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
You can run the AC with most units at voltages down to 90 VAC but they will run hotter and have a shorter duty cycle. For an extension cord use the shortest one that will work and 14ga or greater and you should be OK.
Voltage drop is a function of voltage, distance, and the surface area of a cross section of the wire. At 120 volts it is at distances greater than 50 feet or gauges smaller than 16 where you will have problems.
For example with 115 VAC and a 100 foot 14 awg extension cord the voltage drop is 9%. But a 25 foot 14 awg cord will result in only a 2.3% drop in voltage. With a 50 foot long 16 awg extension cord the voltage drop will be 7.3% and half that or 3.6% if using a 25 foot 16 awg long cord. Easier to minimize the voltage drop by using as short a cord as possible rather than scaling up the gauge cord used.
Voltage drop is a function of voltage, distance, and the surface area of a cross section of the wire. At 120 volts it is at distances greater than 50 feet or gauges smaller than 16 where you will have problems.
For example with 115 VAC and a 100 foot 14 awg extension cord the voltage drop is 9%. But a 25 foot 14 awg cord will result in only a 2.3% drop in voltage. With a 50 foot long 16 awg extension cord the voltage drop will be 7.3% and half that or 3.6% if using a 25 foot 16 awg long cord. Easier to minimize the voltage drop by using as short a cord as possible rather than scaling up the gauge cord used.
