Camper A/C question

[chainblu]

I'm in a couple of Camping/Boondocking groups and they often mention a 'soft-start' device for A/C, which reduces the start-up load on the generator. This, in turn, allows for a smaller generator.

I was just wondering - would replacing the start-up capacitor (or supplementing the original) with a larger capacitor achieve the same goal? Or is there a point of diminishing return on start-up capacitance?

Again, just curious. The A/C in my camper starts just fine.

 

[wwillson]

There are larger starting capacitors and can be somewhat effective from what I've read, but it's not so simple as just installing a larger capacitor. I'm sure an EE here can explain why there are diminishing returns from larger capacitors.

I have used Micro-Air Easy Start 364, which reduce startup current and are very effective.

Micro-Air Easy Start 364

Today I installed a Micro-Air Easy Start 364 in our 15k btu Dometic Brisk II and sure enough the 2500W Westinghouse generator starts and runs it just fine. This was the first time I've run the AC when it's warm out and it doesn't blow ice cold so that will have to be looked at next.

rvthe.us

Fired my Honda 2200 up yesterday after sitting in the garage all winter

Of course it started on the first pull. This generator starts every time and runs so quiet you can almost forget it's there from inside the trailer. It runs one AC and brews our coffee every morning we are boondocking. Very happy with it so far.

rvthe.us

 

[AZjeff]

There is a different capacitor you can buy to make the start-up easier. Not sure if they're OEM or aftermarket. I just installed a Micro-Air EasyStart on our trailer so we can use a 2500W generator. They say a 15k btu AC unit needs 4500W + to start. The EasyStart unit is an electronic device that somehow widens that start-up spike.

Wayne posted while I was typing.

 

[1978elcamino]

Or, just buy the next size larger generator and have plenty of reserve power.

 

[wwillson]

Or, just buy the next size larger generator and have plenty of reserve power.

Yes, that works, but they get heavier as you go up in watts. I had a Honda 2200, not because I didn't want a much larger generator, but because I could lift the 2200 in and out of the truck by myself.

 

[tnt_motorsports]

Yes, that works, but they get heavier as you go up in watts. I had a Honda 2200, not because I didn't want a much larger generator, but because I could lift the 2200 in and out of the truck by myself.

Just a thought, you could buy 2 of the 2200 generators and daisy chain them together. This way you are no messing with your camper AC.

We have a Wen 56380i and it works awesome for our off grid / field camping. It weighs ~100 lbs so a little heavy but 2 of us can handle it no problem.

Just my $0.02

 

[AZjeff]

Just a thought, you could buy 2 of the 2200 generators and daisy chain them together. This way you are no messing with your camper AC.

Sure but then you've got 2 generators to deal with. The EasyStart unit is pretty seamless and reversible. I had to cut one wire to make a 3 way splice otherwise just plugging in 3 other wires and disconnecting 1 or 2. At $300 cheaper than a 2nd generator and it works fine. I'd rather handle 1 60 pound unit than 2 or a higher wattage one over 100 lbs.