How To Install a soft start in a Dometic roof top air conditioner

[Neal]

For those that have installed a Micro-Air Soft Start - please provide instructions for others to learn from. Let's collect information for those that want to install one, please provide a step by step guide, pictures, etc.

EasyStart Knowledge Bank - Installation - Micro-Air, Inc.

www.micro-air.com

 

[Joe Hogan]

Do any Class As come equipped with EasyStart installed? Or SoftStart as some call it.

 

[RVThereYet]

Neil,

I installed two on my last 5er. The instructions that come with it are pretty easy to follow. Also, look on YouTube, there are many video's with step by step instructions that show and do.
Easy peasy!! Takes a little longer for the first one but goes fast the second time!
I think the new Furrion's Chill Cube's come with them included. I know my new 5er does. Takes you by surprise the first time you turn it on. It s l o w l y winds up then compressor kicks in. I have three and can my 18K btu ynit on 110V with no strain.

 

[Neal]

I paid a tech referred by Micro-Air to install my first one, was not done well but it works. Second one I installed under the guidance of @Chuggs and it wasn't hard but I can't find those instructions to share. And yes, I recall YouTube having info as well, just trying to collate the good resources here for our peeps here to have when the time comes.

 

[Chuggs]

Yes...Microair had a first rate video. They included WAGO connectors, etc...to make the kit easy to install. I think it makes it even easier if you read schematics...just knowing color codes of wiring, helps you properly identify where it is you are making connections.

 

[Jonf254]

To chime in, I looked at these soft starts and as of today you can drop in a Furrion 18k chill cube which is basically a split unit in a box.The benefit over a soft start s the unit has a built in variable speed compressor and it works great for a top usage of about 1450 watts cranked up all the way.I replaced a brand new Coleman Mach Q and we are delighted with the upgrade.Worth looking at before spending 300 bucks for just a startup solution.

 

[Jonf254]

I agree, the Furrion Chill Cubes are the way to go, nothing else yet available comes close to the efficiency of these units.There are others online, but I chose Furrion because they have been making RV appliances for a long time.

 

[RVThereYet]

To chime in, I looked at these soft starts and as of today you can drop in a Furrion 18k chill cube which is basically a split unit in a box.The benefit over a soft start s the unit has a built in variable speed compressor and it works great for a top usage of about 1450 watts cranked up all the way.I replaced a brand new Coleman Mach Q and we are delighted with the upgrade.Worth looking at before spending 300 bucks for just a startup solution.

So let me see if I am understanding this correctly.
So what I understand is that going out and spending $1000+ on a new Furrion verses spending ~$300 on a SoftStart for a new A/C unit is better?
I would agree with that if your unit has gone south on you but to do that just to get an A/C unit to start within your start up amp load, doesn't make economic sense. Unless a person has money that they can't find a way to spend it.

 

[redbaron]

Furion Units won’t work on all RVs, and they still benefit from having a soft start.

 

[Jonf254]

So let me see if I am understanding this correctly.
So what I understand is that going out and spending $1000+ on a new Furrion verses spending ~$300 on a SoftStart for a new A/C unit is better?
I would agree with that if your unit has gone south on you but to do that just to get an A/C unit to start within your start up amp load, doesn't make economic sense. Unless a person has money that they can't find a way to spend it.

What I am saying is the 1000 investment will return itself in energy savings and efficiency, while the soft start will just help reduce the load when the unit starts up.Most people who are installing these soft starts are doing so to reduce the cost of a inverter or allow a 3000 watt inverter to be used to start the unit.I was just saying if your going to spend 300, consider spending additional money to have a air conditioner which is far superior to just a sof start, especially for those boon docking and relying on their own means of electric.I hope that helps all to understand correctly I’m sorry Neil perhaps this post should be moved to a more appropriate thread, I was really just trying to share an alternative that proved to be money well spent especially with the last 4 days of triple digit temperatures and we stayed perfectly cooled in our RV with 2 roof top units and none with soft starts.