Softstart

RonJ

126
Ron & Pilar
OwnPC: Yes
NewUsed: Used
PurchDate: 10/2020
Model: 2552
ModelYear: 2020
Slide: Yes
IntColor: Desert Sand
ExtColor: Greystone/Custom
Location: Crossville, TN

Softstart

« on: February 17, 2021, 09:21:08 am »

Just wondering if anyone has installed a softstart on their air conditioner? If so what's your experience with it?

https://youtu.be/1BmwfelqGsY

Logged

RonJ

Phil Grennan

43
OwnPC: Yes
NewUsed: New
PurchDate: 04/2021
Model: 3100
ModelYear: 2021
Slide: Yes
IntColor: Hickory
ExtColor: Custom Grey
Location: Fort Worth, TX

Re: Softstart

« Reply #1 on: February 17, 2021, 10:01:42 am »

id wonder about warranty implications also. sounds cool.

Logged

Bangorbob

256
OwnPC: Yes
NewUsed: Used
PurchDate: 6/10/20
Model: 2350 Ford
ModelYear: 2008
Slide: Yes
IntColor: Slate Grey
ExtColor: Slate Grey
Location: Pahrump Nevada

Re: Softstart

« Reply #2 on: February 17, 2021, 10:32:56 am »

Ron, I have not installed one yet. I have read a lot of good things about around the internet, mainly other rv forums. I will probably buy and install shortly.
r/Bob

Logged

RonJ

126
Ron & Pilar
OwnPC: Yes
NewUsed: Used
PurchDate: 10/2020
Model: 2552
ModelYear: 2020
Slide: Yes
IntColor: Desert Sand
ExtColor: Greystone/Custom
Location: Crossville, TN

Re: Softstart

« Reply #3 on: February 17, 2021, 05:26:05 pm »

I wonder how long the warranty is for the air conditioner. The warranty that PC provides ends once the original purchaser sells the unit. Since I'm second owner, I have no warraty with PC.

Rob... please let us know if/when you install one.

I have a 2552 with 50AMP. If I hook up to 30AMP I can only run 1 AC. Looks like if I have the softstart on both ACs I could run them both with a 30AMP hookup.

« Last Edit: February 17, 2021, 05:28:00 pm by RonJ »

Logged

RonJ

donc13

1358
OwnPC: Yes
NewUsed: New
PurchDate: 03/2015
Model: 2551
ModelYear: 2015
Slide: Yes
IntColor: Nightscape/Hickory
ExtColor: White/Nightscape
Location: Colorado

Re: Softstart

« Reply #4 on: February 17, 2021, 08:01:57 pm »

Quote from: RonJ on February 17, 2021, 05:26:05 pm

I wonder how long the warranty is for the air conditioner. The warranty that PC provides ends once the original purchaser sells the unit. Since I'm second owner, I have no warraty with PC.

Rob... please let us know if/when you install one.

I have a 2552 with 50AMP. If I hook up to 30AMP I can only run 1 AC. Looks like if I have the softstart on both ACs I could run them both with a 30AMP hookup.

No, you can't. The 2nd AC is on an entirely separate input power leg. On a 30 amp plug, there is no connection to that power leg. To even try it, you'd have to have that power leg rewired, not a good idea at all.

BTW... For all, I had never heard of a SoftStart before. I was intrigued and did about an hour's worth of research and reviews. The SoftStart does NOT lower the power draw while the fan and compressor are running (typically 14amps). It DOES lower the surge current needed to start the compressor and that surge time is also lengthen from 1/6th of a second to 1/3rd of a second. The peak surge current drops from 52amps to 24amps. It is mostly designed for use with a generator where that type of surge can pop the generator's circuit protection. It does help where shore power is running near its limit. After that research, I decided to buy 1 ($299 right now). It'll be here Tuesday. I did that because I do "boondock" a fair amount nights and have had a few times where the generator couldn't handle both A/C and microwave if the A/C compressor kicked it. A real pain in the butt at night on a Walmart parking lot to reset the generator's circuit breaker. I figure better safe than sorry.

