AC Soft Start, Options? - Dutchmen Owners
Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×

Go Back   Dutchmen Owners > Dutchmen Technical | Towing, Maintenance and Repairs > Electrical, Batteries, Charging and Electronics
Click Here to Login
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 05-15-2019, 04:18 PM   #1
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Capron
Posts: 413
Illinois
AC Soft Start, Options?

As title suggests, Options for soft start units. Currently have an Advent, may switch it out to another brand, to reduce overall height, so want to be able to move the unit to the new one in the future.



What other brands besides Micro Air.
__________________

acdii is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-15-2019, 04:21 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Northern
Posts: 173
Indiana
I use a MicroAir Easy Start. Able to start and run my AC off a iGen 2500 generator with no issues.
__________________

Jayro88 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-15-2019, 04:39 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
wildwest450's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Sparta
Posts: 1,726
Tennessee
There is no other brand besides Micro-Air
C'mon, the thing started my 15k air conditioner with a 2000 watt generator. Plus the protection it affords to the compressor is an added bonus and completely eliminating start up noise.
__________________
2014 Aerolite 213 RBSL
2016 Chevrolet Colorado
wildwest450 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-15-2019, 04:42 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Northern
Posts: 173
Indiana
I know they also make hard start capacitors that are supposed to help, but I have always read mixed reviews on them.

Any specific reason why you are saying besides MicroAir?
Jayro88 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-15-2019, 09:50 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Green Valley
Posts: 124
Arizona
Quote:
Originally Posted by acdii View Post
As title suggests, Options for soft start units. Currently have an Advent, may switch it out to another brand, to reduce overall height, so want to be able to move the unit to the new one in the future.

What other brands besides Micro Air.
I too have an Advent and bought the MicroAir. It was an easy install. The Advent schematic on how to install the Easy Start is the 1st option on their website. One page diagram. Again, not hard at all. The only issue I had was where to put the unit. I ended up putting it over to the right of the blower motor shaft on the bottom on the ac unit. Fit right in and 3 screws hold it down.

I can easily remove the unit and put the AC back to it's original condition. Just change the wiring back. For me that would mean soldering or crimping one wire back together that I cut for the MicroAir. Easy!
__________________
2015 Sierra 1500 Denali
2014 Coleman 249RB
David Jon Devoucoux
People, Places & Things...for over 40 Years!
videoarizona is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-16-2019, 11:51 AM   #6
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Wesley Chapel
Posts: 3,051
Florida
I just don't understand why the ac manufacturers don't offer this as an option! Soft starts for the compressor and VFD's for the fans.
franktafl is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-20-2019, 02:55 PM   #7
Site Team
 
wahoonc's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Sprung Leak
Posts: 3,157
North Carolina
Quote:
Originally Posted by franktafl View Post
I just don't understand why the ac manufacturers don't offer this as an option! Soft starts for the compressor and VFD's for the fans.
$$$ cuts into their profit margins

Aaron
__________________
There is madness to my methods
2015 Coleman CM16FBS(traded) 2016 Concord 300DS
2015 Ford Fusion Hybrid following along
wahoonc is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-20-2019, 08:41 PM   #8
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Wesley Chapel
Posts: 3,051
Florida
Quote:
Originally Posted by wahoonc View Post
$$$ cuts into their profit margins

Aaron

franktafl is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-20-2019, 08:51 PM   #9
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Capron
Posts: 413
Illinois
Think I will hold off on this for a while, Don't really need it unless I run the generator, but don't have any plans this year that would need it. I may sell the trailer next year anyway for something with more room, so no sense installing something just to give it away.
acdii is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-24-2019, 05:56 PM   #10
Member
 
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Louisville
Posts: 29
Kentucky
Definitely Micro-Air Soft Start. No issues starting with inverter and keeping it running. We saw a 65-70% drop in start up wattage, well worth the investment.
campincaptain is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-24-2019, 06:13 PM   #11
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Wesley Chapel
Posts: 3,051
Florida
Quote:
Originally Posted by campincaptain View Post
Definitely Micro-Air Soft Start. No issues starting with inverter and keeping it running. We saw a 65-70% drop in start up wattage, well worth the investment.
does this hook up near the inverter or in the ac unit itself????
franktafl is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-24-2019, 06:33 PM   #12
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Green Valley
Posts: 124
Arizona
Quote:
Originally Posted by franktafl View Post
does this hook up near the inverter or in the ac unit itself????
Hooks up inside the AC on the roof. Wires go to the junction box where the caps are and the unit mounts somewhere inside the unit near the box. Really easy..and I'm not an electrical engineer!
__________________
2015 Sierra 1500 Denali
2014 Coleman 249RB
David Jon Devoucoux
People, Places & Things...for over 40 Years!
videoarizona is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-24-2019, 11:02 PM   #13
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Wesley Chapel
Posts: 3,051
Florida
Quote:
Originally Posted by videoarizona View Post
Hooks up inside the AC on the roof. Wires go to the junction box where the caps are and the unit mounts somewhere inside the unit near the box. Really easy..and I'm not an electrical engineer!
RV Geeks to the rescue... this came today.

$25 OFF! Micro-Air EasyStart Discount Code RVGEEKS

the video is pretty self explanatory and easy to follow because he talks slow.
franktafl is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-24-2019, 11:19 PM   #14
Member
 
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Louisville
Posts: 29
Kentucky
Quote:
Originally Posted by franktafl View Post
RV Geeks to the rescue... this came today.

$25 OFF! Micro-Air EasyStart Discount Code RVGEEKS

the video is pretty self explanatory and easy to follow because he talks slow.
Thanks for that. Just bought another one for the 2nd ac on mine.
__________________

campincaptain is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Dutchmen RV or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT. The time now is 01:00 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright 2020 Social Knowledge, LLC All Rights Reserved.
×