Experiences with microair soft start for ac using generators?

[cvin]

Found this on another forum and wondered if others have installed this mod and what their experiences were



https://www.microair.net/collections/easystart-soft-starters

[upstater49]

I'm interested in this too. $300 instead of $1200 for a Honda Companion sounds like a good way to go...if it works.

[cvin]

been doing as much research as possible and so far everyone i can find that has done it is very happy with the mod..
not as many reviews/ancedotes as i would like but so far no bad ones at all

to me in addition to being able to run one 2000 watt genny it sounds like it makes things easier on the genny and the ac so thinking it will extend lifespan...

i am seriously considering it

not exactly sure which coleman-mach AC i have on mine, think it is 13,500- but i contacted microair by email and they got back to be friday afternoon in 20 minutes and said they will have the schematics for my AC

i will be boondocking quite a bit and this could save a lot of fuel

if i do this will keep this updated on how install and how it does for me

[cvin]

meant to post this link, good info on the microair in use and some different generators

http://padgett.performanceresearch.us/so/so15.htm

[cvin]

Went ahead and ordered, should be installed this week and the trailer will start getting lots of use after memorial day

Will post back on the results

[upstater49]

I'll be very interested in your experience with it. Thanks for sharing!

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[the sodfather]

Interesting. I'll keep fallowing even though I've got a 3500 Champion that starts and runs my 15K just fine.

[upstater49]

Cvin, have you had a chance to install and check out the soft-start yet? We've been dry camping in Texas and I sure would have liked to have been able to run the A/C with my 2kw Honda.

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[cvin]

sorry to be so long replying, genny problems and really lousy cell service where i have been travelling

did not get it installed last week but hoping to end of this week, will post back with how it does....

[upstater49]

I look forward to your results. What kinda Genny do you have?

[cvin]

have 2 champion 2000 watt inverter gens

most of what i read with people using this was with hondas..

[upstater49]

have 2 champion 2000 watt inverter gens

most of what i read with people using this was with hondas..
That's what I've seen too. That's what has piqued my interest.

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[cvin]

i will definitely give feedback on how they do with the champions

my theory was even if one champion wont run it that from my reading it is easier on the gennys to start the ac anyway....

[cvin]

Just wanted to update this
thought I was going to get this installed this weekend but had a house project that has turned into a never ending mess and I think it's going to be another couple of weeks or so before I have time to get this installed

I will definitely update it once I get them in and see how they're doing

[acbaldwi]

Was there any update on this? I just bought a 175BH and would love if i only had to buy a single genny....

Well i guess its only been 8 days but you know :)

[cvin]

Sorry, looking like next week for the install

There is another thread on here that discusses it, think it is under hard start capacitors

Anyway some people chimed in on their microair experiences in that thread

[upstater49]

Sorry, looking like next week for the install

There is another thread on here that discusses it, think it is under hard start capacitors

Anyway some people chimed in on their microair experiences in that thread
cvin has been busy...and I couldn't wait! So I went ahead and bought one and installed it this weekend. Runs great on my 2kw Honda generator. And cheaper and less hassle than buying a Companion Honda generator.

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[cvin]

Wanted to update this asap

Had issues with my ac unrelated to the microair, got those fixed and found the single 2000W champion will NOT run my 13,500 AC

Below is what microair wrote back to me- my mistake for not asking them first, they have offered to work with me on a refund and i want to state that i have had excellent customer service with microair
Matteo was on vacation and still emailing and answering questions about stuff

I would highly recommend this company and this product if you have one of the recommended generators below


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Unfortunately, I wish I had known you were planning on attempting to run your 13.5k on a Champion 2000W generator. I would have advised you otherwise earlier. It's a long story with an unhappy ending.

We ran into this issue about 6 months ago with another customer. As it turns out, not all 2000W generators are created equal. We went as far as purchasing our own brand new Champion 2000W generator so we could test the situation for our customers on our 15k Dometic Penguin II. Although the Dometic Penguin II will start and run fine on a Honda EU2000i, Yamaha EF2000iSv2, Westinghouse 2000iXLT, and a few other proven 2000W generators, it will not start and run with the Champion 2000W (model #73536i). The Champion 2000W is not really a 2000W generator by any stretch of the claimed specifications. Thus the reason it costs less than half that of a Honda EU2000i.

Relearning the EasyStart won't help. The only successes we have heard about are people with 9.2kBTU Coleman Mach 8s have succeeded in starting and running their systems on the Champion 2000W generator. That was all we could run on the Champion 2000W when we tested it in our factory. I've actually gone public with this information on at least one RV forums so people don't purchase EasyStarts if they were planning on using them with the Champion 2000W.
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[cvin]

Tried to update this and dont think it took, if there are two posts just ignore one

The microair has done great, has worked anywhere I have run the ac off 110

I am using 10 gauge extension cords but often 100ft of them and still no problems

Microair said the soft start will not hurt the ac if there is not enough power so i dont have to worry if i am using long cords like that, good to know it is safe