Enter your motor's Supply Frequency (Hz) and Number of Poles to calculate the Synchronous Speed of your motor in RPM — plus a breakdown of Speed in RPS and Actual Speed accounting for a standard 5% slip.
Synchronous Speed
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Speed in RPS
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Actual Speed (5% slip)
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Motor synchronous speed is calculated using the formula: RPM = (120 × Frequency) / Number of Poles. The constant 120 comes from 60 seconds per minute times 2 for the AC cycle.
Synchronous speed is the theoretical speed of the rotating magnetic field. Actual induction motor speed is slightly lower due to slip, typically 2-5% less than synchronous speed.
Motor poles must be even because they come in pairs (north and south). Common pole counts are 2, 4, 6, 8, etc. More poles result in lower speed but higher torque.
Most countries use either 50Hz (Europe, Asia, Africa) or 60Hz (North America, parts of South America). Some applications may use higher frequencies for specialized motors.
Motor speed is directly proportional to frequency. Higher frequency increases speed, while lower frequency decreases speed. This principle is used in variable frequency drives (VFDs).
Slip is the difference between synchronous speed and actual rotor speed, expressed as a percentage. Typical slip ranges from 2-5% at full load for standard induction motors.