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Coleman Mach Soft Start advantage

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jagibson58

Well-known member
For those who have installed the Coleman Mach soft start on their HVAC units, it sounds like they work. It sounds like the major component of the device is reducing the initial power surge by at least 75%. So, is this just reducing the amperage at first and then continually?
Does it affect the wattage?
Does it in any way affect the performance of the hvac unit, ie cooling?
 
L

Lantley

Prominent Member
Soft start reduce power surge at start. Once compressor is running they have minimal impact.
Its the start up surge current that stresses the electrical system and potentially the compressor, soft starts reduces the surge current at start.
I installed soft starts on each of my units.
With 100% power soft starts are not really necessary. However power varies campground to campground. It is also impacted by the capacity of the campground. Lots of variables that cause CG power to fluctuate. With that in mind soft starts are a wise idea and are a worthwhile investment to protect your AC units over the long haul.
They are extremely beneficial when running on generator power or less than optimum power
 
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C

Chaseweston

Well-known member
As Lantley described, they reduce the LRA (Locked Rotor Amps) needed to start the compressor motor. Once running at operating speed, typically a relay switches over to normal power for running. I don't have them on our unit but I have one on our Compressor at the house so we can run the AC off generator during hurricanes outages.

In our Valor, each unit pulls about 36 LRA at startup. So if all three try to start at the same time on the generator, it trips the transfer switch and then gets into a tripping cycle trying to restart them all and tripping again. Soft starts would fix this.
 
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SKYSKIOC

Well-known member
can someone post a part number for this or a picture of what we need ? we have a 2024 Avenue 32RLS with 3 units. would like to insta on all of them.
 
George

George

Prominent Member
I recorded startup and run amps and posted here.

Soft start on 3 A/C

Sorry, it was early in the morning.... :ROFLMAO: I meant to say soft start, not surge protectors..... I still think you have this backward. Adding a surge protector (which is very valuable to do) will not have any impact on the 3 AC units starting abilities. You need soft starts for that.
alliancervowners.com alliancervowners.com
 
George

George

Prominent Member
Flyer32RLS

Flyer32RLS

Well-known member
SKYSKIOC said:
can someone post a part number for this or a picture of what we need ? we have a 2024 Avenue 32RLS with 3 units. would like to insta on all of them.
Click to expand...
If your 2024 like our 2025 32RLS has Furrion, you won't need them. Furrion's have a slow draw on start up. They were built that way. Someone listened to a need for a change!
 
M

M and E

Prominent Member
SKYSKIOC said:
we just missed the furion chill cubes by one year. I still have the Mach AC units in mine
Click to expand...
Missed it by weeks here. When or if the time comes, I’ll switch (to whichever inverter unit is best at that time). Honestly, I don’t see anything other than inverter AC units being the norm much longer.
 
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Lantley

Prominent Member
M and E said:
Missed it by weeks here. When or if the time comes, I’ll switch (to whichever inverter unit is best at that time). Honestly, I don’t anything other than inverter AC units being the norm much longer.
Click to expand...
I'm in no rush to install Furrion units. I prefer to let them prove themselves first. After this last heat wave my Mach units were up to the challenge I'm in no hurry to try something else.
Experience has taught me newfangled 1st generation products are often not ready for prime time. I'll give them time to get the kinks worked out before I join the party.
 
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M and E

Prominent Member
Lantley said:
I'm in no rush to install Furrion units. I prefer to let them prove themselves first. After this last heat wave my Mach units were up to the challenge I'm in no hurry to try something else.
Experience has taught me newfangled 1st generation products are often not ready for prime time. I'll give them time to get the kinks worked out before I join the party.
Click to expand...
Agree. When the time comes and the best inverter option at the time is my plan.
 
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