A packaged terminal air conditioner, or PTAC, is a ductless, self-contained air conditioning unit that heats and cools small areas. PTACs are most commonly seen under the windows of many of the hotels and motels across the country.
A number of factors influence which plug is right for your PTAC.
There are a total of six air conditioner plug types for PTACs, as seen in the receptacle type chart. They’re based on electrical voltage and amperage.
Most larger hotels generally run on 265 volts, while smaller hotels are generally 230 volts.
PTAC air conditioners come in different sizes, which are determined by the BTU rating. While they’re sized based on the cooling power, the amperage that powers the heat determines the unit’s voltage.
There are three standard heating sizes for both 230 volt and 265 volt PTACs:
- 2.5 kw, which requires a 15 amp power cord
- 3.5 kw, which requires a 20 amp power cord
- 5.0 kw, which requires a 30 amp power cord
The most common PTAC unit is 20 amps, which gives a PTAC unit the power needed to put out about 11,500 BTUs of heat.
Air Conditioning Plug Styles
The easiest way to identify an air conditioning plug is by looking at it. The blades for a 265 volt plug are always crow footed, angled blades. The plugs for the 230 volts are always parallel, never angled.
The plugs for each amperage also look slightly different, as can be seen in the receptacle chart type below.
Whether you’re heating or cooling individual rooms in a home, or commercial buildings like hotels, apartments or senior living facilities, a PTAC is a cost-effective choice. The ease of installation and lack of ductwork makes it a simple climate control option, and the cost is much less than installing an entire HVAC unit.
