A/C thermostat wire ran inside power whip?

[green.bubbly]

On my air conditioner unit outside, I was wondering if I could run the thermostat wire inside the whip along with the power wires.

Sounds like it would be a bad idea but had to ask.

 

[Worsedog]

Most anything I have seen does not allow the mixing of high and low voltage wiring in the same conduit.

 

[green.bubbly]

Yeah, that is what I thought but I was hoping somebody would that this was an exception.

Would have made for a cleaner install. Guess I will just ziptie it to the whip.

Thanks

 

[Aceman]

Most of the time I see them ziptied to the lineset.

 

[PRH44]

You can legally run 12VDC and 480 VAC in the same conduit if both circuits have insulation rated for the the highest voltage in the raceway.

Depends on the rating of the stat cable insulation.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Slip some sort of jacket over the thermostat wire. Rubber hose such as 1/4 or 3/8 gasoline hose, or use some of that black plastic sleeving that is split to slip over wires, then ty-wrap it to the other conduit.

Charles

 

[green.bubbly]

Most of the time I see them ziptied to the lineset.

That is how I see it as well and it always looks like ****.

Slip some sort of jacket over the thermostat wire. Rubber hose such as 1/4 or 3/8 gasoline hose, or use some of that black plastic sleeving that is split to slip over wires, then ty-wrap it to the other conduit.

Charles

Not enough room in the whip unless I switched to a larger diameter whip.

 

[PRH44]

If you are in a bind just use some 16 or 18 AWG THHN/THWN in the same conduit. The only catch is you will want to break it out before you hit the disconnect.

 

[Full Throttle]

at times I have run the stat wire in its own 1/2 liquid tight conduit.

 

[Norcal]

at times I have run the stat wire in its own 1/2 liquid tight conduit.

This is my preferred way, exposed T-stat cable will be damaged by exposure to sunlight & the sealtite will protect it from landscapers/ kids/dogs & others known for destruction of all things electrical.

There are a number of rules when mixing line, & low voltage conductors, being insulated to the higher voltage is one. IMHO, the T-stat line should be unspliced between the unit & the stat, fewer troubles will arise that way.

 

[PRH44]

I would have to agree with Norcal and Full Throttle installing the stat wire in it own dedicated raceway is the preferred method.

 

[mrb]

You can legally run 12VDC and 480 VAC in the same conduit if both circuits have insulation rated for the the highest voltage in the raceway.

Depends on the rating of the stat cable insulation.

not if the LV circuit is class 2 which the Tstat line is.

 

[PRH44]

Great point mrb thanks for the input on class 2 wiring!
A control circuit for an HVAC unit could be a Class 2 if the 24 volt transformer is protected at 100 VA. If this fuse was less than 4.2 amps at 24 volt nominal it could be considered class 2.
If in fact the control board or transformer is a class 2 rated device it would be a class 2 install. Thus would be required to have separation from power cables.
If not no separation required if the conductor insulation has the proper rating.

 

[maxspeed96ct]

That is how I see it as well and it always looks like ****.






Not enough room in the whip unless I switched to a larger diameter whip.

I would look into maybe adding a second matching whip just for the t-stat wire. Cause normaly it is just zip tied to the line set , but yes it doesnt look pleasing

Your not realy supposed to mix low and high voltage in the same line. But I cant say I havent seen it done..

 

[mpire]

I did it in May of last year on my mini-split, and no one on the board said it was a bad idea. I don't think there should be a conflict if they are both sheathed.

Someone explain why I should go change it.

 

[aandpdan]

I did it in May of last year on my mini-split, and no one on the board said it was a bad idea. I don't think there should be a conflict if they are both sheathed.

Someone explain why I should go change it.

I can think of at least one reason you should change it.

You used Romex. It's not suitable for a wet location and OUTDOOR conduit is considered a "wet" location.

 

[BigJohn20]

I can think of at least one reason you should change it.

You used Romex. It's not suitable for a wet location and conduit is considered a "wet" location.

Conduit is not considered a wet location. You can run NM-B inside conduit all day long as long as that conduit is in a dry location (ex. interior of a home). The location of the conduit, in this case, outdoors, will determine whether it's a wet, damp, or dry location. Since this is outdoors, it is at the very least a damp location, which means you cannot use NM-B.

 

[PRH44]

I would agree with BigJohn20.

 

[aandpdan]

Fixed it.

OUTDOOR conduit. I knew that.

 

[brewchief]

I did it in May of last year on my mini-split, and no one on the board said it was a bad idea. I don't think there should be a conflict if they are both sheathed.

Someone explain why I should go change it.

Connecting wire on most mini splits is not low voltage, it provides the inside unit with power.

Every disconnect I've wired had "line" terminals and "load" terminals, normally line are the two inside and load are the two outside(or vice versa) the way yours is wired isn't a big deal since it's non-fused but if it was fused you would end up with a live fuse when the disconnect handle is pulled, not fun.

 

[green.bubbly]

Connecting wire on most mini splits is not low voltage, it provides the inside unit with power.

Every disconnect I've wired had "line" terminals and "load" terminals, normally line are the two inside and load are the two outside(or vice versa) the way yours is wired isn't a big deal since it's non-fused but if it was fused you would end up with a live fuse when the disconnect handle is pulled, not fun.

Dang it, I was going to try and show off my electrical "knowledge" and mention this earlier. Then I figured they are not all the same and I would look stupid. Then again looking stupid never stopped me from posting.

But I swear, I noticed that as well, mainly because I just finished installing four of them.