Just check the table and you will see that a 3-ton mini split uses an estimated 13.6 amps. It is recommended to use 14 gauge stranded wire for installation. Advertisement Central air conditioning requires between 208 and 240 volts to operate and draws between 15 and 60 amps depending on the size. Air conditioners and heat pumps are necessary equipment in many homes to make things comfortable. Finally, divide the 10,557 watts by the voltage range of the AC. Depending on the BTU capacity amp requirements can range from 15 to 45 amps. Mount the shut-off box on the outside wall and connect the wires from the break box. Typically this is in tiny print and can either be the full name or something abbreviated, but you will have some indication as to who made the product here. So, you could get by with a 30 amp breaker. Most mini-split units run on 220V or the equivalent. Mini-splits have particular power requirements that are dependent on the model and size. It will tell you what size breaker is required. Using a 30-amp breaker, 80% of the amps are 24 running amps. What gauge wire do I need for a mini split? Planning a system into a 50s house, with 4 indoor air handlers and one condenser. I have spent thousands of hours studying air conditioners, heaters and home air products so you can learn & buy with confidence. Youll need between 10 and 45 amps, but this will depend on the specifications of the unit. To convert amps (electrical current) to watts (electrical power) at a fixed voltage, you can use the equation: watts = amps volts. Central air conditioners and heat pumps are some of the largest units that youll find in a residential home. It also calls for 12-3 cables from the outdoor condenser to each unit. Ready for the next step? Typically, you will need between 15 and 45 amps per mini split. In that case, then yes, the right breaker size amount has been listed on the data plate. If the external unit calls for 40 amps and you run 14/2 wire from that outdoor unit to power the 4 indoor units, does the outdoor unit have its own internal breaker or current limiter built in, so in the event any of the 4 internal units start to fail, power to them is rapidly cut off as the draw on that line approaches 15 amps (vs the much more beefy 40 fed to outdoor unit)? If youre ever unsure, avoid caution and use a larger wire gauge than you think you need to be on the safe side. How much electricity does an 18000 Btu heat pump use? There are many variables to consider when choosing a breaker and wiring an air conditioner (AC) in your home. Pictured is 14 gauge solid wire which will work, but should only be used if stranded wire is unavailable. How many amps does a window AC use? 7. Depending on whether you are installing a. , you will have a different number of connections. The electric current is measured in amps. 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). I got a a whip between the outside box and the compressor unit. 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. What size breaker do I need for a mini split? Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Installing ductless mini splits requires a high level of electrical knowledge for the job to be done safely and without harm to yourself or the unit. Watch on How many Watts Does a mini split system use? If the units are co-located and serviced by the same disconnect, cant you run a single 40A , 10 AWG circuit to the disconnect? How many watts does an 18000 BTU AC use? How many amp hours does an air conditioner use? This guide will explain how many amps a mini split uses and how to calculate it for yourself. Is this accurate? Using a higher amp breaker than the recommended size can cause serious problems. 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 ? You must follow the manufacturers specific instructions. This makes it essential that you have the right power going to the device. Questions: 1. Let us break it down for you before we go any further. The wire size is essential because an overload can occur if it is not sized appropriately. Single Zone Mini Split ACs: 1 Ton or 12,000 BTU. Here is are 3 ways how you can figure out how many amps does your mini split use (we will use the 3rd method for Mini Split Amps Calculator and chart below): Examples of mini splits and their amps, wattages, and EER ratings (do notice that the average EER rating is about 12): To adequately answer how many amps does this or that mini split draw, can use a 12 EER rating as the guideline. However, one might wonder how many amp breakers you need for a heat pump. How to Market Your Business with Webinars? In the US, typically, mini splits up to 18000 are 110V, and over that are 220V. Outside The Box 1.16K subscribers Subscribe 29K views 4 years ago in this video , we use a power consumption meter to measure. This would cause your circuit breaker to trip and your power to go out. Simply multiply your amps figure by the voltage. Slim units; one upstairs apartment and one downstairs. )? Wattage is the combination of voltage and amps. 15 amps 120 volts = 1800 watts; 20 amps 120 volts = 2400 watts Then, reattach the faceplate and insert the on/off switch. Manufacturers list the maximum breaker size on the data plate located on the side of both units. 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. How many amps does a 24000 BTU split air conditioner use? 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. 