YMMV

« Last Edit: February 17, 2021, 08:11:30 pm by donc13 »

Logged

---
Don and Patti

RonJ

126
Ron & Pilar
OwnPC: Yes
NewUsed: Used
PurchDate: 10/2020
Model: 2552
ModelYear: 2020
Slide: Yes
IntColor: Desert Sand
ExtColor: Greystone/Custom
Location: Crossville, TN

Re: Softstart

« Reply #5 on: February 17, 2021, 08:58:58 pm »

Thanks for that info. I wasn't sure if I couldn't or shouldn't. I appreciate the clarification.
Please let us know how your installation goes.

Logged

RonJ

Volkemon

1061
OwnPC: Yes
NewUsed: Used
PurchDate: October 31, 2017
Model: 2350 Ford
ModelYear: 2006
Slide: Yes
IntColor: Light Maple
ExtColor: White
Location: Space Coast Florida

Re: Softstart

« Reply #6 on: February 18, 2021, 08:58:52 am »

Great article on the unit like we are discussing VS a $30 'Soft start/ EasyStart/etc" Capacitor

https://www.rvtravel.com/rv-electricity-hard-or-soft-start-caps/

Logged

""You want to save money on travel, drive a Prius and stay at motel 6"" Forum Member Joseph

WORD.

gandalf42

221
OwnPC: Yes
NewUsed: New
PurchDate: May.2017
Model: 2552
ModelYear: 2017
Slide: No
IntColor: Hickory/Graystone
ExtColor: 2 Tone Graystone/Nightshade
Location: Colorado

Re: Softstart

« Reply #7 on: February 18, 2021, 12:10:09 pm »

I installed an EasyStart fall 2019. The only view I have of the input current is the inverter display. Unfortunately, PC wired the inverter to be on any time there is AC incoming.

So with that in mind, the input current for the air conditioner and the inverter after the EasyStart was installed is at 17A. The inverter is probably over an amp and the converter is probably using around an amp, so the EasyStart is probably having the aircon run current close to the 14A many say it should be.

I don't have a way to measure the start up surge current.

I had installed the EasyStart as we had a Mexico trip planned for the following winter and thought it would allow me to run the aircon on the poorer Mexican hook-ups. As it was, I never trusted the connections to do that.

I also hoped that it would allow me to run the micro when running the aircon. Due to no travel since the Mexico trip, I haven't tried that as yet.

Logged

Mike & Pat Astley,

Engineerlt

Re: Softstart

« Reply #8 on: February 19, 2021, 09:21:32 am »

This probably isn't very helpful, but the Houghton AC's have a built in soft start. They use software for to control the condensing fan, evaporator fan and compressor. It actually stages the 3 pieces. It brings on the compressor, than the condensing fan and then the evaporator. When temp is reached it cycles off compressor then condensing fan. It leaves the evaporator fan running until the next call for cooling. This is one benefit, the other is that it doesn't sound like a jet engine when its operating, very quite.

Logged

Volkemon

1061
OwnPC: Yes
NewUsed: Used
PurchDate: October 31, 2017
Model: 2350 Ford
ModelYear: 2006
Slide: Yes
IntColor: Light Maple
ExtColor: White
Location: Space Coast Florida

Re: Softstart

« Reply #9 on: February 19, 2021, 10:00:27 am »

Quote from: Engineerlt on February 19, 2021, 09:21:32 am

This probably isn't very helpful, but the Houghton AC's have a built in soft start. They use software for to control the condensing fan, evaporator fan and compressor. It actually stages the 3 pieces. It brings on the compressor, than the condensing fan and then the evaporator. When temp is reached it cycles off compressor then condensing fan. It leaves the evaporator fan running until the next call for cooling. This is one benefit, the other is that it doesn't sound like a jet engine when its operating, very quite.

Another piece of handy info about Houghton AC was posted here also - RE: Running a Houghton AC while underway-

Quote from: Joseph on August 19, 2019, 11:24:34 am

That’s info direct from Frank, their shop manager. Basically the air speed moving the fans while driving at highway speeds would affect the fans balanced speed. I’m sure he would explain it better but that’s the jist of it. He did say it wouldn’t hurt the unit, just wouldn’t work. How it come up in conversation is when I saw a advanced rv unit that had another brand installed. Not sure of the brand but it might have been Coleman. Frank told me in cases where people want to run their roof ac while driving the houghton wouldn’t be the best choice. In my case that’s not an issue however I have read where owners of larger rigs need to run the roof ac while under way.

