I started HomeInspectionInsider.com to help people better understand the home inspection process and answer questions about homeownership and home maintenance. Depending on the BTU capacity amp requirements can range from 15 to 45 amps. I want to install a mini-split system for cooling in my house to supplement the existing central AC which doesnt work well on the top floor due to a lot of glass and a lot of sunshine. I would not recommend using 14/3 from the disconnect to the unit. How many Watts Does a mini split system use? There are a few different terms youll see a lot around mini splits, and youll need to understand them to work out the amps needed. Most mini splits need a 14-gauge wire with a dedicated ground between the indoor and outdoor units. Now that you know a little about measuring air conditioner and heat pump capacity, lets look at the common tonnages for these units and what breaker size each requires.Unit Size (tons)Draw (Amps)BTU/HourCooling Area (sq. The wire size is essential because an overload can occur if it is not sized appropriately. 15 Amp Outlet On 20 Amp Circuit: Can You Do That? What To Do If AC Keeps Tripping The Breaker, determine the number of watts a mini split uses, Levoit 131 Air Purifier Wont Turn On (Troubleshooting), How To Troubleshoot A Winix Air Purifier (Solved! When calculating the wire size you need, dont forget to determine the voltage drop and wire capacity. As you can see from the table above, a 12,000 BTU air conditioner can use 1500W (8 EER rating) or 1000W (12 EER rating). Let us say you have a 2-ton heat pump at home. My upstairs unit cannot he a straight run back to the compressor/controller. What gauge wire do I need for a mini split? If youre ever unsure, avoid caution and use a larger wire gauge than you think you need to be on the safe side. Fortunately, the label includes the maximum breaker size (or it may say max fuse size). If possible, you should always use this equation because its a lot easier to follow. Replacing the breaker can be done relatively quickly. You determine the number of watts a mini split uses by multiplying these two factors together. Thank you. Ft . These are measured in amps and indicate the maximum electric current surge that can be accommodated before they need to break the circuit and shut the device down. What do 10/2 and 10/3 wire numbers mean? . How to Market Your Business with Webinars. Pictured is a 14 gauge solid wire which will work but should only be used if the stranded wire is unavailable. You'd want to remove the thousands portion of the number and remember that every 12,000 BTU of cooling capacity equals precisely 1 ton. For a standard 3-ton residential air conditioner or heat pump, youll need a 20 amp breaker with 12-gauge wire. A 12,000 BTU air conditioner costs an average of $0.14 per hour to run. Tankless Water Heater Wire Size Calculator: What Gauge Wire (AWG)? A standard 15 amp breaker is sufficient for a window air conditioner or heat pump in almost every case. A 20 amp outlet isn't enough to power and run an RV air conditioner. How many amps does a 3 ton mini split use? Should I use a 12/3 or 12/2 romex wire from the panel to the disconnect box? The breaker panel needs to be sized correctly. Given their large current draw and high voltage requirements, central . Anything that runs on amps must have a circuit to prevent amp overload. Whether or Not it is Factory Charged air), Sensible Heat (BTU/hr) = 1.1 x CFM x t (std. There are a wide variety of air conditioners and heat pumps on the market, so it should come as no surprise that there are many variables to consider when choosing a breaker size for your unit. For the outside unit to the inside unit you should use 14/4 mini split wire. Next, determine how many watts the AC uses by dividing 36,000 BTUs/hour by 3.41 (1 watt = 3.41 BTUs per hour). That information also provides you with the maximum overcurrent protection or MOP rating. (Window, Portable, Mini-Split, Central), Senville Mini Split Reviews: Best 4 Units Compared & Rated, Ductless Mini Split Vs Central Air AC: Which Is Better? You need to run 14/4 from each indoor unit back to the outdoor unit. Some manufacturers provide minimum wire and breaker sizes, while others offer the maximum fuse or breaker size you can use. Example calculations. 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. I have spent thousands of hours studying air conditioners, heaters and home air products so you can learn & buy with confidence. Is this accurate? 6. 21 SEER: 24000 BTU Inverter Mini Split Heat Pump: Enjoy full season comfort during the summer or winter with this 24,000 BTU Inverter Mini Split with 27,000 BTU Heat Pump.WHAT IS DC INVERTER? 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. 7. How Many Amps Does a Heat Pump or AC Use? We have many different sizes of mini splits. 2 0.08 ton = 1,000 BTU/hr = 293.07 Watts 3 BTU and tons are often used interchangeably. Run the wire inside. 4 How many amps does it take to run a mini split? Some manufacturers recommend using round crimp style terminals for a more secure connection. Related Article What To Do If AC Keeps Tripping The Breaker. There are equations to work this out, but for air conditioners, its a bit too complicated. 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. When your manufacturer makes the heat pump, it can very well be handed to you on a silver platter without going through the tedious process of decoding those two seemingly random numbers in the serial number we discussed. What size breaker do I need for a 27000 BTU Mini Split? air). 5 How many square feet does a 1 ton mini split cool? 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. 