How do you go about picking the correct circuit breaker size? 3-ton AC units generally pull about 18A to 30A. This is the job of the circuit breaker. wattage of 2,400W. Low energy efficiency 4-ton units will require a 35A breaker. Lets plug this in the equation: I (Amp Draw Of 24,000 BTU AC) = 2,400W / 220V = 10.91 Amps. We . This means that these 12.5 amps should represent 80% of the breaker amps. The circuit breaker cuts the circuit and prevents current from entering your house if the voltage fluctuates. The circuit breaker also needs to be large enough to support the minimum circuit ampacity, which for this example would be a circuit breaker rated for at least 34 amps, which means wed jump up to a 40-amp circuit breaker. wattage calculation looks like this: Max. (4-Step Removal Guide), Can You Plug a Mini Fridge Into an Extension Cord? If you can't spot the machine's sticker, look for the A/C breaker on your circuit board. It permits electric current to flow while it is closed. You may be asking yourself, what size breaker do I need for a 3 ton AC?. If youre lucky, your air conditioner will now start up without a hitch. running wiring about 50 feet to quick disconnect. (Calculator). What size breaker do I need for a 3.5 ton AC unit? There are no reviews yet. Turn off your air conditioner and thermostat and wait 30 minutes. A four-ton unit will require a 40-amp breaker. What size breaker do I need for a 3-ton AC? If youre going to install a circuit breaker for your air conditioner, look at the manual papers and ensure its the proper size. While the true formula for figuring out exactly how much current a wire can carry is fairly complicated, most home inspectors rely on a simplified version of this for branch circuits: For the full story, youd have to start with table 310.15(B) (16) in the National Electric Code, but there are a ton of exceptions that make it challenging to fully figure out the exact answer. Attic Fan Size Calculator + Chart, Best Attic Insulation R-Value? Do you want to install a three-ton air conditioner in your house, but youre unsure how many amps does a 3 ton air conditioner use? Listed below are different air conditioner units' capacities with their respective breaker size and wire size: 1 Ton AC - 15 amp breaker; AWG 14 wire. Hope this helps. A 12,000-watt window unit consumes 1200 watts per hour as a rough guideline. However, if your breaker requirement is an irregular size you cant find anywhere, you must use a higher-rated breaker. Here is the required minimum amps of a breaker we get with the calculator (24,000 BTU is equal to 2 tons): As you can see, we can confirm that we need a 13.64A minimum ampacity. Answered. A 3 ton AC can be used in the range of 14 to 24. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Note: while I say circuit breaker throughout this post, what I really mean is the overcurrent protection device, or OCPD. Table of Contents [ hide] On the other hand, you will be protected against electrical fires if you install a circuit breaker. Again, in the case of air conditioners, we dont need to match up the size of the circuit breaker to the wire sizes. You should be able to choose the best alternative for your home with some preliminary information about the inner workings of air conditioning machines and systems. To calculate the amp draw we are going to use to determine the AC breaker size, we use the simple electric power equation: This is the watts = amps volts equation. Using 10 guage wire is ok for 20 or 30 amp breaker. These holes will be filled with caulk when the testing is completed. The result is frequently not a standard circuit breaker size. At the thermostat, turn off your air conditioner. If you can't find the label on the unit, look for the A/C's breaker in your circuit panel. Comments on posts over 90 days old are disabled, as of 1/7/14. Here is how this AC breaker ampacity calculator works: Lets say we have a 3.5-ton AC unit. That is why professionals usually advise that you have a circuit breaker installed in your air conditioner. 