Which term describes the voltage rating displayed on a motor's nameplate?

• A. Nameplate Voltage
• B. Line Voltage
• C. System Voltage
• D. Phase Voltage

Answer: (A)

The voltage shown on a motor’s nameplate is the voltage the motor is designed to operate at—the official rating provided by the manufacturer. That value is what you must match when powering the motor, so it’s specifically referred to as the nameplate voltage. Line voltage describes the actual electrical supply you connect to the motor; it should align with the nameplate rating, but it’s not the term carved on the label itself. Terms like system voltage or phase voltage refer to other aspects of the electrical setup (the overall system configuration or voltage per phase) and aren’t the designation used for the motor’s printed rating. For motors that support more than one voltage, the nameplate will list the available voltages (for example, 230/460), still indicating the nameplate voltage concept rather than the supply itself.