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   Montana Owners Club - Keystone Montana 5th Wheel Forum > GENERAL DISCUSSIONS > General Discussions about our Montanas
Click Here to Login

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 02-24-2022, 08:03 PM   #1
Jamesb
Montana Fan
 
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Boone
Posts: 311
M.O.C. #21011
A/C Units Size & Manufacture Info.

Going to order two soft starts for our two AC units. Is there a way I can find out what size and the manufacture I have on our FW without crawling up on the roof?
Thanks in advance for your help.
 
__________________
2018 Montana HC 362RD
2016 Chevrolet 3500 Duramax HD SRW
Jamesb is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-24-2022, 10:48 PM   #2
Daryles
Montana Master
 
Daryles's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Alton
Posts: 2,654
M.O.C. #24086
What model and year?
We have a 2019 3130re. I installed a SoftStartRV on the forward air conditioner ( Dometic Blizzard NXT 15000 BTU) last summer. Works great. Tested it on my 2000W inverter. Works fine. Pulls a LOT of DC amps!!!
__________________
Daryl and Marianne,
2019 3130re 20th Anniversary Edition
2016 F350 Lariat
Daryles is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-25-2022, 04:25 AM   #3
Mikendebbie
Montana Master
 
Mikendebbie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Austin
Posts: 2,390
M.O.C. #21044
I bought two MicroAir Easy Starts with Bluetooth.
To find the right unit for your air conditioners - go to the MicroAir website and answer the questions/prompts (which are very basic - no technical info or AC model numbers needed) and it tells you which EasyStart model you need. You will need to choose “with Bluetooth” or “no Bluetooth”.
__________________
MikenDebbie Aggie ‘77 in the sticks near Austin TX
2019 Chevy 3500 High Country DRW
2018 Montana 3921FB
Aussie Gus + Texas Heeler Jimmy
Mikendebbie is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-25-2022, 06:23 PM   #4
Jamesb
Montana Fan
 
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Boone
Posts: 311
M.O.C. #21011
Quote:
Originally Posted by Daryles View Post
What model and year?
We have a 2019 3130re. I installed a SoftStartRV on the forward air conditioner ( Dometic Blizzard NXT 15000 BTU) last summer. Works great. Tested it on my 2000W inverter. Works fine. Pulls a LOT of DC amps!!!
__________________
2018 Montana HC 362RD
__________________
2018 Montana HC 362RD
2016 Chevrolet 3500 Duramax HD SRW
Jamesb is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-02-2022, 02:36 PM   #5
VagabondLove
Montana Fan
 
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: Full Timer
Posts: 117
M.O.C. #27665
Question: do you need two? Start the first one normally, and the second one with the soft start…save $?
__________________
Full-Timing since 2018 in a 2013 3625RE, 2023 Ford F450DRW with High Output Diesel,
Custom kingpin-mounted hitch receiver for bike rack 2019
MorRyde I/S with 8K Axles & Goodyear G114 Tires on 17.5” aluminum wheels 2020
FlexArmor roof 2021, Starlink
VagabondLove is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-02-2022, 03:25 PM   #6
Daryles
Montana Master
 
Daryles's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Alton
Posts: 2,654
M.O.C. #24086
Quote:
Originally Posted by VagabondLove View Post
Question: do you need two? Start the first one normally, and the second one with the soft start…save $?
Actually, someone posted that, that is exactly what they do. The high surge current only happens during the compressor start. Once it's running it levels off to about 12A.

Mike Sokol of
RVELECTRICITY FB group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/rvelectricity/?ref=share
Did a test on the SoftStartRV. He has detailed his results here.
https://www.rvtravel.com/rv-electricity-hard-or-soft-start-caps/
Daryles is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-03-2022, 06:10 PM   #7
Jamesb
Montana Fan
 
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Boone
Posts: 311
M.O.C. #21011
Quote:
Originally Posted by VagabondLove View Post
Question: do you need two? Start the first one normally, and the second one with the soft start…save $?
Normally, I would say no, but DW loves hot weather and if I’m going to crank the generator, I’m going to run both. But, if I cannot get a discount for buying 2, I’m going to take your tip and try it. I can always order another one later. I know I have Dometic 13.5 and a 15.0, but wasn’t sure if I needed more info to order the soft start? Thanks for advice.
__________________
2018 Montana HC 362RD
2016 Chevrolet 3500 Duramax HD SRW
Jamesb is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-12-2022, 12:15 PM   #8
Windriver
New Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2022
Location: Lander
Posts: 1
M.O.C. #30768
I have same camper an will be installing New easy start soon. How was installation?
Windriver is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-14-2022, 09:41 AM   #9
Bourbon County
Montana Fan
 
Join Date: Feb 2022
Location: Cynthiana
Posts: 194
M.O.C. #30449
Quote:
Originally Posted by VagabondLove View Post
Question: do you need two? Start the first one normally, and the second one with the soft start…save $?
This would only work on initial AC start up. Once the coach cools to set point, the compressors will cycle on and off based on demand. There is a possibility they could try to start at the same time.
Bourbon County is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-14-2022, 02:57 PM   #10
AZ Traveler
Site Team
 
AZ Traveler's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Oro Valley
Posts: 3,898
M.O.C. #20477
One soft start has worked for us. I start the bedroom a/c which doesn't have a soft start and set it to 60 deg and let it run. The living room a/c has the soft start and will cycle as needed. We camp mostly in the dry west where A/C is only needed for a few hours in the afternoon.
__________________
Zack and Donna plus Millie and Ranger
2018 3160RL

"Life is too short to stay indoors, enjoy the ride!"
AZ Traveler is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
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
Forum Jump

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

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


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 11:15 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.