But what about your specific unit and situation? Be sure to consult the local regulations or building codes before you begin installation. Talk to your supplier for additional help, so you will not have to return for more supplies. For instance, a 1.5-ton air conditioner needs 2.5mm2 or 14-gauge wires to safely operate given that its maximum current can go up to 10 amps. Needless to say, it is critical to run air conditioners with correct wire sizes. So, I use the table to match the wire size accordingly. Visit https://aircondlounge.com/category/buyer-guide/ to see more guides and product recommendations. Do you know it? Always check the inside of the wire and not the outside to see past any coating or wrapping. This is especially true when he demonstrates little knowledge of the electric code. Yep, I've been told that there's nothing worse than a 70+ year old stubborn inspector no idea where that attitude originates, but I've been told. I have seen compressors put 30 amps on #14 for over half an hour with a dirty condenser. So far, weve discussed the general breaker and wire sizes that you should use for different air conditioners and heat pump units. Gauge size In wire, as you likely know, the smaller the number, the thicker the wire. 12,000 BTU/hour can generally cool 500 to 600 square feet. You can get all this AC wire sizing information from this chart. Replacing the breaker can be done relatively quickly. What size wire for 2 ton air conditioner? So be sure to use the wiring and circuit breakers appropriate for the system, especially if you are a DIYer. I would rather do it than to have that happen anyways. It is standard to measure air conditioner and heat pump size based on tonnage. - in a j-box 15' down the ceiling the 10/3 connects to a 12/2 (black-black red-white ground-ground). The cost difference of the breakers should be 10$, maybe 20$ with markup. If the wire is not sized properly it will be come a load. Often the US and Canada maximum breaker sizes are the same. Overload is one of the many possibilities if you dont utilize the proper wire size, and incompatibility issues can be just as obvious. Bigger 5+ ton central air conditioners can run on 6,000+ watts and require wires that are thicker than 10 AWG wire with a lot more ampacity. What Wire Size and Breaker for Heat Pump? From the j-box the 12/2 runs outside . Voltage drop occurs across the length the electrical current has to travel. Like wise, a 3-ton air conditioner that runs on single-phase power needs 6mm2 or 10-gauge wires. The correct wire size for this 2.5-ton AC unit is the 14 AWG with 20A ampacity. A standard 15 amp breaker is sufficient for a window air conditioner or heat pump in almost every case. To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers. If the AC unit says that it's breaker should be a max of 20A, then use a 20A breaker. Low noise operation and high efficiency. Condensor went, HVAC guy is blaming electrician, is this possible? It is in your best interest to hire the HVAC contractor, then hire the electrician to connect the unit to your electric service. If the ambient air temperature rises to 40C, the current-carrying capacity of the same 25mm2 wire becomes 77.43A. The amps will change because of the different units and measurements used and accounted for. There are websites you can go to to get an estimate as to what things cost in your community. The wire size is essential because an overload can occur if it is not sized appropriately. = 4.5 x CFM x h (std. It is quite lengthy if you calculate it manually. Email: [emailprotected]Chat: LinkedIn Message, AboutPrivacy PolicyTerms and ConditionsImpact ReportSubscribe, eBooksCalculatorsTemplatesCoursesConsultation. We also participate in other affiliate programs which compensate us for referring traffic. I use the simplified chart above to help determine this. Small house - about 1200 sq ft. Two contractors bid the job - both would rather I run the wiring as the basement is finished and they dont want to pull ceiling tiles (which is fine since I did it all years ago and know the routine). Some manufacturers provide minimum wire and breaker sizes, while others offer the maximum fuse or breaker size you can use. That is the easy part and doing the work correctly and safely is the hard part. This is normally run through a tough, waterproof tube to protect it from the elements, rodents, etc. I've been working as a professional in the HVAC industry for more than 7 years, covering from design and installation to commissioning and maintenance. It will be a double pole breaker. If they say 20' of 3/8 you can look up the base price of that- and everyone should be scaled by the same amount (Do NOT think you're going to get copper lineset at store prices, not going to happen). Even if you are a master electrician and can distinguish between the two with a passing glance, having the title given to you is always pleasant. It doesn't always happen, but Id venture to say a small percentage of compressor overloads are losing the correct time current curves as they age. Most of the time, youll find a window unit set in a window opening and plugged into a regular 110V/120V outlet. For example, the 25mm2 wire has a current-carrying capacity of 89A at 30C. Both the wire and breaker size fall within the parameters outlined above. Breakers trip at around 125% of the amperage, so why is wire size such a big deal? When calculating the wire size you need, dont forget to determine the voltage drop and wire capacity. Luckily, you can find this out pretty quickly with all of the above information and by looking at a label on your compressor unit. Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience. Window units are some of the smallest air conditioners and heat pumps you can buy, excluding portable units. Can someone please tell me what is written on this score? Some manufacturers include this for both US and Canada. Most modern homes built in the last few decades have a central air conditioning system or heat pump. How to get from the AC tonnage to the AWG gauge wire choice? Air Conditioner Wire Size Calculator (+ Chart For 1.5-5 Ton AC Units) 9 Best Window AC Units In 2023 (10+ EER) Hence, to check the voltage drop, youll need to estimate the wire length first. Contractor two wants to install a 2 ton unit and said to run 12ga with a dual 20A circuit. Making its grand appearance next would be the model number, which thankfully is made more evident than some other more reclusive bits of information we will go over. But this also means that it will require more electrical power. Since tags provide a lot of information, you may be wondering if the breaker size is on it in the first place. Its worth noting in that same regard that not all manufacturers are created equal, and as such, you may have additional steps and information to sort through to find that precious heat pump data tag. However, its maximum current is stated at 55A. Find the wire size you need on the charts above. Actually, the quoted information seems consistent with an air conditioning unit. In this part of the label, you get told just how many amps will be pulled when you initially start your compressors motor. Regarding heat, one ton equals 11,917 British Thermal Units (BTU) per hour, often rounded to 12,000 BTU/hour. For a standard 3-ton residential air conditioner or heat pump, you'll need a 20 amp breaker with 12-gauge wire. The wire gauges are shown on the side of the tool so you know which slot to use for stripping insulation. I appreciate the input. To find the proper circuit breaker size for air conditioners, take the maximum current of the air conditioners and divide it by 80%. Recommended R-Values For Attic, Return Duct Size For 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4 And 5 Ton Units, How Much Freon In 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 5, 6 Ton Units? Few times in life are the answers given to us quickly. I have read on a few different websites that electricians are sizing their wire according to the nameplate rating "minimum circuit ampacity" 2 - 2 1/2 tons 14amps, 18amps. The longer the AC runs, the hotter that wire gets, until a fire starts. Air conditioners do not have a reversing valve. Still, some manufacturers use letters and numbers instead. 10 gauge wire. Both are 30+ yr HVAC installers to boot. Some of that power is supplied by the battery-like capacitor. Next, use the wire length and a voltage drop of 2.5% to get the allowable voltage drop. You can also cut the ends of the wire to check it visually: copper wire is golden brown, while wire made from aluminum is dull gray. Mini-split ACs have an outdoor compressor unit and an indoor evaporator unit, with refrigerant and electrical lines running between the two. The wire size and breaker for heat pumps and air conditioners (AC) vary based on the tonnage. Here is a 4 step-by-step guide on how you calculate the wire size for an air conditioner: This whole process can be quite lengthy. You are using an out of date browser. COPYRIGHT 2023 AIRCONDLOUNGE DOTCOM. Info tip: At the circuit breaker box, the important issue of preventing damage to the wiring and the system in general is addressed. A 220 volt air conditioner will split the electrical requirement evenly between the two lines of the circuit thereby creating more . For example, suppose you have a relatively large heat pump with 24,000 BTU, yet your wire is only a 12 gauge. A split heat pump or air conditioner has two separate electrical circuits, one for the outdoor unit (condenser) and the indoor unit (air handler or furnace). (Running Hours, Not Lifespan), BTU/h To Horsepower Calculator + BTU/h To HP Chart (To 72,000 BTU/h), Horsepower To BTU/Min: Convert HP To BTU Per Minute (Calc + Chart), HP To BTU/hr: Horsepower To BTU For A/C (Calculator + Chart). Hence, 25mm2 wire is suitable for the 55A air conditioner. Inlaws are having a central AC unit attached to their 10 yr old furnace. Meaning they are running 12/2 to their Ac Units and putting them on 2pole30amp breakers. Every air conditioner has to be wired. 5. This will NEVER affect our opinion of a product or service! The longer the wire, the greater the voltage drop. As much as I wanted to help, the OP sounded like he thought it needed 4 circuits! In return, it makes it much easier to determine what size breaker you need. You could go with larger wire (10 gauge), but not smaller (14 gauge). In the photo example above, electrical requirements for this 3-ton American Standard unit require a minimum amperage rating of 25 Amps. A double pole circuit breaker (220v) of the appropriate brand for the breaker box and the correct amperage for the central AC system. It's there for a reason. I'll update. Wire Size Chart by Air Conditioner Capacity Ambient temperature = 86F (30C) Wire length = 50 ft (15 m) Wire material = Copper Voltage drop = 2.5% Wire Size for Typical 230V/1P/60Hz Air Conditioners Single-phase (230 volts) air conditioners use 3 wires only (hot wire, neutral wire & ground wire). Most of them are rated at 30 or 60 amps, which is more than what you need, and would be fine. 16.7 circuit amps In most cases, its easier to replace a breaker than it is to pull a new wire. That in some cases may blow the main and in further cases may do even more damage than that. Here is a list of common circuit breaker sizes: Now, use the circuit breaker ampere to find the matching wire size by current-carrying capacity. About Us | Contact Us | Privacy Policy| Cookie Policy| Terms of Use| Do Not Sell My Info. Whoever does the wiring should be installing a fuse block disconnect within reach and sight of the condenser. To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. Understanding the intricacies of your HVAC system, the wiring, and the subtle other nuances that make it work can be complicated and far too much work for some people. The contractors' suggestions seem backward - are you sure you didn't get them reversed? Wire gauges are measured in diameter based on the American Wire Gauge (AWG) chart. A double-pole breaker has two hot wires with one neutral wire. The minimum ampacity for 2-ton AC is 13.64 amps so you will need a 15-amp breaker for the AC. There is no loose part or rattling noise. This is about 4 to 5 times that of an electric hair dryer. Mini-split air conditioners and heat pumps are very popular and excellent at cooling a relatively small space compared to a central AC system. Learn more about Stack Overflow the company, and our products. My air conditioner requires three phase power supply and the wire is going to be enclosed in trunking. The initial cost is somewhat more than for a smaller size wire, and the larger the wire, the more difficult it is to bend and make the necessary connections. Window air conditioners and heat pumps are incredibly portable, easy to install, and energy-efficient, so its no surprise they are very popular. If we need 176F we'll need 10 AWG wire; if we need 185F we'll need 8 AWG wire. From the above table, I match 70A, which is the circuit breaker ampere, with a 25mm2 wire size. To to get the allowable voltage drop occurs across the length the electrical evenly. 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