[davidwboyer]

Hello all. I recently purchased my first home. It's located in northern oklahoma. It is equipped with a Goodman HVAC unit that was installed by the previous owner and a neighbor.

For the past few days the temps here have been between 9-20 degrees Fahrenheit. This thing would put out very little heat(if any) and run constantly. I pulled the side cover off, and realized the heat strip isn't even hooked up. The heat strip is also a Goodman MFG Mod# HKR-2CB

My main breaker box is rated 200amp and is located at the far East end of the house. There is a 100amp rated sub at the far West end of the house 55'-60' away. The wire between these is AWG 6 copper. Then there is approx 8' of AWG 6 from the sub to the unit. This is how it is currently wired up.

I would like to make this setup work as good as possible for the next few months as that is the soonest ill be able to replace the system. Going with propane.
My questions are;
Can I hook this heat strip to this sub?
Do I need a smaller heat strip?
Can I hook up half of the heat strip?
Are the wire sizes adequate?

Thank you for taking the time to read this and I hope it made sense.

 

[sammy37]

The heat kit in that unit is a lot bigger than what I would want to use and definately cannot be used with your setup but either way, having only 6AWG wire limits you on pretty much using anything with a heat kit.

If were me, I would leave what you already have for wiring and run another 6 AWG, line 50 amp breaker from the main box for a heat strip circuit but it wouldnt be enough to run what you have in there now, you would need to go with a smaller heat kit, something like an 8KW.

 

[davidwboyer]

Thanks for the advice Sammy. I will get that done. Should work until I get the unit replaced. Then I'll use the circuit for an external outlet.

 

[beenthere]

For temp use. I'd probably just run another 6 gauge to it and only wire in 10KW of that 20 KW package.

 

[mrairflow]

use the 6 wire to run 10 kw of heat and run a new 10 wire for the unit to run on. i would not go with propane unless it is duel fuel

 

[sammy37]

use the 6 wire to run 10 kw of heat and run a new 10 wire for the unit to run on. i would not go with propane unless it is duel fuel

His main panel is 60 feet away, I would think number 10 would be a little on the light side for a 4 ton unit.

 

[fy171]

looks like to me you have number 6 awg at the ac allready

 

[davidwboyer]

looks like to me you have number 6 awg at the ac allready

Yes, but that doesn't seem adequate to run the compressor AND heat strip at the same time. That's my dilemma. But I could be wrong.

 

[beenthere]

Its only enough to run the heat pump and 5KW of aux heat at the same time.