The 2 Ton or 24000 BTU Air conditioners use 15 Amps to work. Again, it depends on what unit you have. I got a a romex 10-3 wire between the main panel and a outside fuseless break box. On the other hand, a heat pump will draw much less, somewhere between 8 and 24 amps depending on the system size. All 18k btu and greater models require 220V. This makes system repairs safer and easier. The minimum ampacity helps determine the minimum gauge wire you need to use. It also calls for 12-3 cables from the outdoor condenser to each unit. air). We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Our electrician says he will install 220v for our 230v/208v mini split. Running the air conditioner for one month will cost around $33.60. Hi, Im not an electrician so what to make sure I dont cause an issue. Average 1-6 Person Home kWh Usage, Gas Vs Electric Water Heater Monthly Cost Comparison (State-By-State), Water Heating Costs For 1,2,3,4,5,6 Family Homes (State-By-State Analysis), Electric Water Heating Cost, kWh Usage Per Month (State-By-State RECS Analysis), What Is W2 Wire On Thermostat? How many amps does a 15,000 BTU air conditioner use. Smaller mini-splits with only nine to 12k BTUs may need 110-volt service, while most of the larger . There are equations to work this out, but for air conditioners, its a bit too complicated. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. When choosing a unit for your home, youll often see ACs and heat pumps ranging from 0.5 tons up to 5 tons, and sometimes even larger. Fortunately, the label includes the maximum breaker size (or it may say max fuse size). Regarding heat, one ton equals 11,917 British Thermal Units (BTU) per hour, often rounded to 12,000 BTU/hour. This makes it essential that you have the right power going to the device. Do you need 200 amp service for a mini split? Click to see full answer Similarly, you may ask, how many amps does a heat pump use? Unlike wattage, amps measure how fast the electric current flows, and you need to have enough amps so that the mini split can function correctly. How Do You Determine The Size Of Circuit Breaker For Mini Splits Using Amps? What size breaker do I need for a mini split? Central air conditioners and heat pumps are some of the largest units that youll find in a residential home. For this, you need to use the following equation: BTUs = Energy Efficiency Rating x Watts For this, you need to use the following equation: The BTUs of the mini split should be clear when purchasing the unit, and the energy efficiency rating will be included in the specifications. Using a 30-amp breaker, 80% of the amps are 24 running amps. Are cassettes sufficiently sealed / fire rated such that you can pile 32 of blown in fiberglass insulation directly on top of them without heat or fire issues? For example, if your wiring and unit require you to install a 30 amp breaker, but you install a 20 amp one, it will continuously trip and make using your air conditioner nearly impossible. 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. How many amps does a 9000 BTU Mini Split draw? Formula to calculate amps. Example calculations. 5. Can I use this wire to run the required 230V circuit with a 20 Amp breaker. It depends on your specific unit. Mount the shut-off box on the outside wall and connect the wires from the break box. Tankless Water Heater Breaker Size Calculator: What Size Breaker? 8 What kind of wire to use for mini split? From BTU To Electrical Power (Measured In Watts) Firstly, you need to determine the electrical power or watts required. 2 How many amps does a 18000 BTU Mini Split use? In most cases, that number is the first or second pair of numbers appearing in the sequence. If you have a mini split and need to know how many amps they draw, you have a problem. Getting 240V to the location is not easy and looks like it is going to be expensive due to the existing wiring. It should be kept in the off position while you continue to work on the unit. For example, if a units power needs require you to use an 8-gauge wire, but instead, you use a 12-gauge wire, it can cause severe problems. If it is 12 (a reasonable number), divide the BTUs by the EER (this AC then uses 3 kilowatts). Many people get these amps confused with battery amps, but they are AC at a higher voltage. 15 Amp Outlet On 20 Amp Circuit: Can You Do That? If either of the hot wires causes the circuit to trip, both switch off. Depending on the BTU and energy rating, a 5- zone mini split may need up to 200 amps to operate. Dont forget that in AWG, smaller numbers mean thicker wires. But what exactly does it mean when an AC unit is one ton, and how does that help choose breaker size? Anything that runs on amps must have a circuit to prevent amp overload. If you are lucky enough to have a heat pump with just such a label, count yourself lucky. Wire gauges are measured in diameter based on the American Wire Gauge (AWG) chart. Just want to make sure I dont cause an issue by flipping the switch. In both calculators, we presume you are using a 220V circuit and 12 EER rated mini split: Here is the 2nd Calculator where you start with the mini split tonnage: Basically, you just input BTU or tons, and you will get the amps such a mini split draws. Some manufacturers include this for both US and Canada. Meaning, even though my unit was working before I flipped the switch (turned it 180 degrees) is it possible the switch had nothing to do with it failing? A standard 15 amp breaker is sufficient for a window air conditioner or heat pump in almost every case. NEC 310.16 Table: Copper And Aluminum Wire Ampacity Chart, NEC 310.12 Table: Wire Sizes For 100-400 Amp Services (83% Rule), kWh To Therms Calculator + Conversion Chart (1 kWh = 0.03412 Therms), MMBTU To Therms Calculator + Chart (1 MMBTU = 10 Therms), Therms To MMBTU Calculator + Chart (1 Therm = 1/10 MMBTU), AWG To Circular Mils Chart (For 4/0 AWG To 20 AWG). A larger 12,000 BTU unit draws between 9 and 13 amps. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. I started HomeInspectionInsider.com to help people better understand the home inspection process and answer questions about homeownership and home maintenance. If we use 220V in this example, the result will be 47.9 total amp draw. Ductless mini splits are one of the most popular AC choices for homeowners and businesses alike. 