Do I Need A Special Circuit For My Air Conditioner?
With the summers rolling in, an Air conditioner will be of the utmost importance. Since the weather can get quite humid and hot, you will need something to cool down your home. But you will obviously need to plug that into a socket, and that is where people run into some trouble.
With most new homeowners moving into their first homes, they don’t really know where to hook up their air conditioners. And if you happen to be one of those people, don’t worry. In this little guide, we will go over everything that you need to know about where to hook up your air conditioner.
Types of Air Conditioners
Initially, there was only one type of air conditioner that people could find: the central AC. These centralized air conditioners were massive and would cool an entire house. Of course, over the years, a lot has changed among air conditioners. Specifically, they have become much more efficient and considerably smaller.
Moreover, various types of air conditioners also came around as a result of all this development. These different types of air conditioners are fairly unique in their functionality and their sizes. However, they still work the same. Here are the different types of air conditioners.
Packaged Air Conditioners
These air conditioners are very similar to the first generation. Their major difference is that they have all their parts in a single housing unit. And with the help of ducts, this air conditioner is able to cool a specific place. These types of ACs can also work outdoors, and work quite well despite what most people think.
An interesting thing about these ACs is that they do not rely on a specific coolant. Simply put, they are able to accept plain cold water that you can add directly. Or you can use refrigerants to produce cold air.
The Packaged Terminal Air Conditioner
These are one of the most unique types of air conditioners on this list. Not only can it cool the room, but it can also work as a heater. By reversing the flow of the refrigerant, the hot air can come into the room and the cold air can go out. Therefore, you are getting a heater and an air conditioner all in one.
The major difference in this type of terminal is that it is a complete package. Since all of the components go into a single unit, you will need to install it into a wall or a window. These ACs are also not as powerful as their split alternatives.
Portable Air Conditioners
Portable ACs are quite similar to a mini-split, as there are two units that house all the parts. It draws in air and expels it through a single duct. They are also much smaller than even window ACs, which are already quite small. However, its performance is very similar to its size, as it only works in small rooms. A caveat to getting this conditioner is that it can also be a dehumidifier and a heater.
Overall, the portable air conditioner is only something that you should get if you want an AC that won’t take up too much space.
Central Plant Cooling
This particular type of air conditioner relies on a unique system, which pumps cold water into the system. That system is the central plant system. It is a complete system of sustenance that boils and cools water for different purposes. The cold water from the central plant flows through the coils, where the fans blow out the cold air.
Since the central plant uses water as a coolant, it doesn’t need refrigerant. Therefore, it is much safer for the environment and is much more sustainable. Furthermore, the central plant system only uses fans and coils, which forgoes the need for a compressor. The plant also boils hot water, which means that it can easily act as a heater as well.
Ducted Central System or Central AC
The ducted central system is possibly the most popular type of air conditioning unit. They do everything that a mini-split AC would do, but on a much bigger scale. While a mini-split is very effective at cooling a smaller room, but that is about it. A Centralized AC, on the other hand, will be able to cool the entire house efficiently and easily.
Functionally speaking, it is exactly the same but just much bigger. The condenser unit is outside and it helps get all of the hot or cold air out of the house. Possibly one major difference is that it has two separate ducts. One supplies the cold air inside the house, and the other duct transfers the hot outside.
Ductless or Mini Split Air Conditioner
This is possibly one of the most famous types of air conditioners that you can find. Not only do they not require a series of ducts to filter through the air in a room, but they are also good for smaller rooms. In terms of installation, these are also considerably cheaper.
The original design came about in 1954 by Mitsubishi and Toshiba. Both companies designed it as a way to compensate for the much smaller homes within the country. The only major downside to this type of air conditioner is the lines connecting both the outside and inside units. More specifically, they have to be very long in order to connect both the units, which can be difficult to manage.
How Air Conditioners Work
Now air conditioners have a rich history and have been around for a long time. And it might be easy to just say that air conditioners filter out hot air and replace it with colder air. But there is a lot more that goes into how they work. More importantly, it also ties into why they need so much voltage.
Despite air conditioners coming in a wide variety of designs, they all have the same purpose. So a portable air conditioner is functionally similar to a window AC or mini-split. That purpose is to replace the hot air in an area with colder air. The AC will transfer the hot air outside the area, ensuring that the place stays cold.
Every AC has at least these three main components: an evaporator coil, a condenser coil, and a compressor. All of these parts are necessary to turn the refrigerant into a liquid from its original gas form. Refrigerant gas is another thing that almost all air conditioners share, which helps them send cool air through.
The Cooling Process
Before the AC can start cooling the room, the compressor will first raise the refrigerant’s temperature and pressure. From there the new pressurized gas goes into the condenser coil, where it converts into a liquid form. The condenser unit is outside the room, where it tosses the hot air outside and converts refrigerant into a liquid.
Now, the air will go back into the AC unit inside the house. More specifically, it will now start to move through coils that are in front of a large fan. These coils will absorb the cold evaporated air from the refrigerant, which now returns to a gaseous state. This massive fan will throw the cold air out into the room. The refrigerant, which has returned to a gaseous state, will then move back to the compressor. From there, the cycle will repeat again.
The Compressor’s Role
The compressor is what does the bulk of the work in the AC. By increasing the pressure and temperature of the refrigerant, it is the component that kicks off the entire process. More importantly, its tasks happen at the cost of electricity.
