Motor Contactor Selection Worksheet Chart

Use this worksheet after a motor-starter or motor-current result to document FLA, table FLC, starter type, contactor duty, coil voltage, NEMA basis, auxiliary contacts, enclosure, SCCR, and manufacturer follow-up.

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Quick reference table

A motor contactor selection worksheet is a starter follow-up record, not another motor current chart. It keeps nameplate FLA, table FLC, coil voltage, contactor duty, NEMA basis, auxiliary contacts, enclosure, SCCR, overload and branch-protection notes, and manufacturer review together.

Motor contactor selection record

Motor contactor selection record
Worksheet field	Record value	Review use
Motor basis	HP, voltage, phase, FLA, table FLC, duty	Separates nameplate and table current
Contactor basis	NEMA size, manufacturer rating, duty, poles	Documents selection basis
Control basis	Coil voltage, control transformer, auxiliary contacts	Prevents control mismatch
Panel basis	Enclosure, SCCR, available fault current, upstream device	Connects starter to equipment review
Closeout	Manufacturer data, listed combination, AHJ, customer approval	Keeps final review visible

Related motor workflow

Related motor workflow
Related page	Use this worksheet for	Use the related page when
Motor starter calculator	Starter and overload result follow-up	A new starter sizing screen is needed
Motor current calculator	Formula current, table FLC, and nameplate comparison	Current comparison is the open question
Motor nameplate worksheet	Nameplate FLA and service-factor record	The nameplate record is incomplete

Formula basis

Contactor review basis = motor FLA or table FLC plus duty, voltage, utilization category, enclosure, and control-circuit requirements.

FLA is the motor nameplate current used for overload and contactor review.
Table FLC is the NEC motor-table current used for conductor and branch-protection screening.
Coil voltage and control voltage must match the control circuit or transformer.
NEMA basis, manufacturer data, auxiliary contact, enclosure, and SCCR requirements define the selection record.

Worked examples

10 HP 460 V starter contactor recordRecord 10 HP, 460 V, table FLC, nameplate FLA, coil voltage, NEMA basis, overload range, auxiliary contact count, enclosure, and SCCR follow-up.

Control-panel replacement contactorDocument existing starter, coil voltage, control transformer, auxiliary contacts, manufacturer replacement data, SCCR note, and customer approval before ordering.

Assumptions. Balanced load and line-to-line voltage assumptions behind this chart.

The worksheet assumes motor current, FLC, or starter calculator results are already available.
It supports planning and recordkeeping only; it does not replace listed-combination requirements, manufacturer instructions, or AHJ review.

Code and standard notes. Planning limits that should be checked before final equipment selection.

Use this chart as a comparison worksheet; verify adopted NEC Article 430 rules, UL or product listing, NEMA manufacturer data, overload relay range, control-circuit rating, SCCR, available fault current, and AHJ review before final selection.

How to use this chart

1Record motor basisWrite HP, voltage, phase, nameplate FLA, table FLC, service factor, duty, and starter type before selecting hardware.

2Record control basisDocument coil voltage, control transformer, auxiliary contacts, pilot devices, enclosure, and control-circuit limits.

3Record review basisKeep NEMA selection basis, overload range, SCCR, manufacturer data, listed combination, and AHJ follow-up together.

Worksheet checklist. Record source basis, review gaps, and assumptions before using the chart result.

Capture motor dataRecord nameplate FLA, table FLC, voltage, phase, HP, duty, and manufacturer notes.
Capture contactor dataRecord NEMA size, manufacturer rating, coil voltage, auxiliary contacts, enclosure, overload range, and SCCR.
Capture closeout dataRecord replacement status, manufacturer approval, listed combination notes, AHJ status, and customer decision.

Common mistakes to avoid. Review these before turning chart current into an equipment decision.

Using a formula-current estimate as the only contactor basis without checking nameplate and manufacturer data.
Selecting the power contactor correctly but missing the coil voltage or auxiliary contact requirements.
Ignoring SCCR and available fault-current context when the starter is part of a control panel.

Frequently asked questions

These answers explain how to use the chart without turning a quick reference into a final design decision.

Why include both FLA and table FLC?

They serve different decisions. Nameplate FLA affects overload and contactor review, while table FLC is commonly used for conductor and branch-protection screening.

Does this choose the final contactor for me?

No. It organizes the selection record. Final selection still requires manufacturer data, listed combinations where applicable, enclosure and SCCR review, and qualified approval.