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). Air conditioners smaller than 3 tons often use a 15 amp breaker with 14-gauge wire, while larger units can use up to 60 amp breakers and 3-gauge aluminum or 4-gauge copper wire. Locked Rotor Amperage, or LRA for Short, 6. An 18,000 BTU air conditioner is capable of drawing about 8 Amps of power. This Friedrich multi-zone unit has connections for 4 units, all of which are numbered for easy cross-referencing to the indoor unit. Depending on whether you are installing a single zone or a multi-zone unit, you will have a different number of connections. Founded by Hubert Miles, Certified Master Inspector. They dont have nearly the capacity of a central air conditioning unit, but a 2-ton mini-split can cool areas up to 1,200 square feet. It will also depend on the voltage requirement of the heat pump. Typically, you would expect the energy efficiency rating to be between 8 and 12. For example, if you have a 4160-watt appliance and it is running on a208 volt circuit, then the formula would be 4160 watts / 208 volts = 20 amps. The exact amount of amps a 36000 BTU mini split uses depends on the model of mini split and the voltage, as different models and different voltages may require different amounts of amps. For a 35-amp breaker, the running amps should be around a maximum of 28 amps. In the 1st one, you can insert mini split BTUs and the calculator will give you an estimate of how many amps does a mini split use. There are hundreds of A/C products on the market, and not all of them are worth your time and money. This tells us that the hypothetical 24,000 BTU heat pump has a cooling capacity of 2 tons. 12,000 BTU/hour can generally cool 500 to 600 square feet. It will tell you what size breaker is required. You can also use a mini split calculator to get an estimate of its power usage. 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. Still, the easiest way to break down these numbers is to determine what type of zone you are using. How do you take care of a dwarf lilac bush? But what about your specific unit and situation? The number of amps you need will be influenced by the overall BTUs of your mini split and how many zones you want it to cover. Most mini splits need a 14-gauge wire with a dedicated ground between the indoor and outdoor units. . 7 How many BTUs does a Fujitsu mini split use? Related Article Is Getting A Mini Split Worth The Cost? For example, if your units minimum ampacity markings say it needs 35 amps, 6-gauge aluminum or 8-gauge copper wire would be sufficient. If I run one line to my mini split that is 12-3 gauge from a 20 amp double pole breaker, is there room for me to add an identical mini split to a separate disconnect box in the future? Here youll find just how much electricity is required to start the compressor. Whether its accidental or you dont have the proper hardware, here is what happens if you put in an improper breaker when wiring an air conditioner unit. Before we take you through the steps on wiring a mini split system, were going to clarify some common questions about your mini split wiring. If you have your average 240 volts 2 kW air handler, you will need a 30 amp breaker and a #10 electrical wire. 6. 5 How many square feet does a 1 ton mini split cool? While initiallItspearing to be a string of numbers, this sequence provides a few essential bits of information. I am going to wire a 10/2 from panel to disconnect to outside unit, do I need another wire to supply power to the indoor units or will it recieve all the power from the outside? W2 Wire Thermostat Wiring (2nd Stage), Thermostat Wire Color Codes For 3-8 Wire Thermostats (Color-By-Color), How Many Therms Of Gas Per Month Is Normal? For one thing, they arent using oil to heat their homes. . Is 20 to much ? (Window, Portable, Mini-Split, Central), Senville Mini Split Reviews: Best 4 Units Compared & Rated, Ductless Mini Split Vs Central Air AC: Which Is Better? It's going to completely depend on the unit that's being installed, but commonly it'll be 30-60 amp with 10-4 AWG wire. How many amps does a 24 000 BTU Mini Split use? From wattage, we can calculate the amps using the basic electrical power equation: I = P / V or (in units) Amps = Watts / Voltage. The exact details of a connection like this are specific to your unit. With all electricals, its important to have safeguards in place to prevent your wires from overheating and causing a fire. ), OK to run 4 on a single run of 14/2 wire ? Total Home Supply offer Honeywell 14/4 Mini Split wire in 50 ft and 250 ft rolls. Or it can only work if its on and never works when off? It is standard to measure air conditioner and heat pump size based on tonnage. This chart is based on a 230-volt and 16 SEER. Manufacturers list the maximum breaker size on the data plate located on the side of both units. To accommodate the different cooling needs of homes, mini splits come in a range of sizes. The vast majority of mini-split units are 230/208V, but some are 115V. Here your labeling will tell you whether or not the unit you are looking at is an AC, or its slightly more energy-efficient cousin, the heat pump. You need to make sure you have the right size circuit breaker for mini splits. Can I run my camper AC on 20 amp? Although, not sure what signifies on or off. 13.04 - 19.57 Amps From the table above, it's evident that window and portable air conditioners can draw anywhere from 3.52 amps to almost 20 amps. As you can see from the table above, this is where it pays in the long run to get a more energy efficient mini split. Check the specs of your mini split. These will need to be weatherproofed because theyll have to travel outside. We use it to cool our hours for 8 hours. BTUs are used to indicate the area a mini split can cover. Welcome to Air Conditioner Lab. The formula for amps is simple: Watts / Volts = Amps. It can quickly become overwhelming if youre inexperienced in this sort of thing. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); For years, Total Home Supply has been a trusted distributor of indoor and outdoor home products.