What Size Wire for a 45 Amp A?C Disconnect?

[quijibo]

I am going to install the conduit and pull the wire for an a/c disconnect and I need to know what size wire to pull. I know that the wire size is smaller than it would be for a regular 45 amp circuit, but I don't know what size. I have an Electrician friend that does all of the connections for me and I need to get this done today.

Adam

[JohnMickish]

What is the length of wire and what makes you say that you need wire for a 45 amp circuit?

[CAMAN]

Quote:

I know that the wire size is smaller than it would be for a regular 45 amp circuit,

???

45 amps is 45 amps, the only thing that will change the wire size is the length of run.

[fishing is hot]

#8

[efgh]

I would pull #8 stranded.

[BobT]

Why are you asking here and not your "electrician" friend. Is he a master electrician? If not then it is illegal for him to make the connections. Regardless of what you finally do, be sure to have it inspected. Not only is this the legal thing to do it is the right thing to do for your own safety and that of your family.

[Surface Tension]

First I'll assume your adding a disconnect to an AC unit already in place and wired. For what ever reason you were told you need to add a disconnect. Correct?

You could have a 100 amp breaker in the disconnect, what matters is what size breaker is in the main panel. That breaker in the main panel is protecting the wire.

If that breaker is the correct size according to the AC unit and the wire size for breaker is correct then use the same size wire to your disconnect.

So say you have a 40 amp breaker in the panel with 8 ga copper from the panel to AC unit.

You'll use 8 gauge copper. If you have a 50 amp breaker in the panel with 6 ga to the AC you'll use 6 ga.

14 ga= 15 amps, 12 ga= 20 amps, 10 ga. = 30 amps, 8 ga = 40 amps, 6 ga. = 50

[JohnMickish]

Why are you asking here and not your "electrician" friend.

That is what I was thinking as well, and why I didn't answer the question. There seems to be more going on here than just a simple question. It's not always as simple as 45 amps is #8 copper. It depends on the length and what the tempurature rating of the terminals are.

[dewey1]

Why are you asking here and not your "electrician" friend. Is he a master electrician? If not then it is illegal for him to make the connections. Regardless of what you finally do, be sure to have it inspected. Not only is this the legal thing to do it is the right thing to do for your own safety and that of your family.

JUST BECAUSE HE IS A MASTER DOESNT MEAN HE CAN HOOK UP WIRES IN SOMEONE ELSES HOUSE. IT IS ILLEGAL FOR ANYONE ONE TO WIRE IN OTHER THAN YOUR OWN HOME UNLESS YOU ARE A LICENSED ELECTRICIAN AND WORKING FOR AN ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR. BEING A MASTER MEANS NOTHING IN THIS INSTANCE.

[Whoaru99]

JUST BECAUSE HE IS A MASTER DOESNT MEAN HE CAN HOOK UP WIRES IN SOMEONE ELSES HOUSE. IT IS ILLEGAL FOR ANYONE ONE TO WIRE IN OTHER THAN YOUR OWN HOME UNLESS YOU ARE A LICENSED ELECTRICIAN AND WORKING FOR AN ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR. BEING A MASTER MEANS NOTHING IN THIS INSTANCE.

Are you intending to shout/yell (typing in all capitals)?

Are unlicensed Master Electricians commonly found?

[CAMAN]

[quote=

Are unlicensed Master Electricians commonly found?

[BobT]

JUST BECAUSE HE IS A MASTER DOESNT MEAN HE CAN HOOK UP WIRES IN SOMEONE ELSES HOUSE. IT IS ILLEGAL FOR ANYONE ONE TO WIRE IN OTHER THAN YOUR OWN HOME UNLESS YOU ARE A LICENSED ELECTRICIAN AND WORKING FOR AN ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR. BEING A MASTER MEANS NOTHING IN THIS INSTANCE.

[BobT]

Quote:

I don't believe it's the license part that is of concern. It is an electrician doing a "side job" under no insurance. If this so called master electrician owned his own business and just did a couple side jobs for friends that should be okay as I believe his insurance should still be able to cover him(some please correct me if I'm wrong) But if he is employed by someone and is only insured by his employer, then he is only insured when he is being payed by his employer, and doing work under no insurance in someone elses home. And that would be the illegal part.

I think you're right here. I didn't look it up but I believe a contractor's license requires insuring and bonding, which would explain this requirement.

[dewey1]

WOW! NO, BY NO MEANS WAS I YELLING. I ALWAYS USE CAPS. A MASTER ELECTRICIAN IS LICENSED. HENCE MASTERS LICENSE. ONLY AN ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR CAN PULL A PERMIT TO WORK IN OTHER THAN YOUR OWN HOME. A LICENCED CONTRACTOR HAS TO HAVE A MASTER ELECTRICIAN. SO, UNLESS THE MASTER IS WORKING FOR A CONTRACTOR OR OWNS THE SHOP, HE CANNOT LEGALLY WORK IN SOMEONE ELSES HOUSE. AS FAR AS WIRING GOES, THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A MASTERS LICENCE AND A JOURNEYMANS LICENCES. I JUST DIDNT WANT SOMEONE GETTING FALSE INFORMATION AND THINK THEY WERE OK BY HAVING A MASTER DO THE WORK. maybe i shouldnt use caps.

[BobT]

Yeah, my ears are ringing!