Soft start on 3 A/C

[CiscoRaccoon]

Do the 3 AC units have soft starts already installed? I originally thought so but when reading specs do not see it mentioned.

Also, if anyone has installed soft starts, did u install on all 3 units?

 

[Oregon_Camper]

Nope....you'll need to do that yourself. First one will take you about 25 mins while learning the process...then the next two will take about 10 mins each.

MicroAir is ~$340 each. I went with the Spartan Softstart for $180 on our 340RL. They work great!

 

[CiscoRaccoon]

I was afraid of that. I installed softstarts on my prevoius 2AC’s on last camper. Thanks for prompt response! My friend Mike (310RL). installed on his too.

 

[BryanValRox]

Hi folks, while I understand the concept of the soft starts, are you sure that you actually need them?
Maybe, when hooked to 30 amp service to get them all started? ( Might not even be able to run all three at this level) But as I recall we had all three a/c’s running during PDI at the dealer(sure this was 50 amp).
I have had all three running via our genset in the driveway. In my humble opinion, I would think the odds of them all hitting the electrical system at the same time would be slim.

Not saying that they don’t serve a purpose, they certain do! Just wondering if you have proven out the need to invest the money for them.

Obviously, I don’t have the fully context of your situation, so it would be up to you to validate your need.

My suggestion, get some real world experience with their operation and invest if you need to and save some money if you find your can operate without them.

Feels like this comes down to personal preference!

Best regards!

 

[Oregon_Camper]

Hi folks, while I understand the concept of the soft starts, are you sure that you actually need them? ....(snipped)

If you're staying at 50 amp locations, then most likely not needed.

I have 3 of them on our 340RL, so we can power up all 3 AC's while on 30 amp service, using the Victron 3000w inverter to step up the power needed for this to work. I can also run one AC off our inverter as well, which we do for a few hours to cool the bedroom off while boondocking. With 2000w watts of solar and 810 amp hours (3x270) of lithium batteries, we are very comfortable in very remote locations.

While this image was our prior Heartland Bighorn, you can see how we like to camp. I think we stayed 10 days at this location.

 

[CiscoRaccoon]

Hi folks, while I understand the concept of the soft starts, are you sure that you actually need them?
Maybe, when hooked to 30 amp service to get them all started? ( Might not even be able to run all three at this level) But as I recall we had all three a/c’s running during PDI at the dealer(sure this was 50 amp).
I have had all three running via our genset in the driveway. In my humble opinion, I would think the odds of them all hitting the electrical system at the same time would be slim.

Not saying that they don’t serve a purpose, they certain do! Just wondering if you have proven out the need to invest the money for them.

Obviously, I don’t have the fully context of your situation, so it would be up to you to validate your need.

My suggestion, get some real world experience with their operation and invest if you need to and save some money if you find your can operate without them.

Feels like this comes down to personal preference!

Best regards!

Thanks for response and apologies for my late reply. I think based on your post and the next post I’ll “wait and see!” Thanks.

 

[Ben and Kathy]

Hi folks, while I understand the concept of the soft starts, are you sure that you actually need them?
Maybe, when hooked to 30 amp service to get them all started? ( Might not even be able to run all three at this level) But as I recall we had all three a/c’s running during PDI at the dealer(sure this was 50 amp).
I have had all three running via our genset in the driveway. In my humble opinion, I would think the odds of them all hitting the electrical system at the same time would be slim.

Not saying that they don’t serve a purpose, they certain do! Just wondering if you have proven out the need to invest the money for them.

Obviously, I don’t have the fully context of your situation, so it would be up to you to validate your need.

My suggestion, get some real world experience with their operation and invest if you need to and save some money if you find your can operate without them.

Feels like this comes down to personal preference!

Best regards!

Thanks for response and apologies for my late reply. I think based on your post and the next post I’ll “wait and see!” Thanks.

When we are dialed in for 30amp service (most state camp grounds in our area) my personal preference is to not have to reset our Victron Multiplus II inverter (power boost capability, draws power from the batteries to handle a surge above what is coming from shore power, but that has a limit) or the 30amp breaker (before the Multiplus II was installed) and then all of the clocks when the microwave and coffee pot are running and the 2nd AC unit kicks in. Snick, darkness, silence.

After a few of those power out incidents we purchased Coleman soft start modules ($220 each at the time, super easy, plug and go install) for the three Coleman Mach Q AC units on our 385 and haven't looked back, no more AC overload events...

Not to mention getting rid of the thump when the AC starts, the peace of mind that I am extending the life of each of the three, $900ish + labor to replace, AC units, reducing electricity consumption, oh and being able to run with multiple AC while on the generator (and the coffee pot, and the microwave, etc.)

