Air conditioning wiring: what cable is needed for an air conditioner in an apartment

The choice of wiring for an air conditioner depends on its type and capacity. The climatic equipment belongs to the category of energy-consuming equipment. Therefore, a poorly assembled circuit or incorrectly selected cables can lead to an electrical circuit and even a fire.

Air conditioner wiring

Residents of old houses should be very vigilant about the quality of wiring. About 40 years ago, no one heard of such household appliances, so the wires were not designed for intensive use. Do not rely on aluminum wires, they may not withstand the load. Sometimes the owners have to completely change the wires in the apartment for the sake of the air conditioner.

The air conditioner, as a rule, has its own branch. Only copper wires are taken for the air conditioner.

A personal bag is placed on it.

Line requirements for air conditioner:

• the shield must be grounded;
• cable section 3: 2.5 mm;
• the line is connected to the switchboard through an automatic overload protection.

This is convenient if you need to disconnect the device from the power supply for preventive maintenance. And if the voltage in the network rises above the norm, the machine will simply turn off, preventing the air conditioner from burning out. As a rule, copper cables with a cross-section of 2.5 mm for the air conditioner are used. The wiring diagram must be 3-wire. That is, wires (3 pieces) from the air conditioner go to the machine, where they are connected to the general system of the apartment.

The third wire for the air conditioner is for grounding. And it meets the international requirements for the safe operation of electrical appliances and European standard outlets.

Unfortunately, the owners of old houses face another difficulty: the wiring in the apartments is two-wire. That is, there are no wires for grounding, which wire for the air conditioner should be used for grounding? However, an even bigger problem is the machine at the entrance of the electric wire to the apartment. Its maximum current does not exceed 15 A.

Therefore, when redoing the electrical system, you will have to change the machine to 16 or 25 A.

Electrical connection

You can simplify the laying of the wire for the air conditioner by connecting it to a common network through an outlet. But this method is suitable only for the most low-power units, or if there are no more powerful devices on the line besides the air conditioner. And the network is equipped with a residual current device (RCD).

Who should you entrust the wiring to?

Installation of wiring for the air conditioner should be carried out only by masters from a specialized center. Owners who do not know clearly what cable and with what cross-section is needed for the air conditioner may lie in wait not only for equipment breakdown, but also deprivation of warranty service.

Independent attempts to replace the wire for the air conditioner or lay the line for the air conditioner threaten with electric shock and even fire.