What may be the locked rotor current be assumed to be for small motor compressors not having the locked rotor current marked on the nameplate?

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Multiple Choice

What may be the locked rotor current be assumed to be for small motor compressors not having the locked rotor current marked on the nameplate?

Explanation:
When a motor starts, there’s no back-emf yet, so current is governed mainly by the winding resistance, causing a large inrush—the locked-rotor current. For small motor compressors that don’t publish this value, a practical rule of thumb is to assume the locked-rotor current is about six times the rated running current. This sits in the common range for small induction motors (roughly 5–7x) and provides a safe basis for sizing fuses, breakers, and conductors when the exact value isn’t listed. The other multipliers are less typical for these motors, making six times the rated load current the best default estimate.

When a motor starts, there’s no back-emf yet, so current is governed mainly by the winding resistance, causing a large inrush—the locked-rotor current. For small motor compressors that don’t publish this value, a practical rule of thumb is to assume the locked-rotor current is about six times the rated running current. This sits in the common range for small induction motors (roughly 5–7x) and provides a safe basis for sizing fuses, breakers, and conductors when the exact value isn’t listed. The other multipliers are less typical for these motors, making six times the rated load current the best default estimate.

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