Soft Start for A/C
Moderator
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 6,514
Likes: 908
From: Home Base Nebraska
Maybe you should talk to Microair and learn how to unit actually works as opposed to implying that they will hurt your compressor and/or the Easystart is no good since it's universal and works on multiple units... Mine has had one on it since 2016 and been used in the hot Texas summers.... A/C and Easystart are still working..
Hard data good enough for you?
Hard data good enough for you?
I do have a true soft starting heat pump I just installed on our house (home base) but it has a inverter driven compressor not a standard single phase compressor, starts slow and ramps the speed up by increasing the frequency with a inverter on a specially designed compressor motor. It replaced a 23 year old heat pump that was still working and still had it's original start cap and relay so that's more hard data.
Denny
Mountain Pass
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 236
Likes: 42
ActiveStart has came out with a 50 Amp plugin along with surge protection option.
ActiveStart with surge
ActiveStart with surge
Tuned
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 387
Likes: 105
My EasyStart has been in use since 2017. I can run my Coleman A/C unit on my Yamaha EU2000i up to around 4,500' feet elevation, above that the elevation derate catches up with me and I have to twin the yamahas. But the EasyStart definitely "stages" the start up of the A/C unit every time the compressor cycles on.
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 2,831
Likes: 1,187
From: Southeast MO
I just bought a Microair for our house A/C so my 12k generator will start it. Our 3500/4000 generator will run one 15k unit in our camper now but still
considering one just so it comes on easier.
considering one just so it comes on easier.
Moderator
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 6,514
Likes: 908
From: Home Base Nebraska
Denny
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 2,831
Likes: 1,187
From: Southeast MO
I should have been clearer. I have to shut off quite a few other things for it to start it. Also it's duel fuel which we know running on propane puts out less power. I have a 500 gallon propane tank just for backup purposes. Gas will be only a short term solution as I don't keep much on hand. Now if I could find a diesel/propane generator that didn't cost a fortune I'd be in business!
Moderator
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 6,514
Likes: 908
From: Home Base Nebraska
I should have been clearer. I have to shut off quite a few other things for it to start it. Also it's duel fuel which we know running on propane puts out less power. I have a 500 gallon propane tank just for backup purposes. Gas will be only a short term solution as I don't keep much on hand. Now if I could find a diesel/propane generator that didn't cost a fortune I'd be in business!
Whenever I wired a building, house or RV park I payed close attention to getting everything as balanced as close as I could.
Denny
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 972
Likes: 578
From: Middle TN
I'm bumping this thread started by @Great Danes to get you guys current opinion on adding a soft start kit to a single, Coleman Mach 15k AC. I'm not trying to run two AC units on 30 amps and so far I don't even own a generator. My main reason for adding one would be to reduce startup loads to reduce future maintenance, if that's legit. Secondary benefits would be lower electric cost when I'm plugged in at home, and lower noise at startup.
At $300 I was having a hard time justifying the cost to benefit, but now Coleman has their own branded version for less than $200. (Sorry, I've tried adding an Amazon link but it's not working.)
What do you guys think? Has anybody installed one of the Coleman kits? They look super easy to install using a custom bracket to fit Coleman AC units. And obviously no concerns about compatibility or voiding the warranty.
At $300 I was having a hard time justifying the cost to benefit, but now Coleman has their own branded version for less than $200. (Sorry, I've tried adding an Amazon link but it's not working.)
What do you guys think? Has anybody installed one of the Coleman kits? They look super easy to install using a custom bracket to fit Coleman AC units. And obviously no concerns about compatibility or voiding the warranty.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 1,615
Likes: 566
From: Black Hills of SD
I'm bumping this thread started by @Great Danes to get you guys current opinion on adding a soft start kit to a single, Coleman Mach 15k AC. I'm not trying to run two AC units on 30 amps and so far I don't even own a generator. My main reason for adding one would be to reduce startup loads to reduce future maintenance, if that's legit. Secondary benefits would be lower electric cost when I'm plugged in at home, and lower noise at startup.
At $300 I was having a hard time justifying the cost to benefit, but now Coleman has their own branded version for less than $200. (Sorry, I've tried adding an Amazon link but it's not working.)
What do you guys think? Has anybody installed one of the Coleman kits? They look super easy to install using a custom bracket to fit Coleman AC units. And obviously no concerns about compatibility or voiding the warranty.
At $300 I was having a hard time justifying the cost to benefit, but now Coleman has their own branded version for less than $200. (Sorry, I've tried adding an Amazon link but it's not working.)
What do you guys think? Has anybody installed one of the Coleman kits? They look super easy to install using a custom bracket to fit Coleman AC units. And obviously no concerns about compatibility or voiding the warranty.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2023
Posts: 1,583
Likes: 927
I'm bumping this thread started by @Great Danes to get you guys current opinion on adding a soft start kit to a single, Coleman Mach 15k AC. I'm not trying to run two AC units on 30 amps and so far I don't even own a generator. My main reason for adding one would be to reduce startup loads to reduce future maintenance, if that's legit. Secondary benefits would be lower electric cost when I'm plugged in at home, and lower noise at startup.
At $300 I was having a hard time justifying the cost to benefit, but now Coleman has their own branded version for less than $200. (Sorry, I've tried adding an Amazon link but it's not working.)
What do you guys think? Has anybody installed one of the Coleman kits? They look super easy to install using a custom bracket to fit Coleman AC units. And obviously no concerns about compatibility or voiding the warranty.
At $300 I was having a hard time justifying the cost to benefit, but now Coleman has their own branded version for less than $200. (Sorry, I've tried adding an Amazon link but it's not working.)
What do you guys think? Has anybody installed one of the Coleman kits? They look super easy to install using a custom bracket to fit Coleman AC units. And obviously no concerns about compatibility or voiding the warranty.
Overall, the microair soft starts are great, little pricey sure, but they work as advertised. Between the microair soft starts and the RV airflow vent inserts, I've spend a small fortune getting the AC in the camper working better (it's freaking hot in south Texas), but the final results are good at least.
...
Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 972
Likes: 578
From: Middle TN
Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 972
Likes: 578
From: Middle TN
I recently put two Microair soft starts on my camper, both AC's on it are the Coleman Mach 15K units like you have. I can run both my AC's off a 30 amp plug now (started individually a few minutes apart of course). I've can even run both AC's off my two little inverter generators (paralleled together) running on propane (it would trip the generators trying to do that before the microair soft starts). And bonus, I can now also run one AC on my inverter (but only for about two hours before it depletes my small 400 amp hour battery bank anyway).
Overall, the microair soft starts are great, little pricey sure, but they work as advertised. Between the microair soft starts and the RV airflow vent inserts, I've spend a small fortune getting the AC in the camper working better (it's freaking hot in south Texas), but the final results are good at least.
...
Overall, the microair soft starts are great, little pricey sure, but they work as advertised. Between the microair soft starts and the RV airflow vent inserts, I've spend a small fortune getting the AC in the camper working better (it's freaking hot in south Texas), but the final results are good at least.
...
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 1,615
Likes: 566
From: Black Hills of SD
Yes sir, here it is: https://www.amazon.com/Coleman-Mach-.../dp/B0CF41ZW4W
Hopefully the link works, I've been having trouble with it! If I use Control + Left Click it works, if I just left click, it acts like it's spam?
Hopefully the link works, I've been having trouble with it! If I use Control + Left Click it works, if I just left click, it acts like it's spam?