I got a window unit that is 18000btu and required a dedicated 220 outlet and 15 amp breaker. I used 10/2 wire. the AC unit turns on but does not do much else. I got it off of Facebook marketplace. I need to know if the unit is garbage or if the 10/2 wire is causing too much voltage drop. Please help. I am an broke amateur.

On Sun, 31 May 2020 15:42:38 -0700 (PDT), "Ronnie B."
wrote:

I got a window unit that is 18000btu and required a dedicated 220 outlet and 15 amp breaker. I used 10/2 wire. the AC unit turns on but does not do much else. I got it off of Facebook marketplace. I need to know if the unit is garbage or if the 10/2 wire is causing too much voltage drop. Please help. I am an broke amateur.

10/2 wire is not your problem. It sounds like you bought a bad AC.

On 5/31/2020 6:42 PM, Ronnie B. wrote:
I got a window unit that is 18000btu and required a dedicated 220 outlet and 15 amp breaker. I used 10/2 wire. the AC unit turns on but does not do much else. I got it off of Facebook marketplace. I need to know if the unit is garbage or if the 10/2 wire is causing too much voltage drop. Please help. I am an broke amateur.

I had to run 10/3 with ground for my 1-1/2 ton garage unit but yours might be different.Â* Depends on the controls I guess.

Have you checked the motor capacitors?

On 5/31/2020 6:42 PM, Ronnie B. wrote:
I got a window unit that is 18000btu and required a dedicated 220 outlet and 15 amp breaker. I used 10/2 wire. the AC unit turns on but does not do much else. I got it off of Facebook marketplace. I need to know if the unit is garbage or if the 10/2 wire is causing too much voltage drop. Please help. I am an broke amateur.


The wire should be adequate. Did you check that you are getting proper
voltage? You say turns on. The fan? The compressor? Both? Was this
a used unit?

Have you checked the motor capacitors?

I wish I knew how to do that. I'm afraid it may be a bad purchase.

Thank you. I was worried that the 10/2 wire was causing a serious voltage drop.

10/2 wire is not your problem. It sounds like you bought a bad AC.

The wire should be adequate. Did you check that you are getting proper
voltage? You say turns on. The fan? The compressor? Both? Was this
a used unit?

It was a used unit and a "good deal". I believe that the fan turns on but not the compressor. No cold air and then after about 2 minutes of running, it just quits again. I thought it may be a power problem with my wire/breaker combo. I really appreciate the help.

On Sun, 31 May 2020 17:16:14 -0700 (PDT), "Ronnie B."
wrote:

Thank you. I was worried that the 10/2 wire was causing a serious voltage drop.

10/2 wire is not your problem. It sounds like you bought a bad AC.

Since a 15a circuit only needs 14ga wire, #10 is 2 sizes larger,
voltage drop is not your problem. I suppose you could have a bad
connection. The 15a device might not have terminals rated for 10ga
wire.

- - - Could it be the plug, or what are you saying? The terminals?

Since a 15a circuit only needs 14ga wire, #10 is 2 sizes larger,
voltage drop is not your problem. I suppose you could have a bad
connection. The 15a device might not have terminals rated for 10ga
wire.

- - Also, I did not think you should run 14 ga wire for 220? i have so much to learn.

Since a 15a circuit only needs 14ga wire, #10 is 2 sizes larger,
voltage drop is not your problem. I suppose you could have a bad
connection. The 15a device might not have terminals rated for 10ga
wire.

On Sun, 31 May 2020 15:42:38 -0700 (PDT), "Ronnie B."
wrote:

I got a window unit that is 18000btu and required a dedicated 220 outlet and 15 amp breaker. I used 10/2 wire. the AC unit turns on but does not do much else. I got it off of Facebook marketplace. I need to know if the unit is garbage or if the 10/2 wire is causing too much voltage drop. Please help. I am an broke amateur.
Likely a good reason the original owner sold it - but they should
likely have thrown it away instead of "robbing" you.

On Sun, 31 May 2020 20:43:07 -0400, wrote:

On Sun, 31 May 2020 17:16:14 -0700 (PDT), "Ronnie B."
wrote:

Thank you. I was worried that the 10/2 wire was causing a serious voltage drop.

10/2 wire is not your problem. It sounds like you bought a bad AC.

Since a 15a circuit only needs 14ga wire, #10 is 2 sizes larger,
voltage drop is not your problem. I suppose you could have a bad
connection. The 15a device might not have terminals rated for 10ga
wire.
Except then it wouldn't "run".

On Sun, 31 May 2020 17:50:37 -0700 (PDT), "Ronnie B."
wrote:

- - Also, I did not think you should run 14 ga wire for 220? i have so much to learn.

Since a 15a circuit only needs 14ga wire, #10 is 2 sizes larger,
voltage drop is not your problem. I suppose you could have a bad
connection. The 15a device might not have terminals rated for 10ga
wire.

Wire size depends on amps, not volts. 14ga is OK on 240/15a.

On Sun, 31 May 2020 21:38:07 -0400, Clare Snyder
wrote:

On Sun, 31 May 2020 20:43:07 -0400, wrote:

On Sun, 31 May 2020 17:16:14 -0700 (PDT), "Ronnie B."
wrote:

Thank you. I was worried that the 10/2 wire was causing a serious voltage drop.

10/2 wire is not your problem. It sounds like you bought a bad AC.

Since a 15a circuit only needs 14ga wire, #10 is 2 sizes larger,
voltage drop is not your problem. I suppose you could have a bad
connection. The 15a device might not have terminals rated for 10ga
wire.
Except then it wouldn't "run".

Depends on whether it is "open" or just "loose".

On Sunday, May 31, 2020 at 8:17:56 PM UTC-4, Ronnie B. wrote:
The wire should be adequate. Did you check that you are getting proper
voltage? You say turns on. The fan? The compressor? Both? Was this
a used unit?

It was a used unit and a "good deal". I believe that the fan turns on but not the compressor. No cold air and then after about 2 minutes of running, it just quits again. I thought it may be a power problem with my wire/breaker combo. I really appreciate the help.

Are you sure you wired it into a 240V breaker, that you're not maybe giving it
120V? This is where a VOM is handy.

On Sun, 31 May 2020 23:32:53 -0400, wrote:

On Sun, 31 May 2020 21:38:07 -0400, Clare Snyder
wrote:

On Sun, 31 May 2020 20:43:07 -0400, wrote:

On Sun, 31 May 2020 17:16:14 -0700 (PDT), "Ronnie B."
wrote:

Thank you. I was worried that the 10/2 wire was causing a serious voltage drop.

10/2 wire is not your problem. It sounds like you bought a bad AC.

Since a 15a circuit only needs 14ga wire, #10 is 2 sizes larger,
voltage drop is not your problem. I suppose you could have a bad
connection. The 15a device might not have terminals rated for 10ga
wire.
Except then it wouldn't "run".

Depends on whether it is "open" or just "loose".
Regardless - if it RAN and didn't COOL it is EXTREMELY UNLIKELY that
the wire connection was at fault - or voltage drop on the wire. The OP
bought a piece of scrap - 99.9%