Flickering Lights When AC Starts? ICM870 Soft Start Saves Money Watch Step by Install Guide
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 ส.ค. 2024
- Save Money & Protect Your Central A/C Compressor - Step by Step Install Guide ICM870 16A. This video is for educational purposes only.
⚠️Do not attempt to install this product if you are not qualified and/or trained working with HVAC-R equipment.⚠️
ICM870-9A Soft Start amzn.to/43XgvRx (RV & 1 ton systems)
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#ICMControls #SoftStart #MikeyPipes
Mikey I see you've changed. Your tune on soft starts last time I watched. You, you said they were a hockey Puck and threw one away if you took it off the homeowner's air conditioner. Good to see you coming around to reality Putting the right soft start on the unit. The first place is always a good place to start. Especially if you're using off grid power like a Tesla wall.
Same thing I said! Unless I heard him wrong. I just installed one on my 3.5 ton on yesterday
just shows, a good tech is not afraid to keep learning good job mike !
I just watch your video where you removed a soft start and tossed it in the yard of your customers. The implication was these are not good systems. Now here your are touting the the benefits of a soft start system. Kind of wishy washy. I hope they pay/sponsor you well. I know I won’t buy those brands of soft starts. I was researching them today. That’s how I found your channel. I need 8 soft starts 6 for my 4 rv’s I own and 2 for my 2 houses. MicroAir here I come
On the other video the problem was the home owner installed the soft start incorrectly
I saw the same video
Will consider adding soft start to my ac unit for the correct tonnage of unit as long as it's made in U .S.A.
Veyy wishy washy. He has no clue. He plays with pipe. He has no clue about electrical. In that other video, he threw the temper tantrum cause he could not decode the error displayed by the LED. I would not take advice from this guy, very dangerous. There are plenty of other tubes that correctly describe soft start use cases, and the benfits.
The inrush amps on start up only lasts for seconds so the savings in electric is minimal and pay pack for this device would be very long. However, I do believe the compressor lifespan can increase with the use of a soft start.
Definitely will help with the voltage drop at startup
And it’s mili seconds
Hey! A Buck 50 is a $1.50. (over a 3 month cooling season, 14 hour days, 3 cycles per hour, 7 days a week, Coned residential rates.) Yeah, I went and did the math... 🤣 I've got to get me a hobby.
Also, most of the power used during startup is reactive power, which you aren't billed for.
@@mickeyd9369coned is a huge monopoly and scam in general… I’m so glad I don’t have them as my utility
I am not DIY confident to do this but am going to contact my HVAC company about it.
With my last HVAC unit, it had a string of compressor issues. After watching your video today, I am sure my current compressor will last longer with this technology add-on.
Thank you sir.
Thanks for watching and sharing your comment.
I installed a MicroAir easy start on my 4 ton A/C it was around 72 LRA before and now it’s starts at around 25 to 30 amps…..my Predator 9500 generator has no problems starting and running it
Good luck getting the ICM32. I ordered it for about a month or more. They said I would get it on the 19th of September. They took my money after they took my money. They sent me an email telling me I won't get it till mid-December. I am sure if I call to cancel the order. They will probably return my money in December. Also before I ordered. I wasn't sure of the 16 or 32. So I called. I was not able to get any support. A voice mail would come on and tell me that all support people were not there. Then it would tell me that the mailbox was full. Then would hang up on me. SO BEWARE BEFORE YOU BUY FROM ICM!!!!!!
That’s interesting, in Great Britain and Europe we generally have a soft start built into the units on single phase.great vid again Mikey
The ICM -A Soft Start seems like the right choice for larger systems
It's great that the description provides links to the different soft start options on Amazon
My local tech recommended adding one to my 3 yo unit this year.
We’ve had a very warm summer so far. Warmer than last year. Yet my electric bill is better!!
I think it was well worth it.
