MCA (minimum circuit ampacity) = WSA (wire sizing amps) = your wire ampacity mus

t be this big or larger. You may need a larger size (for voltage drop or energy
savings or whatever) but you cannot use a smaller size.
FLA (full load amps) = RLA (running load amps) = use this for load calcs. If yo
u don't have MCA/WSA data, then this will get you in the ballpark for feeder siz
e (but may ultimately be wrong).
MOCP (maximum overcurrent protetive device) = maximum breaker or fuse rating. Y
ou may see some equipment with a "maximum fuse rating" -- in that case, you MUST
use a fuse (it can ALSO have a breaker in the circuit, but a breaker alone won'
t cut the mustard). The MOCP rating will often be larger than the MCA -- that m
ight seem strange to you, that the fuse/breaker is bigger than the wire, but tha
t is OK and 100% per code. You can size the wire bigger if you want to or that
makes you feel better, but you are not required to per code or UL.
LRA (locked rotor amps) is what a motor will draw with a locked rotor, which wil
l very nearly equal what it will draw during starting. This will usually be abo
ut 700% of full load amps and will last for about 6 seconds. You use this to ca
lculate motor starting voltage drop. Code only requires you to calculate motor
starting voltage drop for fire pumps and very few other specific motor types --
but practially, if your voltage drops below 85% or 80% of nominal voltage, your
motor may refuse to start. For short runs (say, less than 300 feet at 480v), mo
tor starting probably won't be an issue for you.
Your MCC would generally be sized based on FLA. 125% of largest motor FLA plus
100% of all other smaller motor FLA would be a good minimum MCC size (and would
be in accordance with NEC 430 motor feeder sizing requirments).
See NEC 430 for motor & motor feeder requirements general to all motors.
See NEC 440 for motor requirements specific to HVAC motors. The MCA/MOCP questi
ons above are specific to HVAC motors and are covered in NEC 440.
MFS (MAXIMUN FUSE SIZE)[A]
MCM (MAXIMUN CIRCUIT BREAKER[A]
RLA - Rated load amps
Compressor LRA - Locked rotor amps
Fan Motor LRA - Locked rotor amps, N.E.C. Table 430 - 151
FLA - Full load amps, N.E.C. Table 430 - 150
Compressor KW - Based on 80170 degrees F to evaporator coil, nominal airflow, an
d 105 degrees F condensing temperature, 3 phase, 60 Hertz
Fan Motor KW - Based on rated motor horsepower, 3 phase, 60 Hertz Voltage utiliz
ation range is + 10 percent
Determination of minimum circuit ampacity (MCA).
MCA 1.25 x largest motor amps (FLA or RLA) + the sum of the remaining motor amps
.
Determination of maximum fuse size (MFS) and maximum circuit breaker size (MCB).
When compressor is largest load:
MFS and MCB = 2.25 x largest compressor RLA + the sum of the remaining compresso
r RLA!s + supply fan (FLA).
Maximum fuse size (MFS) and maximum
circuit breaker size (MCB) = 2.25 x largest
motor amps (FLA or RLA) + the sum of
the remaining motor amps.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCYcA1AlWZ0#t=65502