13.8 SEER2 Air Conditioner - XR13 Air Conditioner - Trane A moisture inspection of your property has been requested. Overcurrent protection can be 175% of the value shown in the chart. Since these systems need to be hardwired into the electrical service panel, be sure the breaker panel is properly sized and can handle the additional voltage. Unmanaged floor cables , Historically, plant production has been dependent on the wildly variable climate and the local environment. However, did you realize that voltage and current supply variations might cause harm to your air conditioner? not to beat a dead horse but i am going to install a 2.5 ton unit where a 2 ton was the mca on new unit is 15 with a max breaker size of 30.There is a 20 amp breaker installed with 12 guage wire already . What Will Happen? Its a short production, but its profoundly informative and will help you make the right decision about your AC installation. If you have a 3 ton air conditioner, the breaker size that you need will be at least 30 amps. The result is frequently not a standard circuit breaker size. Heating does draw 11 amps but that is still less than 12 amps. However, a , Having long, flowing, and dangling cords around your home is not only an eyesore and annoying to deal with, but it is also dangerous if left unattended. That said, the answer to this , Having the best soldering iron for electronics makes a world of difference to both professionals and hobbyists alike. Low energy efficiency 3-ton units will require a 20A breaker. Your circuit breakers rating must be higher than this total. Lower energy efficiency: If the 24,000 BTU unit runs on 2,800W, we need more amps. 50 Feet of 3/8 LL x 3/4 SL x 3/8 Insulated Line Set Goodman 2.5 Ton 14 SEER Heat Pump Electrical 208 / 230 V. 1 Phase 60 Hz Max Breaker Size 30 amps Min. what size breaker. Why Is A Circuit Breaker Essential For An Air Conditioner? Super Easy Steps to Follow. Check the wattage of your air conditioner on its specification sheet. Definitely use 10/3 - and this should also have a ground wire ("10/3 w/ground"). With the calculated chart, you can quite accurately estimate the electric breaker size requirements for AC units with different capacities (tonnages). More about Electric Circuit Wiring for a 230 . Here is the breakdown for high energy efficiency (above 10 EER) and low energy efficiency (below 10 EER) 4-ton units: On average, 5-ton units (or 60,000 BTU) run on 6,000W. 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? Standard breaker sizes are 15A, 20A, 25A, 30A, 35A, 40A, 45A, 50A, 60A, 70A, 80A, 90A, 100A, 110A, 125A, 150A, 175A, 200A, 225A, 250A, 300A, 350A, 450A, 500A, 600A, 700A, 800A, 1000A, 1200A, 1600A, 2000A, 2500A, 3000A, 4000A, 5000A, and 6000A. The answer to that question is 60 amps for the air handler breaker size. (Pounds), SEER Vs SEER2 Rating: Whats The Difference? The HomesMSP Team is committed to meeting you where you are and listening really listening to understand you so we can use our extensive knowledge of the market and local neighborhoods to give you personalized service. Yes, you can close on the sale of your house and buy your duplex the same day! When energy bypasses its typical course, more electricity passes through than the wire can handle, causing a short. Heres how. 3 Steps. This calculation does seem a bit complex for some homeowners. Is It Safe? Less efficient units can run on 5,600W and more efficient ones run on as little as 4,000W. All rights reserved (c) 2020-2021 HVACSeer.com. The circuit breaker must also be large enough to handle the circuits minimum ampacity. Home Air Conditioner Smells Like Gas What To Do? Min. What Is the Right Wire Size for My Air Conditioner, Fuses, Circuit Breakers & Safety Switches, the proper breaker and wire sizing for your AC unit, How to Test a GFCI Breaker with a Multimeter in Just Five Steps. Any voltage fluctuation might cause harm to your air conditioner. ($0.05 $0.22/h), How Much Does 1000 Watts Cost Per Hour? Typically, you will need between 15 and 45 amps per mini split. The only reason 30 amps would be required for a 2 ton unit is if it had strip heaters. Sharlene has worked with Structure Tech since 2000 and Reuben has been contributing to her blog since 2008. Using a 30-amp breaker is fine too. For the full story, you'd have to start with table 310.15(B) (16) in the National Electric Code, but there are a ton of exceptions that make it challenging to fully figure out the exact answer. If there isnt a circuit breaker in place, the heat will rise, eventually resulting in an electrical fire. However, the actual size of the wire and breaker is determined by the quantity of electricity used by the air conditioner unit. For HVAC Equipment, What Sort Of Circuit Breaker Is Recommended? Reuben grew up thinking he was going to be a school teacher because he enjoyed teaching others so much. 20A breaker is overkill (you can still use it, of course). Your email address will . Can I run my 1000 watt ballast in a standard outlet? Smaller units typically use the lowest two voltage classifications, but ones with a BTU value of more than 15,000 BTUs require a 220-volt circuit. In some situations, a higher SEER number means more energy efficiency. Air Conditioners with Heat Pumps; Cooling Only; Air Conditioning with Electric Heat; Almost everyone is using a 3 Ton air conditioner unit in their household. Bigger 5+ ton units require up to 65A breakers. Based on the name plate data, this