What does LRA mean on a relay?

The LRA is simply the maximum amperage the relay is rated for when starting up a motor. Having a higher LRA just means you have a higher rated relay for starting currents. Having more will not matter. The FLA or full load amperage is the rated operating amperage which in your case is the same as the original.

What does LRA on a contactor mean?





An inductive load will experience a spike in current when voltage (potential) is first applied; this is called locked rotor amps (LRA) because it is the current a motor will draw when it starts up from a locked or stalled position.

What is LRA on heat pump?

Another term noted on the air-conditioner nameplate is “Compressor L.R.A.” This term represents Locked-Rotor Amperes and is the maximum current flowing to the motor when it is in a locked, or not turning, condition.

What do LRA amps mean for the compressor?

Locked Rotor Amps

Locked Rotor Amps (LRA) – Current drawn by the compressor if the rotor is locked and can’t move while electric power is applied.

What causes high LRA?





some common causes of a high LRA is, compressor is stuck, low power under a load due to loose wiring, voltage drop across the contactor, a bad starting relay, and capcitors. typically during a seized rotor, the thermal limit inside the compressor would open to keep the system from completely nuking itself.

Is LRA the same as starting amps?

The locked rotor current and the starting current of a motor are one and the same. It is the starting current drawn by a motor when full nominal voltage is applied to its terminals. Here is a simple locked rotor current calculator.

Can I use a higher amp contactor?

You can always replacce a lower amp contactor with one of higher amperage rating as long as your coil is the same voltage as the unit is wired for. As contactors increase in size, they requife more power to energize them.

How do you calculate LRA?

Locked Rotor Amps Formula



To calculate the locked rotor amps, divide the kVA by the horsepower, multiply that result by 1000, then divide the result by the voltage.

What do the numbers mean on a contactor?



These auxiliary contacts (also called control contacts) each have an order number and a function number. The first number is used consecutively (order number) and the second number specifies the type of contact (function number).

How do you measure a LRA compressor?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: Reading whatever the max is because when the unit. Starts the amount of amps the largest amount of amps it draws at startup that only lasts for a split second.

What’s the difference between LRA and FLA?

FLA: Full-Load Amps: Amount of amperage drawn when motor is working at rated horsepower. RLA: Running-Load-Amps: Same as FLA. LRA: Lock-Rotor-Amps: A motor draws a surge of amperage when it starts to get the rotor rotating and to achieve the rated horsepower.

How do you test a compressor LRA?



Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: About 65 amps so this is a three-phase unit you can clamp your multimeter on any one of the three wires it's going to the compressor to these terminals. Right any one of those three.

What causes a compressor to pull LRA?

If the compressor was mechanically stuck (for example, if something was wedged between the piston and cylinder), the motor would lock its rotor and draw LRA. If the contacts between terminals 1 and 2 of the potential relay were stuck open for some reason, the start capacitor would be out of the circuit.

What causes scroll compressor failure?

After floodback and slugging, Park said the major causes of compressor failure, in order of importance, include bad contactors, system leaks, dirty evaporators, dirty filters, dirty condensers, rapid loading/unloading, mis-wired/misadjusted controls, low superheat, and wrong oil for the system refrigerant.

How do you check lock rotor amps?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: Push in on the contactor. Just long enough to get an amp reading and let go and then we're going to go ahead and do run the same way you're going to push it on the contactor.

What is the difference between FLA and LRA?



FLA: Full-Load Amps: Amount of amperage drawn when motor is working at rated horsepower. RLA: Running-Load-Amps: Same as FLA. LRA: Lock-Rotor-Amps: A motor draws a surge of amperage when it starts to get the rotor rotating and to achieve the rated horsepower.

How do you calculate LRA?

Locked Rotor Amps Formula



To calculate the locked rotor amps, divide the kVA by the horsepower, multiply that result by 1000, then divide the result by the voltage.

Can I replace a 30 amp contactor with a 40 amp?

The contact current rating is the maximum value. A 30 Amp one can be replaced with a 40 Amp one. It fits in the space if it’s not too big.

How do you calculate RLA from LRA?

I was wondering if anyone had the formula for figuring the RLA from the LRA info given on the compressor? A rough rule of thumb is divide that LRA by about 5. RLA doesn’t do much for you except help you size contactors.

How do you convert LRA to amps?



The answer is simply divide 1500 by your mains voltage. If you live in a 220v area, the answer is 1500/220. 7 amps is near enough. If your voltage is 110, the answer is 1500/110.

How do I convert my HP compressor to LRA?

LRA (lock rotor amps) can be converted to HP using this formula: (LRA Watts x Volts)/ 746 Watts = Horsepower. You can also use the BTUh. For example, 18,000 BTUh equals 2 HP or 24,000 2.5 HP.

How do you check the LRA on a compressor?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: So it's either inrush or the maximum. Amps. So in my case on my meter i just switch my meter to amps right here. And then i hold i press the max button right here. So max appears.

What causes a compressor to pull LRA?

If the compressor was mechanically stuck (for example, if something was wedged between the piston and cylinder), the motor would lock its rotor and draw LRA. If the contacts between terminals 1 and 2 of the potential relay were stuck open for some reason, the start capacitor would be out of the circuit.

What causes scroll compressor failure?

After floodback and slugging, Park said the major causes of compressor failure, in order of importance, include bad contactors, system leaks, dirty evaporators, dirty filters, dirty condensers, rapid loading/unloading, mis-wired/misadjusted controls, low superheat, and wrong oil for the system refrigerant.