Furthermore, since the compressor is what takes a bulk of the power in the AC, you will need a lot of it to power through.
Installing a Dedicated Circuit
ACs are some of the most powerful machines that will be running in your house. and depending on the type that you have, you will rarely have to plug it in. For example, centralized units have their own set of wiring that connects to the main breaker of the house. Therefore, you don’t have to worry about that much.
With that in mind, we can narrow the list down a little. So only the Split mini AC, Portable AC, or the packaged terminal AC will need plugging in. moreover, dedicated circuits only come in 120 volts or 240 volts.
On the other hand, if you don’t have a dedicated port, or want a new one, then you will have to find out a few more things.
Do you already have an outlet?
If you already had an AC and are now planning to replace one, then you probably have a dedicated port. However, you can’t just plug the new AC into the old port, especially it is one that is much more powerful. In that case, you should check the amperage and voltage of the old socket and compare it with your new AC’s requirements.
If the old one matches up, you don’t have to worry. But if the old socket is 120 volts and your new AC needs more, then you will need an upgrade. The same applies in reverse. If your new AC is 120V but your special circuit is 240V, you will need to change it.
Amperage Does Matter
Most electricians will say that if the voltage for an AC doesn’t go higher than 120V, then a separate port is a personal preference. But if you were to tell them that the amperage is or exceeds 7A, then they would suggest otherwise. Any electrician worth their salt will tell you that it is best to have a different socket for a 120V 7A AC.
Of course, this is a very specific case that only applies to AC’s between 110V and 120V. If one exceeds that, you will need a special circuit; no questions asked.
Most Companies Mention It
If you still have the manual for your AC, you can find that they explicitly mention whether you will need a separate circuit breaker. Since these ACs are easy enough for most people to install on their own, companies will have to mention them themselves.
Other than the manual, you can also find the breaker specifications on the AC unit itself. Simply look for the specification plate or nameplate for your unit. There you will find that they have provided the exact type of breaker that you will need. Some even go as far as to tell you that you won’t need one.
Converting a 240V outlet into a 120V one
Luckily, if you already have a power outlet with a different voltage rating from your AC, you can convert it. An important thing to know here is that this technique only works if the amperage rating is the same. If the amps on the socket and AC are different, you will have to change the socket itself.
That being said, you can convert a 220-240 into a 110-120. To change the circuit, your certified electrician will identify one of the wires and select it. That wire is now the new neutral wire, and they will mark it with white electrical tape.
Just a few more changes and your outlet will be ready to go. Your electrician will have to make the same changes they did here at the receptacle outlet as well. They will also have to install a single-pole 120V circuit breaker along with a new 120V receptacle outlet. This new receptacle outlet will match the new cord configuration that they chose.
Converting a 120V outlet into a 240V
Just like how you were able to convert a 240 to 120, you can do the same thing in reverse. Of course, the same rules apply here as well, as you can only convert the outlet if the amperage matches. If they do not, you will have trouble.
The electrician will find the neutral wire within the socket and mark it with red tape. This is similar to the previous step, just in reverse. Now they will have to make the same changes towards the receptacle outlet as well.
Finally, your electrician will install a 2-pole 240V circuit breaker. These breakers ensure that too much voltage doesn’t go into your appliance, in this case, your AC. They will also install a 240-volt receptacle outlet that matches your current AC cord’s configuration. After that, you are all set to use your new 240V outlet.
Considering Sockets With Respect To Your Appliance
Other than considering all of the above-mentioned factors, you can also decide if you need a special socket depending on the appliance you are using. For example, all mini-units require a special circuit, regardless of voltage. Since the lowest amperage of an appliance is 15A, it is best that you give it a unique socket.
On the other hand, most portable ACs don’t need dedicated circuits. They run between 110-120V, with the lowest amperage running at 5A. Both Voltage and amperage are similar to that of other ordinary household appliances. Therefore, they don’t need a special socket.
Finally, the Packaged Terminal AC is one that relies heavily on the one that you buy. Since their amperage can start at 7 and go up to 15, you will have to check the model you have. However, given that even 7A is too much for ordinary circuit breakers, the best option is getting a special circuit.
A Few Things to Consider Before Buying Your New AC
A major reason why you might be thinking about special circuits is that you are getting a new AC. If there is anything that new ACs offer most customers, it is a choice. You have plenty of choices when considering your new appliance. So here are a few things to make the choice feel a little less overwhelming.
Check the size
Make sure that the size of your appliance fits right in with your room. If you don’t have a lot of space in your room and want to skip installation, then a portable AC is a good choice. But if you don’t mind the installation and have enough space, then maybe consider a mini-split.
Energy Consumption
It is no secret that these appliances can really hammer down your electricity bill. Therefore, you have to consider that before choosing your AC. Mini-splits depend on how many tons it is. A one-ton AC consumes 1,000 watts. A two-ton AC consumes 2,000 watts and so on. With that in mind, you should consider your options.
Summing Up
Getting a special circuit for your air conditioner depends on a lot of factors. Luckily, if you went through everything laid out here you know exactly how to deal with those factors. A simple rule of thumb to remember is amperage. If the amps of your AC exceed 7A, then you will need a special circuit breaker. If that is not the case, then you can use your everyday breakers without any issue.
Also, it would be best to get help from an electrician in Vancouver when choosing a special circuit for your air conditioner, making sure it is installed correctly.