Community Forums

spogdog · 06-25-2018, 10:13 PM

I have a Honda 2000 portable generator and a travel trailer that has a 15K A/C. The A/C draws too much power for the single generator to power up the A/C. If I take the generator off eco mode the A/C will start with a brief overload light on the generator, but it will continue to run. Running on high all the time is not desirable but when on eco mode the A/C won't start. Getting a second Honda and put them in parallel solves my problem. However I ran across this soft start device (https://is.gd/AXyK6h) that seems to solve my problem of not needing a second generator. As long as I don't run the microwave, or some other heavy draw items I'm thinking I won't need another generator. So long story, why doesn't everyone have one of these soft starts on their A/C? Am I missing something?

Bob_C · 06-26-2018, 07:42 AM

Cause a lot of folks don't want to disturb anything, figuring if it didn't come from the factory with it, it just wasting money.....

bfisher003 · 06-26-2018, 07:56 AM

This device looks interesting. When we had our previous trailer it had a 13.5 Kbtu A/C and our Yamaha 2400 watt inverter generator would not start it until I added a “hard start” capacitor to the A/C unit. Our current trailer has a 15 Kbtu A/C and I sold the Yamaha and bought a Champion 3,400 watt inverter generator and it runs the A/C just fine in Eco mode, but it appears using the device you linked to would make startup a lot easier. I had never heard of this device or I might have tried it.

Bob_C · 06-26-2018, 08:00 AM

Here ya go!

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MSHappyCampers · 06-26-2018, 10:32 AM

Hi !

Welcome to IRV2! We're sure glad you joined the gang!

I'm not familiar with that product!

Good luck, happy trails, and God bless!

spyderRV · 06-26-2018, 10:52 AM

I have researched the Easy Start unit. In a nutshell, it has a microprocessor which learns the startup characteristics of the compressor and ultimately uses the least amount of power to start the compressor. Great for smaller generators, not great the cost.

I went in a different direction, not as good as the Easy Start but less startup draw than one of those brute force hard start caps. Mine resets instantly so the compressor can restart again.

http://www.irv2.com/forums/f112/dome...ml#post3514577