Carrier · model number decoder
Carrier WeatherMaster 50HC
Carrier's high-efficiency WeatherMaster cooling rooftop (50HC), 3 to 12.5 tons, with R-410A and optional factory electric heat. Some techs still call it a WeatherMaker; the 18-character model tells you electric heat, cooling staging, tonnage, fan, coils, controls, economizer and voltage.
Electric cooling packaged rooftop, optional factory electric heat · 3–12.5 tons · R-410A
Model numbers starting 50HC.
Quick answers
- Tonnage from the model number
50HCBE09A2A6A0A3B0is a 8.5-ton unit: characters 7–8,09, are the nominal size.04= 3 tons05= 4 tons06= 5 tons07= 6 tons08= 7.5 tons09= 8.5 tons11= 10 tons12= 10 tons14= 12.5 tonsSource: 50HC-4-14-09PD, page 3.
- Factory filters by tonnage
3 tons (2) 16 x 25 x 2 in. 4–5 tons (4) 16 x 16 x 2 in. 6 tons (4) 16 x 20 x 2 in. 7.5–10 tons (4) 20 x 20 x 2 in. 12.5 tons (6) 18 x 24 x 2 in. Source: 50HC-4-14-09PD, pages 7, 9; 50HC-4-14-06PD, page 13. Check the rack before ordering; filters get changed over the years.
- Age from the serial number
We haven’t found a Carrier document that explains how to date this family’s serial number, so we don’t decode it. Other ways to tell a rooftop unit’s age
Sizes and filter sizes
| Size code | Nominal tons | Return-air filters |
|---|---|---|
| 04 | 3 | (2) 16 x 25 x 2 in. |
| 05 | 4 | (4) 16 x 16 x 2 in. |
| 06 | 5 | (4) 16 x 16 x 2 in. |
| 07 | 6 | (4) 16 x 20 x 2 in. |
| 08 | 7.5 | (4) 20 x 20 x 2 in. |
| 09 | 8.5 | (4) 20 x 20 x 2 in. |
| 11 | 10 | (4) 20 x 20 x 2 in. |
| 12 | 10 | (4) 20 x 20 x 2 in. |
| 14 | 12.5 | (6) 18 x 24 x 2 in. |
Source: 50HC-4-14-09PD, pages 3, 7, 9; 50HC-4-14-06PD, page 13. Factory filter sizes. Check the rack before ordering; filters get changed over the years.
Carrier WeatherMaster 50HC model number nomenclature
Example: 50HCBE09A2A6A0A3B0. Select a position to jump to its codes.
Position 1–2 Unit heat type
| 50 | Electric heat packaged rooftop (cooling, with or without factory electric heat) |
|---|
50HC-4-14-09PD, page 3
Position 3–4 Model series
| HC | WeatherMaster, high efficiency |
|---|
50HC-4-14-09PD, page 3
Position 5 Electric heat
| - | No factory electric heat |
|---|---|
| A | Low electric heat |
| B | Medium electric heat |
| C | High electric heat |
50HC-4-14-09PD, page 3
Position 6 Refrigeration system
| A | One-stage cooling |
|---|---|
| B | One-stage cooling with Humidi-MiZer |
| D | Two-stage cooling |
| E | Two-stage cooling with Humidi-MiZer |
| F | One-stage cooling with low-ambient control |
| G | Two-stage cooling with low-ambient control |
50HC-4-14-09PD, page 3
Position 7–8 Nominal cooling size
| 04 | 3 tons |
|---|---|
| 05 | 4 tons |
| 06 | 5 tons |
| 07 | 6 tons |
| 08 | 7.5 tons |
| 09 | 8.5 tons |
| 11 | 10 tons, 12.0 EER version |
| 12 | 10 tons, 11.7 EER version |
| 14 | 12.5 tons |
50HC-4-14-09PD, page 3
Position 9 Sensor options
| A | None |
|---|---|
| B | Return-air smoke detector |
| C | Supply-air smoke detector |
| D | Return- and supply-air smoke detectors |
| E | CO₂ sensor |
| F | Return-air smoke detector and CO₂ |
| G | Supply-air smoke detector and CO₂ |
| H | Return- and supply-air smoke detectors and CO₂ |
| J | Condensate overflow switch (electromechanical controls only) |
| K | Condensate overflow switch and return-air smoke detector |
| L | Condensate overflow switch and return- and supply-air smoke detectors |
50HC-4-14-09PD, page 3
Position 10 Indoor fan
| 0 | Direct-drive X13 motor (sizes 04–06 only) |
|---|---|
| 1 | Belt drive, standard static (sizes 07–14 only) |
| 2 | Belt drive, medium static |
| 3 | Belt drive, high static |
| C | Belt drive, high static with high-efficiency motor (size 14 only) |
50HC-4-14-09PD, page 3
Position 11 Coil options (outdoor – indoor – hail guard)
| A | RTPF Al/Cu – Al/Cu |
|---|---|
| B | RTPF precoat Al/Cu – Al/Cu |
| C | RTPF e-coat Al/Cu – Al/Cu |
| D | RTPF e-coat Al/Cu – e-coat Al/Cu |
| E | RTPF Cu/Cu – Al/Cu |
| F | RTPF Cu/Cu – Cu/Cu |
| M | RTPF Al/Cu – Al/Cu, louvered hail guard |
| N | RTPF precoat Al/Cu – Al/Cu, louvered hail guard |
| P | RTPF e-coat Al/Cu – Al/Cu, louvered hail guard |
| Q | RTPF e-coat Al/Cu – e-coat Al/Cu, louvered hail guard |
| R | RTPF Cu/Cu – Al/Cu, louvered hail guard |
| S | RTPF Cu/Cu – Cu/Cu, louvered hail guard |
50HC-4-14-09PD, page 3
Position 12 Voltage
| 1 | 575-3-60 |
|---|---|
| 3 | 208/230-1-60, single phase |
| 5 | 208/230-3-60 |
| 6 | 460-3-60 |
50HC-4-14-09PD, page 3
Position 13 Design revision
| A | Factory design revision |
|---|
50HC-4-14-09PD, page 3
