minimum overcurrent device

[garrisonm1]

I have a outdoor ac compressor that has a max ampacity of 18.2. So for the wire I run a 12 guage 18.2 x 1.25= 22.75. Usually when I do these there is a max overcurrent device on the unit, but this one only says min. overcurrent device. But when I look at the spec. book it does list Max overcurrent as 30 and Min overcurrent as 20. So my question is do I land the 12 guage wire under the 30 or the 20 amp breaker. I beleive it should be the 30 due to the breaker being a 115 % of ampacity. If so what do they list the minimum overcurrent device for, what is the purpose of listing that.

 

[Dennis Alwon]

I have a outdoor ac compressor that has a max ampacity of 18.2. So for the wire I run a 12 guage 18.2 x 1.25= 22.75. Usually when I do these there is a max overcurrent device on the unit, but this one only says min. overcurrent device. But when I look at the spec. book it does list Max overcurrent as 30 and Min overcurrent as 20. So my question is do I land the 12 guage wire under the 30 or the 20 amp breaker. I beleive it should be the 30 due to the breaker being a 115 % of ampacity. If so what do they list the minimum overcurrent device for, what is the purpose of listing that.

If the max ocp is 30 amps then it is fine to land the #12 on that breaker. The unit itself will have overload protection to protect the #12 wire. The breaker will protect against short circuit and ground fault.