What you will learn from How to Wire an Air Conditioner for Control - 5 Wires article:this article includes a comprehensive list showing thermostat wire terminations for an air conditioner and a source of heat that includes five wires.a detailed description of where each wire goes in the air handler and condenser and what it controls.a detailed diagram illustrating where the wires go for 5 wire air conditioner and heating system control.resource and related links to help you with wiring and installing a thermostat.How to Wire an Air Conditioner for Control - 5 WiresHow to Wire an Air Conditioner for Control - 5 Wires  – The diagram below includes the typical control wiring for a conventional central air conditioning system. It includes a thermostat, a condenser, and an air handler with a heat source. The heat source for a basic AC system can include heat strips for electric heat or even a hot water coil inside the air handler that is fed from a water heater. Every conventional residential AC system uses 24-volts for the control of the system.

All the relays in the system have 24-volt coils.Circuit boards or printed circuit boards found in modern systems utilize 24-volt control which originates from the control transformer. Typical systems that do not use 24-volt control are window unit air conditioners, ductless mini split systems, and baseboard electric heating systems. Honeywell Thermostats Available Here If you are unsure about the control voltage of your system consult an HVAC professional as some appliances use high voltage and this can be dangerous. Related Link: Standard 18 gauge thermostat wire is used for all control wiring.(opens in a new window) How to Wire an Air Conditioner for Control - 5 Wires - Thermostat Wiring DiagramHow to Wire an Air Conditioner for Control - 5 Wires - Breakdown of colors and terminalsThe R terminal is the 24 volt hot feed from the control step down transformer that will power the relay, contactor, or complete the circuit in the circuit board feeding it with 24 volts when the thermostat calls for whatever it is set for.

The W terminal is for heating including the heating for gas furnaces, electric furnaces, boiler systems and the back-up heat for heat pumps.The G terminal is for the blower fan located in the air handler. It is the fan that circulates air throughout the duct work system.The Y terminal is the terminal that will turn on the air conditioner and typically is terminated at the compressor contactor in the condensing unit located outside. It will be one of the few control wires (thermostat wires) that will terminate at the condenser in a split system air conditioner and heating system. Typically, the yellow wire will be ran to the air handler where at the air handler this wire is usually connected to another wire (typically by wire nut but could be connected via a terminal strip in the air handler) and then ran outside to the condensing unit along with at least one other wire in an air conditioner split system set up. The other control wire will be the common wire need at the compressor contactor where the coil in the compressor contactor needs a hot and a common from the control transformer to work.

Finally, the C terminal is the common terminal and this terminal feeds the common side of load from the control transformer.cost of installing an ac unitRelated Link: Control Circuits for Air Conditioning & Heating - Delve deeper and learn more about HVAC (opens in a new window) Honeywell Thermostats Available HereTerminal Strip where wire terminations are made during installation. install wall mounted ac unitTypically inside the air handler.custom made air handling unitAdditional resource links for wiring a thermostat: 1) Thermostat Wiring Colors 2) How to wire a thermostat 3) Heat Pump Thermostat Wiring Chart & Diagram 4) Select the Proper Thermostat for Your HVAC SystemHow to Wire an Air Conditioner for Control - 5 Wires

How to Install a Mini-Split Air Conditioner In this how-to video, keep cool with This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey In this video, This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey explains how to install a mini-split air conditioner. 1. Lay pad on ground, check for level, then set condenser unit on top of pad. 2. Use 1 ½-inch hole saw to drill hole through house for refrigerant line. 3. Feed refrigerant line through hole and into basement. 4. Open up wall in room where air conditioner will be located. 5. Run refrigerant line from condenser up to room. 6. Assemble PVC drain line and run it to room. 7. Pull electrical cable and low-voltage wire from condenser to room. 8. Screw metal mounting bracket to wall at manufacturer's recommended height. 9. Hang the air conditioner unit on the bracket. 10. Make final connections, including refrigerant line, PVC drain and electrical wires. 11. Install the air conditioner's cover.

Tools for Installing a Mini-Split Air Conditioner 1 1/2-inch hole saw to make hole for refrigerant lines Level used to level pad that supports condenser unit Drywall saw or jigsaw used to cut hole in interior wall 1. Mini-split air conditioner 2. Ground pad, for supporting condenser unit 3. 1-inch-diameter PVC pipe and assorted fittings, used as condensate drain line 4. PVC primer and cement, used to join together PVC drain line 5. Armor-sheathed electrical cable, provides line-voltage power to the air conditioner 6. Low-voltage wire, sends signal from air conditioner to condenser I am getting ready to hang drywall in my basement but before I do that, I need to run wire from the main panel upstairs to the future location of the central AC furnace through the basement ceiling joists. I do not know yet who will be installing my AC but I will probably outsource it. At this point I just need to know what the electrical requirements for AC are so that I can bring the cable and hang the drywall.

The house has three bedrooms and two living rooms, 1800 sq ft, two floors. What amperage/AWG am I looking at? The wire distance from the panel to the furnace is only about 20' +/- and then I plan to sit the condenser on the roof (it is a low pitched mod bit roof so I can do this, many of my neighbors with similar homes do) directly above the furnace, two floors above (so another 16-20' total). It also may be worth mentioning that I plan to use this for just AC and not heat -- I have already a radiator system in place and I love radiant heat. electrical wiring hvac furnace It's going to completely depend on the unit that's being installed, but commonly it'll be 30-60 amp with 10-4 AWG wire. You're probably looking at a 3.5 ton unit, so you'll be in the 30-40A (10-8 AWG) range. It might be worth it to get a few quotes from local HVAC companies, and see what they want to install. The companies may have a preferred breaker and wire size, so they may want to redo any work you do anyway.