WireGaugeCalc Free calculator · NEC cited · works offline
How Many Amps Does A 1.5 Hp Motor Draw
how many amps does a 1.5 hp motor draw is quick with WireGaugeCalc, since you enter horsepower and voltage and read the NEC table current.
The app pulls the full-load current from the motor tables, as those values are what the NEC uses for sizing conductors.
You see the amperage right away so you can size the branch circuit with confidence.
Open the calculatorEnter any two values and read the rest.
Ohm’s law: V = I × R and P = V × I. Field aid only, verify against the current NEC and your local authority having jurisdiction.
Reading The Fla For 1.5 Hp Motor
The fla for 1.5 hp motor comes from the NEC tables, since they list current by horsepower and voltage rather than the nameplate.
A 1.5 hp single-phase motor at 115V draws about 20 amps, while at 230V it draws about 10 amps, so voltage roughly halves the current.
Using the table value keeps your conductor sizing aligned with code.
Inputs That Set The Amp Draw
The motor current depends on a short list of facts:
- Horsepower, here 1.5 hp
- Voltage, such as 115V or 230V
- Single phase or three phase
- Table current for sizing, nameplate for overloads
- Conductor at 125% of FLA for continuous duty
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
Why does the table show different amps at 115V and 230V?
The same horsepower needs the same power, so at twice the voltage the current is about half. That is why the 230V value is lower than the 115V value. Verify the figures against the current NEC and your local authority having jurisdiction.
Can I size the wire straight from the FLA?
Size a single continuous-duty motor conductor at 125% of the table FLA, then read the wire from the ampacity table. Set the overload from the nameplate current, not the table.
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.