AC

[electricpov]

The ac company is telling me 4 ton condenser 16 seer, 4 ton 5kw air handler. They can't give me nameplate due to "not knowing what unit they will use at time of install". I have never sized the wire before using tonnage and kw just always was given mca and over current protection. Can someone shed some light on how to use tonnage/kw to determine mca and ocpd

 

[LarryFine]

Welcome to the forum.

You really need the MCA/MOC numbers.

Otherwise, I'd run #10 cu to the air handler and #8 cu to the compressor.

 

[GoldDigger]

Just for clarity, I suggest using "AC" only for Alternating Current and "A/C" (or HVAC) for Air Conditioner.

 

[electrofelon]

2kw /ton for MCA, 1.2-1.4 KW/ ton actual draw should be very close for package HVAC units.

 

[infinity]

You always look up any manufacturers specifications to get you close. For example I looked up a Carrier 16 SEER, 4 ton unit and it had these specs:
MCA=26.1 and MaxOCPD=40 amps. So in this example #10 AWG conductors will work with a 40 amp OCPD.