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Old 12-28-2021, 05:13 PM   #1
joe direnzi
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soft start on ac

Hello everyone.Hope everyone had a great Christmas.Have a question about soft start on ac.We have a2018 3721rl montana.We live in 5th from April till October.Our site has 30Amp service.We have two 15000 btu ac units.If I was to add a soft start kit to one of the ac units,would I be able to run both acs.Or would I have to add two soft start kits one to each ac unit.Would be starting ac units one at a time.Thanks for any input
 
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Old 12-28-2021, 05:57 PM   #2
AZ Traveler
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Joe,

I have done what you are proposing on my rig. My rear a/c has soft start and the bedroom a/c does not. I can start my front a/c on 30 amp or my gennies and once it is running I can start the rear a/c with soft start.

Once the rig cools I can turn the bedroom a/c off and only use the rear a/c. If I need to restart the bedroom a/c, I turn the rear a/c off first.

Not the perfect solution but it has worked for me. The soft start will also allow me to run only one of my 2000 watt Honda gennies and run the rear a/c only.
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Old 12-28-2021, 06:31 PM   #3
joe direnzi
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Thanks AZ TRaveler.Thats exactly what Im trying to do.BTW which soft start kit did you install?
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Old 12-28-2021, 07:12 PM   #4
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EasyStart 364
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Old 12-29-2021, 07:13 AM   #5
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yEp

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Originally Posted by AZ Traveler View Post
EasyStart 364
A little pricey but not made in China, yet. I put one on each A/C, seems work as promoted. Gens have no trouble starting both a/c`s running. You can purchase just the control board and add your on enclosure and wiring. This was very easy and saved a bunch of retirement funds.
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Old 12-29-2021, 08:47 AM   #6
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We have soft start on both AC’s. Can run one on a 15 amp cord, which makes it nice mooch docking. We run both an hour before we arrive off our 3000 watt inverter and makes a huge difference when we arrive on a hot day.
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Old 01-09-2022, 01:29 PM   #7
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bshgto where did you get the control board? The hundreds of dollars they want for the soft start seems like a ripoff for the few times I am on a 30A site, so I have never pulled the trigger on it. I would consider a less expensive option though...
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Old 01-09-2022, 02:36 PM   #8
Bill M
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Check your air conditioners. Both mine came with soft starts already installed. Plus the RV tech who assists me confirmed the soft starts. Also, he sells them for about $50. Check around & don't throw away your money.
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Old 01-09-2022, 02:59 PM   #9
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Quote:
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Check your air conditioners. Both mine came with soft starts already installed. Plus the RV tech who assists me confirmed the soft starts. Also, he sells them for about $50. Check around & don't throw away your money.
$50 for the Micro Airs?
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Old 01-09-2022, 03:12 PM   #10
ShaneGreen
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What's the best way to determine if you have soft starts already installed?
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Old 01-09-2022, 04:43 PM   #11
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Not sure about this but I think maybe they came on the 2021 and newer models. Someone will know for sure.

Your 2018 would not have a soft start unless the previous owner installed them. If you are original owner - then you do not have soft starts.
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Old 01-09-2022, 04:58 PM   #12
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Where does one buy them for $50? I want to order 2 of them!
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Old 01-09-2022, 05:03 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by joe direnzi View Post
Hello everyone.Hope everyone had a great Christmas.Have a question about soft start on ac.We have a2018 3721rl montana.We live in 5th from April till October.Our site has 30Amp service.We have two 15000 btu ac units.If I was to add a soft start kit to one of the ac units,would I be able to run both acs.Or would I have to add two soft start kits one to each ac unit.Would be starting ac units one at a time.Thanks for any input
Put a soft start on each unit, and find a way to start them up individually, I think there are special switches that do that or some kind of fancy transfer switch. Do NOT expect to use any hi amp device as well like micro wave, toaster, coffee pot, kettle etc.
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Old 01-09-2022, 05:15 PM   #14
bshgto
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maybe not any more

