With so many different electrical contactors and starters to choose from, you may be curious about the pros and cons of IEC vs NEMA rated devices. Read on to learn more about the two different standards organizations and which one might suit your intended application best!
What is IEC?
The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is a non-profit, non-governmental international standards organization that prepares and publishes international standards for all electrical, electronic, and rated technologies, collectively called “electrotechnical”. This organization traces its roots back to 1881 and has been involved in developing and distributing many well-known units of measure like Hertz (frequency – cycles/second) and Gauss (magnetic flux density).
Benefits of IEC-Rated Devices
- Low cost
- Compact
- Reacts quickly to overloads
- Inherently finger safe
What is NEMA?
The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) is the largest trade association of electrical equipment manufacturers in the United States. Founded in 1926, NEMA urged manufacturers to utilize a standard “frame” size to allow parts from different manufacturers to be standardized, and to design components with safety factors over and above their design ratings.
Benefits of NEMA-Rated Devices
- Good at withstanding short circuits
- Versatile and suitable for a broad range of applications
The Difference Between IEC and NEMA
IEC vs. Nema
The difference between IEC vs NEMA is that a NEMA contactor, by design, may have up to 25% service factor while IEC is more focused on space and cost savings by testing components to their exact design rating and using utilization categories to rate devices based on their intended use. For example, a utilization category of AC-1 is for purely resistive loads, or only slightly inductive loads, like a heater circuit. AC-3 is for routine starting and stopping of a squirrel cage motor and only occasional jogging. AC-4 is similar to AC-3 but includes “inching” and “plugging” (jogging and reversing at speed), which requires significant instantaneous control of the motor current.
IEC vs NEMA: Pros and Cons |
|
|---|---|
| IEC | NEMA |
| Less expensive | More expensive |
| Less versatile; designed to meet life/current requirements in specific applications | More versatile; ratings are broad and apply to many different applications |
| More compact device | Larger sized device |
| Caters to the global market | Specific to the North American market |
| Reacts faster to overloads | Better at withstanding short circuits |
| Finger safe | Requires safety covers |
As a result, particularly for devices below 100A or 50HP, the NEMA-rated motor starters and contactors will be much larger and much more expensive. IEC will also have many more options for a particular current or power rating, making proper selection much more critical than NEMA components. This is where many misunderstandings have arisen in the United States with respect to the IEC system.
Common Misunderstandings Debunked
Visually, the NEMA starter looks larger than the comparable IEC starter, and some think this makes it “more robust.” In actuality, it’s simply oversized by design.
Oftentimes, the wrong IEC classification for a given application will be utilized. As a result, the IEC system itself is blamed when it doesn’t perform as expected. The reality is that the UL testing is the same for both IEC and NEMA starters.
Knowing this, there are instances where each classification system has its merits. IEC is smaller and less expensive when the operating conditions are well-defined. NEMA devices may be a better choice when operating conditions like load are poorly defined. IEC starters include single-phase detection and faster reaction to overload conditions, while NEMA devices can more easily withstand short circuits. NEMA starters have an open design, so safety covers are often required, while IEC contactors and starters are inherently finger-safe. IEC devices also have many more options to network components into a distributed control system using open Fieldbus standards, which can be important in modern plant control systems.
As you can see, the differences are not as simple as we often try and make them. It’s not a question of “which is more robust” or “which is more cost-effective.” It’s about understanding the application requirements, the differences between the two systems, and selecting the proper device for the job.
