Heat pump, HVAC, and mini-split circuits in Denver
Heating and cooling equipment gets wired to its nameplate, not to a rule of thumb, and the circuit has to match what that plate says.
Air conditioning and heat pump equipment is wired to two numbers printed on the unit: minimum circuit ampacity, which sets the conductor size, and maximum overcurrent protection, which caps the breaker. The breaker is often larger than a conductor of that size would normally allow, because compressors draw heavy inrush at startup and the overcurrent device has to ride through it without tripping. A disconnecting means goes within sight of the outdoor unit so a technician can kill power at the equipment itself.
Mini-splits add a wrinkle, since most systems feed the indoor heads from the outdoor unit and one circuit serves the whole setup, sized from the outdoor nameplate rather than the head count. Electric heat is the bigger planning item. A heat pump with electric backup, or a resistance system serving the whole house, can push an older service past what it can carry, so the load calculation comes before anyone commits to equipment.
does a mini split need its own circuit?
Yes. Mini-splits run on a dedicated circuit sized from the outdoor unit's nameplate, and manufacturer instructions, which are enforceable as part of the equipment listing, effectively always call for one. Sharing a general-purpose circuit invites tripping on compressor startup.
how far can the AC disconnect be from the unit?
It has to be within sight of the equipment and readily accessible, which in practice means the wall beside the condenser or a nearby post. Within sight is a defined term in the code: visible from the equipment and not more than fifty feet away.
can my existing panel handle a heat pump?
A load calculation answers that, not a guess. Heat pumps with electric backup heat are among the largest loads in a house, and whether the existing service carries one depends on the service size, the other fixed appliances, and what the calculation shows once the existing load is counted.
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