Motor Efficiency classes as defined by IEC/EN 60034-30-1: 2014

 

Motor efficiency is important to optimize power consumption. The standard defines four IE (International Efficiency) efficiency classes for single speed electric motors that are rated according to IEC 60034-1 or IEC 60079-0 (explosive atmospheres) and designed for operation on sinusoidal voltage. 

The coverage of the new standard includes:

• Single speed electricmotors (single and three phase), 50 and 60 Hz

• 2, 4, 6 or 8 poles

• Rated output PN from 0.12 kW to 1000 kW

• Rated voltage UN above 50 V up to 1 kV

• Motors, capable of continuous operation at their rated power with a temperature rise within the specified insulation temperature class

• Motors, marked with any ambient temperature within the range of -20 °C to +60 °C

• Motors, marked with an altitude up to 4000 m above sea level

The following motors are excluded from IEC/EN 60034-30-1

• Single-speed motors with 10 or more poles or multi-speed motors

• Motors completely integrated into a machine (for example, pump, fan or compressor) that cannot be tested separately from the machine.

• Brake motors, when the brake cannot be dismantled or separately fed.

What is the classification based on?

The efficiency levels defined in IEC/EN 60034-30-1 are based on the low uncertainty test methods specified in IEC 60034-2-1, which has been updated to edition 2.0, 2014-06. The manufacturer’s documentation must show how the efficiency values are determined. Efficiency
values can only be compared if they are based on the same testing method.

What are the threshold levels of the motor efficiency classes?

Table Below shows the threshold levels of the motor efficiency classes for 2, 4, 6 and 8 pole motors between 0.12 and 1000 kW.