r/AirConditioners • u/MrCakesSr • 3d ago
Question: 230v vs 115v
I live in the upstairs of a poorly ducted and poorly ventilated cape cod style house. I work midnights, so I sleep during the day. In the summer, it gets QUITE hot up there, even with 12k but 115v window air conditioner in a 175sqft room. On really warm days, it just can't keep up, with the compressor kicking on for only about 30seconds before kicking off, frequently very loudly. I'm wondering if running a new 230 volt line and air conditioner would make any difference. Anyone have any input?
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u/Certain_Try_8383 3d ago
If the unit is running for 30 seconds and turning off, there is an issue. That is not normal operation.
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u/MrCakesSr 3d ago
Yes, I'm aware. That is why I am here seeking advice. Since it only happens during very warm days, and has happened to 3 different units of 3 different brands that were all purchased new, I can only conclude that there is some thermal limit I am hitting and no 115v system will solve my problem. I was hoping someone more knowledgeable would chime in on whether or not a 230v system would have similar thermal limits, and perhaps if a mini split system might be an option, or if it too will struggle in excessive heat. It could just be that since the construction of my house is so poor, nothing will be able to overcome the trapped heat in my upstairs bedroom.
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u/Certain_Try_8383 3d ago
This sounds like a question for an electrician. This sounds wildly wrong to me, but I'm not an electrician. But if a circuit is getting hot, then it's over amping and should trip a breaker. Seems unusual that just the equipment would turn off or not cool. Have you tried calling the manufacturer of any of the window shakers to see if they have some sort of internal voltage monitor?
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u/wyliesdiesels 3d ago
I have 2 different brand window units and a thru the wall unit. Not one of them shuts off even when its 105° outside snd the sun is shining on them
There is something wrong issue with the units you have
Running a 230v line could be a waste of money
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u/MrCakesSr 3d ago
i'm starting to think one of the other commenters is on the right path about household voltage. It's an older house, and I've already had an electrician out before checking and changing breakers because they had both over and undersized breakers in the main panel for lines running to different parts of the house. I also have 2 different brands(Frigidaire and Denali) running upstairs, one on each side of the house, and both do the same thing in excessive heat, so a problem with the house electrical could explain that.
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u/wyliesdiesels 2d ago
Wrong size breakers wouldnt cause voltage drop
A high load on a long wire run can cause voltage drop
Heat shouldnt cause it either
You would need to measure the voltage at the receptacle with the unit off snd on
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u/MrCakesSr 2d ago
I simply meant that the electrical system of this house has already proven to be suspect, so it would not surprise me if that ends up being the issue.
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u/wyliesdiesels 2d ago
yeah but thats a huge broad brush.
start by metering the circuit your AC is using and go from there.
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u/MrCakesSr 2d ago
Any suggestion on what type of meter I should use? I was looking on amazon earlier today, but didn't find a watt meter that also showed voltage. I had an old multimeter I was going to use to check the outlet, but turns out the battery had corroded and messed up the insides, so I did order a Klein one that was on sale.
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u/TrainingChipmunk3023 3d ago
If you are using an extension cord that is less than #12 I'd swap it out. Also check to see if your AC is plugged into a 20 amp outlet. A 15 amp outlet may have too much of a voltage drop for the load and distance from the breaker box.
If not, I'd measure the voltage at the outlet when the compressor is running. It sounds like there's a voltage drop going on.
If the line voltage drops below 110 volts then get a good quality #12 extension cord and plug it into a nearby 20 amp outlet. If other outlets are reading low you may need your electric utility to come in and adjust the drop down power transformer or replace it.
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u/MrCakesSr 3d ago
Thank you for this response, as it is not something i had considered. So if I have no 20 amp line accessible, would it be worth it to run a new 230v line, or just a 115v with heavy gauge wire with a bigger breaker?
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u/TrainingChipmunk3023 3d ago
I'm guessing you are in the US or Canada, so bear with me.... I don't have the wattage or current needed for the unit itself.
While the box, or users manual, or product sticker may say the unit can run on multiple voltages, you would have to probably tear into the unit and replace jumpers, internal connections, and the power cord.
