How can I determine the age of a GE (General Electric) gas furnace or air conditioner from the serial number?
- Ge Transformer Serial Number Lookup
- Ge Transformer Serial Numbers Diagram
- Ge Transformer Serial Number Lookup
- Ge Transformer Serial Number Code
Thursday, June 14, 2018
PCB transformers PCB transformers (Fig. 2) may carry a PCB trade name on the manufacturer nameplate. The regulations require the assumption 'that a transformer manufactured prior to July 2, 1979, that contains.fluid other than mineral oil and whose concentration is not established, is a PCB Transformer' and contains 500 ppm PCBs. Mar 11, 2013 Pre 1965 GE did not use date codes. Post 1965 they had-xxxx letters and that combination told the manufacture plant and date. That is possibly PCB containing so watch out. Westinghouse is the first two numbers FYI.
Very, Very Old
Directv player mac os x. If the unit has a GE nameplate, you don't have to decode the serial number to get an answer: very, very old, at least 30+ years. General Electric sold their division that manufactured central heating and air conditioning equipment to Trane and ceased production in the 1980s. We have not come across a GE condenser in the last five years, but occasionally see a corroded gas or electric furnace still in chugging along—like this one we inspected yesterday.
General Electric used several different letter and number formats over the years, but the all-numerical versions had one thing in common. A single number indicated the last digit of the year of manufacture, which forces you to guess the decade by looking at the condition of the equipment.
All2mp3. The serial number format for the furnace data plate shown above uses the last three digits of the serial number for the year and week of manufacture, with the third from last being the year and final two numbers are the week. So '740' means this unit was produced in the 40th week of 1967, 1977, or 1987. We suspect it was 1977 because the home was built in 1978 and the furnace appears to be original equipment; but, either way, our all-purpose answer of 'very, very old if it's GE' still holds true.
For the age of another brand or manufacturer, go to our blog postHow do I determine the age of my air conditioner?
To determine other key specs of your HVAC system, see one of these other blog posts:
• How can I find out the SEER of my air conditioner?
• How can I tell whether the condenser (outdoor unit) is an air conditioner or heat pump?
• How can I find out the size of my air conditioner?
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
To learn more about heating and air conditioning systems, see these other blog posts:
• My air conditioner won't turn on. What's wrong?
Reigns: collectors edition for mac. • Where is the air filter for my central air conditioner and furnace? I can't find it?
• Does an old air conditioner use more electricity as it ages?
• How did homes stay cool in Florida before air conditioning?
• What is wrong with an air conditioner when the air flow out of the vents is low?
• Why has the thermostat screen gone blank?
• Why does it take so long to cool a house when an air conditioner has been off for a while?
• Why is my air conditioner not cooling enough?
• What are the most common problems with wall/window air conditioners?
• Will closing doors reduce my heating and cooling costs?
Visit our HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING page for other related blog posts on this subject, or go to the INDEX for a complete listing of all our articles.
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Transformer nameplates contain several standard items of information and other optional information. Transformer nameplate must specify the following parameters:
- Volt-Ampere (VA) or kilovolt-amperes (kVA) rating
- The voltage rating of both the primary and secondary circuits
- The impedance rating of the transformer (normally restricted to 25 kVA or larger)
- The required clearances for transformers with ventilated openings
- The amount and kind of insulating liquid where used.
- On dry-type transformers (no liquid coolant or insulation), the nameplate listing must also include the class temperature rating of the winding insulation.
Fig.1: Transformer Nameplate
Transformer kVA Rating
The nameplate always indicates the size of the transformer in terms of how much apparent power (rated kVA) it is designed to deliver to the load on a continuous basis. By its very nature, the transformer will have more than one rated voltage, depending on which side we are looking at and how many windings there are on that side.
Transformer Voltage Ratings
The following is a list of some conventions for specifying transformer voltage ratings:
U-W
The dash between the voltages U and W indicates they are on different sides of the transformer. For example 480—120 tells us the primary winding is rated 480 V and the secondary is rated 120 V.
U/W
The slash indicates the two voltages are from the same winding and that both voltages are available;
- g., 120/240 can indicate a 240 volt winding with a center tap.
U×W
The cross indicates a two-part winding that can be connected in series or parallel to give higher voltage or current, respectively. Only one voltage is available at a time; e.g., 120×40 indicates the transformer can operate at 120 V or 240 V, but not both simultaneously.
U Y/W
The Y indicates a three-phase winding connected in a wye configuration. The first letter (U) is the line voltage and the second letter (W) is the phase voltage (line to neutral). Clearly, U=√3 W. Examples include 208Y/ 120 and 480Y/277.
Transformer Rated Frequency
The rated frequency will also be indicated on the nameplate (usually 60 Hz for the United States). Operating the transformer at a lower frequency will increase the core flux unless the voltage is reduced, this could cause magnetic saturation of the core and overheating due to increased hysteresis and eddy current losses.
Maximum Temperature Rise
The maximum allowable temperature rise for the transformer is also shown on the nameplate and is based on an assumed ambient temperature of 30oC.
Insulation Class
The insulation class indicates the type of transformer insulation.
Transformer Percentage Impedance
Percent impedance is a representation of the impedance of the windings referred to one side of the transformer. This number is the percentage of rated voltage that must be applied to the high side to cause rated current on the low side when the low side is shorted.
