A preprogrammed device that stops the flow of current in an electronic circuit as a safety measure is known as a breaker. Breakers are used in almost every household to prevent accidents from occurring.
The size of your circuit breaker depends on the size of your device. For example: when it comes to your air conditioners, the size of your circuit breaker depends on the power consumption (W) of the air conditioner.
In this article, we will discuss a question that often circulates in everyone’s mind. “What Size Breaker Do I Need For A 4 Ton Air Conditioner?” It will be discussed and explained thoroughly today.
What Size Breaker Do I Need For A 4 Ton Air Conditioner?
A 4-ton air conditioner consumes a lot of electricity which is why it needs a circuit breaker strong enough to deal with the electric surges. A 4-ton air conditioner will require a circuit breaker rated 45 A, secured to 8 AWG wire when supplied with 197-253 volts.
The size of your breaker and your wire depends entirely on the amount of energy consumed by your air conditioner. Air Conditioners which are less efficient and old require more electricity than the newer ones. So, the older and less efficient air conditioners need more extensive breaker ratings than the new ones.
This estimate is just a recommendation; you should still check the manufacturer’s website or the manual to be 100% sure.
What Size Breaker Do I Need For A 5 Ton Air Conditioner?
A 5-ton air conditioner is considered pretty big. So, an oversized air conditioner will need a breaker and wires to support it. The size of your breaker and wire is primarily contingent on the amount of energy consumed by your air conditioner.
A 5-ton air conditioner will need a 50A breaker and a 10 AWG wire when supplied with 195-253 volts of electricity.
Read more: What Size Breaker Is Needed For A 3 Ton AC Unit?
What Size Breaker Do I Need For A 3 Ton Air Conditioner
A 60-ampere circuit breaker is needed for an air conditioner’s inside (air handler) unit. Less than 15 amperes are required for the blower itself and the rest for the backup electrical heating elements.
A 3 Ton air conditioning unit is quite common. Almost everyone is using a 3 Ton air conditioner unit in their household. Running a 20A breaker on a 3-ton air conditioner unit works perfectly fine.
What Size Breaker Do I Need For An Air Conditioner?
The size of the breaker and the wire is based on the size of the air conditioner. So, if you want to purchase an oversized air conditioner, you will have to buy wires and a breaker that can support the electricity coursing through the wires and the breaker.
In the same way, if you purchase a smaller air conditioner, the air conditioner will consume a lot less electricity which means a simple breaker and wire can do the job.
So, you can figure out what size breaker you need by figuring out the size of your air conditioner and by looking at the seal on the side of the air conditioner.
What Size Circuit Breaker Do I Need For An Air Conditioner?
Circuit Breakers and breakers do the same job but the approach is different. To know what size circuit breaker is needed for an Air conditioner first we have to learn what a circuit breaker is.
A circuit breaker is a device used for control and protection which can control work under normal and faulty conditions and Can Break a circuit automatically under fault conditions.
Here’s a chart to help you determine what size circuit breaker is needed for your air conditioner:
| No | Capacity (ton) | Capacity (BTU) | Manufacturer minimum amp rating (A) | Breaker rating (A) | Minimum wire size (AWG) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1.5 | 18,000 | 12.2 | 20 | 14 |
| 2 | 2.0 | 24,000 | 13.6 | 20 | 14 |
| 3 | 3.0 | 36,000 | 19.7 | 40 | 12 |
| 4 | 4.0 | 48,000 | 26.7 | 45 | 10 |
| 5 | 5.0 | 60,000 | 31. | 50 | 8 |
This chart will be incredibly helpful if you are looking to purchase an air conditioner breaker and wire.
What Size Breaker Do I Need For A 2 Ton Air Conditioner?
A 2-ton air conditioner is relatively smaller than the rest, which is why it doesn’t need a big size breaker. It consumes a small amount of electricity.
According to the chart above, it’s clear that a 2-ton air conditioner’s capacity is 24,000 BTU, the minimum amp is 13.6, the breaker rating is 20A, and the minimum wire size is 14AWG. So, as we can see, the requirements for a 2-ton air conditioner are the bare minimum.
Why Do Air-Conditioners Need Their Circuit Breaker?
It is highly advised that each air conditioner gets its circuit breaker. This advice is crucial for homeowners adding an air conditioner to a house that didn’t previously have one installed. This also applies to a home with outdated electrical work.
Suppose you replace your older air conditioner with a new Air conditioner model, and they’re already is a circuit breaker. In that case, you need to make sure that the amperage of the circuit is the proper amps for the new air conditioner.
One excellent rule is if the air conditioner is 110-120 volts and the required amperage is over seven amps, then it’s a safer option to install a dedicated circuit for the air conditioner.
Your HVAC professional technician will be able to give you a precise recommendation based on your existing electrical panel and the type of air conditioner you are installing in your house.
How many amps does a 4-ton air-conditioner use?
Unit of electrical current, which SI defines other base units by measuring the electromagnetic force between electrical conductors carrying an electric current, is called amps.
(Reference: https://www.mrsolar.com/what-does-volts-amps-ohms-and-watts-mean/ )
A 4 ton 13 SEER air conditioner draws about a minimum of 26.4 amps and a maximum of 45 amps. Amps are basically how many electrons that glide past a certain space every second.
How Many Amps Does A 5 Ton HVAC Use?
Most people assume that HVACs and air conditioners are the same things. However, that thought is entirely false. HVAC and air conditioners are altogether different.