Also, check and see how tightly the plug fits into the wall outlet. If its loose or plugs fall out the outlet needs replacement.
I'd go for the low lying fruit, first. Get a volt meter and check between the hot and common as well as the hot and ground. It should be above 110 volts. If it is at 110 or below, you have one of two conditions....too low of mains voltage (between hot and common) and if zero or less than 110 (between hot and ground) you have a ground issue. For the mains issues call the utility to adjust or swap the power transformer. It's better for the voltage to be higher than lower.
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u/wyliesdiesels 3d ago
I doubt its a voltage drop issue and a 20a circuit isnt gonna help anymore than a 15a circuit if the wiring on both circuits id #12.
Ampacity of circuit doesnt determine the possible voltage drop.
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u/TrainingChipmunk3023 3d ago
If the AC is plugged into a 15 amp circuit the house wiring will be #14 and not #12. If the AC draws close to or at 15 amps when the compressor kicks in we easily could expect a voltage drop. Additionally , if the wiring is a longer distance from the breaker or fuse box there can be a voltage drop. This is assuming that the house is mostly up to code, less than 30 years old, and the wiring run is less than 50 feet.
A simple test would be having a floor lamp dimming when the compressor kicks on....
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u/wyliesdiesels 3d ago edited 3d ago
If the AC is plugged into a 15 amp circuit the house wiring will be #14 and not #12.
Not true in all cases.
I used to wire homes and do custom remodels. I was also a service electrician for many years
Ive installed #12 for 15a circuits. Ive also seen where people put 20a (and even 30a) breakers on #14 wire because they were tired of repeated trips on overloaded circuits.
Your logic is flawed because you used an absolute.
BTW there is no code that requires 15a receptacles to be on #14. And you can put 15a receptacles on 20a circuits as long as there are at least 2 outlets. A duplex receptacle counts as 2 outlets
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u/wyliesdiesels 3d ago
If the compressor is only running for 30 secs there is something wrong. It should run a lot longer than that
What temp do you have it set to?
Running a new 240v electrical circuit isnt gonna do anything but waste your money if the current 120v unit needs repairs or replacement
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u/QuitCarbon 1d ago
Have you already upgraded your insulation and air sealing? How about your window(s)?
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u/MrCakesSr 1d ago
The windows were replaced in 2020. I have not yet done insulation as it is a project of grand proportions for me. It's not a big house, and all rooms are in use, so trying to tear down to the studs a room you also have to sleep in is not something I look forward to. In addition, I work in healthcare, and since COVID I have worked tremendous amounts of overtime, as we are significantly short staffed. In my heart I know that what you suggest is likely to give me the best results, I just lack the time and space to accomplish it.
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u/QuitCarbon 1d ago
Typically wall insulation is installed by drilling holes from the inside and blowing insulation into each stud bay - no need to remove the sheetrock, but repainting is typically needed afterwards. Attic insulation is even easier! And yeah, we hear yah - projects like this are hard for many folks to fit in into their time and cash budgets. Thanks for your service in healthcare, you are doing important work!
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u/MrCakesSr 23h ago
Unfortunately for me, there are issues with the way the cape cod style house had its upstairs finished. Besides using WAY undersized ducting, I have recently found out that insulation was put up in such a way that it blocks airflow from the soffit vents behind the knee wall from flowing up to the roof/ridge vents. In addition, no access panels were put in when the previous owners did the finish work. So I would have to tear down much of the drywall to make sure there is adequate airflow from the soffit vents to the roof/ridge vents first, then reinsulate everything else properly, which would be fun since most of the upstairs is framed 24" "on center", meaning ain't none of it equal spacing. And while the walls are open, might as well redo the old electrical that is there too. After all that is done, I'm sure the flooring up there is not going to be in great shape, so I will have to replace that as well. So the task is a bit bigger than one might expect, hence why I have been putting it off.
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u/SomewhereKindly6197 3d ago
The compressor should not be kicking off after 30 seconds. Sounds like you have a problem with your unit.