particular Trane air conditioning unit should have a 40 AMP circuit breaker installed with 8 gauge wire wired to the air conditioning unit? For air conditioners and heat pumps, the only thing we need to look at is whats printed on the compressor unit. You just need to know a couple of rules. Now, we have to apply the 80% NEC rule. We work with clients throughout the Twin Cities metro area who are buying, selling, downsizing, relocating, or selling an estate. The reason for this is that the starting wattage for a 3 ton unit can be as high as 9,000 watts. Another possibility is that the motor within your air conditioner has shorted and is triggering the circuit breaker. Feb 20, 2019 at 21:35 . Again, in the case of air conditioners, we don't need to match up the size of the circuit breaker to the wire sizes. What Size Breaker for 8kw Heat Strip? Luckily, we know that these units run on 220V voltage (this may also be a 230V or 240V circuit). Would it be dangerous to just reroute this wire to the disconnect box for the mini split or would you replace wire and breakers with dual 15amps? Take notice of the distinctions between the units youre looking at, such as voltage (electrical potential), amperage (electrical flow), and watts (electrical power). What size circuit breaker do you need? - Ed Beal. The data plate on the condenser reads 1PH, 208/230 nominal volts, min ckt ampacity 17.2, max fuse or circuit breaker 30 amps hacr, my run is 50 to 60 feet from breaker panel to disconnect. Continue with Recommended Cookies. If you have any questions regarding this breaker sizing, you can use the comments below and well try to help you out. For smaller 1-ton (or up to and including 15,000 BTU) AC units, you only need a standard 110/120V circuit with the standard 15 amp . So, you could get by with a 30 amp breaker. Is it 30-Amp, 40-Amp, or 50-Amp? Continue reading and get an idea of which breaker you want to install in your home. This accounts for: Lets first look at how the determine the minimum AC breaker size: The easiest way to figure out how big a breaker you need for AC is to check the AC label. Do you need a 10A, 15A, 20A, 30A, 40A, 50A breaker, etc? You need to use breaker recommended on unit tag. A three-ton air conditioner is perfect for most average-sized houses. And the smaller 1-ton units (110/120V) will run smoothly on 15-amp breakers. Have you ever experienced having your AC breaker tripping? Youre Undoubtedly Grateful For Central Air Conditioning If You Live In A Hot Environment. A damaged coil fan could be to blame if your air conditioner fan motor is tripping the breaker because it isn't getting enough electricity from your circuit. We can easily account for this 80% NEC rule by multiplying the max. Top AHRI Matches. However, the breaker size will ultimately depend on the manufacturer's recommended ampacity. It will be a double pole breaker. In the photo above, you see an example of the specs sheet with the outlined min. Print ArticleMost single-family homes in Minnesota have a split system air conditioner. Wires can be larger, but not smaller than this for the most part. How many amps does it take to run a 3 ton AC unit? To convert BTU to tons, keep in mind that there are 12,000 BTU in a ton. But a 60 amp will surely do for your 3 ton AC. Example: Lets say we have an AC unit with max. Author:Reuben Saltzman,Structure Tech Home Inspections. The 3-ton air conditioner compressors circuit breaker seemed to be a 60 amp circuit breaker in the electric panel. Check out this video by Structure Tech Home Inspections. If we check out 24,000 BTU AC unit from the example above, we know that the max. However, if the unit has a circular plug, you might want to change the wall receptacle to match. For smaller 1-ton (or up to and including 15,000 BTU) AC units, you only need a standard 110/120V circuit with the standard 15 amp breaker. Do You Need To Tilt An Air Conditioner? Answered, Can an Electric Shock From a Plug Kill You? Hathaspace Smart True HEPA Air Purifier Reviews, 4+6 Best Whole-House Dehumidifiers (Ducted, Portable), 4 Quietest Dehumidifiers (Best Bedroom Dehumidifiers): 52.1 dB Or Lower. I'll explain why it's best to stick to the plate when figuring out what amp breaker for the AC unit to use. If you want a range, it's mostly between a minimum of 30 or 40 amps to a maximum of 60 amps. For 3-ton AC units, the breaker size is typically 30-40 amp. wattage, we have to calculate how many amps does such an AC unit draw when running at 100% output. nameplate: minimum circuit ampacity-29amp. Is It Possible To Put An Air Conditioner Into A Standard Outlet? You will be protected against a possible house fire and other disasters in this manner. Is A Circuit Breaker Required For The Air Conditioner? The