Other items that may be on the nameplate include the number of phases, a Wiring diagram, and tap-changing information.
Ge Transformer Serial Number Lookup
Transformer Nameplate Information
General Electric used several different letter and number formats over the years, but the all-numerical versions had one thing in common. A single number indicated the last digit of the year of manufacture, which forces you to guess the decade by looking at the condition of the equipment.
All2mp3. The serial number format for the furnace data plate shown above uses the last three digits of the serial number for the year and week of manufacture, with the third from last being the year and final two numbers are the week. So '740' means this unit was produced in the 40th week of 1967, 1977, or 1987. We suspect it was 1977 because the home was built in 1978 and the furnace appears to be original equipment; but, either way, our all-purpose answer of 'very, very old if it's GE' still holds true.
For the age of another brand or manufacturer, go to our blog postHow do I determine the age of my air conditioner?
To determine other key specs of your HVAC system, see one of these other blog posts:
• How can I find out the SEER of my air conditioner?
• How can I tell whether the condenser (outdoor unit) is an air conditioner or heat pump?
• How can I find out the size of my air conditioner?
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
To learn more about heating and air conditioning systems, see these other blog posts:
• My air conditioner won't turn on. What's wrong?
Reigns: collectors edition for mac. • Where is the air filter for my central air conditioner and furnace? I can't find it?
• Does an old air conditioner use more electricity as it ages?
• How did homes stay cool in Florida before air conditioning?
• What is wrong with an air conditioner when the air flow out of the vents is low?
• Why has the thermostat screen gone blank?
• Why does it take so long to cool a house when an air conditioner has been off for a while?
• Why is my air conditioner not cooling enough?
• What are the most common problems with wall/window air conditioners?
• Will closing doors reduce my heating and cooling costs?
Visit our HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING page for other related blog posts on this subject, or go to the INDEX for a complete listing of all our articles.
How To Look At A House
McGarry and Madsen's home inspection blog for buyers of
site-built, mobile/manfuactured and modular homes
Click Below
for Links
to Collections
of Blog Posts
by Subject
Top 5 results given instantly.
Click on magnifying glass
for all search results.
Transformer nameplates contain several standard items of information and other optional information. Transformer nameplate must specify the following parameters:
- Volt-Ampere (VA) or kilovolt-amperes (kVA) rating
- The voltage rating of both the primary and secondary circuits
- The impedance rating of the transformer (normally restricted to 25 kVA or larger)
- The required clearances for transformers with ventilated openings
- The amount and kind of insulating liquid where used.
- On dry-type transformers (no liquid coolant or insulation), the nameplate listing must also include the class temperature rating of the winding insulation.
Fig.1: Transformer Nameplate
Transformer kVA Rating
The nameplate always indicates the size of the transformer in terms of how much apparent power (rated kVA) it is designed to deliver to the load on a continuous basis. By its very nature, the transformer will have more than one rated voltage, depending on which side we are looking at and how many windings there are on that side.
Transformer Voltage Ratings
The following is a list of some conventions for specifying transformer voltage ratings:
U-W
The dash between the voltages U and W indicates they are on different sides of the transformer. For example 480—120 tells us the primary winding is rated 480 V and the secondary is rated 120 V.
U/W
The slash indicates the two voltages are from the same winding and that both voltages are available;
- g., 120/240 can indicate a 240 volt winding with a center tap.
U×W
The cross indicates a two-part winding that can be connected in series or parallel to give higher voltage or current, respectively. Only one voltage is available at a time; e.g., 120×40 indicates the transformer can operate at 120 V or 240 V, but not both simultaneously.
U Y/W
The Y indicates a three-phase winding connected in a wye configuration. The first letter (U) is the line voltage and the second letter (W) is the phase voltage (line to neutral). Clearly, U=√3 W. Examples include 208Y/ 120 and 480Y/277.
Transformer Rated Frequency
The rated frequency will also be indicated on the nameplate (usually 60 Hz for the United States). Operating the transformer at a lower frequency will increase the core flux unless the voltage is reduced, this could cause magnetic saturation of the core and overheating due to increased hysteresis and eddy current losses.
Maximum Temperature Rise
The maximum allowable temperature rise for the transformer is also shown on the nameplate and is based on an assumed ambient temperature of 30oC.
Insulation Class
The insulation class indicates the type of transformer insulation.
Transformer Percentage Impedance
Percent impedance is a representation of the impedance of the windings referred to one side of the transformer. This number is the percentage of rated voltage that must be applied to the high side to cause rated current on the low side when the low side is shorted.
Other items that may be on the nameplate include the number of phases, a Wiring diagram, and tap-changing information.
Ge Transformer Serial Number Lookup
Transformer Nameplate Information
Ge Transformer Serial Numbers Diagram
Following are the key information which are provided on the transformer nameplate from the manufacturer.
Ge Transformer Serial Number Lookup
| Serial number | Number of phases |
| Frequency | Voltage rating |
| kVA Rating | Temperature Rise |
| Polarity | Percentage Impedance |
| Connection Diagram | Name of Manufacturer |
| Type of insulating liquid | Conductor Material for each Winding |
| Basic Insulation Level (BIL) | Total Weight (kg) |
Ge Transformer Serial Number Code
