Air Conditioner Circuit Breaker Calculation

What is the smallest circuit breaker that can be installed for an air conditioner drawing 19 amps?

The smallest circuit breaker that can be installed for an air conditioner drawing 19 amps is a 25 amps breaker, based on National Electric Code regulations.

Final Answer: The smallest circuit breaker that can be installed for an air conditioner drawing 19 amps is a 25 amps breaker, based on National Electric Code regulations. This accommodates for potential power surges and prevents potential overloads.

Explanation:

Based on the National Electric Code (NEC), a circuit for an appliance that draws a consistent 19 amps of current should be equipped with a circuit breaker or fuse rated at least 125% of that current, to account for potential surges and avoid circuit overloads. So multiply 19 amps by 1.25 which gives 23.75. Hence, the nearest available standard circuit breaker size that can be installed for the circuit is 25 amps. Using one less than 25 amps would potentially cause unnecessary tripping of the circuit breaker when the air conditioner is running.