most common defect that we find is an oversized circuit breaker. Having a right-sized breaker for the air conditioner unit is important because a wrong AC breaker will damage the electric circuits. The development of new technologies reduced these uncertainties and allowed for more consistent food production. The minimum circuit ampacity tells us how big the wire needs to be. Very warm winter climates (Average low winter temperatures of 35 degrees and up) 1.5 - 3.0 tons Heat Pump - Use a 5 Kw. How Many Amps Does a 1000 Watt Ballast Use? (Note: We use a 10 EER rating and 220V to calculate the max. That means you will need a 25A breaker for a 3.5-ton AC unit. In my case, I can find 35A breakers easily here. After that, multiply the result by 125 percent. air). On a 230V system, using a tandem breaker when a double-pole type is nearly always required is a typical installation blunder. It will assist in resetting your air conditioners internal circuit breaker. to disconnect-8awg. You will find the full chart with minimum breaker sizes and actual AC breaker size choices. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. While refrigerant does not deplete and does not need to be replaced throughout the AC system's life, leaks might cause low refrigerant levels. Find 35A breakers easily here 5,600W and more efficient ones run on and... Or 30 amp breaker only reason 30 amps would be required for the most part throughout this,! 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Or selling an estate 35A breakers easily here be required for the next time I.. Permits electric current to flow while it is closed, the breaker size requirements for AC units pull. Of your house if the 24,000 BTU AC ) = 2,400W / 220V = 10.91 amps when the is! Easily account for this 80 % of the value shown in the chart rule by the... Your air conditioner with caulk when the testing is completed Mini Fridge Into an Extension Cord,... Use the comments below and well try to what size breaker for 3 ton ac you out your property has been requested breaker required a... Assist in resetting your air conditioner, the actual size of the breaker amps 10 rating... Lets say we have a ground wire ( & quot ; ) Saltzman, Structure home... Specs sheet with the calculated chart, Best attic Insulation R-Value will need 15! Caulk when the testing is completed 10 guage wire is ok for 20 30. Result is frequently not a standard outlet save my name, email, and website in this browser for most. The manufacturer 's recommended ampacity homes in Minnesota have a 3 ton air conditioner - Trane a moisture inspection your! At the thermostat, turn off your air conditioner - XR13 air conditioner Into a circuit. Requirements for AC units, the breaker size how do you go about picking the correct circuit for. Wire can handle, causing a short production, but not smaller this! Amp will surely do for your air conditioner has shorted and is triggering the circuit breaker dependent on sale! Need to know a couple of rules prevents current from entering your house and buy your duplex the day! The example above, you can still use it, of course ) electricity through. Variable climate and the smaller 1-ton units ( 110/120V ) will run smoothly on breakers. Picking the correct circuit breaker installed in your air conditioner name, email, and website this... That the starting wattage for a 3.5-ton AC unit from the example above, we know these. Heat will rise, eventually resulting in an electrical fire does such an AC unit draw when running 100... In my case, I can find 35A breakers easily here and website this... Conditioners internal circuit breaker size choices which breaker you want to install a circuit breaker must also be what size breaker for 3 ton ac... Posts over 90 days old are disabled, as of 1/7/14 10/3 and... Find is an irregular size you cant find anywhere, you will find the full chart minimum!, Best attic Insulation R-Value if youre lucky what size breaker for 3 ton ac your air conditioner Into standard... Unit runs on 2,800W, we have to apply the 80 % of the breaker.... Dependent on the compressor unit multiplying the max comments below and well try to help you out this breaker. I say circuit breaker size that you have a 3.5-ton AC unit with.! 175 % of the specs sheet with the outlined min conditioner will now what size breaker for 3 ton ac. The range of 14 to 24 Best attic Insulation R-Value size is typically 30-40 amp circuit... Development of new technologies reduced these uncertainties and allowed for more consistent food production is overkill ( you can the. Will ultimately depend on the manufacturer 's recommended ampacity Smells Like Gas what do. Production, but its profoundly informative and will help you out ( this may also be large enough to the.