Position 14 Base unit controls
| 0 | Electromechanical controls (W7212 economizer compatible, no fault detection) |
|---|---|
| 1 | PremierLink controller |
| 2 | RTU Open multi-protocol controller |
| 6 | Electromechanical with 2-speed fan and W7220 economizer controller (fault detection) |
| D | ComfortLink controls |
50HC-4-14-09PD, page 3
Position 15 Intake / exhaust
| A | None |
|---|---|
| B | Temperature economizer with barometric relief |
| F | Enthalpy economizer with barometric relief |
| K | 2-position damper |
| Q | EnergyX energy recovery ventilator only |
| R | EnergyX and economizer (ComfortLink controls) |
| S | EnergyX with frost protection (ComfortLink controls) |
| T | EnergyX, economizer and frost protection (ComfortLink controls) |
| U | Low-leak temperature economizer with barometric relief |
| W | Low-leak enthalpy economizer with barometric relief |
50HC-4-14-09PD, page 3
Position 16 Service options
| 0 | None |
|---|---|
| 1 | Unpowered convenience outlet |
| 2 | Powered convenience outlet |
| 3 | Hinged panels |
| 4 | Hinged panels and unpowered convenience outlet |
| 5 | Hinged panels and powered convenience outlet |
| C | Foil-faced insulation |
| D | Foil-faced insulation and unpowered convenience outlet |
| E | Foil-faced insulation and powered convenience outlet |
| F | Foil-faced insulation and hinged panels |
| G | Foil-faced insulation, hinged panels and unpowered convenience outlet |
| H | Foil-faced insulation, hinged panels and powered convenience outlet |
50HC-4-14-09PD, page 3
Position 17 Electrical options
| A | None |
|---|---|
| B | HACR breaker |
| C | Non-fused disconnect |
| D | Thru-the-base connections |
| E | HACR breaker and thru-the-base connections |
| F | Non-fused disconnect and thru-the-base connections |
| G | 2-speed indoor fan (VFD) controller |
| H | 2-speed fan controller (VFD) and HACR breaker |
| J | 2-speed fan controller (VFD) and non-fused disconnect |
| K | 2-speed fan controller (VFD) and thru-the-base connections |
| L | 2-speed fan controller (VFD), HACR breaker and thru-the-base connections |
| M | 2-speed fan controller (VFD), non-fused disconnect and thru-the-base connections |
50HC-4-14-09PD, page 3
Position 18 Packaging and seismic
| 0 | Standard |
|---|---|
| 1 | LTL |
| 3 | California seismic compliant (OSHPD) |
| 4 | California seismic compliant (OSHPD) and LTL |
50HC-4-14-09PD, page 3
Notes and limits
- Filter sizes are the factory return-air filters from the physical data tables. Confirm against the rack in the unit; a previous contractor may have changed the filter arrangement.
- Size 05 filters: Carrier's 2022 product data prints (1) 16 x 16 x 2 in., which looks like a misprint. The 2016 edition lists (4) 16 x 16 x 2 in., the same as size 06, and that is what we show. Check the rack.
- Design revision (position 13): Carrier's product data lists only A. If the nameplate shows another character there, the decoder flags that one position and reads the rest normally.
- Sizes 11 and 12 are both 10 tons. Carrier notes that both need Staged Air Volume (the 2-speed indoor fan) to meet the DOE 2018 minimum efficiency.
- Electrical options: Carrier's 2022 data says units sold in the US need the 2-speed fan (codes G to M). Codes A to F, without it, show up on export units and on older units built before that rule.
- Indoor fan code 0 (direct drive) is only on sizes 04–06, code 1 only on sizes 07–14, and code C only on size 14.
- This page covers the 3 to 12.5 ton 50HC, sizes 04–14. The 15 to 25 ton 50HC (sizes 17–28) is not covered.
- No serial-number decoder: the Carrier 50HC documents we checked do not state the serial format.
- Electric heat codes A, B and C are factory-installed heaters; the model does not give kW. Read the heater's own label. On units with EnergyX, electric heat is only a field-installed accessory.
- 50HCQ is Carrier's heat pump version. Its model number reads differently and is not covered here.
Keep the model and serial with the unit
BoltWright keeps every rooftop’s model, serial, history and open findings with the building, so the next tech starts with what the last one knew. Capture works without reception.
See BoltWright →Not the one who picks the software? Send it to whoever runs the shop.
BoltWright put this page together from the manufacturer’s published documents, and we aren’t affiliated with Carrier. Check the unit’s nameplate and the current Carrier literature before you order parts.
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