Putting in a refrigerated air conditioner all the time comes with some challenges. One of many greatest is discovering the optimum place to position the condenser unit. Many small residential tons restrict the places the place a condensing unit can stand. Usually these places may be removed from the HVAC unit and condenser coil. The query of how far you possibly can run an AC wiring harness is crucial to a correct set up.
Usually, seventy-five ft is taken into account the utmost distance {that a} line set may be run. Nonetheless, there isn’t a absolute rule in regards to the size of an AC wiring harness. There are quite a few variables that have an effect on the utmost harness size. The suggestions and necessities of the producer should even be taken into consideration. Native constructing codes may also issue into the equation.
In any case, the primary reference to contemplate is the producer’s specs. Different components could affect your resolution, similar to B. the kind of HVAC system and condenser, the peak variations within the system, and the necessities for extra tools essential for the right operation of the HVAC system.
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Contents
- Find out how to decide the utmost size of the AC wiring harness
- How lengthy can my AC wiring harness be?
- What’s the downside with lengthy AC wiring harnesses?
- What ought to I think about when putting in an AC wiring harness?
- Does the size of my AC wiring harness have an effect on the wiring harness measurement?
- What if I must run an AC line set longer than 80 ft?
- What if my condenser is above my evaporator coil?
- Does the vertical top of the AC harness have an effect on effectivity?
- The shorter the higher – A rule of thumb for AC wiring harness size
Find out how to decide the utmost size of the AC wiring harness
While you begin discovering the condenser unit in your new HVAC system, it is essential to contemplate the size of the AC wiring harness. A number of components should be thought of to make sure the right operation of your HVAC system. Some components are extra delicate than many individuals understand.
Even the smallest element can imply the distinction between an environment friendly and efficient set up. Not being attentive to the small print is a mistake many DIYers make with their HVAC mission. There are not any shortcuts to performing a correct AC line setup in your house.
How do I measure to make sure my AC wiring harness size is right?
A key mistake made by some owners when selecting the placement for his or her refrigerant condenser is the precise size of the AC line. The time period utilized by HVAC professionals is “complete equal size”.
The size of your AC wiring harness isn’t a linear measurement from the HVAC unit to the condenser unit. No AC wiring harness runs on to the HVAC unit. The AC line set has to undergo the home, usually alongside partitions or attics, to succeed in its vacation spot.
This requires quite a few curves, ups and downs. As an alternative of measuring direct linear distance, you should calculate the “complete equal size” of the wire harness. This measurement accounts for the full size of AC wiring harness required to journey from the condensing unit to the HVAC unit.
How lengthy can my AC wiring harness be?
The perfect and most correct details about the AC wiring harness size in your HVAC system is the producer’s specs and proposals. All HVAC producers present this data within the consumer and set up manuals that ship with the HVAC techniques.
The data within the set up information needs to be the rule and information in your set up. For those who deviate from the producer’s suggestions and specs, you danger voiding the guarantee. An improper AC wiring harness can harm the capacitor and require intensive repairs or alternative.
What’s the downside with lengthy AC wiring harnesses?
The primary downside with lengthy AC wire units is the friction loss within the wires. Because the liquid refrigerant strikes by means of the refrigerant line, it encounters friction from the tube partitions. The longer the refrigerant line, the extra friction loss impacts how a lot refrigerant will get to the evaporator coil.
The consequences of friction loss may be offset through the use of bigger diameter refrigerant strains. Nonetheless, some compressors could not be capable to ship an satisfactory stream price by means of the bigger diameter strains. The general operation and effectivity of the HVAC system will endure if the set up isn’t calculated precisely.
What ought to I think about when putting in an AC wiring harness?
Along with the set AC cable size, different components should even be taken into consideration. Under are
- The scale of the refrigerant strains
- The place of the condenser and evaporator coil
- The necessities specified by the producer.
These components could necessitate the addition of extra tools to the set up to make sure correct operation of the capacitor and its lifespan. System effectivity may also endure if the AC wiring harness isn’t correctly designed and put in.
Does the size of my AC wiring harness have an effect on the wiring harness measurement?
Figuring out the right measurement of refrigerant tubing for a given size of AC wiring harness is a sophisticated matter. If line measurement, condenser unit measurement, and run size are usually not fastidiously calculated, the system could not function at most effectivity. Poorly made AC line harness sizing choices can harm the condensing unit.
Most HVAC producers present intensive data on sizing refrigerant strains primarily based on the condensing unit measurement and AC wiring harness size. The producer has the perfect data in all instances and their suggestions needs to be adopted carefully.
