How To Wire AC Unit - Easy Diagram

How to wire an HVAC AC unit. If you were to gut an air conditioner and disconnect all the wires, you could use this video as a template to wire it all back up. This is a video for a straight air conditioner though, not a heat pump. Heat pump wiring would be slightly different. I have used a diagram similar to the one I have drawn a few times before. Once in a while I will come to a 1976 air conditioner that has 4 capacitors, weird un-needed relays, a leaking start capacitor, and an old school contactor that looks nothing like the modern ones. To make things more exciting, anything I touch... Falls apart. The connectors are brittle, everything is rusted and corroded, and the customer is willing to pay for the repair instead of replacing the unit. Okay, no problem :) In those cases I would "gut" the unit. Take all that stuff out of there (besides the fan motor and compressor) and start fresh. I only put in a dual capacitor, 2 pole contactor, and a hard start kit. Then I wire it up the same way I show in the video and the old dinosaur works like a champ! :)
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📝 AC Parts Reference List:

1 Pole 30 Amp Contactor:
2 Pole 30 Amp Contactor:
SPP6 Hard Start Kit:
30+5 MFD Capacitor:
35+5 MFD Capacitor:
40+5 MFD Capacitor:
45+5 MFD Capacitor:
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Qwiklug Compressor Wire Repair Kit:
3 Amp Fuses:
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1/2 HP Blower Motor:
3/4 HP Blower Motor:
FM55 Blower Motor Bracket:
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10 MFD Capacitor:
15 MFD Capacitor:
30 Amp Disconnect Fuses:
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🛠️ Refrigeration/Air Conditioner Tools:

R22 and R410 Refrigerant Gauges:
High Side Replacement Gauge:
Low Side Replacement Gauge:
R410a Refrigerant 25lb:
Refrigeration Wrench With Hex Bit:
Tube Cutter 1/4-inch to 1-1/8-inch:
Tube Cutter 1/4-inch to 2-5/8-inch:
SuperCool Slide Rule:
Ball Valve Refrigerant Hose Set:
Low Loss Refrigerant Hose Set:
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⚠️ Disclaimer:
This video is for educational purposes. All appliance and HVAC repair work should be done by a trained professional. Word of Advice TV is not responsible for any possible damages or injuries caused by the use or misuse of the provided information.
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➡ More Videos For Further Information:

How to Wire Thermostat:
How to Wire Air Conditioner Compressor:
10 Ways to Splice Wires Together:
How to Read Furnace Wiring Diagram:
How to Read A/C Wiring Diagram:
How to Read Water Heater Wiring Diagram:
Basic Thermostat Wiring Diagram:
How to Wire Indoor Blower Motor:
How to Wire Outdoor Condenser Fan Motor:
Is Common and Ground The Same Thing:
Electrical Symbols and Meanings for Switches:
Ohm's Law Explained:

I saw this video, when you just put out there, and I must tell you, that I thank you so much, for this info. God bless you, (my youth). I NOW HAVE A HEAT PUMP SYSTEM, and live in Poinciana, FLORIDA. I can say with confidence, it is because of this video, that I am able to make a living, and help my neighbors. I have learnt thru the yrs., how to completely diagnosed, trouble shoot, and electrically fixed or repair, any heat pump system; And I do it as a COURTESY for my neighbors, who can not afford to pay. You are really one of the best out there on you tube still, thnx again.

[sabergermd]

I'm a semi-retired physician and home DIY'er. Ever since an HVAC contractor charged me over $700 to replace a $100 TACO circulator pump, I try to do my own repairs. So far I've done another TACO circulator pump (5 zones), an aquastat, two AC dual run caps, a condenser blower motor, and routine condenser coil flushing with Yellow Death . Your videos have been very helpful.

[RyanHorikoshi]

I know this video is old, but this is EXACTLY what I was looking for. My A/C unit was a mess of wires when I opened the cover. None of the wires were organized at all. The capacitor had completely blown and there were a bunch of disconnected wires I wasn't sure where they went. This is the first video I've found with the potential relay and start cap wiring mentioned AT ALL. Very well organized and easy to understand video. I've been digging all day. THANK YOU.

[jonathanallen]

Let me say to young man, you definitely saved me and my family and hopefully my electric bill. I just replace the fan motor after 13 years of living at this house. My fan motor had gone out. And i didnt take a picture or anything. And did exactly what u said. Ive had a number of ac/hvac guys. And nobody caught it. In 4 hours my ac has cooled this house 8 degrees. Never in all my years. Has it cooled liked this

[phild]

I noticed this video is 4 years old. I just want to let you know that you are appreciated. I know it’s not easy putting these videos together and it takes time- after work/off time. I wish you the best most success and thank you for paving the way for so many techs and DIYers!

