SoftStartRV Soft Start for RV Air Conditioner, RV AC Soft Start Kit for Air Conditioner, Easy Start Even with a Small Generator, 100% Waterproof, Trailer Camper, Motorhome HVAC -NetworkRV

I finally decided I needed to add softstart to my RV AC when I decided to move to a solar generator instead of my pair of Honda 2000's in parallel that I used to lug around when dry camping. I could never get a single Honda 2000 to start my AC and would need both... I wonder if this softstart would let me do that? But doesn't matter - I switched to an Ecoflow that probably could handle the startup surge, but why stress it? This softstart was pretty easy to install. I had to lookup my particular AC model (Dometic something) and the instructions tell you where to run all the wires, jumpers, etc. Just make sure to double-check everything. I had done some of it and realized I'd done the wrong wire on one part (I read the letters from the AC incorrectly at first), so I'm glad I checked again before starting it up. That was my fault for not being more thorough, no fault of the instructions which were correct. After getting the wiring correct and finding a good spot to mount it, well... that was it, I was done. I flipped the breaker back on, went inside and started it up, and wow, it was SO much nicer when starting. Before, the AC would "clunk" when starting up and was pretty loud during that startup phase. Now, it starts up nice and calm, the clunk is gone, and that "hum" I'd hear for the first couple seconds when the compressor and fan were starting up had all but disappeared. I mean, there's still the noise of the fan and compressor, but you get to skip the other noise. Which is great if you have this running on and off at night because those clunks and hums are distracting. There are more expensive softstarts out there but this one, I think, is a good value. There are also cheaper ones out there and I'm kind of skeptical of those. This one seems solidly built, works great, and the manufacturer has been around for a while so I feel like they'll stand behind the product. As far as how it works to reduce the initial amp draw, I didn't do any direct measurements to get the peak current before/after install. Other people have done exactly that, so you can refer to them. I do know that my single Honda 2000 inverter generator couldn't start up previously (I'll have to try that at some point now), so the startup current definitely exceeded what that could handle. I even had trouble getting the AC to start if I was using a 15A circuit to power my RV... it would trip the breaker (it's a 30A trailer, but using the adapter to just keep it plugged in at home to keep batteries charged, etc... I tried getting the AC to start while nothing else was running, and the breaker would always trip). Now with the softstart and using the energy monitor on my Ecoflow, I could see that it ramps up nicely and my AC averages between 7-8 A (at 120V) which is far less than I imagined it would use. With that in mind, assuming the softstart lets it gently ramp up to that 7-8A (or could be up to 13A for a 15A circuit), I bet I could use a single generator or a 15A circuit to run *just* the AC to start it up, and a couple other low current things. My converter, for example, is a 55A converter. If it decides it needs to charge my batteries, it could be using 5-6A of 120V all by itself. Anyway, all that other stuff aside, this unit does exactly what it says, the price is decent, easy enough to install, etc. Worth the price and effort it takes to install it.

I have a 2003 Roadtrek 190 Versatile RV, fitted with a Dometic Cool Cat 10,500 BTU Heat Pump Air Conditioner. I wanted to be able to run the air conditioner using my Pulsar PG2300iS 18000watt running (23000watt peak) Portable Gas-Powered Quiet Inverter Generator. Unfortunately, when I turned the air conditioner on the generator would stall every time. Then I decided to get a SoftStart unit. The first task was figuring out where the wiring was hidden in the air conditioner. It turned out to be easy enough. I had to remove the roof cover and unscrew two lockdown screws at the rear of the air conditioner to be able to move the a/c backward. I also removed two screws from inside the RV to take off the front cover. I found that I could push the a/c back and rotate it slightly to get at the wiring compartment cover, held in place with two more screws. The a/c heat pump circuit diagram was attached to the inside of the cover. I went to the SoftStart website to look for a wiring diagram that matched my diagram. Unfortunately, none of the available examples matched mine. So, I put in a ticket request for help and they answered the same evening with a quick diagram to get me started, and with a promise that a professionally designed diagram for the Cool Cat was being processed. Armed with the rough diagram I was able to work out all but one of the connections. Installation was easy. Mainly cutting and splicing five wires into the circuit wiring. The step by step directions that came with the unit were excellent. I did have an issue with the Blue wire. It was shown directly connected to R on the compressor. I tried that and it didn't work. Because my unit is a heat pump there is a Cold Control also connected to R. I solved the problem by removing the White wire, going to the Cold Control, at the Run Capacitor, and connecting the Blue wire to the White wire. Problem solved! Now, the Pulsar 1800watt generator starts the a/c unit every time. The SoftStart unit is amazing. It is so gentle and quiet that it is hard to believe that the a/c unit is running. The cool air certainly proves that it is. The SoftStart's online help was impressive. They not only responded quickly via email but they had also attempted to contact me by phone several times to give me wire by wire directions. I live in a black hole for cell phone signals and was not getting their calls. So they sent further emails asking me to contact them. I do have previous a/c experience as well as an electronics background so I was able to work out the final part of the puzzle myself, but they were 100% there trying to help. Please DO NOT attempt to install a SoftStart unit based on my review. Always contact SoftStart and they will advise you to step by step with their phone assistance. All in all, I highly recommend the SoftStart unit. It is amazing, and if you have a basic air conditioner unit then you will be able to make use of the online information and excellent included installation notes, and live phone call assistance if necessary to do the installation. If you don't feel comfortable doing the installation then do contact an electrician to have the work done. Capacitors can hold a dangerous charge even after the power has been disconnected and electricity is potentially lethal so don't take any unnecessary risks I think that the SoftStart unit is worth every penny.

Excellent quality product and installation kit. Instaled almost immediately after recieving and it works exactly as described. Im running an old rv duracool 15000 btu ac with a 2300 watt gas inverter. It has no issues at all handling it and the ac operation is WAY smoother on start up. Recommend

I've just install the SoftStartRV SSRV3T in my travel trailer. Instructions were simple and clear. Installation was easy. The AC started and ran smoothly with my Honda generator EU2200i. The generator is also running smootly. The SoftStartRV operated as advertised. We're extremely satisfied. Definitively a big plus. We recommend to buy.

Received the unit promptly, but it was too cold here to do the install right away. Finally got to put the unit in and found the instructions incredibly easy to follow and the install went great. The unit worked well on the test run and seems to be quieter, not sure how much it saves on start up draw as my home plug supplies 30 amp. The draw test will come when we get to our seasonal site as it is a very old campground and only has 20 amp service to the sites. Update! OMG! This thing is awesome. Last year when the a/c cycled it would pull so much amps ( old campground and we are on a power supply that is only 20 amp) the satilite tv would cut out and reset. No more, not only that but we also run a bar fridge this year and still no issues.

Works awesome and very easy to install and help too keep the start up of our a/c units on our rv to a gentle start in instead of a hard start up I recommend this product to any rv owners

The A/C was tripping either my inverter (in bypass mode) or my house's GFCI plug. I followed the very clear and easy instructions. They were so easy to follow that I thought I was missing something and was going to blow something up. Nope, the A/C started on the first try and the second try! My inverter didn't trip and the 15A GFCI didn't trip. I can run my A/C on a 15A circuit now!