Micro-Air EasyStart Flex - HVAC soft start kit

[dnewton3]

Just a quick review of my new product for my HVAC.

https://www.microair.net/products/easystart-flex-home-ac-soft-starter

I have a 10 year old "ol skool" (PSC motor) outdoor condenser unit. It runs OK but it starts HARD (nearly sounds like a .410 shotgun when it kicks on; been like that since day one). I had installed a "hard start" cap a few years ago, and while it did make the starts a little quicker, it was still noisy and hard hitting upon start up. Being at the end of the power line distribution, it also really dimmed the lights when it kicked on; annoying.

I installed this new product today (super easy; well stated instructions and several YT videos). Pretty simple for Joe Average DIY stuff. Appears very well made, etc. The kit is super complete with everything you'd need, including connectors, zip ties, whip protector, etc. It does not lack for quality. I mounted mine outside the unit; was going to be too tight inside the control panel area. But it is rated for outdoor use and comes with a nice long whip, so just drilling a hole for the whip made simple work of it.

I will say, it has massively cut down on the start up surge (like nearly 2/3 less amp draw for the inrush!), and a lot quieter upon start up.

I will give it a 9 out of 10 (only deducting 1 point for the high cost). But if it helps make my condenser unit last longer, and it most certainly starts and runs quieter, it was worth what I paid for it. It's worth considering if you have a PSC or ECM compressor motor system.

NOTE: it is NOT designed for inverter driven motors; do NOT install on such a system.

 

[Hall]

will give it a 9 out of 10 (only deducting 1 point for the high cost). But if it helps make my condenser unit last longer, and it most certainly starts and runs quieter, it was worth what I paid for it.

Which is it, knock it for the high cost, but "it was worth what I paid for it" ?

 

[Rand]

wow $400

Seems abit steep.

 

[mitsuman47]

Thanks for the review.

I have an older system (2003?) that runs well but definitely dims the LED lights in the house when it kicks on. I keep up with cleaning both coils and preventatively change the cap every 5ish years. I’ve had to change the contactor once due to ants being in the wrong place at the wrong time when the unit tried to kick on. Other than that it has been very reliable. Hoping to get several more years out of it, and I’m considering one of the Micro-Air units to reduce the start up surge.

 

[DCDG]

Just a quick review of my new product for my HVAC.

https://www.microair.net/products/easystart-flex-home-ac-soft-starter

I have a 10 year old "ol skool" (PSC motor) outdoor condenser unit. It runs OK but it starts HARD (nearly sounds like a .410 shotgun when it kicks on; been like that since day one). I had installed a "hard start" cap a few years ago, and while it did make the starts a little quicker, it was still noisy and hard hitting upon start up. Being at the end of the power line distribution, it also really dimmed the lights when it kicked on; annoying.

I installed this new product today (super easy; well stated instructions and several YT videos). Pretty simple for Joe Average DIY stuff. Appears very well made, etc. The kit is super complete with everything you'd need, including connectors, zip ties, whip protector, etc. It does not lack for quality. I mounted mine outside the unit; was going to be too tight inside the control panel area. But it is rated for outdoor use and comes with a nice long whip, so just drilling a hole for the whip made simple work of it.

I will say, it has massively cut down on the start up surge (like nearly 2/3 less amp draw for the inrush!), and a lot quieter upon start up.

I will give it a 9 out of 10 (only deducting 1 point for the high cost). But if it helps make my condenser unit last longer, and it most certainly starts and runs quieter, it was worth what I paid for it. It's worth considering if you have a PSC or ECM compressor motor system.

NOTE: it is NOT designed for inverter driven motors; do NOT install on such a system.

I have heard good and bad on the soft starts mainly good for easing the load on portable generators. I read and watched some reviews they were short lived maybe a QC issue but I wouldn't be hesitant with installing one myself. Let us know how it performs long term. Hard start kits aren't the best in most situations, I had one HVAC contractor always pushing to sell one quick (300-400 bucks) where they're good end of life equipment looking to push a season or 2 tops which is questionable but some ride the wave and get lucky. Some Goodman units require them because of their compressor design or certain installed expansion valves, if the line voltage is low or refrigerant lines are long. Otherwise on equipment with good electrical health the hard start kit is just adding additional heat and stress on the compressor windings.

 

[RBT]

Just a quick review of my new product for my HVAC.

https://www.microair.net/products/easystart-flex-home-ac-soft-starter

I have a 10 year old "ol skool" (PSC motor) outdoor condenser unit. It runs OK but it starts HARD (nearly sounds like a .410 shotgun when it kicks on; been like that since day one). I had installed a "hard start" cap a few years ago, and while it did make the starts a little quicker, it was still noisy and hard hitting upon start up. Being at the end of the power line distribution, it also really dimmed the lights when it kicked on; annoying.

