Determining which wire is the best for an air conditioner between a 10/2 and 10/3 wire, the differences between them, and the importance of choosing the right wire.
If you have recently purchased an air conditioner and it is time to get it connected and ready to go, it is important to understand the electrical requirements that will be needed to be able to use your air conditioner properly.
Especially without any serious damage to electrical fittings of your home or the space you are looking to install the air conditioner in.
Wiring is a key component of these electrical requirements and will need to be done right in order to enjoy the peace of mind you need with your air conditioner.
Questions that tend to come up about the electrical requirements of an air conditioner are the type of wiring that is safe for the air conditioner. You need to know which wiring between a 10/2 or 10/3 wire will be the safest.
What are the differences between a 10/2 and 10/3 wire?
When it comes to determining the right wiring for the electrical requirements of your air conditioner, you will first need to understand what the difference between the two wires, in order to determine which is going to be best for your air conditioner.
When it comes to the numbering, 10/2 is made up of two parts. The number 10 is the size of the wire in the America Wire Gauge (AWG) unit and the second number, 2 represents the number of conductors in the wire.
In this case a 10/2 sized wire simply means that it has two strands of 10-gauge conductors as well as a ground wire. A 10/3 wire, in this case will have three strands of 10 gauge conductors as well as the ground wire.
So, which wire would be the best for an air conditioner?
The answer to this question is a 10/2 wire is the better option for an air conditioner. The reason being that a 10/3 wire is often used for mechanics that will require a dual voltage.
This means that an appliance will need two diverse types of voltages happen at the same time to carry out two different types of functions.
In the case of a cloth dryer, you will find that it will need 110 volts for the motor to run and 220 volts for the heater. In this case, it makes more sense that a 10/3 wire be used for the cloth dryer and other appliances like it.
Another analysis of a 10/3 wire in comparison to a 10/2 is that it has an extra neutral wire that is needed only when the appliance at the target needs 110 volts to carry out something.
In the case of an air conditioner, there is no reason as to why a 10/3 wire would be necessary for an air conditioner as the 110 volts will not be needed for anything.
It is, however, still possible to still use a 10/3 wire for your air conditioner by not using the neutral and clipping it at the load end and ending it in the panel. Other than that, there is truly no need for an air conditioner to use a 10/3 wire.
Why is the right wiring important for an air conditioner?
There are a number of reasons as to why it is crucial to use the right wire for the air conditioner, namely that the electrons will move fast.
If you have the right size of wiring for the unit, this will mean that the electric current running through the wire will not be met with any struggle and will flow effortlessly, also being economically good for you.
Using the right wire will mean that the wire will not accumulate any heat. Using a small wire for a big aircon unit will not be wise, as it will mean that it is being expected to do what it is not supposed to do and cannot handle.
A smaller wire will not be able support the air conditioner. The current will struggle to move through with ease forcing the wire to get very hot and potentially cause a fire should this get worse.
If the right wiring is used, it will be able to remain cool. This can be to the advantage of the air conditioner, especially safety and no current resistance, allowing it to flow freely and keep the wire cool.
So, when it comes to choosing the right wiring for an air conditioner, consider the 10/2 wire as opposed to the 10/3 and the importance of understanding wiring components for your air conditioner.