A soft start kit will NOT reduce your electric bill. Although the startup amps are reduced, the startup duration is longer. Inrush current lasts for a few seconds at most. The real cost for running an air conditioner is the normal running current which does not change with installation of a soft start kit.
I'd like to see the startup amps with a regular hardstart to compare. Great video.
Yes!
I enjoyed all professionally cleaned the coil like to know how he sprayed that to the a coil inside the house a cleaner for the a coil inside through the drain plug question
Mike - you know this isn’t saving any energy from a $$ standpoint. Mad love but keep it real!
Very Nice - For specific power and start up sounds on Scroll, I love these soft starters over hard starter (yes there is cost difference!). I been running the Copeland SecureStart as a test since 2015, when Copeland introduced them at one fo their classes. Agreed, no more light flickering and it's been a while, but I thought the SecureStart had a lower starting current. It was closer to the run amps, but int's been 8 years since I checked. Have to checkout the ICM version sometime. Thank you for posting.
I just recently installed one of these on my 2.5 ton Lenox condenser, for a couple of reasons. It had just reached it's 5th birthday and thus the end of the extended top to bottom warranty, and I like that, theoretically, this could extend the life of the compressor. This can only be proven with time though. My number one reason was I did not want to have to buy an oversized generator just to handle the momentary inrush of the condenser (my only 240 volt load) and the wasted money that would entail, in both cost of generator and fuel to have an extra 4KW for 0.1% of the time just to start the AC.
Hey Mikey, I'm not positive, but I don't recall you mentioning shorting the caps after disconnecting power and before touching any wires.
The run cap generally stores almost zero charge unless you remove the wire to it while it’s energized or that wire burn in two. That’s how people get zapped by them. When the wire burn off
A waterproof storage bin is always a good investment for any DIYer
The dude he is working with needs to go back to hvac school..... yall tearing this guy up in the comments and i love it!
It's great that educational videos like this exist to help DIY enthusiasts
It's nice to have different options depending on the size of your AC system
MicroAir Flex on an ancient R22 3 ton Carrier. 92amps before 21amps after. Did it myself.
I'll definitely consider getting a soft start to save money on my AC compressor
Taking bets you'll be back for the capacitor soon The one in there was crusty rusty and dusty 😊
This IS the definitive product! Especially for Hot Climates.
Glad you make these videos to educate. Some techs work like Franky Two Times. Few are great like St Mike. Thats why i like to try it my self first. Because Hacks Cost Me Stacks.
Next week Mikey holds disconnect practice exam...... I hate they don't make a dual disconnect. It would make the two unit install so much cleaner. Not like that piggy back dump sight install.
Hey Hey Wadyadoin!!!! Dats da low voltage haaahaaa! Tell you what though Peter Pan will soon be the man, that young man is like a sponge. Good video Mike I put on of these in my neighbors unit due to his home having battery back up and needed less startup draw, was amazed how well it worked... Many homes out here have solar with battery backup and this device is a must have...
@@PipeDoctor 100% agree even better for whole house battery backup which is very common in my neck of the woods.
This is probably one of the most cost-effective add ons that you could install. It will literally pay for itself!
Nice work as always, Mikey!👍
That’s debatable unless you are claiming prolonged equipment life expectancy
@@iwenive3390 And that's exactly what I'm claiming
@@iwenive3390 My 870 was paid for more than 3 times over through the savings on my new generator (and fuel savings down the road). My average household load, without AC, is around 7.5KW. The condenser RLA runs about 14 amps, LRA was about 72 amps. According to the generator manufacturer's sizing specs, I would need a little over 14KW surge capacity. With the 870 installed on the condenser, I was able to go with the next size down generator, which saved me about $400.
@@antoniosagamuccio7370 That’s what I’m talking about! Not only the cost savings in equipment longevity, but the savings in energy dollars. So, I guess you can say it pays you back!
I'm definitely considering installing a soft start in my RV now
The Veto TP-XXL seems like a handy tool bag to have
I've never heard of a soft start before, but it sounds interesting
Allen Bradley had those soft starts units back in early 90s.
