4 How many amps does it take to run a mini split? Even if you are a master electrician and can distinguish between the two with a passing glance, having the title given to you is always pleasant. ), OK to run 4 on a single run of 14/2 wire ? * What is the supply voltage? This means you should have 2 of the 3 variables before you start, and youll need to determine the Watts. In this case, you should use a 50 amp breaker because it is the next step above the minimum ampacity but still below the maximum ampacity. Mini splits are really useful pieces of equipment that, if set up correctly, will make your home a much nicer place to live in. With all electricals, its important to have safeguards in place to prevent your wires from overheating and causing a fire. It runs on 1,210 watts on 220V and, Senville SENA-48HF-MOQ dual-zone mini split has a combined cooling capacity of 48,000 BTU (4-ton unit). Assuming the 18,000 BTU air conditioner operates at 120 volts, it will consum. Most manufacturers insert the year in a two-digit form in the serial number. Keep reading to find out more information and what wire and breaker sizes are needed for your central cooling system. Different-sized heat pumps generally will provide you with varying amounts of amps used. To convert amps (electrical current) to watts (electrical power) at a fixed voltage, you can use the equation: watts = amps volts. Depending on the BTU and energy rating, a 5- zone mini split may need up to 200 amps to operate. Ft. 500-750 Sq. Ductless mini splits are one of the most popular AC choices for homeowners and businesses alike. I asked the builder of the house to prewire for the minisplit. Does front door trim have to match window trim? (1000-3000+ Sq Ft Homes), Thermostat Says Heat On But No Heat? How many Watts Does a small window air conditioner use? 1 How many amps is a 12000 BTU Mini Split? ACiQ's Energy Star multi zone mini split systems are designed to give you maximum efficiency at a lower cost than the Max Heat models. 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. When your manufacturer makes the heat pump, it can very well be handed to you on a silver platter without going through the tedious process of decoding those two seemingly random numbers in the serial number we discussed. But what about your specific unit and situation? Subsequently, you can use a 15 amp circuit breaker for most mini-splits, though you may need a 20 amp breaker for some of the larger units. If you are lucky enough to have a heat pump with just such a label, count yourself lucky. We are sorry that this post was not useful for you! Now that the house and the bonus room are complete I checked and the builder only ran a 12-2 wire (2 insulated wires and a bare ground). Thank you. air), Sensible Heat (BTU/hr) = 1.1 x CFM x t (std. 1. Below, we will go over each of those nine different categories and explain their importance to you and why you would need to have that information on hand in the first place. The amperage rating of 24,000 BTU air conditioners falls between the range of 8.4 amps to 12.7 amps. 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. Is there a specific type of splice that needs to be done or does the splice need to be soldered? This information will be available in the specifications. For additional guidance, check out: Wire Size Guide: What Size Wire Do I Need? Example: Lets say we want to find out how many amps does a 3-ton mini split uses. This will help you operate the mini split more efficiently and save you money on your energy bill. Based on this principle, we can calculate how many amps do different sizes of mini splits use: Here are two calculators. If you are still unsure how to follow this guide, you can quickly look at the nameplate data on the outdoor unit. The electric current is measured in amps. Its not all that easy to figure out exactly how many amps does a mini split use. 5. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. For this, you need to use the following equation: The BTUs of the mini split should be clear when purchasing the unit, and the energy efficiency rating will be included in the specifications. How Much Does 500 Watts Cost Per Hour? How many amps does a window AC use? Electric heat provided from a non heat pump system will draw anywhere from 40 to 80 amps of current depending on the size of the system. Related Article What To Do If AC Keeps Tripping The Breaker. For that reason, we do not recommend homeowners try to install the unit themselves. In the United States, ductless mini split systems come in either 110V or 220V. Ways To Check The Amps A Mini Split AC Draws, How To Calculate The Number Of Amps Your Mini Split Needs. What size break will I need on my 10-2 wire for a 230V mini split. Typically, you will need between 15 and 45 amps per mini split. In return, it makes it much easier to determine what size breaker you need. Wire the two hot leads to the fused connections in the box and the ground to the provided connection. This tells us that the hypothetical 24,000 BTU heat pump has a cooling capacity of 2 tons. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'homeinspectioninsider_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_3',835,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-homeinspectioninsider_com-medrectangle-3-0'); Depending on the size wire, youll need to find the breakers size, which gives you the specific rating. Founded by Hubert Miles, Certified Master Inspector. Heat pumps run on electricity, while traditional heaters run on gas. Here, we offer a step-by-step guide to everything you need to know about the electrical specifications for installing ductless mini splits. 4. Check the specs of your mini split. Many thanks for your answer. We participate in several affiliate programs including the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an advertising program in which we earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites. The second number is the amount of connectors the wire has. Smaller mini-splits with only nine to 12k BTUs may need 110-volt service, while most of the larger . The area I need to cool is around 500 sqft and Im wondering if I should just go with a low voltage system given the small area. If you are like me and despise doing math on your own to find out what breaker size you will need for your heat pump, the first place you want to check out is the data tag. 1 How many amps does a 12000 BTU Mini Split? document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); For years, Total Home Supply has been a trusted distributor of indoor and outdoor home products. Can the typical indoor cassette mount flush within a 16 (and/or 20) OC joist hard ceiling? The first number is the thickness in AWG (American wire gauge). Locked Rotor Amperage, or LRA for Short, 6. In this part of the label, you get told just how many amps will be pulled when you initially start your compressors motor. When mounting into a hard ceiling do you typically mount to the joists or suspend from the roof rafters? If we use 220V in this example, the result will be 47.9 total amp draw. Smaller 2-ton central units need a 20 amp breaker, while larger 5-ton units often require a 60 amp breaker. How many BTUs does a Fujitsu mini split use? The minimum ampacity helps determine the minimum gauge wire you need to use. Run the wire inside. Thanks, Very good information, I have one question: I am planning to install an 18,000 BTU Mitsubishi ductless air condition. 7. Our electrician says he will install 220v for our 230v/208v mini split. If you have a mini split and need to know how many amps they draw, you have a problem. You typically measure wire gauge according to the American Wire Gauge, often abbreviated to AWG. One should follow name plate data on the side of the outdoor unit itself. On the smaller side of practical knowledge, but it is readily available as well, this line indicates whether or not your pump is using the old R-22 refrigerant, which is slowly pulled from circulation, or the newer, industry-standard R-410A. Voltage or volts is another measurement of electrical charge, but where amps measure the volume of electrons, volts measure the pressure that allows amps to flow. 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. . Single zone mini splits cover a single room or area in your home. That is about 110 to 120 volts on the low end and 208 to 240 volts on the higher end. A 20 amp outlet isn't enough to power and run an RV air conditioner. It's rather hard to get the wattage, however. Voltage drop occurs across the length the electrical current has to travel. I am installing a 30k btu lg air mini split with an 18k cieling cassette and a 12k wall unit. Hello. Mount the shut-off box on the outside wall and connect the wires from the break box. Were here to break down why and to help you choose the unit that will best fit your budget, room size and needs. It sounds like someone flipped the switch on you. 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). Single Zone Mini Split ACs: 1 Ton or 12,000 BTU. How many amp hours does an air conditioner use? How to Market Your Business with Webinars? If youre ever unsure, avoid caution and use a larger wire gauge than you think you need to be on the safe side. 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? How many amps does an 18,000 BTU air conditioner use? Each individual indoor vent will need 15-45 amps to function correctly, so youre looking at roughly 200 amps for a 4-zone mini split. 100-500 Sq. Central systems often require the most power, while window units require the least.Unit TypeBTU/HourBreaker Size (Amps)Typical VoltageCentral AC24,000-60,00020-60220VMini-Split AC12,000-24,00015-20220VWindow AC6,000-12,00015110V.