---
kind: "section"
citation: "46 C.F.R. § 111.70-3"
title: "46"
number: "111.70-3"
heading: "Motor controllers and motor-control centers."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/46/111.70-3"
---

# §111.70-3. Motor controllers and motor-control centers.

- (a) **General.** The enclosure for each motor controller or motor-control center must meet either NEMA ICS 2 and NEMA ICS 2.3, or Table 1 of IEC 60092-201:2019 (all incorporated by reference; see [§ 110.10-1](/cfr/46/110.10-1.md) of this subchapter), as appropriate, for the location where it is installed. In addition, each such enclosure in a hazardous location must meet the requirements of [subpart 111.105](/cfr/46/subpart111.105.md) of this part. NEMA ICS 2.4 (incorporated by reference; see [§ 110.10-1](/cfr/46/110.10-1.md) of this subchapter) provides guidance on the differences between devices meeting NEMA and those meeting IEC for motor service.
- (b) **Low-voltage release.** Each motor controller for a fire pump, elevator, steering gear, or auxiliary that is vital to the vessel's propulsion system, except a motor controller for a vital propulsion auxiliary which can be restarted from a central control station, must have low-voltage release if automatic restart after a voltage failure or its resumption to operation is not hazardous. If automatic restart is hazardous, the motor controller must have low-voltage protection. Motor controllers for other motors must not have low-voltage release unless the starting current and the short-time sustained current of the additional low-voltage release load is within the capacity of one ship's service generator. Automatic sequential starting of low-voltage release controllers is acceptable to meet this paragraph.
- (c) **Low-voltage protection.** Each motor controller must have low-voltage protection, except for the following motor controllers:
  - (1) **A motor controller that has low-voltage release under paragraph (b) of this section.**
  - (2) A motor controller for a motor of less than 2 horsepower (1.5 kW).
- (d) **Identification of controllers.**
  - (1) Each motor controller and motor control center must be marked externally with the following information:
    - (i) **Manufacturer's name or identification.**
    - (ii) **Voltage.**
    - (iii) **Number of phases.**
    - (iv) **Current.**
    - (v) kW (Horsepower).
    - (vi) **Identification of motor being controlled.**
    - (vii) **Current rating of trip setting.**
  - (2) Each controller must be provided with heat durable and permanent elementary wiring/schematic diagrams of the controller located on the door interior.

## Notes

### Amendments

[CGD 94-108, 61 FR 28281, June 4, 1996; 61 FR 33045, June 26, 1996, as amended by USCG-2003-16630, 73 FR 65199, Oct. 31, 2008; USCG-2013-0671, 78 FR 60153, Sept. 30, 2013; USCG-2020-0075, 88 FR 16364, Mar. 16, 2023]

### Authority

Authority: 46 U.S.C. 3306, 3703; DHS Delegation No. 00170.1, Revision No. 01.2. Section 111.05-20 and Subpart 111.106 also issued under sec. 617, Pub. L. 111-281, 124 Stat. 2905.

### Source

Source: CGD 74-125A, 47 FR 15236, Apr. 8, 1982, unless otherwise noted.

### Amendments

[CGD 94-108, 61 FR 28281, June 4, 1996; 61 FR 33045, June 26, 1996, as amended by USCG-2003-16630, 73 FR 65199, Oct. 31, 2008; USCG-2013-0671, 78 FR 60153, Sept. 30, 2013; USCG-2020-0075, 88 FR 16364, Mar. 16, 2023]