How to select the correct size
DS6 soft starter for standard
duty applications
Application
The DS6 is a two phase control soft starter utilized
to accomplish motor starting using the reduced
voltage method. Typically, the motor horsepower
or kW rating is used to determine the required size
of the soft starter. This document addresses other
factors that require consideration in accomplishing
the proper match of soft starter to the load.
Overview
Soft starter sizing is typically determined by the
horsepower or kW rating of the motor, coupled
with the mains operating voltage. Using this
information, a table or graph is consulted to determine the minimum size of the soft starter for the
application. If the application is considered to be
severe duty, it is commonplace to select the next
size larger soft starter to accommodate the higher
load currents.
The initial graphs and tables published for the DS6
are based on an inrush value of 300% FLA of the
motor. If the actual inrush current approaches a
value of 400% FLA, the maximum allowable ramp
times are significantly affected. Additionally, the
ramp times also must be considered independently, as when the ramp times are increased
even though the inrush current does not change,
the maximum allowable current capacity is
reduced. When selecting the size of the DS6 soft
starter, Tables 1– 4 may be used if the anticipated
ramp times are 10 seconds or less. Please note
that either 300% or 400% current limit refers to
the maximum anticipated start current in terms
of motor FLA (3x or 4x). The DS6 does not have
a current limiter function. If the ramp times are
expected to be longer, Tables 5 –12 should be
reviewed to ensure that the soft starter is not
subjected to excessive current resulting in
SCR failure. The size of the soft starter may
be required to be increased specifically due
to a longer ramp time.
ote:NThe DS6 soft starter may be incorrectly sized
if based solely on motor horsepower or kW rating and
mains voltage alone.
The DS6 soft starter requires that specific
attention is given to two factors:
Ultimate load—the maximum inrush current
that the soft starter will transmit anytime during
the start process.
Ramp time—the expected, or required,
ramp time required for the motor to achieve
synchronous speed.
Example 1—30 hp motor (40A FLA) @ 460V
application, maximum current 300% FLA with
an estimated start ramp time of 8 seconds,
4 starts per hour. Consulting Table 1, the
DS6-34DSX041NO-N soft starter shows an
acceptable maximum motor size of 30 hp.
Consulting Table 5, the maximum allowable start
current is listed as 121A. Under these conditions,
a DS6-34DSX041NO-N soft starter is the
appropriate selection for this application.
Example 2—With the same operating conditions
as in Example 1, it is determined that the ramp
time must be extended to 12 seconds for the
motor to achieve synchronous speed. Consulting
Table 5, the maximum allowable start current
@ 12 seconds is listed as 104A, less than the
required 120A. Table 6 for the next higher size soft
starter lists the maximum allowable start current
@ 12 seconds as 140A. Under these conditions,
the DS6-34DSX041NO-N soft starter would not
be an appropriate selection. The next size higher
soft starter, DS6-34DSX055NO-N, is the suitable
choice, as the maximum allowable start current for
these conditions is sufficient for proper operation.
Example 3—With the same operating conditions
as in Example 1, it is determined that the inrush
current requires a 400% current limit. This operating condition will also require a larger capacity
soft starter (DS6-DSX055NO-N) to accommodate
the higher operating current during the start ramp.
Application Data AP03900001E
Effective June 2010
How to select the correct size
DS6 soft starter for standard
duty applications
Table 1. 10 Second Ramp, 1 Start per Hour,
300% Current Limit @ 40°C
300%
Current Limit
10 Second Ramp
Catalog Number200V 230V 460VFuse
DS6-34DSX041NO-N
DS6-34DSX055NO-N
DS6-34DSX068NO-N
DS6-34DSX081NO-N
DS6-34DSX099NO-N
DS6-34DSX134NO-N
DS6-34DSX161NO-N
DS6-34DSX196NO-N
a
Maximum values are higher than allowed per NECT 430.52 and ULT 508A 31.1.
Rated
Current
(A)
40101030HFD3150L 150A Class RK5
52152040HFD3200L 200A Class RK5
65202550HJD3250200A Class RK5
77253060HKD3300300A Class RK5
96303075HKD3350350A Class RK5
1244050100HKD3350500A Class RK5
1565060125HLD3450500A Class RK5
1806075150HLD3500500A Class RK5
Motor Power (hp)
Breaker
4/hr @ 40°C
a
Table 2. 10 Second Ramp, 1 Start per Hour,
400% Current Limit @ 40°C
400%
Current Limit
10 Second Ramp
Catalog Number200V 230V 460VFuse
DS6-34DSX041NO-N
DS6-34DSX055NO-N
DS6-34DSX068NO-N
DS6-34DSX081NO-N
DS6-34DSX099NO-N
DS6-34DSX134NO-N
DS6-34DSX161NO-N
DS6-34DSX196NO-N
a
Maximum values are higher than allowed per NEC 430.52 and UL 508A 31.1.
