Question for any electricians

[Noonan]

We're getting temps in the 90s here now so I need to get my AC situation taken care of. Could someone help me decide which would be an easier (cheaper) job for an electrician? I need to either convert a 220 outlet to a standard 110 or take an existing 110 outlet and wire it to its own breaker. I need to get my AC on a separate breaker from the rest of the living room so I can actually use it. Thanks in advance.

[Tools]

Originally Posted by Noonan

We're getting temps in the 90s here now so I need to get my AC situation taken care of. Could someone help me decide which would be an easier (cheaper) job for an electrician? I need to either convert a 220 outlet to a standard 110 or take an existing 110 outlet and wire it to its own breaker. I need to get my AC on a separate breaker from the rest of the living room so I can actually use it. Thanks in advance.

You can convert a 220 outlet to a 115 pretty easily because it is on it's own line and breaker.. You just disconnect one wire at the breaker, put in a 115 breaker and change the outlet too match....label and done

You cannot easily turn one of your 110's into it's own line and breaker because they all start from 1 line (and breaker), and are just linked together. So, each 110 probably has several other outlets using the same run of wire.. To change it would likely require running an entirely new wire within the wall.

[Pep04]

I'm an electrician, and I need more information.

What is the current 220 outlet being used for? Do you know if it has a neutral? What type of A/C are you trying to connect? Sounds like a wall unit, based on the 110. But, if it is a mini split, it should require 220 with a neutral for the blower.

What is the nameplate rating of the new A/C. Tell me the voltage and watts. And see if you can tell what size breaker is on the 220 you want to convert.

[B Square]

Changing 220 to 120 would probably be the easier mod. BUT make sure the wire size is correct! Lower voltage can equal greater amperage. Your electrician will know
Boyd

[Noonan]

Thanks for the help everyone. To try to answer your questions...The 220 outlet is currently not being used. At one point, the room had an in-wall AC which ran off the 220. That was replaced by a window unit which runs off a standard 110 outlet. I believe it's a 10K BTU if that helps with the required voltage/watts. I'm not at home to check.

The current AC works fine but I pop the breaker whenever I try to run it with the TV on since all the 110 outlets in my living room are wired to the same breaker.

I believe the breaker for the 220 is two 20amp breakers bridged. They might be 15, I can't remember for sure.

Originally Posted by Pep04

I'm an electrician, and I need more information.

What is the current 220 outlet being used for? Do you know if it has a neutral? What type of A/C are you trying to connect? Sounds like a wall unit, based on the 110. But, if it is a mini split, it should require 220 with a neutral for the blower.

What is the nameplate rating of the new A/C. Tell me the voltage and watts. And see if you can tell what size breaker is on the 220 you want to convert.

[Pep04]

Originally Posted by Noonan

Thanks for the help everyone. To try to answer your questions...The 220 outlet is currently not being used. At one point, the room had an in-wall AC which ran off the 220. That was replaced by a window unit which runs off a standard 110 outlet. I believe it's a 10K BTU if that helps with the required voltage/watts. I'm not at home to check.

The current AC works fine but I pop the breaker whenever I try to run it with the TV on since all the 110 outlets in my living room are wired to the same breaker.

I believe the breaker for the 220 is two 20amp breakers bridged. They might be 15, I can't remember for sure.

Well, 10k is a problem. 10kw is 10,000 watts divided by 240 volt is 42 amp. There is no 42 amp breaker, so you need to go to 45. Which means you need #8 size wire which should not be in place if you currently have a 20 amp circuit.

Let me know when you get home, but I doubt that the wall unit is a 10kw ac. Thats only used when you run a heater. If you are not interested in the heater, I can tell you how to connect it using the fan and refrigeration coil and bypass the heater.

But I need you to read me the actual name plate on the wall unit.

[Noonan]

It's not a 10kw AC, it's a window unit AC which is 10K BTU (I think). It may be a 8K BTU unit similar to this:

http://www.lowes.com/pd_205394-2251-...3$totalPages=3

Just your everyday, through the window AC.

[Bebot]

Originally Posted by Noonan

We're getting temps in the 90s here now so I need to get my AC situation taken care of.

Don't know anything about electrical but it's good for you that Boston are now in the 90's. We're still in the 60's and raining here in CALIFORNIA.

[Pep04]

Ok sorry for the confusion. 10,000 BTU should be running at around 15 amps. But you will still need a neutral. When you get home, check if the 220 has a neutral, if not, we can adapt it. DO NOT connect it to the regular outlets in the room. It draws maybe 11.8 amps, so if you have a tv and a light on the same circuit, it will trip the breaker.


Check the 220 outlet and let me know. PM if I am not on. I never log off, but my wife might be on the computer. If you PM, I will get an email on my blackberry.

[Pep04]

By the way, a neutral wire will be white in color. You will have a red, black and green or bare copper as ground. If there is a white, that's your neutral.

[Noonan]

Awesome, thanks for all the help! I'll check when I get home.

[Noonan]

Originally Posted by Bebot

Don't know anything about electrical but it's good for you that Boston are now in the 90's. We're still in the 60's and raining here in CALIFORNIA.

Haha, until I get this situation squared away, I'd much rather have temps in the 60s.

[Idle Swede]

If it was a car AC I could have told you how to hook it up.