DU Electrician-types, help identify this plug

[Lyric]

The plug on our air conditioner looks like this, and plugs into a separate, dedicated line with its own circuit breaker and such. Since there are no other outlets anywhere close to that window, any replacement AC *must* have the same plug. The pic says that it's a 115v plug, but that seems crazy...the AC is a 24,000 BTU window/wall AC, and 115v seems awfully small to be pulling that kind of current.

So can anyone tell me for sure what this is, and what I need to look for in a replacement AC that will plug into the same outlet that this one did? Thanks so much in advance. :hug:

[ornotna]

1. 20 Amp

115/120 volt. Needs to be plugged into a 20 Amp circuit.

[Lyric]

2. Duly noted.

And thank you. :hug:

[ornotna]

7. Also

If it is a dedicated circuit, and you have room in the panel you can change it to 220 volts and get a bigger ac unit if need be.

[Lyric]

8. I think it might already be changed to that

because the AC we're replacing was 24,000 BTUs, and I can't seem to find any 115v ACs higher than 15,000 BTUs. But I'm not sure how to tell.

[ornotna]

10. 24,000 BTU

Then yes it is probably is a 230V unit. Home Depot has them for around $400.

[Lyric]

14. Okay, we took the front face thingy off of the air conditioner and looked

and it says that it's a 230 volt AC. So...if we were shopping online, without an actual plug to examine, what would we look for in the specs that would tell us for sure that a particular model was a 230v AC with a plug shaped like that? I've been looking, and I've found a few that say they're 230/208 volts, 20 amps, with a "t-blade" plug--is that the kind of plug I have?

I'm so sorry to be a pest, but you seem to know what you're talking about, which kinda makes you my New Best Friend, lol.

This is an example of what I'm looking at:

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_04275251000P?vName=Appliances&cName=Air+Conditioners&sName=Large+Capacity+Units

[ornotna]

15. Yes, that is a t-blade plug

The ac you linked to should work just fine.

You're not a pest, glad to help.

[Lyric]

16. I can't thank you enough.

I'm such a dork about electrical stuff. At least now I know what to look for.

THANK you! :hug:

[madeline_con]

3. It's a 250 volt plug.

Most smaller stuff is 110, except the range.

That's why it has it's own supply and breaker. AC units that require them come with that type plug. Worry not, my friend. :)

[Lyric]

4. Okay, now I'm confused. The guy above you said

it's a 115 volt plug.

Eeek!

[Orrex]

6. Shows what I know--I would have said 220 volt

Like a stove or a dryer.

:shrug:

[Guava Jelly]

19. I agree It is 250 v plug

20a 250v I would guess.
I just looked at one that looks exactly like it in my shop a second ago

[Orrex]

5. If you twist the one on the right 90 degrees with a pair of pliers, you can use a regular outlet

Kidding! If you actually take that stupid advice, you're even more foolish than I am!

[AlCzervik]

9. what brand of a/c it is, maybe you could look up the plug type.

[Lyric]

13. It's a Whirlpool. The model # is ACQ244XL1

I can't find much about it, other than the users manual, but I didn't see anything about the plug.

[ornotna]

11. This is the 230 Volt version

easy to get them mixed up.

[Lyric]

12. Oh man...that looks like ours too.

Lemme see if I can drag the laptop over there and snag a webcam picture of it.

[LeftyFingerPop]

17. Deleted...maybe the wrong advice. Sorry. n/t

[pokerfan]

18. Look it up here

http://www.stayonline.com/reference-nema-straight-blade.aspx

[conscious evolution]

20. As an electrician

I have seen that type of plug used in both 120 vac and 240 vac configurations.

Check the circuit breaker that supplies it.If it is a two pole breaker(two swithches connected with a small bar or a breaker that takes up two spaces in panel) it is 220 vac.
If it is controlled by a single pole breaker it is a 120 vac plug.

My advice is run to radio shack and buy a cheap voltage testor.If you plug into the wrong voltage plug it will ruin your ac unit and may even cause a fire.