Soft Start for Coleman Mach

[Logan K]

We were told and have seen videos saying the Delta 281BH with 2/AC units can be ran off 30amp service but obviously you would lose an appliance or something within your system if you ran a full load at once (experienced it)… my question is, would it still be worth me installing a soft start on the AC unit in at least the main living area?

We have a generator that runs off our propane connection - (3500) running watts
(4650) peak and a 30amp RV connection, that I have used and it is capable of running both AC units and other items but it does drag down when they startup… I have not bothered to look at the units, but perhaps they do have some sort of factory soft start setup from Coleman given you can run both units off 30amp technically

Looking for feedback from those who may know some info for those questions or maybe even have soft starts on your units

I follow some RV’rs on YouTube that have installed soft starts for various reasons etc etc and seems to prolong the life of the unit in general if no other reason

Thanks for the feedback and information ahead of time!!

 

[Bozo]

I have soft starts on all three of my a/c on the valor. I do not worry so much about leaving both units on but I generally run one unit non stop and switch at bedtime. I have forgotten and left two on but mine seem to cycle at different times, which helps too. No microwave, toaster or coffee pot use inside if both on. That said, my coffee pot and such is usually outside running off pedestal separately anyway.

 

[Lantley]

I have soft starts on all three of my units. I avoid running 2 A/C units on 30 amp circuit.
Maybe possible as far as the trailer is concerned, but I have found the CG wiring is generally not up to the task and I end up in a low or questionable voltage scenario.

 

[BryanValRox]

Hi Logan, welcome to the forum!

The units do not come with soft starts preinstalled.

At the end of the day, in my humble opinion, this is going to come down to a personal choice.
As you likely know the benefit of soft starts is to reduce the in rush current needed at start up to get the compressor turning.
Attached is a picture of one of our tags from our 310 RL, as you can see the LRA is 54 amps, the soft start would drastically reduce that number.
You will also notice the RLA is only 9 amps, this would be the amp draw of the compressor once it is running.
The fan is rated at 1.9 amps, so add that to the 9 and this unit would run at 10.9 amps.

With your 30 amp service pulling the amperage from one leg, you could be exposed to a breaker trip under the right combination of loads hitting the service at the same time. ( not just AC’s)

The reality is it could happen at any given time at start up conditions or normally running. For example if both AC’s are already running and some one turns on the microwave, toaster, or hairdryer, your at risk.

In the senerio above, soft starts wouldn’t help you because the ac’s are already running. However, if the ac’s were offline and hit the service after one of the devices listed above, it would certainly add margin to insulate again a trip.

My view is that soft starts have a purpose , add value and are effective at what they are supposed to do. The individual just needs to determine if the added cost is justified for your style of camping and the added benefit of reducing stress on your units.

Additionally, if you decide to install them, I would certainly recommend doing both units to obtain the maximum benefit and reduce your risk even further.

Personally, we do not have soft starts, our camping style has never driven the need for them. We are hooked to 50 amp pedestals

Many on this forum have them installed on their units, I just haven’t been able to justify the $600.00 in my mind given we have never tripped a breaker even with all 3 units running.

Decisions, Decisions ,Decisions

Hope this helps some!

 

[Logan K]

Hi Logan, welcome to the forum!

The units do not come with soft starts preinstalled.

At the end of the day, in my humble opinion, this is going to come down to a personal choice.
As you likely know the benefit of soft starts is to reduce the in rush current needed at start up to get the compressor turning.
Attached is a picture of one of our tags from our 310 RL, as you can see the LRA is 54 amps, the soft start would drastically reduce that number.
You will also notice the RLA is only 9 amps, this would be the amp draw of the compressor once it is running.
The fan is rated at 1.9 amps, so add that to the 9 and this unit would run at 10.9 amps.

With your 30 amp service pulling the amperage from one leg, you could be exposed to a breaker trip under the right combination of loads hitting the service at the same time. ( not just AC’s)

The reality is it could happen at any given time at start up conditions or normally running. For example if both AC’s are already running and some one turns on the microwave, toaster, or hairdryer, your at risk.