5 amps, and a 36,000 BTU model typically requires up to 34. Choosing the correct wire gauge for the power going to your air conditioner or heat pump is crucial. I'm a licensed Home Inspector, Certified Professional Inspector (CPI), Certified Master Inspector (CMI), and FHA 203k Consultant. If the AC unit is used for 8 hours per day, then it costs $1.12 per day. A 14/4 stranded cable provides two 14-gauge conductor wires for power, one communication wire and one ground wire. Now you know these terms, there are two steps to follow to get the amps: 1. Here you use the basic electrical power equation: P = IV; in unit terms, this is Amps = Watts / Volts. Thanks Mickey! Hi, I am installing a Split Duct unit in my house can I install the outdoor unit on the exterior wall above the height of the indoor unit ? 4. Mini split air conditioners are one of the most effective solutions, but even the best mini splits need to be set up correctly to work. You typically measure wire gauge according to the American Wire Gauge, often abbreviated to AWG. An electrical whip is a premade, outdoor grade wire set that is intended to run from a shutoff box to the unit being installed. Let us break it down for you before we go any further. It depends on your specific unit. From wattage, we can calculate the amps using the basic electrical power equation: I = P / V or (in units) Amps = Watts / Voltage. Most brands require 14/4. 1 How many amps is a 12000 BTU Mini Split? On the smaller side of practical knowledge, but it is readily available as well, this line indicates whether or not your pump is using the old R-22 refrigerant, which is slowly pulled from circulation, or the newer, industry-standard R-410A. Always check the inside of the wire and not the outside to see past any coating or wrapping. Required fields are marked *. Few times in life are the answers given to us quickly. Amps or amperage are a unit used to measure electricity. 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. The amperage should not be greater than 80% capacity. 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. 10 review (s) $1,540.00 Description DIY Installation: Easy & Affordable Heating & Cooling Perfect for additions, workshops, garages, sunrooms, or other spaces without ductwork, the 12,000 BTU MRCOOL DIY mini split provides efficient heating and cooling without needing professional installation. Locked Rotor Amperage, or LRA for Short, 6. Weve provided some general guidance to the two main options below: Related Article Mini Split Sizing: Complete Guide. The whip must be wired into the shutoff box and then to the unit as we will talk about next. air), Latent Heat (BTU/hr) = 0.69 x CFM x gr. Its important you understand the amps or amperage needed for the mini split so it can operate correctly and so that you can be as energy efficient as possible. Amps = BTU / (Energy Efficiency Rating x Watts). Smaller 2-ton central units need a 20 amp breaker, while larger 5-ton units often require a 60 amp breaker. The two most common choices are fuses or circuit breakers. It was difficult to find and get the required 14-3 cable. Is it ok to run 12/3 solid core wire with a double pole 15 amp from the breaker box to the disconnect, then run 14/3 stranded from the disconnect to outside and inside unit. Most mini-split units run on 220V or the equivalent. If it has a reversing valve, it is a heat pump. Step 2 - Mini-Split Wiring: How Many Amps Are Required For Ductless Mini Split Systems? It is not advisable and probably against code to have two units running on the same disconnect. This will help you operate the mini split more efficiently and save you money on your energy bill. If we use 220V in this example, the result will be 47.9 total amp draw. Portable Vs Window AC Which Is Best for Home Cooling. Mini-split wires are used to connect the outdoor compressor unit with the indoor evaporator unit, delivering electricity and control signals. My unit upstairs has been working fine and then the next day it wouldnt turn on. The 2 Ton or 24000 BTU Air conditioners use 15 Amps to work. In the 2nd, you can insert mini split tons (Example: 2 tons), and you will get the amps. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'homeinspectioninsider_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_3',835,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-homeinspectioninsider_com-medrectangle-3-0'); Depending on the size wire, youll need to find the breakers size, which gives you the specific rating. However, one might wonder how many amp breakers you need for a heat pump. Using a higher amp breaker than the recommended size can cause serious problems. BTU stands for British Thermal Unit, and its a measurement of how much energy it takes to heat 1 pound of water by 1 degree. It is also critical to make sure that each indoor unit on a multi-zone system is wired to the same input that its line set is connected to. Typically, you would expect the energy efficiency rating to be between 8 and 12. What is straw bale construction used for? Thoughts? Typically, you will need between 15 and 45 amps per mini split. The voltage will affect how you install the mini split unit. The maximum load the 25-amp circuit breaker can handle is 31.25 amps (125% of the breaker amperage), which is likely to trip the breaker frequently. We know that we are running it for 8 hours. 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, How Long Do AC Units Last? What If You Dont Use the Correct Size Breaker or Wire? We are sorry that this post was not useful for you! 6 How many amps does a 3 ton mini split use? In that case, then yes, the right breaker size amount has been listed on the data plate. What size break will I need on my 10-2 wire for a 230V mini split. Mount the shut-off box on the outside wall and connect the wires from the break box. A surge protector can also be used to help protect the . ), Are Mini Splits Worth The Cost (AC Costs Broken Down). Cooling Capacity . The vast majority of mini-split units are 230/208V, but some are 115V. To help you out, we have calculate how many amps different BTU and different ton mini splits draw: Example: One of the most common questions is how many amps does a 12,000 BTU mini split operates at. Hello. 2. To meet the code, you must have a shut-off box at the location of the unit. 7 How many BTUs does a Fujitsu mini split use?