Hope that’s helps

Logged

""You want to save money on travel, drive a Prius and stay at motel 6"" Forum Member Joseph

WORD.

donc13

1358
OwnPC: Yes
NewUsed: New
PurchDate: 03/2015
Model: 2551
ModelYear: 2015
Slide: Yes
IntColor: Nightscape/Hickory
ExtColor: White/Nightscape
Location: Colorado

Re: Softstart

« Reply #10 on: February 19, 2021, 02:24:30 pm »

I have run Dometic and Coleman A/C's while driving, works well but obviously you need the genset running. I have only done that in slow driving and high (+90 deg) heat and humidity, otherwise the dash air keeps the front just fine. For me the "cost" of that is a bit more than 1 mpg. No biggie.

Logged

---
Don and Patti

donc13

1358
OwnPC: Yes
NewUsed: New
PurchDate: 03/2015
Model: 2551
ModelYear: 2015
Slide: Yes
IntColor: Nightscape/Hickory
ExtColor: White/Nightscape
Location: Colorado

Re: Softstart

« Reply #11 on: February 22, 2021, 05:00:57 pm »

If anyone is interested, the SoftStart and EasyStart are not identical. I presume they work similarly, but looking at installation instructions, the EasyStart has a 4 wire harness and the SoftStart has a 5 wire harness.

No idea if either is better than the other. They both have good reviews.

Don

Logged

---
Don and Patti

Ron Dittmer

5647
Ron and Irene
OwnPC: Yes
NewUsed: New
PurchDate: June 2007
Model: 2350 Ford
ModelYear: 2007
Slide: No
IntColor: Cherry Green&Gray
ExtColor: Full Body Gray
Location: N/E Illinois

Re: Softstart

« Reply #12 on: February 24, 2021, 08:05:04 am »

I watched THIS VIDEO of a fellow installing a Softstart in his older Coleman a/c unit. He mounted the Softstart unit horizontally with the wires coming out the side of the unit. That is a very bad idea. Any water that gets on the wires will flow down them right into the Softstart unit. Make sure to mount the unit vertically or at least at an angle so that water on the wires cannot travel into the Softstart.

That guy's particular Coleman a/c unit, his cover has ventilation louvers near the wires. Wind-driven rain could drench his wires and prematurely kill his Softstart.

« Last Edit: February 24, 2021, 08:12:03 am by Ron Dittmer »

Logged

Ron (& Irene) Dittmer

Bangorbob

256
OwnPC: Yes
NewUsed: Used
PurchDate: 6/10/20
Model: 2350 Ford
ModelYear: 2008
Slide: Yes
IntColor: Slate Grey
ExtColor: Slate Grey
Location: Pahrump Nevada

Re: Softstart

« Reply #13 on: February 26, 2021, 10:22:13 am »

I recieved my micro air easy start yesterday. Will be installing after I install maxair vent covers. BTW- I do not like the attached ladder. I already removed the bottom half. Am thinking about removing the rest.

Logged

Ron Dittmer

5647
Ron and Irene
OwnPC: Yes
NewUsed: New
PurchDate: June 2007
Model: 2350 Ford
ModelYear: 2007
Slide: No
IntColor: Cherry Green&Gray
ExtColor: Full Body Gray
Location: N/E Illinois

Re: Softstart

« Reply #14 on: February 26, 2021, 05:32:07 pm »

Quote from: Bangorbob on February 26, 2021, 10:22:13 am

BTW- I do not like the attached ladder. I already removed the bottom half. Am thinking about removing the rest.

You and I are in the minority. Everyone else likes their ladder and I am happy for them.

I ordered our PC with the roof rack and ladder placed inside the house as a kit, just in-case I later changed my mind. I sold them just last year. I like the clean look without all that and in my particular case, I avoided all the drilled holes in the rear wall and roof. At home I use a 10 foot step ladder. So far during trips, I have never had a reason to go on the roof. I got close to buying a telescoping ladder to have on-hand, but I backed out before reaching the cash register.

Logged

Ron (& Irene) Dittmer