Air conditioning disconnect for heater and compressor?

[BigDaveZJ]

Looking to have the ability to shut power off to a 3.7hp 220v compressor and a 7500 watt electric heater close to the units and not just have the breaker which is 20' away. HD has a 60 amp 240v 14,400 watt air conditioning disconnect that I'm looking at. Looks like it would work well for the heater, not sure on the compressor though. I've read on the compressors that the important rating for the switch is the horsepower it can handle but they don't list a spec for that on this but everything else more than meets the requirements. Thoughts?

 

[Highbeam]

I used a regular 60 amp AC disco for both a 50 amp boiler circuit and a 30 amp compressor circuit. Both 240 of course. The discos appear to be intended for heat pumps or other outdoor devices.

 

[Todd.Brock]

I wonder if you would have to change the fuses to match the breaker? I believe at least in my a/c disconnect the breaker is 60 amps, but the fuses are 50 amps. Not sure that is correct, but that's how it came when I bought the house.


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[pattenp]

The Square-D QO 60A non-fused AC disconnect has a 10hp rating.

 

[zmaxmotorsports]

The Square-D QO 60A non-fused AC disconnect has a 10hp rating.

 

[BigDaveZJ]

I wonder if you would have to change the fuses to match the breaker? I believe at least in my a/c disconnect the breaker is 60 amps, but the fuses are 50 amps. Not sure that is correct, but that's how it came when I bought the house.


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Most of the ones I've seen so far are non-fused, so the amperage rating is just the capacity it can handle. I don't need it to be fused, I just want an easy way to shut it off if I need to work on the unit or want to turn it off for an extended period of time.

I'm going to head up to Home Depot today and grab these. It'll be nice to get my heater hooked up, it's a balmy 4 outside right now.

 

[CNGsaves]

How about this Eaton for $ 6.78 ???

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Eaton-60...ir-Conditioning-Disconnect-DPU222RP/100022598

 

[sberry]

I'm going to head up to Home Depot today and grab these. It'll be nice to get my heater hooked up,

Here is my take,,, why?????? These were meant for AC ( hence called AC disconnect and not compressor or heater disc) where the equipment was outside and remote from the panel for a service disconnect. There is absolutely no reason to cut a perfectly good wire and add some cheap connections in the middle. Why do this if its not needed and if it was there would be a code requirement. Could have it working without going to HD and spending extra to put cheap screws and connectors in.

 

[sberry]

Back in the day I worked in more than 1 bar, I bet over the years have seen a half a dozen of those cheap bastards shut down AC systems. You are 20 ft away, it doesn't get any better than that. Use the breaker, if you have air leaks shut off ball valve at the tank and I havnt flipped a breaker under load for years.

 

[redmondjp]

One of those circuit-breaker-style disconnects will work perfectly fine for switch duty on both items. I've never gutted one to check, but it's basically a circuit breaker without the trip mechanism inside - they are made with the same parts as the circuit breakers which is why they can sell them so inexpensively.

If the wires are properly terminated at the switch, there should be no issue with an additional device in the circuit. I would use one of these types before one of those safety disconnects with the pull-out device - that will not work well for switching at all.

 

[Highbeam]

None of my disconnects have any fuses or breakers. They are simple discos.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

OP have u seen one of these

Its rated 5hp @ 240v

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B002M...SY200_QL40&dpPl=1&dpID=41C54aRKivL&ref=plSrch

 

[AndrewDouglasBird]

FYI, 3.7HP is ~2800 watts, so at 220v, that is just under 13A.

 

[brewchief]

The cheap A/C disconnects are fine if you simply want a way to disconnect it for service, if you want to use it as a daily service switch for the compressor you will probably hate it very quickly.

 

[BigDaveZJ]

Picked up 2 of these today. http://www.homedepot.com/p/Square-D...de-Overcurrent-Protection-QO200TRCP/202353314

Not using it as a daily service, just to be able to easily disconnect for service and long periods of time where I won't be using the machines.

 

[redmondjp]

Picked up 2 of these today. http://www.homedepot.com/p/Square-D...de-Overcurrent-Protection-QO200TRCP/202353314

Not using it as a daily service, just to be able to easily disconnect for service and long periods of time where I won't be using the machines.

You will be very happy with these - and it's a great value as well. Exactly what I was referring to in my post above.