100 AMP 240 VOLT WIRE SIZE HOW TO

įor all these reasons and more, you’d want to adhere to a measure twice, cut once mentality, especially when safety and financial stability are the cost. You can also throw unnecessary costs into the equation even more. Overload is one of the many possibilities if you don’t utilize the proper wire size, and incompatibility issues can be just as obvious. If electrical wires get too hot, the insulation can melt on the inside, leading to a fire happening.įor example, suppose you have a relatively large heat pump with 24,000 BTU, yet your wire is only a 12 gauge.

The wire size is essential because an overload can occur if not sized appropriately. Residential systems are often limited to a maximum of 5 tons or 60,000 BTU. AC Size BTU American Wire Gauge (AWG) Size Breaker Size 1 ton 12,000 14 gauge 15 amp 1.5 ton 18,000 12 gauge 20 amp 2 ton 24,000 10 gauge 25-30 amp 3 ton 36,000 8 gauge 30-40 amp 4 ton 48,000 6 gauge 50-60 amp 5 ton 60,000 4 gauge 60-70 amp 6 ton 72,000 2 gauge 80-90 amp 7 ton 84,000 1 gauge 100-125 amp Breaker sizes and wire gauges vary depending on the manufacturer and model. The outdoor unit should specify the MCA (Minimum Circuit Ampacity) and MOCP (Maximum Overcurrent Protection) on its plate. The minimum ampacity helps determine the minimum gauge wire you need to use.įurthermore, we have provided heat pump wiring requirements and tonnage table charts below if you are visual and need a better reference. Wire gauges are measured in diameter using the American Wire Gauge (AWG) chart. If you have your average 240 volts 2 kW air handler, you will need a 30 amp breaker and a #10 electrical wire. Let us say you have a 2-ton heat pump at home. That information also provides you with the maximum overcurrent protection or MOP rating. In return, it makes it much easier to determine what size breaker you need.

100 AMP 240 VOLT WIRE SIZE HOW TO

If you are still unsure how to follow this guide, you can quickly look at the nameplate data on the outdoor unit.

Not only that, but the amount of voltage the heat pump needs also determines the size of the breaker. Let’s discuss what size breaker for ac unit or heat pump.ĭepending on the size of the wire, you’ll need to find the breaker’s size, which gives you a specific rating. What Wire Size and Breaker for Heat Pump? (Tonnage Chart) Given that information, the main power panel has two separate breakers for the air handler and the other one for the heat pump condenser. A regular heat pump requires two dedicated branch circuits: the condensing or AC unit and the air handler. It is essential to know how many breakers you will need for a split heat pump or central AC in the first place. Conclusion How Many Breakers Will You Need?

100 amp 240 volt wire size