Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
The house in question has LESS THAN 100 amp service and regular household outlets (I think those are 120V?). If a 220-volt outlet 15 amp circuit is required for an in-wall ac unit to work, is a full service upgrade required? Or can there be less work and cost involved?
I think going to 200 amps will cost $2k and at this stage it may not be worth it just to add an AC unit to cool down the living room for when they entertain.
Electrical questions are always tough because each area has it's own code. As far as a 100 amp box, it CAN have a 220v 15amp circuit. It probably already has a dryer circuit that is 220v and a range circuit that is 220v. You have to watch overloading the box, but that would be when you are running the stove, dryer, water heater (if electric it will be 220) and the ac at the same time.
The 200 amp boxes came around when house were getting bigger and have central heating and air, as well as all the other things I have listed.
If it is a fuse box and not a breaker box I think I would bite the bullet and go ahead with the 200 amp service. I would also ask someone in LI as they will have a better answer.
You can get 115v window ac's but they draw more current than 220v units.
Around here an electrician would come in and install a separate box for the A/C unit next to the current box. He'd then run a separate 220v wire to the A/C unit. Cost would be less than 400 bucks.
Insufficient information. If no other 220 loads probably just run a new 220 circuit to the AC. If a couple of loads like over, range, water heater, other AC it probably won't work and you need to upgrade the service. .
Around here an electrician would come in and install a separate box for the A/C unit next to the current box. He'd then run a separate 220v wire to the A/C unit. Cost would be less than 400 bucks.
I think the point is the OP needs a new larger drop from the utility.
Ask an electrician to install the outlet and new circuit only. Get 3 estimates from different electricians.
If there is a problem with your existing electrical service, the electricians will all say the same thing.
Then if the outlet is installed and you use the air conditioner - along with using other electrical gizmos - and then your MAIN circuit breaker trips, then you will need to shut off other power hogs while running the A/C or have your electrical service upgraded.
Most electrical hogs have to do with heating... Like space heaters, water heater, electric range, a dish washer which uses heat to dry the dishes, etc.
If you have electric heating, you would not be using that AT THE SAME TIME as the A/C. And if you have a natural gas or oil water heater, then there goes a bunch of competition for the amperage capacity of your electric system.
Another thing you can do is get the electrician to stick an amp meter on your main electric lines - turn on everything you would be using at the SAME TIME in the summer. Then see how much amperage TOTAL that is.
Or you can total that amperage up yourself. Look at the labels on each electric gizmo you would have on all at the same time. Convert wattage to amperage and total everything up. Search google.com for watts to amps calculator - use single phase and AC (for Alternating Current). Here is one... Voltage to Watts Conversion | Amp Voltage Watt Calculator
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
