0.8

    use the highest amp reading= 4.90 amps

    P=1.732* 127 * 4.90 *0.8

    =862.25 watts ÷ 1000= 0.862 kw.

    power consumption per day at 19/60 hours= 0.3166 hours

    so kwhr per day= 0.862* 0.3166 = 0.2729 kwhrs

    if i'm not mistaken the horsepower rating of the motor is ½ HP.

  • 6 years ago

    You multiply 1.732 by the line voltage by the line current by the power factor.

  • 7 years ago

    How much power comsuption single phase 120w motor ?

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