HVA 105 Week 5 Lecture

Review of Schematics Power Distribution Installation

Current Types
Direct Current
Electrons flow in one direction and only one direction. Produced by batteries or solid state electronic rectifiers.

Alternating Current
Electrons reverse their flow at regular intervals. Produced by a generator that cuts a magnetic field with a conductor.

The Sine Wave

Frequency
Frequency is the number of times the sine wave makes a complete cycle per second.
This is known as the hertz Most of the US generates electric at 60 hertz per second.

Effective Voltage
The useable portion of electric flow in the sine wave.
The effective voltage is .707 of the PEAK voltage.

Phase
The phase of an AC circuit is the number of currents alternating at different time intervals in the circuit.

Single Phase

Three Phase

Power Distribution

Power Distribution

Residential Single Phase Power

Three Phase Power (Wye Transformer)

Three Phase Power Delta Transformer

Installation Practices
Follow the rules of the National Electric Code. Never use aluminum wire for HVAC equipment. Work in your comfort zone with electric. Be sure you know what you are doing and feel confident in your abilities.

Wire Sizing
The wire size required for a piece of equipment is usually given in the installation instructions.
The wire size can be obtained from the charts in the NEC (or your text).

Wire Size
American Wire Gauge OR AWG The larger the number, the smaller the wire diameter. Common sizes: 18 awg thermostat wire 12 awg house wiring 10 awg for higher amps

Voltage Drop
Voltage Drop in a wire will occur when the resistance of the wire is too high.
too long of a wire too small of a wire

Wire Size
To calculate the wire size for an HVAC unit, take the full load amperage, multiply by 25%, and add the two for maximum amperage draw.
14 gauge wire = 15 amp maximum 12 gauge wire = 20 amp maximum 10 gauge wire = 25 amp maximum
see table page 201

Wire Insulation
THHN = Thermoplastic heat resistant nylon for dry and damp locations
THHW = Thermoplastic heat resistant for wet locations
See chart on page 199and 200.

FLA

Full Load Amps = Amperage used by a machine under full load conditions.

Normal Amperage

LRA
Locked Rotor Amps = The amps used to turn a motor rotor from a stopped position. LRA is about 5 TIMES normal amperage!

Sizing a fuse or over-current protection for a unit.

Take the FLA (normal unit amperage) Multiply by 25%

Add the FLA and the 25% together and round up to the nearest 5.

Fuse Sizing Example

A machine has a FLA of 6 amps.
6 X 25% = 1.5 6 + 1.5 = 7.5

Round up to a 10 amp fuse.

Disconnects
A disconnect is a means for power to be turned off at the location of the unit.
Disconnects can be fused.

Disconnects should be water proof OR weather proof when outside.

Breaker Panels

Installation Summary
Read and follow manufacturers installation directions! Install a proper means of disconnect. Install correct wire size and fuse/breaker size. Use appropriate materials.especially NO ALUMINUM WIRE!