WireGaugeCalc Free calculator · NEC cited · works offline
Amp Rating 5hp 460v Motor
Amp rating 5hp 460v motor lookups are simple with WireGaugeCalc, since you enter the horsepower and voltage and the calculator returns the full-load current you size from.
It pulls the motor full-load amps from the NEC table, not the nameplate alone, so your conductor and overload math starts from the code value.
You get the FLA and a conductor size checked at the correct termination temperature column.
Open the calculatorAllowable ampacity from NEC Table 310.16 at the chosen termination temperature. Field aid only, verify against the current NEC and your local authority having jurisdiction.
How The Motor Full Load Current Sets The Amp Rating
The NEC uses table full-load current for conductor sizing, so a 5hp 460v three-phase motor draws about 7.6 amps from that table.
Conductors are sized at 125% of that table FLA, so the design amps land near 9.5 amps for a single motor.
WireGaugeCalc applies the 125% factor and picks a conductor at the 75C termination column.
What Drives The Conductor Size For A 5hp 460v Motor
Sizing wire from a motor amp rating depends on:
- Table full-load current of about 7.6 amps
- The 125% conductor sizing factor for a single motor
- Copper or aluminum conductor material
- Termination temperature column, usually 75C
- NEC ampacity after any derating
One app for every NEC calculation
WireGaugeCalc keeps the calculations you reach for most in one place:
- Voltage drop and wire sizing for any run
- Conduit fill for EMT, PVC, and RMC
- Box fill and junction box sizing
- Ampacity and temperature derating
- Motor circuit and load calculations
- Conduit bend offsets and saddles
Built for the field, works offline
The whole app runs on your phone, so it keeps working in a basement, an attic, or a job site with no signal.
There is no account to create and nothing to load. Open it, run the number, and get back to work.
- No signup and no signal needed
- Answers in a tap, not a spreadsheet
- Same tool on phone, tablet, and desktop
Every result cites the NEC article
Each answer shows the table or formula it came from, so you can check the method and learn the code as you go.
That makes the app useful on the job and during exam prep, since the reasoning is right next to the number.
Switch the code year your job runs on
Jurisdictions adopt the NEC at different times, so you can match the calculation to the code in force:
- NEC 2017, 2020, and 2023 tables
- Copper and aluminum conductors
- 60, 75, and 90 degree C terminations
- Single-phase and three-phase systems
Run the number, then get back to work
Stop flipping through a paper book or hopping between calculator sites. Enter your values, read the code-cited answer, and move on. Free to use, no signup.
Open the calculatorFrequently asked questions
What is the full-load amps of a 5hp 460v three-phase motor?
The NEC table value is about 7.6 amps for a 5hp motor at 460 volts three-phase. Use the table figure for conductor sizing rather than the nameplate, and verify against the current NEC and your local authority having jurisdiction.
Do I size the wire at the nameplate or the table amps?
Size conductors from the NEC table full-load current at 125%, since the code ties conductor sizing to the table value. Use the nameplate amps for overload protection.
Is WireGaugeCalc free to use?
Yes. Every calculator is free to run with no signup. A paid tier adds saved projects, PDF reports, and extra code years, but the core math stays free.
Does it work without internet?
Yes. The app runs on your device, so it keeps working with no signal on a job site, in a basement, or in an attic.
Are the results code accurate?
Results follow published NEC tables and standard formulas, and each answer shows the article it came from. It is a field aid, not a stamp of approval, so verify against the current code and your local authority before you wire anything.
Which NEC code year does it use?
You can switch between NEC 2017, 2020, and 2023, since jurisdictions adopt the code at different times. Pick the year your job runs on.