minimum voltage to run A/C
I have seen a lot of different answers to this question, and wanted to ask the experts. I have my TT plugged in to a 20 amp 110 volt circuit at my house. It is only 5 feet from box to receptacle an...
Forum Discussion
Range of typical 120V appliances is + or (-) 10% from 120V.
So bottom would 108V up to 132V.
However for BEST results and least wear and tear on your appliances you SHOULD only operate your appliances as close to the 120V or a bit ABOVE as possible.
With that said, you NEED to STOP using your A/C until you locate and fix your low voltage condition. 102 is too low and will cause the compressor to overheat.
You may want to call in an electrician to check your incoming voltages from the power company..
Chances are you may have bad wiring (corroded connections or outlet) or to light of wiring (14ga) along with to much length between the outlet and breaker panel for the load.. But you could have sagging voltage coming from the power company.
I ran into similar problem years ago when I upgraded my satellite system.. When my whole house A/C turned on the sat receiver would turn off..
After reading the sat manual I discovered that it required a min of 108V.. Plugged a meter into a outlet on the sat circuit and when the A/C turned on the voltage dropped to 105V..
I went to the breaker box and put the meter on the incoming power company service entrance wires and found the voltage was sagging from the power company..
Had the power company come in, and they noted the same problem..
They went to the transformer servicing my house and found the LINE Voltage feeding the transformer was sagging also..
They ended up installing booster transformers two miles away from my house to fix the sagging voltage.. The power company told me that the lines needed upgraded due to the increased demand from all the new homes that had been built over the years.. So far I have never seen the power company change the lines and the boosters are still in place.
So bottom would 108V up to 132V.
However for BEST results and least wear and tear on your appliances you SHOULD only operate your appliances as close to the 120V or a bit ABOVE as possible.
With that said, you NEED to STOP using your A/C until you locate and fix your low voltage condition. 102 is too low and will cause the compressor to overheat.
You may want to call in an electrician to check your incoming voltages from the power company..
Chances are you may have bad wiring (corroded connections or outlet) or to light of wiring (14ga) along with to much length between the outlet and breaker panel for the load.. But you could have sagging voltage coming from the power company.
I ran into similar problem years ago when I upgraded my satellite system.. When my whole house A/C turned on the sat receiver would turn off..
After reading the sat manual I discovered that it required a min of 108V.. Plugged a meter into a outlet on the sat circuit and when the A/C turned on the voltage dropped to 105V..
I went to the breaker box and put the meter on the incoming power company service entrance wires and found the voltage was sagging from the power company..
Had the power company come in, and they noted the same problem..
They went to the transformer servicing my house and found the LINE Voltage feeding the transformer was sagging also..
They ended up installing booster transformers two miles away from my house to fix the sagging voltage.. The power company told me that the lines needed upgraded due to the increased demand from all the new homes that had been built over the years.. So far I have never seen the power company change the lines and the boosters are still in place.
