Multiple Fan Coil Units on One Circuit

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krista

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I am working on a church school building with many fan coil units. Most of them are 460V, 3PH, and fractional HP.

Is it safe to put several on one circuit? The equipment supplier says that each FC has it's own OCP and disconnecting means. So is there any reason I can't put several on a circuit? Is there a limit as to how many, or is it just limited by the loads?

Thanks for you answers in advance!
~Krista
 
Re: Multiple Fan Coil Units on One Circuit

The limit of FCU's per circuit will be limited by wire sizes. For example, one 15A FCU can be placed on a circuit by itself, and you would have to run #12 wire to it. Also, (5) 3A FCU's could also be placed on a branch circuit with #12 wire.

But (5) 15A FCU's would require 75A wire ran to each one, and that is probably not the cheapest way to do it.

STeve
 
Re: Multiple Fan Coil Units on One Circuit

Thanks for your repsonse, Steve.

The smallest motor is 1/3HP, and the largest motor I have is 1-1/2HP, which Carrier rates at 2.6A. So the loads are really small.

My problem is I have two 277/480V panels in this mechanical space that are FULL, and I need to free up some breakers. I can provide some spares in these panels if I put six to eight fan coils on one breaker. I've just never seen that done before, so it makes me nervous. Seems like, in this field, there's usually a reason for not having seen something done before! :)

~Krista
 
Re: Multiple Fan Coil Units on One Circuit

I've done this. The only draw back is if you don't have disconnects at the fan coils then you have to shut them all off to service one. look at your data plate ratings and group according to circuit's capacity, watch the maximum fuse size allowed by data plate.
 
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