Motor Controllers, Control Circuits and Industrial Control Panels — 430 Parts VI–VII, Table 430.72(B)(2), 430.83 Ratings and Article 409
Lesson 08-01 collected the *disconnecting means* rules. This lesson covers the other half of the PSI heading — control devices: what may serve as a motor controller and how it is rated (430 Part VII), how the control circuit that operates it is protected and disconnected (430 Part VI and Table 430.72(B)(2)), and the Article 409 rules for the industrial control panel that houses them. Written from the 2026 text.
NFPA 70 National Electrical Code, 2026 edition · Reviewed 2026-09-19
Lesson 08-01 collected the disconnecting means rules. This lesson covers the other half of the PSI heading — control devices: what may serve as a motor controller and how it is rated (430 Part VII), how the control circuit that operates it is protected and disconnected (430 Part VI and Table 430.72(B)(2)), and the Article 409 rules for the industrial control panel that houses them. Written from the 2026 text.
1. What counts as a controller — 430 Part VII
- Every motor gets an individual controller (430.87). Exceptions: a single controller rated for the equivalent horsepower of all the motors (430.110(C)(1)) may serve a group where (a) the motors drive parts of a single machine, (b) the group is under one branch-circuit OCPD per 430.53(A), or (c) the group is in a single room within sight of the controller; and a branch-circuit disconnect used as the controller under 430.81(A) may serve more than one motor.
- Small motors (430.81): a stationary motor of ⅛ hp or less that is normally left running and cannot be damaged by overload (a clock motor) — the branch-circuit disconnecting means may serve as the controller; a portable motor of ⅓ hp or less — the controller may be an attachment plug and receptacle or cord connector.
- Function (430.82): the controller starts and stops the motor and is capable of interrupting the locked-rotor current; an autotransformer starter has off, run and at least one start position and cannot rest in start.
- Ratings (430.83):
- (A)(1) controllers other than inverse-time breakers and molded-case switches carry a horsepower rating at the application voltage not lower than the motor hp.
- (A)(2) a branch-circuit inverse-time circuit breaker rated in amperes may be the controller for any motor (and the overload device where it meets 430 Part III); (A)(3) a molded-case switch rated in amperes may be the controller.
- (C) stationary motors of 2 hp or less, 300 V or less: a general-use switch with an ampere rating at least twice the motor FLC, or on ac circuits a **general-us
This is where the public part ends.
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