soft start for single 15000 BTU RV A/C

[The Percolator]

A few years ago I burned up the main wiring harness on a Yamaha 3500 watt generator by trying to power up and run the a/c unit.

I have a new Rockwood Mini Lite with a Dometic 15000 BTU A/C
I'm looking to use a 3500 watt dual fuel Champion portable generatoir.

Has anyone out there used a Soft Start unit on the AC to compensate for the initial draw of starting the above A/C unit.
Thanks,

[Jeffjeeptj]

I did install a Micro-Air. BTW, do a search because there is a very recent thread about this very thing. I installed a Micro-air on my Brisk II 15K AC. One 2004 vintage EU2000 will now start and run it. But, the running amps is above the “rated” 13.3 amps and below the shutdown value. Since I do not want to overstrain a single EU, I choose to still carry 2 gens if I think I will need/want AC.






Prior to the Micro-air, the single gen would just shut down when the AC was starting. If I paralleled my pair of EUs, I could start and run the AC.

[SeaDog]

Myself I use a hard start kit to keep the AC from being in the start mode for any length of time and overloading the generator. Micro air is a good product.

[The Percolator]

so when you carry two gens do you have two that run in parallel?

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by The Percolator

so when you carry two gens do you have two that run in parallel?

He has a pair of Honda EU inverter generators, that can be paralleled.
Don't see why anyone would carry two generators if they couldn't be paralleled.

[dbledan]

I have a Colman mach III 15k BTU AC. I use my champion 3400w inverter running propane which is rated at 3060W. I have no soft start and did not add a hard start capacitor either but perhaps it was already there. I have had no issues on multiple trips for days at a time.

For reference I used 1 20lb refill tank (so 15lbs) over 14 to 15 hours each time in 90+ heat.

Gas was 5 gallons over 10-11 hours but I had to refill 5 times.

Hope that helps. Sorry never had a dometic AC so cannot speak to those but I imagine they don't draw that much different.

[cavie]

3500 watt gen should have no problem starting a 15000 A/c unit.

[nodrawers]

Have been using the micro air easy start for three years with a WH 2500 igen. Love it. Seams like the air conditioner just starts easier. Very easy to install and great customer service.

[Martsing]

I have a Coleman Mach 15k and a Ryobi 2200. I installed the EasyStart last year. I have used it a few times with the generator and it works great. Im everyday use the AC starts much easier in that you don't have the big start up. It's quieter.

VR

Marty

[itat]

A 3400W (peak) Champion dual fuel generator should be fine for a 15K BTU AC. Many are mentioning the MicroAir and I don’t dispute that it will let a 2000W (peak) generator start and run the AC but I wonder what kind of power you’d have left for other things.

Champion now offers a new 2000W (peak) inverter generator in both gas-only and dual fuel models (Models 100306 and 100402 respectively) that can be paralleled. Buying 2 of them and the parallel kit might be an option especially if you don’t use the AC all the time.

[NJKris]

A 15k BTU A/C unit needs 3500 starting watts without soft start (only 1500 watts to keep it running). I'd be afraid getting another 3500w generator would also be overtaxed unless you had soft start. I'd think a pair of 2k watt generators would be a better option, which is probably less cost than the 3500w generator plus a soft start.

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by cavie

3500 watt gen should have no problem starting a 15000 A/c unit.

My Yamaha EF3000iSeB (3500 watts instant) would only reliably start my Coleman Mach 3 (15k) in cool conditions. It would almost never start it Temps above 100 degrees and would stall the generator at high altitudes.

I installed the Micro-Air and it not only solved my Yamaha problem in my old camper, but I no longer carry that monster with the new camper (I moved the Micro-Air to the new camper). I have a Honda 2000 that I carry for emergencies and it will run one 15k with no issues provided I watch what else is running.

If I parallel two Hondas 2000s, I can run BOTH air conditioners (but so far that has just been an academic exercise to prove that I could).