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How and why are the Altistart Softstarts and Altivar AC Drives de-rated for altitude?

As altitude increases, lower air pressure results in lower air density and the cooling is less efficient.
There is also a maximum limit. This is due to the reduced air electrical resistance, which requires larger spacing to prevent arcing. The circuit boards and component spacing allows only up to a maximum altitude.

For Altistart Softstarts the Maximum Operating Altitude; 3300 ft (1000 m) without de-rating. Above this, de-rate the nominal current by 2.2% for each additional 330 ft (100 m) to a maximum of 6600 ft (2000 m).

For AC Altivar and Process Drives - Consult the appropriate Installation manuals since derating varies by Installation features and frame size.

If this article does not answer your question, check out our FAQ database that has answers to more commonly asked questions:
Frequently Asked Questions - Schneider Electric (se.com)

If this FAQ did not solve your issue, you can call us at 1-888-778-2733 Option 2 and then 4 or e-mail us at drive.products.support@se.com to create a case with our Technical Support Team.

If you are not located in North America, please contact your local Customer Care Center for assistance:
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