A/C unit install

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Vinniem

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Central Jersey
It's been a while since I installed an A/C unit.
Have to give an estimate to install a 3 ton unit, 30 amp disconnect.
Wire run is about 50 ft., thru open basement, to outside wall.

Must also run a 15 amp circuit for a convience outlet.

My estimate is $675. I'm in NJ.

HVAC guy will take care of thermostat.

Am I average, too much, or to little?
 
ac unit

ac unit

Is fan unit in basement or atttic if in basement you will need outlet for condensate pump also if in attic gravity will drain condensate water is there a light for maintenance and receptacle for service??, Price seems about right and make sure hvac guy is supplying thermostat does it tie into the heating too this can get a little tricky and no one is going to help you are you going to program the thermostat and be responsible when there is a problem. It is not that hard to do if you completely understand hvac systems. If you dont it could be your worst nightmare and will learn at the customers expense.
 
Consequently, hang a 60 amp disconnect. They're about 1/4th the price of a weatherproof 30 amp disconnect. About 11 bucks, on my last bill. Since you're installing a convenience rec also, consider one of the AC disco's that have a GFCI receptacle built inside. You run two circuits to the disco (one for the AC and one for the rec). The cover of the disco allows a cord to come out of the bottom, so it qualified as "weatherproof while in use". About 29 bucks for this style of disconnect, which is often cheaper than a disco, bell box, bubble cover, and GFCI. Just some stuff for the idea hopper...
 
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Here's a picture of one such a/c disconnect with a GFCI inside. This one's a GE:

acdiscowgfci.jpg
 
those little combination gfi/discon are great. I feel bad when i see ec' s wasting money on commercial jobs especially with big expensive 60a fus diconnects and a seperate gfi with the big expensive bubble cover and the CB on the inside was sized correctly for the unit so you didn't even need fuses nor the big expensive fus disconnect.
 
Sounds good to me...

Sounds good to me...

Vinniem said:
It's been a while since I installed an A/C unit.
Have to give an estimate to install a 3 ton unit, 30 amp disconnect.
Wire run is about 50 ft., thru open basement, to outside wall.

Must also run a 15 amp circuit for a convience outlet.

My estimate is $675. I'm in NJ.

HVAC guy will take care of thermostat.

Am I average, too much, or to little?
Click to expand...


I think your price is in the ballpark.
Greg
 
Good ideas

Good ideas

mdshunk said:
Consequently, hang a 60 amp disconnect. They're about 1/4th the price of a weatherproof 30 amp disconnect. About 11 bucks, on my last bill. Since you're installing a convenience rec also, consider one of the AC disco's that have a GFCI receptacle built inside. You run two circuits to the disco (one for the AC and one for the rec). The cover of the disco allows a cord to come out of the bottom, so it qualified as "weatherproof while in use". About 29 bucks for this style of disconnect, which is often cheaper than a disco, bell box, bubble cover, and GFCI. Just some stuff for the idea hopper...
Click to expand...

First off, I totally agree with those 60A disco.

Secondly, I hadn't even heard about those combo units. I'll be switching to them! That totally rocks!

Thanks,
Greg :cool:
 
I don't use the combo disconnect/ GFI anymore. I used to, but the cost is about the same as separate pullout disconnect and weatherproof receptacle set-up. So it's one more item to carry in the truck.
 
j_erickson said:
I don't use the combo disconnect/ GFI anymore. I used to, but the cost is about the same as separate pullout disconnect and weatherproof receptacle set-up. So it's one more item to carry in the truck.
Click to expand...
Honestly, I go back and fourth on them. They really help out when you have single phase rooftop equipment that is less than 60 amp. They're a big help there.
 
home cheapo

home cheapo

Sells the pre wired ac unit whips in carflex cheaper than you can buy the parts seperately. One straight one angle and you are done walk away
 
quogueelectric said:
Sells the pre wired ac unit whips in carflex cheaper than you can buy the parts separately. One straight one angle and you are done walk away
Click to expand...
Carflex is selling whips? I'll have to check into that. I was buying EPCO whips, until I realized that they were 20 bucks a pop. Highway robbery, in my opinion. I have plenty of Sealtite and Carflex scraps, and can buy a couple straights and angles for way less than 20 bucks.
 
I agree to that, the local hardware stores around here are also about $20 a whip. During summer when I do lots of ac work, I prefab whips while sitting watching tv. I used to do the same with mc cable whips for lay in lights way back when it wasn't so easy to get prefabed fixtures way out here in the desert.
 
tyha said:
those little combination gfi/discon are great. I feel bad when i see ec' s wasting money on commercial jobs especially with big expensive 60a fus diconnects and a seperate gfi with the big expensive bubble cover and the CB on the inside was sized correctly for the unit so you didn't even need fuses nor the big expensive fus disconnect.
Click to expand...
a lot of the commercial installs we do now have the disconnect integrated in the unit. You are also bound by the specs. on commercial jobs.
 
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