[ManuelPerez-gzky]

WOW ! YOU ARE ABOUT THE ONLY INDIVIDUAL THAT HAS TAKEN THE TIME TO CLEARLY EXPLAIN HOW TO WIRE UP A SYSTEM. I HAVE WATCHED DOZENS OF VIDEOS AND EITHER THE PERSON IS HUMMING OR TALKING TO HIMSELF, NOT LOUD ENOUGH TO HEAR WHAT HE IS SAYING OR SAYING VERY LITTLE TO INFORM THE VIEWERS WHAT HE IS DOING. SOME SHOW A VIDEO IE: HOW TO INSTALL A PACKAGED UNIT AND ALL THEY DO IS SPEED UP THE VID IN HOW THEY ARE CONNECTING THE DUCT WORK, THE CONCRETE BASE, ETC. BUT NEVER SHOWING YOU STEP BY STEP LIKE YOU HAVE DONE THE CONNECTIONS FROM THE POWER DISCONNECT TO THE UNIT. THANK YOU SOO VERY MUCH FOR YOUR VID. I AM ORDERING TOMORROW A UNIT AND I WAS AFRAID IT WOULD NOT HAVE ANY INFO IN WHAT WIRE GOES WHERE AND NOW THANKS TO YOU I KNOW. AGAIN THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS !

[Liekacarlos]

I’m in school for hvac/r your videos are amazing I don’t think I would make it without your teachings your truly a blessing

[alfredo]

I’ve come full circle!
I started trying to fix my ac unit at the beginning of last year but had no idea about electrical.
I then somehow spent the rest of the year learning small electronics/dc circuits. Then deviated to ac and home wiring.
And then to now, I understand everything you said completely lol

[matthewestrada]

As a HVAC student this is such a good video. I learned a lot! it really puts the text in the book to a physical demonstration. Good video and work explaining it!

[discdonkey]

I'm going to second David Pace's comment below. Best video I've found after two days of watching HVAC videos. AC went down three days ago here in Texas and this wiring diagram perfectly matched my system. Very simple, very clear, solved all my problems with $100 in parts (capacitor and same 5-2-1 booster). The hardest part was keeping red and black wires straight. Red is Run on my system so I wanted as many wires coming off the run connector on the relay to match red as well. Excellent work on this video!

[OriginalSmoothOperator]

You saved the day for me, sir!! LONG story short- When I installed a smart thermostat at the beginning of this past winter, I apparently took off more wires than I needed to, from the thermostat hook up terminals in the furnace, thinking they were just old, unneeded thermostat wires. The heat worked fine, but the AC wouldn't turn on, and the time has finally come to address it. In the process, I messed up even more wiring and other things, including blowing a fuse, but I got that all resolved, and the AC still wouldn't turn on, not even by jumping it on the furnace's thermostat board!! I watched this, along with some of your other videos, and hearing you mention two 24V wires going from the furnace to the AC unit set me in the right direction, so, I quickly found that one of the "old sets of thermostat wires" was actually the two wires needed to control the AC unit outside, and this video told me where to connect them!! The AC works great now!! Thanks dude!! ✌️✌️😎😎

[meisamriyahin]

I'm From Iran, The most sanctioned country in the history of the world, Thanks a lot man for your generosity

[marcmaserati]

Im from The Bahamas, Im a young adult still in high school but Im practicing to major in HVAC. Thanks to you I learn more and more about this earyday. You are basically preparing me before I go to College or Trade School. Thank you alot. Blessings

[JohannnesBrahms]

The white board makes you look like a teacher. The mystery of compressor wiring finally revealed. Glad it was you who explained it to me. This is my "go to" video if I ever need a reference.

[therealsasquatch]

You helped me rewire my AC. Turns out I had a broken wire for the common and it was intermittently cutting off the 24v to the Contactor. Thank you!

[jfelix]

This video saved me today. All service companies are booked solid today, and several days out, but I was able to diagnose and fix the problem myself, thanks to your excellent presentation. Thank you!

[dsprings]

5yrs in and u definitely help me up my game! From installer to tech. Which the more I understand how it works the more naturally it all comes to me. Wish i could of worked with u first hand!! I started not even knowing how long to tear some tape. Straight to the field as installer new construction. Think classes will actually still help me? I get a kittle iffy about wiring when has all the extras and transformers and everything. Other than that i can put anything together. Build any duct and change any part as long as i took it out.

[clydebryant]

One of the best videos that explains AC wiring on YouTube.

[brianburlingame]

Yes, I have watched a few of this guys videos on u tube. I actually went to a hvac refrigeration school and pretty much learned what the key parts if the whole system the first time around Wireing to the electrical functions transformers and rolesccotrol boards take on confused me at first because the school I went taught everything electrical with low end electric down with the small end of a transformer. .Also being in Arizona, AC units were not taught with the evaporator function with blower moter from the furnace. This guy does a god job breaking down the wiring in a basic way so the more complex stuff falls into place. For knowing all common the 1 120v leg is black the other leg to other side of contactor is usually red or white. I also got from this guy how the start on the compressor is wired to herm/compressor other capacitor. Jason explains this well, making it much easier tofoow the other connections. Hope he keeps doing these, ha broadened my understanding. Thanks Jason!