Is the air-conditioning unit connected to electrical power supply?
Question:That is, if your electricity was to get knocked out, does that mean your air-conditioning unit will stop working as well?
Sorry if this sounds like a stupid question, but I really don't know, lol. Thanks in advance.
Answers:
I'll assume your referring to a central A/C system. Either way the answer is yes. A window unit is self contained but a central, or whole house, system has two separate power sources. A 220v circuit for the condensing unit (the outside unit) and a 110v circuit for the blower unit. This could be a separate air handler or the furnace blower itself. There's also a control circuit, usually 24v but it's transformer is part of the 110v circuit of the blower unit. If your electricity is "knocked out" you should shut your A/C unit off until power is restored to prevent damage to compressor.
yes, it's metered. all your power comes from one source and when it "goes out", it ALL goes out.
no need to be defensive when your naïve.
Yes, air conditioning units generally need electricity to run.
simple answer
yes it is connected
if you do not see a cord it is wired directly into the house
Yes, air conditioners require electricity to run.
110V for window units under 12,500 BTU, 220V for all others.
The power to your house is supplied from the electric company.
In the US, it comes in as two "hot" leads and one "neutral" if you read the voltage with an electrical meter you would read 220 volts between the hot leads and 110 volts (half of voltage) between each hot lead and neutral.
In your electrical panel (or fues box) you have circuits running through the house off each side of the 110 volt supplied, so some are on "A" phase and some are on "B" phase.
Big loads like an electric dryer, electric stove, hot water heater, and air conditioning unit are usually supplied by 220 volts using both hot leads.
Now, if you lose both hots to the house, everything (all 110 loads - lights, receptacles, garbage disposal.etc. AND all the 220 volt loads - Air conditioning, dryer, etc.) will go out.
Under strange circumstances however, you can lose one phase to the house. If that were the case half of the 110 volt circuits (say those that are powered off of "A" phase) would go out AND ALL of the 220 volt circuits would go off... the 220 ones can't run on "half power."
You would see "some" 110 volt things (lights, receptacles) on but a whole bunch of stuff OFF. This would be rare.
Usually in a storm when the power goes out, everything goes off since it is all supplied by the same incoming power.
(Apartment houses are totally different and you may still have central supplied air conditoning but lose your own appartment circuit.)
Hope this helps!
-K
Hi Ruby, I am not sure which type of AC unit you are talking about. There are basically 2 types.
1. Window units: This kind in generally plug into the wall much like your TV, stove, fridge or any other appliance. Larger window units sometimes have a special circuit in the house wiring that provides 220 volts.
2. The other type is sometimes called Central Air Condition. This type of AC has a it own dedicated circuit in the homes electrical system. You can find the beginning of the circuit in what is called the circuit panel, breaker panel or fuse box. I hope that this is helpful. Dave
yes Oui, Si
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