What is a hard start kit?? Basement air

[RCtime]

I just returned from Lodgemobile and reinstall of my AC, finished tucking my motorhome back in storage, sitting on the couch in wonderful cold air blowing from my vents, reading my printout receipt and see Mark installed a HARD START KIT.
What is that??

Here are some numbers of what my AC is now doing.
Outside air temp. 94 to 95f
Inside temp. when I turned the AC on. 85
17 to 18 minutes later when I took the reading before leaving.
Pulling 24 amp. nothing else on.
Inside temp now at 83., dropped 2 deg.
overhead duct temp. 55f and return air temp. 80f for a 25 deg, difference.

also a much quieter AC. My #1 compressor, no longer low on freon is no longer making a slight rumble.

For anyone living in the Los Angeles area or nearby I can recommend Lodgemobile for you AC, and appliance repair needs.

[InPursuit]

it's to assist getting the motor spinning
an HVAC guy's page: heat pump air conditioning compressor motor start capacitor blown up.

compare that to what you got.

[dc8cappie]

Keep us posted on how the unit cools the coach in the afternoon heat.

[Paul R. Haller]

Quote:

Originally Posted by RCtime Mark installed a HARD START KIT. What is that??

A hard start kit is a large capacitor in the starting leads to the compressor. It charges as the motor runs and after the compressor cycles off and then is commanded to start by the thermistat, the capacitor provides an extra kick to get the compressor running again. this is especially helpful when residual head pressure is present.
Paul R. Haller

[RVhauler]

Helps to start the compressor also when the voltage is a tad low

[NeilV]

It is a good thing that will get your compressors started with less heat stress and should extend their lives. It is basically a capacitor and an associated solid state device that holds a charge which is released to help get the compressor motor to start turning and up to speed. The longer this cycle takes the hotter the compressor motor will get when the ac first kicks on. A cooler running compressor motor is a very good thing.