6 amps. Here is how easy it is to calculate how many kWh a mini-split use: Mini Split kWh Usage = Wattage Hours Of Use / 1000 This is it. How Many Amps Does A Mini Split Use? (2.3 To 27.3 Amps) - LearnMetrics How many amps does an 18,000 BTU air conditioner use? The same mini split system may run on 800 watts for cooling. If youre installing a multi- zone mini split, then you may need to upgrade to 200 amps. How Much Does 500 Watts Cost Per Hour? (an electrical whip is simply a pre-done version of this.). How many amps does a 15,000 BTU air conditioner use. My unit upstairs has been working fine and then the next day it wouldnt turn on. What kind of wire do I need for a mini split? Always reference the instruction manual before attempting any electrical connections. Smaller 2-ton central units need a 20 amp breaker, while larger 5-ton units often require a 60 amp breaker. All About Air Conditioner AMPs and Voltage - A Guide - Total Home Supply Copyright 2023 Total Home Supply. Your email address will not be published. In return, it makes it much easier to determine what size breaker you need. Tankless Water Heater Breaker Size Calculator: What Size Breaker? 600 sq ft Do you need 200 amp service for a mini split? All 18k btu and greater models require 220V. Based on the above chart, this 3-ton air conditioner unit requires an 8-gauge wire and a maximum size of 35 amp circuit breaker. Everything should be completely fine if you use a lower gauge wire for an air conditioner or heat pump. How many amps does a 18000 BTU Mini Split use? How many amps does a 12000 BTU Mini Split? Generally, most systems need 220 volts or higher, but a few of the 9k to 12k systems may only need a 110-volt service. 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. How much electricity does a 24000 BTU Mini Split use? Because this is HVAC equipment, a 14 AWG circuit and 15A breaker is insufficiently sized. 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. Example calculations. Now you know these terms, there are two steps to follow to get the amps: Firstly, you need to determine the electrical power or watts required. I created this website to help HVAC techs of all levels get the best out of their heating & cooling systems. How many amps does a 9000 BTU air conditioner use? Using a higher gauge wire for an air conditioner or heat pump can be catastrophic, and you should avoid making this mistake at all costs. A 14/4 stranded cable provides two 14-gauge conductor wires for power, one communication wire and one ground wire. You can see the green, black, and red wires connect the terminal blocks on the bottom right. Ft. 750-1000 Sq. Most brands require 14/4. However, you may wonder what a single and dual-zone is in the first place. To meet the code, you must have a shut-off box at the location of the unit. Here is how we calculate the amps required to power the unit: I (in Amps) = 5,000 BTU / (10 x 115V) = 4.35 Amps How many watts is a ton of BTU? * Voltage depends on the system. Some manufacturers include this for both US and Canada. 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 is the fastest way to harden salt dough? As we mentioned previously, it truly depends on the heat pump size. How Many Amps Does A Mini Split Use - Conquerall Electrical Ltd There are hundreds of A/C products on the market, and not all of them are worth your time and money. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. A regular heat pump requires two dedicated branch circuits: the condensing or AC unit and the air handler. The vast majority of mini-split units are 230/208V, but some are 115V. 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. 3 How many amps does a 9000 BTU Mini Split draw? It is not advisable and probably against code to have two units running on the same disconnect. 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. This is why circuit breakers are generally preferred to fuses. I asked the builder of the house to prewire for the minisplit. How Many Amps Are Required For Ductless Mini Split Systems? There is one value that is missing from the question is voltage. Hello. Were here to break down why and to help you choose the unit that will best fit your budget, room size and needs. Wire Size Guide: What Size Wire Do I Need? From wattage, we can calculate the amps using the basic electrical power equation: I = P / V or (in units) Amps = Watts / Voltage. Depending on the distance from the panel to the unit you would want to use 10/2. I got 1 20 amp circuit in the main panel. Is it okay to use a mini-split ceiling cassette with a 115V condenser? air), Sensible Heat (BTU/hr) = 1.1 x CFM x t (std. 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. Great electric advice, THANKS! In general, we can say that mini splits draw anywhere between 2.3 amps and 27.3 amps. The breaker panel needs to be sized correctly. Regardless, the MCA is the required Minimum Circuit Ampacity, meaning your circuit needs to be sized appropriately for at least that amperage. But what exactly does it mean when an AC unit is one ton, and how does that help choose breaker size? 55,000 BTU 21.3 SEER2 ACiQ 3-Zone Ceiling Cassette Mini Split System 4. Pictured is a 14 gauge solid wire which will work but should only be used if the stranded wire is unavailable. How many amps does an 18,000 BTU air conditioner use? How Many Amps Does a Heat Pump or AC Use? This Friedrich multi-zone unit has connections for 4 units, all of which are numbered for easy cross-referencing to the indoor unit. Thank you. It is recommended to use 14 gauge stranded wire for installation. How many square feet does a 1 ton mini split cool? 