IC611 And IC616 High-voltage Motors
Mar 26, 2026
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IC611 and IC616 are two common cooling methods used in air-to-air cooled high-voltage motors. However, many customers often find themselves confused by the differences between these two cooling methods and struggle with making the correct selection during the motor selection process.
Comparison of IC611 and IC616 High-Voltage motors cooling methods
The letter code IC stands for International Cooling. The motor cooling method code is primarily composed of the Cooling Method Symbol (IC), the Circuit Arrangement Code of the Cooling Medium, the Cooling Medium Code, and the Driving Method Code for the movement of the cooling medium.
The first digit following the IC code indicates the Circuit Arrangement of the cooling medium. A digit of 6 means the motor is equipped with an external cooler that uses the ambient air as the cooling medium. The primary cooling medium circulates in a closed loop and transfers the heat generated during motor operation to the surrounding environment via the externally mounted cooler on the motor.
For motors equipped with air-to-air coolers, the cooling medium is air (coded as A), which is omitted in the code description. Both IC611 and IC616 use air as the cooling medium.
The second and third digits in the code represent the Driving Methods for the primary and secondary cooling media, respectively:
The digit 1 indicates a self-contained circulation system. The movement of the cooling medium is related to the motor speed. It is driven by the rotor itself, or by an integrated fan or blower directly coupled to and towed by the rotor.
The digit 6 indicates an independently driven system. The cooling medium is driven by a separate component mounted on the motor, whose power supply is independent of the main motor speed. Examples include a remote-mounted fan (pizza box fan) or a separate blower.
In terms of physical appearance of IC611 and IC616 high-voltage motors, an IC611 motor is equipped with an independent fan on the non-drive end that rotates simultaneously with the motor rotor. Together with the heat sink mounted on the top of the motor, it forms the heat dissipation system, eliminating the need for a separate external fan.
Conversely, an IC616 motor is equipped with a dedicated cooling unit that has its own independently operated fan. It requires a separate power supply and must operate simultaneously with the main motor. The cooling efficiency of an IC616 is independent of the motor speed.
Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) motors must be configured with the IC616 cooling method. Line-frequency (50/60Hz) motors, however, can be selected based on actual operational requirements.