Pilot 30 II air conditioner upgrade question

[altouchet]

I'm thinking of replacing the factory 7000 BTU air conditioner with a 12,000 BTU unit. Will the existing 30 amp shorepower and breaker for AC be ok with this upgrade?

 

[DavidM]

A 12,000 btu air conditioner draws about 12 amps. You should be fine with a 30 amp breaker, although I suspect that the branch circuit feeding the A/C is really 15 or 20 amps. If it were really 30 amps, the A/C circuit would have to be wired with 10 gauge wire. It is probably wired with 12 or 14 gauge.


David

 

[DeniseO30]

Ck name plate or electric specs, you want to know "max circuit amps,. If it's a newer unit you may be pleasantly surprised to find the amp rating much lower then us old school HVAC types remember.