Installed the Softstart RV unit today.

[NJKris]

Why aren't these standard equipment installed on new ac units? It would not add that much to the cost of a unit.

Coleman has begun installing them on some units. Somebody finally woke up. They now sell 'quiet' units too. For an additional cost!

 

[Dirthawg]

Will these soft start devices (if installed on both A/C units) allow for a 15k and a 13.5k unit to operate on a 30amp service at the same time?

 

[Odyknuck]

Chuckie, because it adds cost to a RV. Every little Dollar bit added is a bit less likely to sell at the dealership. Most people do not ever need this, they park at a campground that has power to run an AC for their 2.5 camping nights per year

BTW, Odyknuck, that video you posted is awful. I had to stop watching, was like somebody that had no idea how to make a video about something he knew less about.
Would be better to just report his findings that make anyone go watch the video. It was bad. Real Bad! He also said he thinks the AC has a capacitor....

I agree however it was more to show the different tech offerings over the old tech Cap's.

 

[NJKris]

Will these soft start devices (if installed on both A/C units) allow for a 15k and a 13.5k unit to operate on a 30amp service at the same time?

All these do is reduce the surge requirement during compressor startup. If your 13.5k unit uses typical 13 amps after start up, and your 15k unit uses a bit more, you should be able to run both on 30 amps, but not much more. The startup surge is micro seconds. The likelihood of both compressors coming on at exact same time would be like winning the lottery.


The soft start become more important trying to run off small generators.

 

[NJKris]

I have installed the Coleman branded one, works great. First few times on my 2k inverter were iffy, sometimes worked, sometimes tripped the inverter. But after about 5 starts, it works a treat every time. Coleman includes a bracket that is custom made to fit their unit, makes it pretty plug and play as possible. Two thumbs up, highly recommended, $100 cheaper than the more popular ones. I have a sneaking suspicion that it is a re-labeled more expensive one, but who knows?

Guessing the initial 5 starts, the unit was in 'learning' mode. My MicroAir required a protocol of multiple starts after installation to learn. Also, if you are at higher elevation, generator output will be less, and if your are right at the rated specs for the generator like I am, may kick off generator. I'm at 507' where I tested at home. Don't know how much more elevation may start causing issues, in which case I have the 2nd generator and parallel connector

 

[reidfo]

Guessing the initial 5 starts, the unit was in 'learning' mode. My MicroAir required a protocol of multiple starts after installation to learn. Also, if you are at higher elevation, generator output will be less, and if your are right at the rated specs for the generator like I am, may kick off generator. I'm at 507' where I tested at home. Don't know how much more elevation may start causing issues, in which case I have the 2nd generator and parallel connector

I'm not quite sure either at what elevation the generator starts to lose power. But I know that in an airplane I don't really need to lean the fuel mixture too much until I get to about 6000 feet above sea level.

 

[NJKris]

I'm not quite sure either at what elevation the generator starts to lose power. But I know that in an airplane I don't really need to lean the fuel mixture too much until I get to about 6000 feet above sea level.

Found something. According to this, 3% power decrease every 1000 ft. above sea level. https://generatorbible.com/blog/portable-generators-in-altitude/


Guessing your plane engine is big enough that these losses are negligible until you hit 6k ft.

 

[reidfo]

Found something. According to this, 3% power decrease every 1000 ft. above sea level. https://generatorbible.com/blog/portable-generators-in-altitude/


Guessing your plane engine is big enough that these losses are negligible until you hit 6k ft.

True. Fairly big engine for what it's pulling, and if I probably could be more observant about leaning the mixture at altitude. It would save gas and prevent buildup in the cylinders if I were. I liken running the plane full rich at 6000 feet to running a generator at the same altitude. Will waste gas and experience power loss, but as long as I am only drawing a little from it (i.e. sitting in a campground, maybe with the AC running sometimes, or just cruising along in level flight) I don't see much noticeable difference. I have wished that my generator had a mixture control though like the plane does.

 

[NJKris]

True. Fairly big engine for what it's pulling, and if I probably could be more observant about leaning the mixture at altitude. It would save gas and prevent buildup in the cylinders if I were. I liken running the plane full rich at 6000 feet to running a generator at the same altitude. Will waste gas and experience power loss, but as long as I am only drawing a little from it (i.e. sitting in a campground, maybe with the AC running sometimes, or just cruising along in level flight) I don't see much noticeable difference. I have wished that my generator had a mixture control though like the plane does.

I do know you can rejet with a kit, I don't know if it improves output at altitude or just helps engine run better. And I don't know how easy it is to rejet, then return to normal altitude operation.

 

[santasurfer]

lol, his airplane is tuned for flying, not for flying at ground level is why 6,000 feet is the start.

The other easy start I mentioned does not need to learn, this is good or bad, or rather is not as high-tech, but it works just the same.

Effectively is like starting your home ceiling fan by flipping the light switch 50 times as fast as you can, watching the fan start slower than normal, and then leaving switch on after a short start-up interval. Your fan might need 10 seconds, but your AC unit less than a second. It turns the power on and off much quicker, and that is how it keeps the power surge down.

On generator you will not notice under 3500 feet, the same as you do not notice needing to breath harder like you would at 9,000 feet. When I am at 6,000 feet I notice I also tend to not need the AC unit much, and never need it at night over 6,000 feet. It does get blazing hot at 6,000 feet in the summer in places, but I am usually not back at camper until evening and by then it has cooled off. I know, it was a great story, but its free and I hope you enjoyed.

 

[Heavy Half Ton]

lol, his airplane is tuned for flying, not for flying at ground level is why 6,000 feet is the start.

The other easy start I mentioned does not need to learn, this is good or bad, or rather is not as high-tech, but it works just the same.

Effectively is like starting your home ceiling fan by flipping the light switch 50 times as fast as you can, watching the fan start slower than normal, and then leaving switch on after a short start-up interval. Your fan might need 10 seconds, but your AC unit less than a second. It turns the power on and off much quicker, and that is how it keeps the power surge down.

On generator you will not notice under 3500 feet, the same as you do not notice needing to breath harder like you would at 9,000 feet. When I am at 6,000 feet I notice I also tend to not need the AC unit much, and never need it at night over 6,000 feet. It does get blazing hot at 6,000 feet in the summer in places, but I am usually not back at camper until evening and by then it has cooled off. I know, it was a great story, but its free and I hope you enjoyed.

The “tuning” happens via a knob in the cockpit, you start leaning out as needed with greater altitude.

My inverter (powered by a 280 ah lithium battery) powers the ac everytime. With the 600 watts on the roof and 400 watts on the ground., it will run for quite a while. Maybe not the entire day, but the entire middle of the day, pretty cool.

 

[jlankford]

The “tuning” happens via a knob in the cockpit, you start leaning out as needed with greater altitude.

My inverter (powered by a 280 ah lithium battery) powers the ac everytime. With the 600 watts on the roof and 400 watts on the ground., it will run for quite a while. Maybe not the entire day, but the entire middle of the day, pretty cool.

Which model of AC did you install the Coleman soft start on? Do you have any numbers for wattage or current draw while running?

 

[Heavy Half Ton]

Which model of AC did you install the Coleman soft start on? Do you have any numbers for wattage or current draw while running?

I’ll have to take notes next time, but iirc, it was about 90 amps with no solar helping. Maybe 80? With 600 solar on the roof, and 400 on the ground it goes way down to maybe 30 amps.
It is a Coleman 13500 btu unit. 4800 series maybe?

If I can, I will get some hard numbers and jot it down. I do recall seeing 1000 watts on the power meter I installed in the power center.