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. Formula to calculate amps. 3. The two most common choices are fuses or circuit breakers. Total Home Supply offer, Honeywell 14/4 Mini Split wire in 50 ft and 250 ft rolls. Lets say, for example, that your mini split runs on 9,000 BTUs, which is common for some models (such as ductless mini split systems from Fujitsu). That is about 110 to 120 volts on the low end and 208 to 240 volts on the higher end. The breaker panel needs to be sized correctly. In that case, this is a safety hazard. How many watts and amps does a 5000 BTU air conditioner use? You can do this calculation manually, or you can use these two calculators for watts and amps: RV AC Wattage Calculator (How Many Watts Does An RV AC Use?) How many amps is a 12000 BTU Mini Split? - KnowledgeBurrow.com 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. You can also cut the ends of the wire to check it visually: copper wire is golden brown, while wire made from aluminum is dull gray. Still, the most notable of them would be that most manufacturers offer the manufactured year your condenser here. 7 How many BTUs does a Fujitsu mini split use? Thanks Mickey! Although, not sure what signifies on or off. How Many BTUs Do I Need? 5 How many square feet does a 1 ton mini split cool? How many amps does a 12000 BTU Mini Split? - KnowledgeBurrow.com Most manufacturers insert the year in a two-digit form in the serial number. BTUs are used to indicate the area a mini split can cover. Let us say you have a 2-ton heat pump at home. Peak loads could lead to even higher wattages. Do most installs of 4 indoor units draw their power off the outside unit (vs. making a separate electric run to the main breaker box. Given that information, a single-zone heat pump uses around 15 to 20 amps, while a dual or tri-zone uses 20 to 30 amps or more. This would cause your circuit breaker to trip and your power to go out. 6 How many amps does a 3 ton mini split use? Enter a Melbet promo code and get a generous bonus, An Insight into Coupons and a Secret Bonus, Organic Hacks to Tweak Audio Recording for Videos Production, Bring Back Life to Your Graphic Images- Used Best Graphic Design Software, New Google Update and Future of Interstitial Ads. 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. At first glance, sorting through the seemingly endless amounts of information displayed on the label may look daunting. Does front door trim have to match window trim? Cooling Capacity . 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? Learn more, After a HVAC Quote - Call a Licensed Technician. 14 Culprits To Check For Now, MMBTU To MMSCFD Calculator For Natural Gas + Chart, 8 Best Infrared Heaters For Indoors, Patios, Garages (With ECO Thermostats), AGM Battery Voltage Charts: 12V, 24V Deep Cycle Battery Voltage, Lead-Acid Battery Voltage Chart For 6V, 12V, 24V, 48V Batteries, Natural Gas MMSCFD To MMBTU/Day Calculator + Chart, Mitsubishi MZ-HM12NA mini split has a cooling capacity of 12,000 BTU (1-ton unit). It will also depend on the voltage requirement of the heat pump. Many people get these amps confused with battery amps, but they are AC at a higher voltage. How to Calculate Amps. All mini splits require a dedicated circuit. Example: Suppose you measured 60W and 12V, calculate the amperes. It sounds like someone flipped the switch on you. He says 220 and 230 are the same. Now the unit will power on and shut down in under a minute. This makes system repairs safer and easier. Mini Split Air Conditioner Electricity Requirements. An 18,000 BTU air conditioner is capable of drawing about 8 Amps of power. It is essential to know how many breakers you will need for a split heat pump or central AC in the first place. However, Id still recommend the 8-gauge wire. Thoughts? Equally important as choosing the correct breaker for your air conditioner or heat pump is choosing the correct wire gauge. The higher the BTU, the greater the coverage and the more amps needed. If you cant find the answer here, you can use the comment section below, describe your mini split a bit, and well try to help you out. A small window unit rated at 5,000 BTUs has a current draw of about 4 to 6 amps. However, we can estimate the approximate amperage based on the power (in watts) and the voltage of the unit. The model number allows us to glean the cooling capacity of this particular heat pump by using two specific numbers located in the middle of this string of numbers. 2. Related Article Guide On How Many Mini Splits Are Needed. This is for a disaster relief trailer we are building for Tyson foods. Since it was not working and by flipping the switch and it works now, only way for it to not work someone had to have flipped it? (1000-3000+ Sq Ft Homes), Thermostat Says Heat On But No Heat? The table below gives a breakdown of the amps needed for different sized mini splits. Use 6-gauge aluminum wire or 8-gauge copper wire. What Wire Size and Breaker for Heat Pump? It may be worth investing in a lock for your disconnect switch. How many Watts Does a 6K BTU air conditioner need? Smaller and more efficient air conditioners require an average of 318 watts per hour. If its able to cover a higher square footage and has a higher BTU, then it will likely be closer to 45 amps. The amperage rating of 24,000 BTU air conditioners falls between the range of 8.4 amps to 12.7 amps. Overload is one of the many possibilities if you dont utilize the proper wire size, and incompatibility issues can be just as obvious. AC Size GuideBTU to TonnageSEER to EEREER to SEEREER to COP, Watts to AmpsKilowatts to AmpsKilowatts to BTUKVA to AmpsACH Calculations, My name is Josh and I am obsessed with the HVAC industry.