 

[CiscoRaccoon]

I’ve decided to wait and see what happens during summer trips. 🤞🤞🤞🤞

 

[bparish]

We've had no issues while on shore power, but when using AC on the generator the sudden ramp up wakes us up. Also I think maybe the sudden surge is tripping the ATS or our surge suppressor and kicking them off. This too is loud enough to wake us and it scares the dog so we are installing a soft start to see if that fixes the issue for us.

 

[themaniam1]

We went two years without soft starts and had no issues running all three AC units, always on shore power. It just wasn't worth the $$$ for us at that time. Then we installed solar for boondocking with AC and added the soft starts and it was worth the $$$ now. I will say, now that we have soft starts, we can use multiple AC units on 30 amps, the microwave, and then have a second on kick on and not pop the pedestal breaker because of the slow ramp up the soft start delivers.

 

[7ACMike]

I just installed a soft start on our 29RL as we do some boondocking, 3-4 days tops and want to be able to run the AC with a small 2000 watt genset and this looked about as simple as you can get. was running it off an extension cord during testing and all worked well with a definite lower amp draw initially. Took longer to get the stuff and myself on the roof than the install did. Mike

 

[Bozo]

I installed soft starts on all 3 units last week, as we stay in lots of older areas with 30 amp service only. They do work.

 

[Austin Alliance]

Thanks, that's good info on the soft starts on 50amp service. I almost bought one of the new plugin soft starts for $750..... I mostly stay at places with 50amp

 

[Oregon_Camper]

Thanks, that's good info on the soft starts on 50amp service. I almost bought one of the new plugin soft starts for $750..... I mostly stay at places with 50amp

Whoa...$750 for one? I have 3 of the Spartan softstarts, at $150 each. Working GREAT in our 340RL on 30amp (or 50amp) or just on our 3000w Victron inverter. Yesterday it was about 95 degrees as we drove 4 hours. With 2 hrs left, I used our MicroAir Air Con controller (wireless) to turn on the AC in the RV. Was 78 inside when we arrived. I have 2000w of solar on the roof, so the solar powered the AC as we drove.

Spartan Power SpartanStart RV AC Soft Starter

The SpartanStart soft starter is used across a range of RV air-conditioning units. Start up to a 20K BTU AC with a 2000 watt generator.

invertersrus.com

 

[Lantley]

Not sure it mattered but I went with 3-Coleman soft starts to be totally compatible with Coleman A/C units

Coleman Soft Start

 

[ERIC DFW]

I just installed a soft start on our 29RL as we do some boondocking, 3-4 days tops and want to be able to run the AC with a small 2000 watt genset and this looked about as simple as you can get. was running it off an extension cord during testing and all worked well with a definite lower amp draw initially. Took longer to get the stuff and myself on the roof than the install did. Mike

Hi, do you have more than the one 370 watt solar panel on the roof? I'm trying to figure out where to place another one on my 29RL.

 

[7ACMike]

No, just the single 320. Haven't really used it yet but according to draw on frig and a few other small draws we can run 3-4 days.eith little to no sun. Guess we will find out one of these days.

 

[Austin Alliance]

Whoa...$750 for one? I have 3 of the Spartan softstarts, at $150 each. Working GREAT in our 340RL on 30amp (or 50amp) or just on our 3000w Victron inverter. Yesterday it was about 95 degrees as we drove 4 hours. With 2 hrs left, I used our MicroAir Air Con controller (wireless) to turn on the AC in the RV. Was 78 inside when we arrived. I have 2000w of solar on the roof, so the solar powered the AC as we drove.

Spartan Power SpartanStart RV AC Soft Starter

The SpartanStart soft starter is used across a range of RV air-conditioning units. Start up to a 20K BTU AC with a 2000 watt generator.

invertersrus.com

Yes, it seems cheaper to hard wire three in your RV, rather than plug-in one soft start to the pedestal to cover everything...

 

[Oregon_Camper]

Yes, it seems cheaper to hard wire three in your RV, rather than plug-in one soft start to the pedestal to cover everything...

Not sure what you mean. Surge protectors that can be used at the shore power pedestal, but I have never heard of a softstart at the pedestal. Please provide more information. Surge protectors and softstarts are completly different products.

 

[Austin Alliance]

Not sure what you mean. Surge protectors that can be used at the shore power pedestal, but I have never heard of a softstart at the pedestal. Please provide more information. Surge protectors and softstarts are completly different products.

Sorry, it was early in the morning.... I meant to say soft start, not surge protectors.....