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Old 05-09-2008, 06:55 PM
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John Steinke John Steinke is offline
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Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Reno, Nv.
Posts: 132
Re: Breakers for air conditioner?
Why say "I believe the specs ...?" The units ought to have nameplates. Indeed, the NEC requires nameplates.

For the past several years, it's been even easier, as the nameplates have been required to state the minimum circuit ampacity, the minimum breaker/fuse, and the maximum breaker/fuse. The nameplate has always been required to state the voltage.

Your answers are right on the nameplate.

One detail to watch ... on units that have separate condensers and evaporators, it is common for each part to have its' own separate power. That is, one circuit will power the condenser, while another will power the evaporator.

The condenser .. the part sitting out back, under the bushes () is the condenser. These are usually 240v. If so, they need a two pole breaker, and the handles need to be tied together.
The evaporator .... the part that's often inside the furnace ducting ... may have nothing but a fan and a thermostat to power. This is usually 120 ... and often fed from the furnace circuit.
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