I installed this new product today (super easy; well stated instructions and several YT videos). Pretty simple for Joe Average DIY stuff. Appears very well made, etc. The kit is super complete with everything you'd need, including connectors, zip ties, whip protector, etc. It does not lack for quality. I mounted mine outside the unit; was going to be too tight inside the control panel area. But it is rated for outdoor use and comes with a nice long whip, so just drilling a hole for the whip made simple work of it.

I will say, it has massively cut down on the start up surge (like nearly 2/3 less amp draw for the inrush!), and a lot quieter upon start up.

I will give it a 9 out of 10 (only deducting 1 point for the high cost). But if it helps make my condenser unit last longer, and it most certainly starts and runs quieter, it was worth what I paid for it. It's worth considering if you have a PSC or ECM compressor motor system.

NOTE: it is NOT designed for inverter driven motors; do NOT install on such a system.

I installed one of these as well but be aware that a lot of HVAC guys don’t like them as they can cause problems with the compressors. Yes it is quieter but I was told may not be good for the unit. I was disappointed because it cost about $400 plus my time.

 

[DCDG]

Would be nice to bypass it while on utility power and send 24v with a RIB when connected to generator power through a transfer switch. it is doable but gets involved with a 4PDT contactor. And guaranteed to void any warranty.

 

[dnewton3]

Which is it, knock it for the high cost, but "it was worth what I paid for it" ?

Had it been cheaper, it would be a 10/10. Still, I'm overall satisfied.

 

[dnewton3]

I installed one of these as well but be aware that a lot of HVAC guys don’t like them as they can cause problems with the compressors. Yes it is quieter but I was told may not be good for the unit. I was disappointed because it cost about $400 plus my time.

I'd be curious about what you've heard about it causing issues for the compressor. What specifically is the issue it causes? Mine being a PSC unit, I cannot fathom any harm comes from the soft-start. Perhaps the control boards in an ECM unit might not like the kit in the long term?

I did a search can find nothing which would indicate it's an issue. To the contrary, most of them debunk the myth that these are harmful. It certainly is stressful on a compressor to have such hard starts repeatedly over its entire life without the soft-start. Most of the complaints or concerns are about the high cost of unit and professional install. I would argue that a $400 device which can perhaps double the life of my compressor is worth it, at least to me. And the professional install is NOT a necessity if you have any skills that the average DIY guy would have.

https://duckduckgo.com/?ia=web&origin=funnel_home_website&hps=1&q=will+a+soft-start+controller+harm+a+PSC+driven+HVAC+compressor?&atb=v376-1

 

[tom slick]

I installed that unit on my HVAC a couple years ago so I could have AC while running a generator. No issues so far.

 

[DCDG]

I'd be curious about what you've heard about it causing issues for the compressor. What specifically is the issue it causes? Mine being a PSC unit, I cannot fathom any harm comes from the soft-start. Perhaps the control boards in an ECM unit might not like the kit in the long term?

I did a search for "HVAC soft-start aid harm to compressor" and can find nothing which would indicate it's an issue. To the contrary, most of them debunk the myth that these are harmful. It certainly is stressful on a compressor to have such hard starts repeatedly over its entire life without the soft-start.

i think more of a compatibility issue with certain control board units guessing units with heat pumps or compressors requiring high torque start up.

 

[RBT]

I am not an HVAC tech but apparently it heats the compressor on start up. The guys who do our HVAC work install Carrier and Bryant, they are a father and son business that have been in business for almost 50 years and I tend to believe them. We have two zones and I will be removing the soft start on the heat pump AC unit based on the advice. They did acknowledge an advantage if you have to use a generator. I am simply relaying what I was told. Probably a situation where I installed sometching I did not sufficiently understand. In my defense, when I did it both my mother and mother in law were very sick with conditions that required electricity at all times, so I wanted to make sure we always had power when they stayed with us. So I probably rushed and it was a stressful time. They have both since passed so when I get to it I can remove the remaining one.

 

[DCDG]

I am not an HVAC tech but apparently it heats the compressor on start up. The guys who do our HVAC work install Carrier and Bryant, they are a father and son business that have been in business for almost 50 years and I tend to believe them. We have two zones and I will be removing the soft start on the heat pump AC unit based on the advice. They did acknowledge an advantage if you have to use a generator. I am simply relaying what I was told.

I can see the reasoning and logic behind it.

 

[4wd]

I am not an HVAC tech but apparently it heats the compressor on start up. The guys who do our HVAC work install Carrier and Bryant, they are a father and son business that have been in business for almost 50 years and I tend to believe them. We have two zones and I will be removing the soft start on the heat pump AC unit based on the advice. They did acknowledge an advantage if you have to use a generator. I am simply relaying what I was told.

Same - my HVAC guy is 2nd Gen - and honestly more technical than the dad who trained him well - a decade back …
(Pop shoved him in Texas attics to learn reliably ) …
He put a soft start on my 2 stage - along with several other enhancements …
Have always been on NG for heat …