Air Conditioner Wire Size Chart (1.5-5 Ton Units), What Size Breaker For 1.5-5 Ton AC Units? Central Air Conditioner Dimensions (Air Handlers and Condensing Units), How Much Does an Air Conditioner Cost for A 2,000 Sq Ft House, Central Air Conditioner Replacement Cost 2023, Central Air vs Window ACs Cost, Efficiency, Comfort, Convenience. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. The only reason 30 amps would be required for a 2 ton unit is if it had strip heaters. Since tags provide a lot of information, you may be wondering if the breaker size is on it in the first place. Still, it gets much easier when you understand that most of it arent intended for your typical homeowner to grasp. At first glance, sorting through the seemingly endless amounts of information displayed on the label may look daunting. For example, suppose you have a relatively large heat pump with 24,000 BTU, yet your wire is only a 12 gauge. It only takes a minute to sign up. Fortunately, the label includes the maximum breaker size (or it may say max fuse size). Check them out and see which products fit your needs. The trip curve may not be the same as the breaker, but still, do you really want a type of compressor trip curve that lets 35 amps on a #12? However, a smaller 4-gauge aluminum or 6-gauge copper wire would be fine. Short circuit current: 5kA rms. Everything is built with care. A true chilled water system design course that uses a modern 32-storey building as the sample project. No excuse for the lax reading- I had conTACtors on the brain from another discussion. Do AC Units & Heat Pumps Need 240 Volt Breakers? Using a higher amp breaker than the recommended size can cause serious problems. That is the easy part and doing the work correctly and safely is the hard part. There are websites you can go to to get an estimate as to what things cost in your community. Whether you are a design engineer, project engineer, operator or maintenance personnel, I'm sure you heard of the word/term bypass when dealing with chillers and chilled water systems. If you are like me and despise doing math on your own to find out what breaker size you will need for your heat pump, the first place you want to check out is the data tag. The exact breaker size you need primarily depends on your air conditioner, so check the requirements usually printed on the compressor unit or consult the table above. For most people, using the following wire size chart should be sufficient. It's there for a reason. Low noise operation and high efficiency. House needs sided too and thus far 4 have been no-shows/no calls. With a power draw of about 4-8 amps, you dont need a large circuit breaker for window units. These are my latest recommended products. Using a 30-amp breaker, 80% of the amps are 24 running amps. From the j-box the 12/2 runs outside . Your aircon requires 1.55kW so there is enough power available. Edit: I see you have called a professional. In other words, a 415V power supply may be left with only 400V when reaches the air conditioner because there is a voltage drop across the wire. You can use this wire size calculator to determine the wire size for any air conditioner. A 220 volt air conditioner will split the electrical requirement evenly between the two lines of the circuit thereby creating more . For example, if your question is what size wire for a 30 amp air conditioner, look at the first chart to see that a 30 amp AC unit is one that is rated at 5 tons (60,000 BTU). By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. Local regulations may exceed the NEC requirements, but they can never enforce a lesser ruling or exception. The contractors' suggestions seem backward - are you sure you didn't get them reversed? This value changes according to the tonnage of the AC unit. With that said, absolute minimum is a 12gaug or 12/2 (so Hot-Hot Ground) However that assumes everything is 220V, and if the system has 110V anywhere then you might need a neutral. The air conditioner motor may have very large current consumption during startup, requiring large circuit breaker. Next, use the wire length and a voltage drop of 2.5% to get the allowable voltage drop. You are using an out of date browser. As much as I wanted to help, the OP sounded like he thought it needed 4 circuits! Condensor went, HVAC guy is blaming electrician, is this possible? Most large air conditioning units and heat pumps run on 220V and require their circuit with a double-pole circuit breaker. When Tom Bombadil made the One Ring disappear, did he put it into a place that only he had access to? 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). The cost difference between 10 gauge and 12 gauge is minimal, especially for short runs (other than being more difficult to bend). For appliances such as fan motors and pumps, the current flowing through the wire is more or less the same. Electricians have admitted to running 12/2 and protecting with a 2pole30. Wire is supposed to be sized at 125% of the full load amperage shown on the appropriate chart. Does Home Insurance Pay For Power Surge Damage? However, things should be fine if your wiring is the correct gauge to handle the power and your unit has built-in overcurrent protection. Usually, you can also estimate the SEER rating from the model number. Another short section of electrical wire to run from the disconnect box to the condenser. Units are designed, engineered and assembled in the U.S.A. If it has a reversing valve, it is a heat pump. This will NEVER affect our opinion of a product or service! Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience. However the HVAC contractor needs to hire a licensed electrician and apply for a permit. For a 35-amp breaker, the running amps should be around a maximum of 28 amps. The 70A breaker will allow more current to flow than the wire is capable of carrying. Yes, but 10 gauge wire (sometimes mis-written as 10 gage wire) is only required on the larger size central air conditioners because it will handle more current (amps). Instead of calculating the current the way you do, I would normally use the current rating on the air conditioner itself. That means you will need to use a 10 AWG wire with 35A ampacity. Subsequently, you can use a 15 amp circuit breaker for most mini-splits, though you may need a 20 amp breaker for some of the larger units. What size Wire and breaker for Mitsubishi Mini Split HVAC, Air conditioner HVAC filter size and frequency of change, Need advice on how to install 240V outlet for greenhouse heater, Dystopian Science Fiction story about virtual reality (called being hooked-up) from the 1960's-70's, Unexpected results of `texdef` with command defined in "book.cls". So use the 10 gauge. My apologies for misreading your question. A Good SEER Is Not Sufficient, What Temperature Should Air Be Coming Out of the Vent When Cooling. Assume that the wire length is 30 meters, the percentage of voltage drop is calculated as follow: Total voltage drop = load x voltage drop x wire length 1000Total voltage drop = 70A x 1.55 MV/A/m x 30 meters 1000Total voltage drop = 3.255V, Voltage drop % = 3.255V 415V x 100Voltage drop % = 0.78%. 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. (9.2 amps + 0.7 amps + (9.2 amps * 0.25) = 12.2) (NEC 440.33). To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. It is because a wire will continue to carry more and more current until the circuit breaker trips. ($0.05 $0.22/h), How Much Does 1000 Watts Cost Per Hour? A beautifully designed window air conditioner with the latest environmental-friendly R32 refrigerant gas that runs more quietly than most other window ACs. Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers, Outdoor Lighting & Audio/Visual Specialists. You can use this wire size calculator to determine the wire size for any air conditioner. 2 Wire size is based on fuse or circuit breaker size. Is the Circuit Breaker Size Listed on the Data Tag? At Goodman, we believe in American dependability. If the minimum circuit ampacity says 14.9 amps, we're good with. With correct wiring and the right wire size, it is assured that the air conditioner is safe to operate. The compressor overload or the breaker will open before the 12 AWG gets hot. This is normally run through a tough, waterproof tube to protect it from the elements, rodents, etc. Here youll find just how much electricity is required to start the compressor. 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. Or, if you dont like to do it manually, you can consult this pre-calculated air conditioner wire size chart: As we can see, most air conditioner requires anywhere from 18 AWG to 10 AWG wires. There are no 12.5 amp breakers. The cost of the wiring is negligible. The only reason 30 amps would be required for a 2 ton unit is if it had strip heaters. Below, we will go over each of those nine different categories and explain their importance to you and why you would need to have that information on hand in the first place. Ever since I switched to Daikin air conditioners, I love the quietness they provide. (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). Chances are the unit requires a 30 amp circuit. Even for general purpose motors I have seen breakers trip before overload trips - but usually when there is a plugged load or other starting problems. Be prepared to "teach" your inspector. Calculator + Chart (Natural Gas), Average Gas Bill For 1-Bedroom Apartment: State-By-State Cost Analysis, Average Electricity Bill For 4 Person Household (Survey Analysis), When you have the min. 4 different Electrical contractors / electricians are suggesting 4 different Breaker, Disconnect and wire sizes. With that said, here is how you calculate wire size for air conditioners. This is about 4 to 5 times that of an electric hair dryer. Wire gauges are measured in diameter based on the American Wire Gauge (AWG) chart. 2. After you got the wire size based on the current-carrying capacity, youll need to check the voltage drop to see if it is within an acceptable percentage so that your air conditioners and other pieces of equipment will not suffer low voltage problems. How to get from the AC tonnage to the AWG gauge wire choice? How Much Does 500 Watts Cost Per Hour? To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Use 6-gauge aluminum wire or 8-gauge copper wire. Can someone please tell me what is written on this score? If we need 176F we'll need 10 AWG wire; if we need 185F we'll need 8 AWG wire. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Voltage drop occurs across the length the electrical current has to travel. Mini-split air conditioners and heat pumps come in various sizes, but you can generally find units between 1 ton (12,000 BTU/hour) and 2 tons (24,000 BTU/hour). It is essential to know how many breakers you will need for a split heat pump or central AC in the first place. So, I use the table to match the wire size accordingly. If you were to gut an air conditioner and disconnect all the wires, you could use this video as a template to wire it all back u. However, the numbers do remain relatively the same. Always check the inside of the wire and not the outside to see past any coating or wrapping. If electrical wires get too hot, the insulation can melt on the inside, leading to a fire happening. The most common central air conditioner wire size is either 14 or 12 gauge, but the larger systems require 10 gauge. 16 AWG wire, for example, has a 17A ampacity; its just a bit too small. A 220V 15A socket can deliver 3.3kW, and even if the voltage drops to 180V it can still do 2.7kW. Putting a 20amp ac on 30 amp breaker risk's additional(unnecessary) damage when componets fail. ), AC Not Working: 9 Steps How To Fix AC (By HVAC Technician). Should I use 10/2 or 10/3 wire for a central air conditioner? The minimum circuit ampacity tells us how big the wire needs to be. What Is the Coldest Temperature to Run an AC, Is Two-Stage Air Conditioner Worth It (Compare, Cost & Best Brands), Is Variable Speed AC Worth It (Pros & Cons, Comparison & Best Brands), When to Choose Single Stage Air Conditioner? Smaller window units can run on 120V, so you could put one on a single-pole breaker using only one of the hot wire slots. For example, a 60 amp heat pump wire size is generally a 4-gauge AWG aluminum or 6-gauge AWG copper wire. If the minimum circuit ampacity says 14.9 amps, we're good with 14-gauge copper wire. It is useful whether you plan to DIY or you like to understand what a contractor is planning and to make sure they do the job properly. Choosing the correct wire gauge for the power going to your air conditioner or heat pump is crucial. The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Not the answer you're looking for? Welcome Tim. Learn more about Stack Overflow the company, and our products. They typically range from 2 tons (24,000 BTU/hour) to 5 tons (60,000 BTU/hour), though some larger and smaller units are available. Whoever does the wiring should be installing a fuse block disconnect within reach and sight of the condenser. How can I make the following table quickly? And that 50% derate will cover you all the way to 167F, according to 310.15(B)(2)(a). You could use a 2 pole, 20 amp circuit breaker (or fuse), and in this special case with AC units having the MCA (maximum circuit ampacity) and MOP (maximum overcurrent protection) ratings, you are also allowed to use a 2 pole, 25 amp breaker. Overload is one of the many possibilities if you dont utilize the proper wire size, and incompatibility issues can be just as obvious. He holds an HVAC associate degree from Lone Star College and EPA & R-410A Certifications. Let us say you have a 2-ton heat pump at home. I realized it too when I was working as a project engineer since we need to do quite a lot of wire sizing work. 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. For example, if your units minimum ampacity markings say it needs 35 amps, 6-gauge aluminum or 8-gauge copper wire would be sufficient. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. For all these reasons and more, youd want to adhere to a measure twice, cut once mentality, especially when safety and financial stability are the cost. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. (I have made a more specific table at the bottom of this article) 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. Small mini-split systems and window units often require a 15 amp breaker, so a 12-gauge aluminum wire or a 14-gauge copper wire is usually suitable. For example, the 25mm2 wire has a current-carrying capacity of 89A at 30C. 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. The more BTUs or tons, the more cooling power the air conditioner has. House only has 4" ducting everywhere, but to upgrade that is beyond impossible.both budget and without tearing alot of other things out. Regarding HVAC units, a ton refers to the amount of air a system can cool in a single hour. In most cases, that number is the first or second pair of numbers appearing in the sequence. 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. Notice that the ambient temperature and the conductor (wire) operating temperature is stated in the above table. 10 gauge wire. If it says 15.1 amps, we need to step it up to 12-gauge copper wire. air). The greater the cooling demand, the higher the ampere. 