I watch your videos all the time, why haven't you installed more of these if there so great?
Hello 👋 to Mrs. Mikey Pipes during your Easter Egg piece at the End of the Video. I’m sure she is the Brains 🧠 of the Operation. 😬👍🙏
If I recall from my schooling back in the day on sizing overloads and protective devices, you can expect to see 600% FLA for inrush or locked rotor current on a motor. Obviously VFD and soft starts will negate that.
But I 100% agree that a soft start is the way to go. We're always having to replace busted belts on our condenser fan motors for the ones that cycle on/off the most, and a soft start would save that labor on that as well as the $600 belts that get replaced far too often in the summer.
Carriers belt eating pulley ratios are equally to blame if not more so
@@iwenive3390 ours aren't carriers. The compressors are York (Johnson controls) 3000hp, and the condenser fans are just 6 banks of coolers, each with three 55hp motors. And not a soft start or VFD on 'em. So when they come on, hard, the toothed cogs tended to rip a few teeth off the belts. We've switched to these ungodly expensive kevlar belts that last longer, except on the ones that cycle one-off the most. They just get snapped.
I appreciate the warning about not attempting the installation without proper qualifications
I thought watching a DIY on you tube made every one qualified?
I've heard great things about the Milwaukee M Blower, might get one for myself
We use these on hydraulic elevators to lessen the current influx on startup... Makes sense to use on a large AC unit
Hey Mikey. Great video.
When you first started, there were 2 disconnects on the wall, but then as you did the install there was only 1.
So you removed 1 of the disconnects before you started the installation.
Is that the Easter Egg? I already emailed you my guess, so unlike some of the others, I did follow directions!
Thanks for all the content Mikey. And I'll swing by the shop to pick up my prize one day this week. 😂
What's the advantage of using one of these as opposed to a regular hard start kit?
Had one----lasted a week. In all fairness I learned I had an old model and there have been improvements. When I asked about getting it replaced with a new model I was told all current models will be sold off dealer shelves first and no guarantee to get a new model.
Try micoair soft starts. It's a better more durable product
Consider adding soft start to my unit of for correct tons and made in usa diy
I'm amazed at the range of tools and equipment needed for this installation
I did it yesterday with just: an impact driver, a wire stripper/crimper, a multimeter, gloves and some wire nuts. Pretty standard stuff you should have anyway.
Why are there so many bad reviews on Amazon about it dying within days?
Because this is a real problem. Mine failed after 31 days
The ICM-A Soft Start seems perfect for my RV, thanks for the link
Couple weeks ago we suffered a power failure and I heard my generator growling, almost stalled when the 5 ton ac started.
I finally installed the soft start kits ( I had for 3 years lol) on the 5 ton ac and my 5 ton pool heat pump, pool equipment is locked out of use during generator running.
All high amp draw equipment should have this soft start. Compressors would last longer and less stress on electric panels and transformer s
Thanks for this video
Soft start good. Lights won't flicker, Compressor should last longer. Energy savings? No. Same running amp draw. Your electric bill will not change.
If you AC lasts longer, your energy bill will be higher for longer.
Mine dropped in half when the compressor fried.
I have seen the Micro-Air that will “learn” the operating conditions and will actually, once up running, lower the running current.
That device would seem to have more “ intelligence “ and technology to included remote monitoring.
I am going to have to look into one of these.... I put a 521 hardstart on my condenser to allow it to start when running on generator power. This would be a better solution.
ICM is down the street 8n Syracuse
I've been needing some new Allen keys, the Wiha ones look great
7:44 funny enough you don‘t save any energy, because the overall energy consumption remains the same; the only thing you do is to limit the inrush current in the transient phase… BUT the motor still spins up with the same energy consumption, just in another time window.
Nothing funny about it. This isn't an energy saving device.
This is the same guy that said soft start kills compressor!!??
