Sizing ocpd for outside Condensing unit

[readydave8]

Some people here will disagree with what I am about to post, that's fine.

My experience is that I used to work for an HVAC company as an electrician, and I was the service and warranty guy for the electrical department. In other words I had to solve hundreds of light flicker problems.

I followed 3 techniques with a fair amount of success when a light flicker problem occurred.


[*]Relocate the A/C breaker as close to the main breaker as possible.

Just curious if any other electricians have an opinion on this technique? Never heard that before and wondering if anyone else has experience

 

[infinity]

Just curious if any other electricians have an opinion on this technique? Never heard that before and wondering if anyone else has experience

If you mean this then no.

[*]Relocate the A/C breaker as close to the main breaker as possible.

The bus is rated the same as the conductors feeding the panel. Due to the short difference in distance the location of the CB is irrelevant.

 

[growler]

I followed 3 techniques with a fair amount of success when a light flicker problem occurred.

1. Upsize the branch circuit wiring.
2. Relocate the A/C breaker as close to the main breaker as possible.
3. Torque all connections between the internal condenser leads and the main breaker as possible.

Using these techniques, you will mitigate the problem, not eliminate it.

Just curious if any other electricians have an opinion on this technique? Never heard that before and wondering if anyone else has experience

I'm thinking this is kind of the placebo effect. When a doctor gives a sugar pill and the patient thinks they are getting medicine they can sometimes get better (stop complaining).

1. why would you upsize the branch circuit when most of them are oversized to begin with?
2. The only way changing the location of the breaker in the panel will help is if it not making a good connection on the buss or maybe near other breaker that are getting hot.
3. All conenctions should be tight but for the lights to flicker or dim that means there is a voltage drop on the service. The most common cause of lights dimming are poor connections in the service cable, main breaker, meter, weatherhead and tranformer.

Would you want to waste time and money to upsize the branch circuit when the problem could be a poor connection at the service?

 

[kwired]

Somebody forgot or never learned Ohm's law as well as Kirchoff's laws.