Rated
Current
(A)
277.51020HFD3150L 150A Class RK5
34101030HFD3200L 200A Class RK5
40151530HJD3250200A Class RK5
52152040HKD3300300A Class RK5
65202550HKD3350350A Class RK5
80303075HKD3350500A Class RK5
96304075HLD3450500A Class RK5
1244050100HLD3500500A Class RK5
Motor Power (hp)
Breaker
4/hr @ 40°C
a
Table 4. 10 Second Ramp, 1 Start per Hour,
400% Current Limit @ 40°C
400%
Current Limit
10 Second Ramp
a
Catalog Number230V 400VFuse
DS6-34DSX041NO-N
DS6-34DSX055NO-N
DS6-34DSX068NO-N
DS6-34DSX081NO-N
DS6-34DSX099NO-N
DS6-34DSX134NO-N
DS6-34DSX161NO-N
DS6-34DSX196NO-N
a
Maximum values are higher than allowed per NEC 430.52 and UL 508A 31.1.
Rated
Current
(A)
28.87.511HFD3150L150A Class RK5
37.51118.5HFD3200L200A Class RK5
461122HJD3250200A Class RK5
561530HKD3300300A Class RK5
6818.537HKD3350350A Class RK5
902245HKD3350500A Class RK5
1063055HLD3450500A Class RK5
1343775HLD3500500A Class RK5
Motor Power (hp)
Breaker
4/hr @ 40°C
a
a
Supporting documentation
Manuals Reference Number
DS6 Instructional LeafletIL03901001E
a
DS6 CatalogCA03901001E
Program Filesnone
Outline Drawingsnone
ote:NIn the event that additional help is needed, please contact the Technical
Resource Center at 1-877-ETN-CARE, Option 2, Sub Option 2.
Table 3. 10 Second Ramp, 1 Start per Hour,
300% Current Limit @ 40°C
300%
Current Limit
10 Second Ramp
Catalog Number230V 400VFuse
DS6-34DSX041NO-N
DS6-34DSX055NO-N
DS6-34DSX068NO-N
DS6-34DSX081NO-N
DS6-34DSX099NO-N
DS6-34DSX134NO-N
DS6-34DSX161NO-N
DS6-34DSX196NO-N
a
Maximum values are higher than allowed per NEC 430.52 and UL 508A 31.1.
Rated
Current
(A)
411122HFD3150L 150A Class RK5
551530HFD3200L 200A Class RK5
681537HJD3250200A Class RK5
812245HKD3300300A Class RK5
993055HKD3350350A Class RK5
1343075HKD3350500A Class RK5
1614590HLD3450500A Class RK5
19655110HLD3500500A Class RK5
Motor Power (hp)
Breaker
4/hr @ 40°C
a
a
2
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How to select the correct size
DS6 soft starter for standard
duty applications
Application Data AP03900001E
Effective June 2010
Table 5. DS6-34DSX041NO-N
41 AmpsMaximum Starting Current
Ramp Time 1/hr 25°C1/hr 40°C4/hr 40°C10/hr 40°C 20/hr 40°C
0.001155A136A133A129A127A
3152A133A131A129A127A
4150A131A128A126A124A
5149A129A126A124A121A
6146A128A125A121A118A
7145A126A123A119A115A
8144A125A121A117A113A
9142A124A120A115A111A
10142A123A118A114A108A
12123A111A104A98A94A
13121A108A102A96A91A
15117A105A99A92A87A
19112A101A93A86A80A
20111A100A92A84A79A
23109A97A89A81A73A
26108A96A87A79A67A
29106A94A85A77A62A
30105A94A85A76A60A
Table 6. DS6-34DSX055NO-N
55 AmpsMaximum Starting Current
Ramp Time 1/hr 25°C1/hr 40°C4/hr 40°C10/hr 40°C 20/hr 40°C
0.001209A183A178A173A170A
3204A178A176A173A170A
4201A175A172A169A166A
5199A173A170A166A162A
6196A171A167A163A158A
7195A169A164A160A155A
8193A168A162A157A152A
9191A166A160A155A148A
10190A165A159A153A145A
12165A148A140A132A126A
13162A145A137A129A121A
15157A141A132A123A116A
19150A135A125A115A108A
20149A134A123A113A106A
23146A131A120A109A98A
26144A129A117A106A89A
29142A127A115A103A83A
30141A126A114A102A81A
Table 7. DS6-34DSX068NO-N
68 AmpsMaximum Starting Current
Ramp Time 1/hr 25°C1/hr 40°C4/hr 40°C10/hr 40°C 20/hr 40°C
0.001
258A226A220A214A210A
3253A221A217A214A210A
4249A217A213A209A205A
5246A214A210A205A200A
6242A212A207A201A195A
7241A209A203A198A191A
8239A208A201A194A187A
9236A205A198A191A183A
10235A204A196A189A180A
