Load determines wire size. Correct. If
your wire size is smaller than 14 Gauge
copper, you can not use 15 amp breakers for
this application. It would be correct to
use fuses that protect the capacitor and
breakers to protect the wire size. If you
feed 15amps on one leg or both legs into
that capacitotr and if it should fail and it
will one day you will think a cherry bomb
went off in your ac disconnect box. Breaker
sizes match wire sizes by NEC code. 15 amp
breakers are not meant for wires smaller
than 14 AWG. The time spent to hard wire is
more than offset with dryer plug. Active or
passive. It is the same idea behind your AC
disconnect. The wire sizes are alot larger
than current the ac unit uses. The main
panel breaker protects the wire from the
panel while the breaker at the ac unit
protects the ac unit. They are two
different size breakers. Same concept with
your capacitor. Additionally, if an
inspector were to see that capacitor while
inspecting your ac disconnect, he would not
pass your application.