Quote:
Originally Posted by VagabondLove View Post
bshgto where did you get the control board? The hundreds of dollars they want for the soft start seems like a ripoff for the few times I am on a 30A site, so I have never pulled the trigger on it. I would consider a less expensive option though...
I bought mine 3 years ago . There was an option on there WEB site that you could by just the control board for you to add an enclosed box of some kind and the wiring to the A/C wiring. Came with instructions and was very simple to put the control board in one of my wife`s Tupperware containers and add the wiring for 150.00 less each so I bought 2 and added them to the camper. Maybe they don`t have that option anymore. I did buy their remote controlled thermostats to. They are very salty but work as described. This is a bonus if you have pets and need to monitor the camper temps while you are away for a day trip. At the time I had 2 2000 wat gens and I could start both A/C`s ( but run nothing else ) got tired of that and went to 2 4500 watt gens paralleled in the back of the truck so I really don`t need them anymore. I`d buy them any way remember if you change campers you a can take them off and put them on the new unit. And when your done you could sell them in a heart beat on the forum board and get at least 1/2 your money back.
As for $50.00 soft starts..... not happening he is talking about your garden variety hard start capacitors form an A/C supply store That aren`t going to work for this application.
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Electric Brakes ..... Disk Brakes, it`s the only way
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Old 01-10-2022, 09:24 AM   #15
MARK A
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I did both AC with soft start. I can run both on a 30A easily.


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Old 01-10-2022, 09:46 AM   #16
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I have two Soft Starts all ready to install, but got caught in our first snow storm. Now waiting for everything to melt and get warm enough to install. Also looks like I’ve missed getting my cover on this year due to the wait. I’ll be all ready for spring camping though.
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Old 01-10-2022, 10:44 AM   #17
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How do you guys run both ACs on 30 amp? When really hot (>95 or 100), my main AC uses 16-17 amp. And I think the bedroom uses 14 or 15. Any other minor thing running pushes to over 30 amp. ??????????????????
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Old 01-17-2022, 02:43 PM   #18
DebNJim B
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Our bedroom (rear b/r) has the a/c with heat pump also. When at our s&b during the summer I can run that a/c from a 20a outlet in the garage. Haven't tried to run anything else as I assume it would overload the breaker. But I wonder if that unit came with soft start.
Any thoughts?
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Old 01-17-2022, 04:00 PM   #19
bcrvman
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Quote:
Originally Posted by joe direnzi View Post
Hello everyone.Hope everyone had a great Christmas.Have a question about soft start on ac.We have a2018 3721rl montana.We live in 5th from April till October.Our site has 30Amp service.We have two 15000 btu ac units.If I was to add a soft start kit to one of the ac units,would I be able to run both acs.Or would I have to add two soft start kits one to each ac unit.Would be starting ac units one at a time.Thanks for any input
I have always run one AC on 20A, it probably does not have softstart. I put soft start on both our AC's just in case even though I have less than a few hours on the bedroom AC.
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Old 01-17-2022, 04:04 PM   #20
bcrvman
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bshgto View Post
I bought mine 3 years ago . There was an option on there WEB site that you could by just the control board for you to add an enclosed box of some kind and the wiring to the A/C wiring. Came with instructions and was very simple to put the control board in one of my wife`s Tupperware containers and add the wiring for 150.00 less each so I bought 2 and added them to the camper. Maybe they don`t have that option anymore. I did buy their remote controlled thermostats to. They are very salty but work as described. This is a bonus if you have pets and need to monitor the camper temps while you are away for a day trip. At the time I had 2 2000 wat gens and I could start both A/C`s ( but run nothing else ) got tired of that and went to 2 4500 watt gens paralleled in the back of the truck so I really don`t need them anymore. I`d buy them any way remember if you change campers you a can take them off and put them on the new unit. And when your done you could sell them in a heart beat on the forum board and get at least 1/2 your money back.
As for $50.00 soft starts..... not happening he is talking about your garden variety hard start capacitors form an A/C supply store That aren`t going to work for this application.
I also have the Micro-Air soft start on both AC's and the EasyTouch thermostat. Trivial install for both.
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