and IX of Article 430 for additional requirements.

III. Branch-Circuit Short-Circuit and Ground-Fault

Protection

440.21 General. The provisions of Part III specify devices intended to protect the branch-circuit conductors, control apparatus, and motors in circuits supplying hermetic refrigerant motor-compressors against overcurrent due to short circuits and ground faults. They are in addition to or amendatory of the provisions of Article 240.

440.22 Application and Selection.

(A) Rating or Setting for Individual Motor-Compressor.

The motor-compressor branch-circuit short-circuit and ground-fault protective device shall be capable of carrying the starting current of the motor. A protective device having a rating or setting not exceeding 175 percent of the motor-compressor rated-load current or branch-circuit selection current, whichever is greater, shall be permitted, provided that, where the protection specified is not sufficient for the starting current of the motor, the rating or setting shall be permitted to be increased but shall not exceed 225 percent of the motor rated-load current or branch-circuit selection current, whichever is greater.

Exception: The rating of the branch-circuit short-circuit and ground-fault protective device shall not be required to be less than 15 amperes.

(B) Rating or Setting for Equipment. The equipment branch-circuit short-circuit and ground-fault protective device shall be capable of carrying the starting current of the equipment. Where the hermetic refrigerant motor-

compressor is the only load on the circuit, the protection shall comply with 440.22(A). Where the equipment incorporates more than one hermetic refrigerant motor- compressor or a hermetic refrigerant motor-compressor and other motors or other loads, the equipment short- circuit and ground-fault protection shall comply with
430.53 and 440.22(B)(1) and (B)(2).

(1) Motor-Compressor Largest Load. Where a hermetic refrigerant motor-compressor is the largest load connected to the circuit, the rating or setting of the branch-circuit short-circuit and ground-fault protective device shall not exceed the value specified in 440.22(A) for the largest motor-compressor plus the sum of the rated-load current or branch-circuit selection current, whichever is greater, of the other motor-compressor(s) and the ratings of the other loads supplied.

(2) Motor-Compressor Not Largest Load. Where a her- metic refrigerant motor-compressor is not the largest load connected to the circuit, the rating or setting of the branch-circuit short-circuit and ground-fault protective device shall not exceed a value equal to the sum of the rated-load current or branch-circuit selection current, whichever is greater, rating(s) for the motor-compressor(s) plus the value specified in

430.53(C)(4) where other motor loads are supplied, or
the value specified in 240.4 where only nonmotor loads
are supplied in addition to the motor-compressor(s).

Exception No. 1: Equipment that starts and operates on a 15- or 20-ampere 120-volt, or 15-ampere 208- or 240- volt single-phase branch circuit, shall be permitted to be protected by the 15- or 20-ampere overcurrent device protecting the branch circuit, but if the maximum branch-circuit short-circuit and ground-fault protective device rating marked on the equipment is less than these values, the circuit protective device shall not exceed the value marked on the equipment nameplate.

Exception No. 2: The nameplate marking of cord-and- plug-connected equipment rated not greater than 250 volts, single-phase, such as household refrigerators and