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In a few other questions I posted in the troubleshooting of my AC there were comments / questions noting I should check the wiring on my breaker. To my eye, I also don't see any burning or other indicators that the breaker is the root cause and want to confirm.

The first item was around whether I could upgrade my breaker from dual 40-amp to 50-amp on my existing wiring. The response said I probably don't need it and shouldn't do it if the wires were not thick enough.

A comment in another question noted:

Inadequate wiring by definition is of a smaller gauge than required by code OR up to code but causes excessive voltage drop at the highest actual current in use. Please start a new question for recommended wire gauge, giving FLA, LRA, voltage if not 240 and distance from breaker panel to A/C disconnect using actual route the wiring takes.

Please confirm that I am looking at this correctly, but there is black wire going to one pole and black/red wire to the other pole on the breaker and seem to be on a common sheath. It appears to be labeled as 6AWG.

This should be large enough wiring for my current breaker or even if I upgraded to a 50-amp breaker (was noted as not necessary before, but would it be SAFE to do now?).

The breaker is located in my basement which is finished, I can't trace the full run but we are talking about maybe 40ft from the breaker to the outside AC unless something really weird was done. Given the nameplate FLA of 1.4 and LRA of 125 ; voltages supply 208-230, min-max permissible at unit 197-253` (photo below).

Here are the photos I took:

shot of the breaker that is impacted going into a sheath

a shot of the breaker to the sheath a bit wider

enter image description here

Nameplate on AC unit:

photo of nameplate

Updated Photos per comments #1:

specifying AA-8030 AL

XHHW-2

HelpEric
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1 Answers1

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Your cable is aluminum SEU (Service Entrance) and rated to 90°C, which only matters for thermal derate as nobody makes connectors rated above 75°C, but does mean if your connections at both ends are rated 75°C it's good for 50A. The breaker almost certainly is. (It's a HOM not a QO and I have QO not HOM is the only sliver of uncertainty there.)

While there's no obvious signs of overheating, checking the torque on all the connections would be wise (and you'll need to to that anyway if you swap the breaker out.) That would include the breaker, all connections in and out at the disconnect (and look closely at THAT for any sign of damage or poor connection) and the connections at the AC unit itself.

Ecnerwal
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