Hey Mike, was is the difference between a this soft start and a hard start kit? In certain situations like lights dimming.
That inrush current is of such short duration that you are not going to notice any real energy savings. The benefits are possibly increased motor life, but more importantly, the ability to start the AC with a solar power backup or a smaller generator.
If Anyone feels Uncomfortable with these Easy to Follow Instructions, your Best Bet is to have a Licensed HVAC Contractor Install this Great Product for you. 👍🙏
If a motor wants to draw Full amp draw on startup But.
Can't what do u think will happen to the motor !!!!!!
Yeah, someone was saving on wires... So lets save some more with a softstart :D
I don't know if I missed the video but what happened with the Sunday emergency call In that crazy house with the fish tanks? I know you said you soldered all those lines so I'd be interested to see if the line was actually the issue. Actually use stay bright 8 for everything even though it's $90 a roll at Johnstone the last time I bought one.
@@PipeDoctor No way! That actually scares the shit out of me. Were they factory fittings or did you use that spin flaring thing that Daniel loves?
Only needed if running the AC from a generator.
Question about How do I bypass the Coresense Diagnostic module to install the ICM870-16A. ICM states to bypass it but just wondering how to do that. Thank you in advance.
Do a video on this iO HVAC Controls iO-WR Channel Wireless Relay Kit by Wireless Comfort or something like it for AC condensers
Did you put the screw back in the T1 lug ? That could be a shocking good call back ?
I just installed 2 of these and they had a 4 min delay to kick the compressor on FWIW
4 min start delay is good safety for compressor, allows the refrigerant pressures in the system to equalize, thus making for easier compressor startups and prevents killing it from constant short cycles.
I love it, except for those splice connectors.
you said compressor wire to capacitor when it was really the contactor.
@@PipeDoctor i thought that was the easter egg lol
OOOOOO LAWD SOMEONE HELP PETER 🤦🏾♂️🤦🏾♂️🤦🏾♂️😂😂😂
Some brass weights training.
I thought Peter clocked you one at 2:08 joking, nice vid.
Peter plugged the black wire into the low voltage
Hey Mike, would you recommend a soft or hard start on a 24 year old Carrier cac 2.5 ton system. Is it worth it or not? Thanks
I'll need to check if the ICM -A Soft Start is compatible with my -ton system
Mike, is the Easter egg you left the wires long along with the split loom tubing on the soft start? I’ll need the 32amp version please!😊
That is a great looking bracelet, but suspect you would not ordinarily leave that on when working with electricity.
Weren't you hating on these in some of your videos? Hockey puck?
Which on do i buy for a 3 ton unit ?
I lost my power last week and I had my central air running off my generator
Does not save on electric bill, but will save compressor and slow use with a generator
I imagine I don’t really need this with my Bosch IDS 2.0 inverter heat pump?
If your lights are flickering, you have other problems you need to address. Start at the main panel.
Flickering lights when the ac starts doesn’t need further investigation at the panel. It is the locked rotor starting current of the compressor and condenser fan. It is normal, but annoying. Even if you had an 800 amp service, the lights could still flicker.
@@bills6946 absolutely wrong on that. Sorry.
@@harveypaxton1232 41 years in the business disagrees with you.
Yes you need the 32 and why not remove the seal right that's not needed rather than packing all that into the cabinet?
Also these devices DO NOT save power! They reduce current draw on starting prolonging the life of the compressor.
Love the channel. Had a ? About the shake test. Had new cap out of box could hear liquid. It tested good except that my fan was testing 40.1 and herm was testing 7.5 w/ 40/7.5. Wondering if you've seen that before and if it was bc you could hear liquid. Can't find any literature saying if you hear liquid means it's bad. Both bosses don't agree. Any input would be great especially if I can teach the boss something. (And prove him wrong) haha
It’s not a test but it does say something about the viscosity and quality of the dielectric fluid
Thanks man I appreciated your advise and love another boss that still does the dirty work and tight spaces. Allways say to my guys will never ask you to do anything I won't do. Lead by example like you say. Keep it up and keep it real
I have a Rheem RAKA-030JAZ installed in 1998. Do you think a soft start can be installed on it? Or is it too old and I should upgrade to a new A/C?