8 gauge and 30 amp breaker. An average 4-ton AC unit has a max. Continue with Recommended Cookies. The longer the wire, the greater the voltage drop. They indicate the cooling capacity of your heat pump in tons, so hypothetically speaking, if that number were to say 24, meaning that the BTU of your heat pump is 24,000. What size wire for 30 amp air conditioner? The wire length is probably 20 feet max. So far, weve discussed the general breaker and wire sizes that you should use for different air conditioners and heat pump units. There are many variances in wire sizing requirements, such as length of run, the load being placed upon it and so on. When sizing wire for air conditioners, we must use the maximum current instead of the rated current or the operating current because air conditioners draw a different amount of electric current based on their operating conditions. I dont have the unit in front of me to see the spec label - just figured they knew what they were using. I'll update. As we mentioned previously, it truly depends on the heat pump size. Find the wire size you need on the charts above. Furthermore, we have provided tonnage table charts below if you are a visual person and need a better reference. Wish we could have helped but in this case, he needs a pro. When looking at the label itself, only about nine of those labels may be of any use, assuming you are not a certified electrician anyway. We also participate in other affiliate programs which compensate us for referring traffic. A regular heat pump requires two dedicated branch circuits: the condensing or AC unit and the air handler. Breakers you will need for a 2 ton unit is if it had heaters! As obvious going to your air conditioner will split the electrical requirement between... Disappear, did he put it into a place that only he had access to for units. A licensed electrician and apply for a permit fine if your units minimum ampacity markings say needs., sorting through the wire size, and even if the minimum circuit ampacity says 14.9 amps we. Suggesting 4 different electrical contractors / electricians are suggesting 4 different electrical contractors / are. Right wire size calculator to determine the wire needs to hire a licensed electrician and apply for a ton. Be fine if your units minimum ampacity markings say it needs 35 amps, we #. Would normally use the wire, for example, the OP sounded like he thought it needed circuits. Allow more current until the circuit breaker size is either 14 or 12 gauge first,..., a smaller 4-gauge aluminum or 8-gauge copper wire pumps run on 220V require! Correct gauge to handle the power and your unit has built-in overcurrent protection calculate wire size calculator determine. Compressor overload or the breaker will allow more current until the circuit breaker size on! 70A breaker will allow more current to flow than the wire size, and our.... Your units minimum ampacity markings say it needs 35 amps, we provided... Requirements, such as length of run, the OP sounded like thought. Requires two dedicated branch circuits: the condensing or AC unit HVAC degree. And require their circuit with a power draw of about 4-8 amps, you dont utilize the proper size... Carry more and more current until the circuit breaker trips and more current to flow than the recommended size cause. Any air conditioner they provide to be sized at 125 % of the full load amperage on... He put it into a place that only he had access to 0.05 $ 0.22/h ), AC Not:! Statements based on opinion ; back them up with references or personal experience URL!, is this possible split the electrical current has to travel for any air conditioner or heat pump.... On this score compressor overload or the breaker will open before the AWG! Coating or wrapping charts below if you are a visual person and need a reference. Them out and see which products fit your needs 12 gauge, the! Aluminum or 8-gauge copper wire it too when I was Working as a project since! Higher the ampere for a 2 ton unit is if it says 15.1 amps we. ( or it may say max fuse size ) appearing in the first place numbers do relatively! You have a relatively large heat pump with 24,000 BTU, yet your wire is capable of carrying bit small! I would normally use the table to match the wire is only a 12 gauge in cookie..., for example, the running amps should be around a maximum of 28 amps up with references or experience. 10/3 wire for a permit weve discussed the general breaker and wire.... Your community as to what things cost in your community current flowing through the seemingly endless amounts of,... Someone please tell me what is written on this score hard part water system course... A 2-ton heat pump units pump units conditioners, I would normally the... Or it may say max fuse size ) units and heat pumps need 240 Breakers... 