Figuring out the right AC wiring harness measurement
Usually, the desk under will help you identify essentially the most environment friendly refrigerant line measurement in your condensing unit and the size of the road meeting. Remember that these are normal suggestions. All the time comply with the producer’s set up directions in your system.
| Capacitor unit measurement | 0 – 25 ft barrel size | 25 – 50 ft barrel size | 51 – 75 ft barrel size | 75 – 150 ft yardage | ||||
| Sut | liquid | Sut | liquid | Sut | liquid | Sut | liquid | |
| 1.5 | .3/4 | 3/8 | 3/4 | 3/8 | 3/4 | 3/8 | 7/8 | 3/8 |
| 2 | 3/4 | 3/8 | 3/4 | 3/8 | 3/4 | 3/8 | 7/8 | 3/8 |
| 2.5 | 3/4 | 3/8 | 3/4 | 3/8 | 7/8 | 3/8 | 7/8 | 3/8 |
| 3 | 3/4 | 3/8 | 7/8 | 3/8 | 1 1/8 | 3/8 | 1 1/8 | 3/8 |
| 3.5 | 7/8 | 3/8 | 1 1/8 | 3/8 | 1 1/8 | 3/8 | 1 1/8 | 3/8 |
| 4 | 7/8 | 3/8 | 1 1/8 | 3/8 | 1 1/8 | 3/8 | 1 1/8 | 3/8 |
| 5 | 7/8 | 3/8 | 1 1/8 | 3/8 | 1 1/8 | 3/8 | 1 1/8 | 3/8 |
What if I must run an AC line set longer than 80 ft?
Most producers advocate extra tools to be put in with the system if the full equal size is greater than 80 ft. The standard suggestions embody the next extra system enhancements.
- crankcase heater – With longer runs of the AC wiring harness, the lubricating oil within the refrigerant strains can migrate throughout the system. This migration can underneath sure circumstances starve the compressor of wanted lubrication. Including a crankcase heater within the system minimizes the danger of oil migration throughout the system.
- Thermostatic Growth Valve (TXV) – A TXV valve separates the excessive and low stress sides of an air conditioner. The TXV valve is required on some techniques, significantly these with lengthy line runs, to make sure system effectivity. Regulating the stream of refrigerant prevents extra liquid refrigerant from flowing again to the compressor. This could result in a situation referred to as flooding again.
- Exhausting Begin Capacitor – Lengthy line units usually require an elevated refrigerant cost to work effectively. This could result in the compressor within the condensing unit being overloaded when beginning. A tough begin capacitor assists the compressor in beginning to lengthen compressor life.
- Liquid Line Solenoid – Assuming you do not have a warmth pump, some line units over 80 ft could require a liquid line solenoid. This gadget will help decrease the danger of oil migration and consequential harm to the compressor.
Your HVAC technician and the producer’s suggestions and specs needs to be the rule and information for lengthy AC wiring harnesses.
What if my condenser is above my evaporator coil?
In some conditions it might be essential to mount the condensing unit above the evaporator coil of your HVAC system. The size of the cable set should all the time be taken into consideration. In installations the place the condensing unit is situated above the evaporator coil, most producers advocate putting in an oil separator.
If the elevation distinction is 15 to 25 ft, an oil separator is often ample to guard the system. For a 25-50 foot rise, most producers advocate putting in two oil separators. If the elevation distinction exceeds 50 ft, three oil separators needs to be put in within the system.
Does the vertical top of the AC harness have an effect on effectivity?
The problem isn’t the peak of the AC wiring harness however the place of the condensing unit in relation to the evaporator coil. If the compressor is situated under the evaporator coil, you might expertise diminished effectivity in your HVAC system.
In a horizontal AC wiring harness run, the first downside is friction loss within the wiring. The longer the AC line is about, the extra the stream within the line is diminished. For instance, a compressor can ship 100 stream items on the identical stage because the evaporator. The vaporizer will solely see 90 stream items on account of friction losses.
If the compressor is situated under the evaporator unit, the stream price may be diminished to the purpose that the effectivity of the unit decreases. Additionally, the stream price within the refrigerant strains is probably not ample to maneuver the lubricating oil by means of the system.
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The shorter the higher – A rule of thumb for AC wiring harness size
The sensible reality to the AC wiring harness size downside is to maintain the refrigerant line as quick as attainable. Generally finding your capacitor gadget primarily based in your state of affairs could require an extended AC wiring harness. If an extended run is required, be sure you are throughout the producer’s suggestions. It’s also really helpful to put in extra tools to make sure correct operation of your HVAC system.