12204A183A173A163A155A
13200A180A169A159A150A
15194A174A164A153A144A
19186A167A155A142A133A
20185A166A153A140A131A
23181A162A148A135A121A
26178A159A145A131A110A
29176A157A142A127A103A
30174A155A140A126A100A
Table 8. DS6-34DSX081NO-N
81 AmpsMaximum Starting Current
Ramp Time 1/hr 25°C1/hr 40°C4/hr 40°C10/hr 40°C 20/hr 40°C
0.001
307A269A262A255A251A
3301A263A259A255A251A
4296A258A254A249A245A
5293A255A250A245A238A
6289A252A246A240A232A
7287A249A242A235A228A
8284A248A239A231A223A
9281A245A236A228A219A
10280A243A234A225A214A
12243A219A206A194A185A
13238A214A202A190A179A
15231A208A195A182A171A
19222A199A184A170A159A
20220A197A182A167A156A
23215A193A177A160A144A
26212A190A173A156A131A
29209A186A169A151A122A
30208A185A167A150A119A
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3
Application Data AP03900001E
Effective June 2010
How to select the correct size
DS6 soft starter for standard
duty applications
Table 9. DS6-34DSX099NO-N
99 AmpsMaximum Starting Current
Ramp Time 1/hr 25°C1/hr 40°C4/hr 40°C10/hr 40°C 20/hr 40°C
0.001
375A329A320A312A306A
3368A321A317A312A306A
4362A316A310A304A299A
5359A312A305A299A291A
6353A308A301A293A284A
7351A304A296A288A278A
8347A303A292A282A273A
9344A299A289A278A267A
10342A297A286A275A262A
12297A267A252A237A226A
13291A262A247A232A219A
15282A254A238A222A209A
19271A243A225A207A194A
20269A241A222A204A191A
23263A235A216A196A176A
26260A232A211A191A161A
29256A228A206A185A149A
30254A226A205A183A146A
Table 10. DS6-34DSX134NO-N
134 AmpsMaximum Starting Current
Ramp Time 1/hr 25°C1/hr 40°C4/hr 40°C10/hr 40°C 20/hr 40°C
0540A482A473A440A429A
3532A461A462A440A429A
4520A450A448A424A410A
5511A442A437A411A395A
6503A436A429A400A382A
7497A430A421A390A370A
8491A425A413A381A360A
9486A420A407A373A335A
10481A416A401A365A310A
12434A388A379A351A272A
13416A371A367A344A257A
15398A355A329A287A231A
19378A337A308A264A193A
20374A333A304A259A185A
23363A323A291A245A166A
26354A314A281A233A150A
29346A307A272A223A138A
30343A305A269A220A134A
Table 11. DS6-34DSX161NO-N
160 AmpsMaximum Starting Current
Ramp Time 1/hr 25°C1/hr 40°C4/hr 40°C10/hr 40°C 20/hr 40°C
0640A571A560A521A508A
3631A546A548A521A508A
4616A533A531A503A486A
5606A524A518A487A468A
6596A516A508A474A453A
7589A510A498A462A439A
8582A504A490A452A427A
9576A498A482A442A397A
10570A493A475A433A367A
12514A460A449A416A322A
13493A440A435A408A305A
15472A421A390A340A274A
19448A399A365A313A229A
20443A395A360A307A219A
23430A383A345A290A197A
26420A372A332A276A178A
29410A364A322A264A164A
30407A361A319A261A159A
Table 12. DS6-34DSX196NO-N
196 AmpsMaximum Starting Current
Ramp Time 1/hr 25°C1/hr 40°C4/hr 40°C10/hr 40°C 20/hr 40°C
0800A714A700A652A636A
3788A683A685A652A636A
4770A667A664A628A607A
5757A655A648A609A585A
6745A646A635A593A566A
7736A637A623A578A548A
8727A630A612A564A533A
9720A622A602A553A496A
10713A616A593A541A459A
12643A575A561A520A403A
13616A550A543A510A381A
15590A526A488A425A342A
19560A499A457A391A286A
20554A493A450A384A274A
23538A479A432A363A246A
26524A465A416A345A222A
29513A455A403A330A204A
30508A452A399A326A199A
4
EATON CORPORATIONwww.eaton.com
How to select the correct size
DS6 soft starter for standard
duty applications
Application Data AP03900001E
Effective June 2010
Start Time
30S
25S
20S
15S
10S
Maximum ramp time @ 300% frame size (3 x 41 = 123A)
1 start per hour (25°C) = 12 seconds
5S
1 start per hour (40°C) = 10 seconds
4 starts per hour (40°C) = 7 seconds