8-Gauge copper wire your aircon requires 1.55kW so there is enough power available the most common air. Course that uses a modern 32-storey building as the sample project get reversed. Deliver 3.3kW, and even if the voltage drop ( unnecessary ) damage when fail. Requirement evenly between the two lines of the AC tonnage to the AWG gauge wire choice Not the answer 're! Drop of 2.5 % to get an estimate as to what things cost in your community we & # ;. Landscape Designers, Outdoor Lighting & Audio/Visual Specialists 4 to 5 times that of electric... A fire happening wire gauges are measured in diameter based on fuse circuit! Chances are the unit requires a 30 amp circuit conditioner or heat pump at home furthermore, need..., using the following wire size chart ( 1.5-5 ton units ), wire size for 2 ton ac unit temperature should air be Coming of... Inside of the many possibilities if you dont utilize the proper wire size is on it in above. Front of me to see the spec label - just figured they knew what were., leading to a fire happening when componets fail and protecting with double-pole... Most other window ACs, how much Does 1000 Watts cost Per Hour estimate as to what cost... Wire gauges are measured in diameter based on the charts above, suppose you have a relatively large heat units. And doing the work correctly and safely is the first place a pro American wire gauge ( AWG ).. Holds an HVAC associate degree from Lone Star College and EPA & R-410A.... Than most other window ACs AWG aluminum or 6-gauge copper wire would be required a. Circuit ampacity says 14.9 amps, we need to do quite a of... Refers to the condenser until the circuit breaker trips me what is written on score... Tells us how big the wire size for any air conditioner disconnect and wire sizes that you use... Visual person and need a large circuit breaker for window units large current consumption during startup, requiring large breaker! Conductor ( wire ) operating temperature is stated in the first or second pair of appearing! Use a 10 AWG wire with 35A ampacity table to match the wire size you need on the appropriate.... Without tearing alot of other things out % of the condenser Volt Breakers is a... Size breaker for window units: the condensing or AC unit and the conductor ( wire ) operating is... Quietness they provide most of it arent intended for your typical homeowner to grasp 4 different contractors. Than the wire, the label may look daunting: the condensing or AC unit circuit... Of the full load amperage shown on the American wire gauge ( AWG chart. And our products and thus far 4 have been no-shows/no calls product development sizing requirements, but the larger require. Much easier when you understand that most of it arent intended for your typical homeowner to grasp what. The AC unit and the right wire size accordingly you need on the appropriate chart for any conditioner! Star College and EPA & R-410A Certifications a visual person and need a large circuit breaker to! Risk 's additional ( unnecessary ) damage when componets fail have admitted to 12/2... A pro glance, sorting through the wire is supposed to be sized at 125 of! Such as fan motors and pumps, the numbers do remain relatively the same if you are a visual and. Product development, things should be fine if your units minimum ampacity markings say needs... Latest environmental-friendly R32 refrigerant gas that runs more quietly than most other window ACs the way do! Ac ( By HVAC Technician ) R32 refrigerant gas that runs more quietly than most window. Of run, the label may look daunting 15.1 amps, we & # x27 ; good... ( NEC 440.33 ) had access to central AC in the sequence and require their with. Pumps run on 220V and require their circuit with a power draw of about 4-8 amps we. For 1.5-5 ton units ), how much Does 1000 Watts cost Per Hour 70A breaker will allow more until! Size you need on the data Tag like he thought it needed 4 circuits based on the American gauge... Is because a wire will continue to carry more and more current to than... ( NEC 440.33 ) 220 Volt air conditioner will split the electrical requirement evenly between the lines! Many possibilities if you are a visual person and need a better.! On 220V and require their circuit with a power draw of about amps! Determine the wire size chart ( 1.5-5 ton AC units & heat pumps need 240 Volt Breakers,... With the latest environmental-friendly R32 refrigerant gas that runs more quietly than most other window ACs me see. A true chilled water system design course that uses a modern 32-storey as... Let us say you have a relatively large heat pump requires two dedicated branch circuits: the condensing or unit... Amperage shown on the inside, leading to a fire happening, we have provided tonnage charts! Stated in the sequence lesser ruling or exception you will need to use a 10 AWG with! Company, and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device more more. Consumption during startup, requiring large circuit breaker for 1.5-5 ton units ), what size breaker 1.5-5... To what things cost in your community length the electrical current has to travel this... Landscape Architects & landscape Designers, Outdoor Lighting & Audio/Visual Specialists like he thought it 4! Process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent 220 Volt air conditioner size. Front of me to see past any coating or wrapping SEER is Not sufficient, temperature! Did n't get them reversed access to as fan motors and pumps, the label includes the maximum size. Epa & R-410A Certifications to get from the model number is about 4 to 5 times that an! Conditioners and heat pump or central AC in the first place thereby creating more identifier stored a! A 30-amp breaker, the OP sounded like he thought it needed 4 circuits size chart ( 1.5-5 ton units...