In the senerio above, soft starts wouldn’t help you because the ac’s are already running. However, if the ac’s were offline and hit the service after one of the devices listed above, it would certainly add margin to insulate again a trip.

My view is that soft starts have a purpose , add value and are effective at what they are supposed to do. The individual just needs to determine if the added cost is justified for your style of camping and the added benefit of reducing stress on your units.

Additionally, if you decide to install them, I would certainly recommend doing both units to obtain the maximum benefit and reduce your risk even further.

Personally, we do not have soft starts, our camping style has never driven the need for them. We are hooked to 50 amp pedestals

Many on this forum have them installed on their units, I just haven’t been able to justify the $600.00 in my mind given we have never tripped a breaker even with all 3 units running.

Decisions, Decisions ,Decisions

Hope this helps some!

Thank you, when we are hooked to 50amp it’s all good obviously. We have some state park sites and also several National park sites where we can only get 30amp and then our generator only runs 30 so the idea was the main A/C having a soft start or just doing soft starts on both units would essentially eliminate any issues running 30amp where we have no other choice.

Any breaker trips with both A/C units running off 30 can be managed by not using other appliances or outlets but with a few kids or even my wife or I not thinking sometimes, well it happens but typically during cycle starts not while the units are already going

Thanks everyone for the info, it all helps make better decisions and investments!!

 

[BryanValRox]

Thank you, when we are hooked to 50amp it’s all good obviously. We have some state park sites and also several National park sites where we can only get 30amp and then our generator only runs 30 so the idea was the main A/C having a soft start or just doing soft starts on both units would essentially eliminate any issues running 30amp where we have no other choice.

Any breaker trips with both A/C units running off 30 can be managed by not using other appliances or outlets but with a few kids or even my wife or I not thinking sometimes, well it happens but typically during cycle starts not while the units are already going

Thanks everyone for the info, it all helps make better decisions and investments!!

You are very welcome, and it sounds like you are well versed at managing loads when your 50 is hooked to 30.

I would agree that in your National Park senerio, it would provide additional margin at start up.

Good luck with your decision, BTY Coleman has a step by step video on installation, if you will be doing the work yourself.

 

[2 Allies]

Logan K,

I agree with Bryan. I have installed the Coleman soft starts on all 3 of our units. We have a generator similar to yours and wanted to be able to use on overnight boondocking stays and while hooked up to 30amp pedestals. They have worked great on the 30 amp pedestals, have not used with the generator yet.

 

[Oregon_Camper]

I would suggest softstarts on both of your AC units for 30 amp service. If you really want to be crazy, add a Victron Multiplus II 3000 watt invterter. This will pass through the shore power 30 amp PLUS step up to 50 amp when need, by pulling the extra power from battery. Once system is not drawing a lot of power, the Victon system will automatically charge the battery bank back to 100% I have used our system this way, when on 30 amp...even 15 amp service to run 2 of our 3 AC units.

 

[Logan K]

Thank you again for all of the information… seems to make sense to grab a couple of these and install to help our 30amp situations or generator usage. Coleman brand as well, universals or off brands only give issues I had heard so not worth the savings.

I would like to expand on our solar setup, as you all know it comes with a 200watt that just trickles back to battery maintenance but would like to have more of that for boondocking and actual rv usage beyond some lights and fridge off 12V.

Pretty straight forward installation on the soft starts it seems, hopefully goes well as I have done most of the mods and maintenance on any of our rvs including this one except for the slide out removal and repair we just had done. That’s a little beyond my desire to take on besides its under warranty.

Side note here but maybe should toss it into the suspension forums… I installed the MORyde
XFactors along with the wet kit and Equalizer when we first bought this unit new, the XFactors I did 3 so one to each axle shackle but these IMO absolutely stabilize the unit in transport as well as backing in spots and twisting etc… I do not hear any popping, creaking or see any axle shifts when twisting into spots or in the places you would normally hear and see with trailers which I’m sure the wet kit helps there as well.

Cool deal Alliance and owners has going here, wish I would have dove into reading more back when we first bought our unit lol!