Electrical question-Is it safe to run my A/C

[Quantum]

Originally Posted by Double Eagle

If I am understanding correctly my best bet since I have a 20 AMP braker is to change to a 20 amp plug and I should be safe as long as my wire is at least 12 guage. Is this a safe assumption?

Thanks to all who replied for your help.

Correct.

If you decided to go the route of 30A, you will need to run 10 gauge wire and change out your receptacle to a 30A.

But you will be fine with 20A to run your AC.

[OurJayco]

Circuit Rating
15 or 20
20
30

Receptacle Rating
15
20
30

Max Load
12
16
24

(for some reason it did not like the way I made a chart earlier, so I had to edit to this version. I hope you understand it.)


Given all circumstances and ideal situations, the above chart gives the amp rating for all receptacles.

As stated earlier, the start up current draw on an A/C unit can be rather high.
On a 15 amp receptacle and 15 amp breaker, you can run the A/C for about 1 minute.

On a 15 amp receptacle and a 20 amp breaker, you can run the A/C, but nothing else should be ran such as a TV, toaster, hair dryer, radio etc....

Then obvisiously we can run the A/C and other accessories on a 30 amp circuit.

I would run the A/C on a 20 amp circuit and run it long enough to cool off the living area, but I would not run it all day or all weekend.

I hope this helps!!

[Double Eagle]

Thanks for everyones replies and education on this issue; greatly appreciated. I have really learned alot on diffrent issue from this forum,