Will shutting down ( and not dismantling ) an AC help create scope for adding a heat pump to the panel without overloading it

[aks20000]

I have 200 amp service to my home, which is split between two sub panels - each rated at 100 amp.
One panel caters to house circuits and has almost used up its capacity per the load calculation guidelines of electrical code for my city.
The other panel serves two ACs and a Tesla charger. This panel is also not having any extra capacity , even though only three circuit breakers are there with space for 17 more .
The ACs are very old but functional and account for 35 amp load each. These load calculations were done following the code guidelines and approved by my City during Tesla charger installation.
I am planning to add 4 single zone heat pumps , each rated for 15 amp each.
These heat pumps will make two old ACs redundant and I will switch off the CBs for these ACs. But I don't want to dismantle these units and keep it as backup. The old ACs and new heat pumps will never ever run simultaneously.
Will switching off these ACs result in creating scope for adding these heat pumps and be in compliance of electrical code ?
If switching off will not be considered as "removed", is there any alternative way to keep the units available for running if needed and still not count towards new load calculation ?

 

[LarryFine]

I suggest disconnecting and capping the wires, and removing and storing the breakers.

 

[winnie]

This is a question for the inspection department because it involves the way code is interpreted.

Code has a specific allowance for 'non-coincident loads. If you have two loads where only one or the other operates and not both at the same time, then you only include the larger load in your calculations.

The classic example is space heating and air conditioning in the same space.

The interpretation issue: must there be some sort of interlock that prevents simultaneous operation, or is it enough that simultaneous operation is the nature of the loads. The specific code wording say 'unlikely to operate at the same tine', which has lots of subjective wiggle room

I personally think that an AC unit and a backup unit would qualify as non-coincident, but someone else might say 'AC 1 might fail in a fashion where it keeps running but doesn't provide cooling, then when AC 2 is turned on both loads operate at the same time."

If you have some way to force one or the other operation, then you can be certain that the non-coincident load provision will apply.

 

[Fred B]

Load management equipment is often useful when total loads are approaching the "limits" available. Such items include Load shedding devices like used on generators. There are some like what I've used that will monitor total load and as it gets close to a preset limit will shed the desired loads.