InspectionNews - Home Inspection



Welcome to the InspectionNews - Home Inspection forums.

You are currently viewing InspectionNews as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions but not pictures. There are over 6,300 inspectors who have already joined. By joining InspectionNews you will be able to see the pictures, have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members, respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is fast and simple so please, join InspectionNews today!

If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us.

Why join InspectionNews? Read the Testimonials
Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Search this Thread
  #1 (permalink)  
Old 05-07-2008, 10:07 PM
Charles Smith's Avatar
Charles Smith Charles Smith is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Santa Fe, NM
Posts: 19
Breakers for air conditioner?
Inspected house with two roof top Rheem Rheem AC/Heat Combo Model RRKA-A030JK08E (heat & AC) combo units.

Unit 1 has a 35 AMP (240 VAC 120/120) tied or ganged breaker.

Unit has two separate breakers that are not tied or ganged
15 Amp breaker on Leg 1 (120) and a second 15 Amp breaker on Leg 2 (120).

I believe the Rheem spec for this model is 20 Amp minimum and 30 amp maximum for circuit protection.

Besides being under the minimum (15 amp) size breakers should they be tied.

Charles in Santa Fe
Attached Images
File Type: jpg IMG_4358.jpg (26.6 KB, 27 views)
Reply With Quote
Home inspection
  #2 (permalink)  
Old 05-07-2008, 11:04 PM
Matthew Barnicle Matthew Barnicle is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Tampa, Fl
Posts: 99
Re: Breakers for air conditioner?
Yes..
Reply With Quote
  #3 (permalink)  
Old 05-07-2008, 11:38 PM
Richard Moore's Avatar
Richard Moore Richard Moore is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 227
Re: Breakers for air conditioner?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Charles Smith View Post
Inspected house with two roof top Rheem Rheem AC/Heat Combo Model RRKA-A030JK08E (heat & AC) combo units.

Unit 1 has a 35 AMP (240 VAC 120/120) tied or ganged breaker.

Unit has two separate breakers that are not tied or ganged
15 Amp breaker on Leg 1 (120) and a second 15 Amp breaker on Leg 2 (120).

I believe the Rheem spec for this model is 20 Amp minimum and 30 amp maximum for circuit protection.

Besides being under the minimum (15 amp) size breakers should they be tied.

Charles in Santa Fe

Actually, it's 30-amp minimum, 35-amp-maximum. (see the attached chart I took from the spec sheet at http://www.winmech.com/r11_834_rev2_...4_rrna2to3.pdf )

So...unit 1 breaker looks just fine. Unit 2, assuming it's exactly the same model, should have a similar 30 to 35-amp breaker...and with the handle tie (any 240-volt circuit is a hazard without the handle tie). Even though the RLA (rated load amps) for the unit is only 15-amps, I'm really surprised that it can actually start up and function without the surge tripping the 15-amp breakers.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg RRKAspecs.jpg (99.1 KB, 10 views)
__________________
Richard Moore
Rest Assured Inspection Services - www.rainspect.com
Seattle, Washington

Last edited by Richard Moore : 05-07-2008 at 11:47 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #4 (permalink)  
Old 05-09-2008, 05:55 PM
John Steinke's Avatar
John Steinke John Steinke is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Reno, Nv.
Posts: 115
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.
Reply With Quote
Reply


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
AFCI Breakers or NOT Al Roden Electrical Systems: Home Inspection and Commercial Inspection 60 05-14-2008 01:09 PM
Stablock breakers Brian E Kelly Electrical Systems: Home Inspection and Commercial Inspection 15 03-07-2008 07:17 AM
Clearance for an air conditioner Kevin Luce Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning (HVAC): Home Inspection and Commercial Inspection 7 08-20-2007 10:41 AM
Breakers upside down? Mike Huppi Electrical Systems: Home Inspection and Commercial Inspection 3 06-18-2007 06:42 PM
Cu AL breakers dan orourke Electrical Systems: Home Inspection and Commercial Inspection 5 05-02-2007 08:20 PM


All times are GMT -7. The time now is 12:53 PM.


Design by Vjacheslav Trushkin.
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.5
Copyright ©2000 - 2008, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.0.0 RC8
vB.Sponsors
All Rights Reserved. Hann Tech Marketing Link / InspectionNews.com / InspectionNews.net - No part of InspectionNews.net may be reproduced in any way, or by any means, without the prior written permission of InspectionNews.net. Use of any index or listing Software for the purpose of constructing a mailing list, creating promotional materials or producing a printed or electronic catalog of any kind is expressly forbidden without the prior written permission of InspectionNews.net - All text, graphics and design on InspectionNews.net is copyright by Hann Tech Marketing Links.
Ad Management by RedTyger