Air Conditioners provide cool air in a particular space. However, an HVAC system refers to heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. Gas furnaces and heat pumps are also counted as HVAC systems.
A 5 ton HVAC system runs on 6,000 W. However, a 5-ton air conditioner needs 25 Amps at 240V to run smoothly.
Difference Between A HVAC System And An Air Conditioner
There are tons of differences between an HVAC system and an air conditioner. In the table below, we will discuss the differences between an HVAC system and an air conditioner:
| HVAC | Air Conditioner |
|---|---|
| HVAC refers to heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. | Air Conditioner is something that just conditions the air. |
| Multiple purposes | Serve just one purpose |
| Include heat pumps and gas furnaces, as well as, air conditioning units | Just cool the temperature of a hot room. |
These are the most obvious differences between an HVAC system and an air conditioner.
How Do You Size An Air-Conditioner Breaker?
While inspecting houses the main thing technicians look at is the electrical panel. They also compare wire sizes to circuit breakers sizes. Sometimes the wire is too big for a circuit breaker, when this problem occurs it can cause hazardous fires. Circuit breakers are there to make sure a hazardous situation doesn’t occur.
Here’s a chart to help you size an air-conditioner breaker:
| Breaker or Fuse (amps) | Min. copper wire size (AWG) |
|---|---|
| 15 | 14 |
| 20 | 12 |
| 30 | 10 |
| 40 | 8 |
| 55 | 6 |
| 70 | 4 |
This chart will help you a lot when you want to figure out the size of your air conditioner breaker.
How Do You Wire A 4 Ton Ac Unit?
Wiring a 4-ton air conditioner is incredibly tough. However, it’s not impossible. Here’s how you can wire a 4-ton air conditioner unit:
- Make sure you have your dual-run capacitor, condenser fan, disconnect, compressor, contactor, control board, and furnace.
- Look for a red, black, and green wire along with the disconnect, and the disconnect will have an electrical whip. The black wire will go to one side of the contractor from this whip, and the red will go to the other side. The green one will go to the tiny screw next to the contactor.
- These two wires connected to the contactor are the main power supply. They are also 120 volts each.
- Now, onto the compressor. The compressor has three wires coming out of it. The start winding wires always go to the dual run capacitor. The run and contact wires will go on both sides of the contactor.
- Now, it’s time to wire the compressor. The compressor also has three wires. One of those will go to the fan of the dual run capacitor, the other two wires will go on either side of the contactor.
By following these steps you can easily wire a 4 ton air conditioner without a hitch.
Read more: Are Arctic King Air Conditioners Any Good?
List Of Best Breakers For Your Air-Conditioner
1)Square D HOM115PCAFIC Circuit Breaker
Advantages
It has a direct connection to the neutral bar for faster and easier installation. This circuit breaker contains fewer connections for a clear gutter at the load center. It also has Advanced electronic technology for the detection of arc faults and current cut-offs. It includes time-Saver Diagnostics for faster troubleshooting along with Compliance with NEC’s requirements for CAFCI protection.
Disadvantages
This circuit breaker is considered expensive by some.
2)Siemens Q2100 Circuit Breaker
Advantages
This circuit breaker has a 10,000 AIC rating to suspend more electric overcurrents.it can be installed easily to a Siemens enclosure through the instant-wire feature. It’s Compatible with Siemens PL and ES load centres.it works well when used in a generator subpanel.
Disadvantages
This circuit Might not work with panels from other brands.
3)Blue Sea Systems Circuit Breakers
Advantages
This circuit breaker has an easily accessible reset lever. An early trip to prevent the breach of amp rating. It’s really good for automotive use too.it has a Non-directional relay for usual operation during excessive power feed. Has Good customer service.
Disadvantages
No actual disconnection happens at times.
4)Murray MP115 Circuit Breaker
Advantages
It is a perfect and better replacement for old breakers. It has a 10000 AIC rating. It’s compatible with Murray load centres. It can be installed fast and easily. It works as expected for a reasonable price.
Disadvantages
Compatibility with panels from other manufacturers is not certain
5)T Tocas Circuit Breaker
Advantages
Comes with an ignition protection design. It can handle motorhome appliances’ load requirements. It is able to run a trolling motor without breaking down. It is structured with a UL 94-rated thermoplastic.
Disadvantages
Waterproofing happens to be inconsistent
6)Square D HOM230CP Circuit Breaker
Advantages
It has a thermal-magnetic breaker perfect for a household setup. It is UL-listed as HACR type circuit breaker. It has the ability to work appropriately with a generator ideal and durable replacement for old trip switches
Disadvantages
Incompatible with load centres other than the one specified in the package.
7)Siemens Q2125 Circuit Breaker
Advantages
This is an ideal replacement for Pushmatic breakers. It is great for home applications. It has an AIC rating of 10,000 for the stronger interruption and device lifespan. It is ETL Intertek Certified for performance, safety, and sanitation.
Disadvantages
It has Missing parts and messed-up wires.
Conclusion
You wanted to know, “What Size Breaker Do I Need For A 4 Ton Air Conditioner?” Hopefully, by reading this article you find your answer along with the answers to some other queries you might have. Remember to always use a breaker because breakers protect you from unwanted accidents and horrendous fires that could end your life.
So, be wise and always use a breaker that can support your air conditioner. If you have any questions or doubts talk to an HVAC technician and if your technician does not know the answer to your question then you can always contact the company you bought your air conditioner and breaker from.
