Forget about a stand alone generator. Just get an F-150 PowerBoost HEV with the optional 7.2 kWh Propower on Board Generator option. You can even configure your tow to be fully powered with the air conditioners running in motion with minimal impact on MPG performance of the truck.
The...
I moved my Easy Start over to the new unit. (Dometic Freshjet 5) It started the first time with a 30A surge. The last one was 15A. It runs at 12A...So LRA is only 3 more amps. Amazing contraption. I'm hoping they offer an Inverter friendly unit. Australia is installing Dometic Freshjet...
...generators are notorious for being over-rated. And, some ACs have been known to draw more than their rated power on startup. Using the softstart device will significantly reduce your startup (surge) current (Wattage). It does little to nothing to reduce running Wattage.
If I was looking...
...be able to get the second one started but most of the time you'll kick the breaker trying to start it. This is why some people buy the "soft start" kit for the A/C units. It keeps them from spiking the amps during the start so they can get by on 30 amps to run both A/C units. Without the...
After all that happened, I installed SoftStart on two of the most used AC’s.
Tightening the lugs in the transfer box should be done once in a while.
Also the AC breakers panel. I neglected it, and melted part of the panel $$$
Unless you have a SoftStart on the A/C, on start up the A/C electrical draw is excessive. As the A/C motors spin up the draw is excessive, once running the draw declines to rated draw. On startup the draw may exceed generator capacity, especially if there are other items running, like fridge...
Do you know if your charge bridge is working properly? It seems to me that the Lithium bridge may not be setup to provide the power to recharge.
A simple test would be to start the engine, put on high idle, and remove shore power. THen without any demand on the system (ie: turn of front air)...
...Westinghouse from Walmart. It has a remote start feature and is quiet. However, it will not start my AC unit consistently so I am adding a softstart device. It is to much for me to pick up and put on my truck but I would not go smaller unless you get units that can be paralleled. Depends...
Hello @oldguy49 - yes, several of us use the MicroAir easy start (also called softstart) as you can find in searching this forum site. They are great but be sure you use the correct one for your setup. I suggest visiting the web site below to research if needed.
https://www.microair.net/
The previous owner had the softstart wired to the middle AC so it will run off the batteries. Last summer in the heat it was a very nice addition to keep the coach comfy when boondocking.
...amps (1620 watts) according to my ampmeter. So 20 Amps should be sufficient. I took the measurements a while back when I was considering what size generator to buy. I have been thinking of buying a softstart kit, but since I went with a larger inverter generator I may not worry about it now.
Good point @JoeHogan makes.
Understand the benefit if coach has solar of having softstart. @TJ&LadyDi mentions he was told easier on compressor when installed at S&B. What other advantages are there?
...to the Invertor. Not wiring the Cook Top into the invertor, of course, make perfect sense:)
In the last rig we did wire in the front AC to the invertor with the addition of a SoftStart. Not having the cooktop wired in to the invertor circuits will really put a crimp in the boondocking...
Welcome to RVF, @Williams&Williams; glad to have you here with us.
Soft-start will reduce your AC starting amperage by about 70%. A single 15K BTU AC can draw up to about 50A on startup; with SS, that will be reduced to about 15A. The unit will draw 13-14A when running (after start). If you...
When an electric motor (such as one driving an AC compressor) starts, it initially draws a heavy electrical current in order to get things moving. A "soft-start" circuit simply manages the initial starting current of the motor in a way that eliminates the initial high current load. We don't...
The one in the kitchen is about 10 inches from a wall at end of island opposite end from sink and the upstairs is between bathroom and outer wall.
I guess my next step will be to disconnect the under belly and start feeling around. Thanks for the response.
Thanks all for the good information. Not the answer I was looking for, but what I thought would be correct. I didn't think running both was an option, but had to ask. Anyway, ill look into the softstart and just run one at a time for now. Thanks again and happy Camping!!
Thanks for the tip Neal. I would assume this would be good practice for the other modes as well. Can’t hurt!
BTW, we seldom boondock and have no added solar. Do you feel that adding softstart to my units would be beneficial and/or worth the effort and expense?
...parts (2 dongle/adapters) and the Freshjet 5 HP:
The new unit has the new control box installed already. You have to still add a softstart if on inverters or transfer it over.
New control box is not plug and play with old newmar (2019) Penguin adapter plug (DC, furnace, shed etc) but it...
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