Yes
Good luck on finding g them . Every where you look they are sold out.
I get them easy
@@PipeDoctor good for you lol but I need one and Amazon keeps showing me they are unavailable. So do a few other sites . Perhaps you know a good link to find them
How does this affect the warranty on the unit? Please don't let your helper out alone yet, to many issues on electrical side. Why were all the tools on the fan grill, not safe either.
Lets do some maths. 50A "savings" for 2 seconds (probably less).. Say on a hot day the A/C might cycle 6 times an hour (probably less), that's 12 seconds an hour. 50A @ 220 is around 6kW. So you are saving about 20W an hour (0.020kWh). If you were to save that much every day, all year long, you are looking at 175kWh savings a year...or about $26 at $0.15/kWh. At $250, that's a 10 year break even. So "energy savings" is not really a valid point for these things. Decreased wear and tear is much more significant selling point.
As you know, the startup savings are worse than you calculated above because inrush current lasts longer after a soft start is installed. Only potential savings are decreased wear and tear, as you mentioned.
Hey Mike, love your a/c content. I just installed an icm870 16A soft start and replaced the capacitor GE 40 +- 5 with an Amrad 40+-5 that has a cpt terminal. The ge didn't have the cpt terminal. CAC unit is Carrier Tech2000 installed 1999. Are these capacitors compatible with soft start? Thanx
Yes I believe so
@PipeDoctor if I wired the soft start correctly, I watched your video, how can I have line voltage on both sides of contactor, but nothing is running? And contactor is out.Call for a/c is off at tstat. Can I test system by pushing contactor in? Will any damage occur?
So, I had red fault light flashing upon power up. No where in the instructions does it say this is an on delay for 4 minutes. Condenser fan comes on, then compressor comes on 4 minutes later, then green start light comes on, fault light goes off.
I bought and installed the 32a but it wont run due to my unit having additional Start Capacitor . Not sure how to disconnect or where its at ? Any help would be great thank you.
Poor Peter.
If something goes wrong it will damage your compressor.
Is it ok to install 3 ton Soft start to 2 ton unit?
Everyone of us is out of there in five minutes with a cheap hard start 😂
Step #1: Remove watch, rings and shiny things. 🐴
The easter egg is that you replaced the disconnect box off camera.
Awesome! Thanks!!
I would say the disconnect was a tad warped coz even the boss had to heave hoe the disconnect blade in 😉
With a really terrible one for some reason
@@PipeDoctor emailed you señor pipes, cant wait to install it! 😊
Any followup to this product? half the price of micro-air but the online reviews say its junk and fails very quickly.
Supposed to be working OK but I guess we’ll wait until the winter is over
He plugged it into the 24v coil. 😆
What’s the advantage of that over a simple and cheaper hard start?
Hard starts still pull locked rotor amps but for less time. Soft starts lower the incoming voltage frequency and raise it slowly to full speed so they never pull nameplate L.R.A
Just get a hard start kit
I thought you hated these things. Based on that video where you said it killed the power to the compressor and these were a bad idea. I’m considering one because I want to use it with my Generac but what are your thoughts
Huh? I never said that
@@PipeDoctor so do you think it would be a decent idea to get one in order to be able to run my AC on my Generac?
@@nathanchapel5950 yes
It's important to remember that only trained professionals should attempt this installation
I don’t get it. In another video you did recently you called these things a “hockey puck”. Why the change of heart?
different brand/model
BUT WAIT THERE'S MORE!
What's the difference between a hard start and a soft start?
A hard start is a big capacitor that drops out when the motor comes up to speed. A soft start changes the frequency from low to high to gentle speed the motor up from locked rotor position kinda like a ecm motor