Why Every Homeowner Should Consider Installing an AC Soft Starter | Micro Air Easy Start Install
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 26 พ.ย. 2024
- In this video I show the features of and how to install a Micro Air Soft Starter on my AC unit. This will allow me to use my generator or solar to power my AC. It will also protect, diagnose, and extend the life of my unit along with so many other things it can do.
🧰 Products In The Video 🧰
1-1.5 Ton AC Micro Air Soft Starter X36: amzn.to/3yQlQQU
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Blessings,
Adam
How To Home assumes no liability for damage or injury. How To Home highly recommends using proper safety procedures and professionals when needed. Our content is for entertainment purposes only. No information contained in this video shall create any express or implied warranty or guarantee of any particular result. Any injury, damage or loss that may result from improper use of these tools, equipment, or the information contained in this video is the sole responsibility of the user and not How To Home. How To Home will not be held liable for any negligent or accidental damage or injury resulting from equipment, tools, electrical, fire, electronics or any items contained in this video. Attempt projects and repairs at your own risk.
IMPORTANT INSTALL UPDATE: On the step where the brown wire from the soft starter gets connected to the compressor R wire there has been some confusion. By following which wire connects from the capacitor common terminal back to the contactor, this will show you what side of the contactor your compressor run wire is. It will normally be the largest gauge wire on that side of the contactor (usually the right side). It will also usually be screwed into the contactor but some smaller units it may be on one of the spade connectors. You can also refer to your AC's diagram that is usually on the inside of the cover plate that was removed to make sure you are in fact removing, cutting, and splicing the brown wire to the compressor R wire. I hope this helps!
I just purchased a Soft Starter, and hoping it will allow me to use my A/C with my DuroMax 13,000 watt generator. I do have it hooked into my breaker box in the house, etc. It was just the A/C that I didn’t have enough power to run it using my generator (I use natural gas for that). I am going to follow your instructions in your video, but reading these new instructions is like trying to do algebra. LOL.. I guess I’m more of a “draw me a picture guy”. Is your video correct, or is something not correct on the video? I will make sure to read this post you put, and watch the video many times before installing it. I really hope this works, as it’s hot as hell here in Tex this year. I’m pretty sure we will lose power at some point, and I want to be ready when we do. Many thanks to the video you posted!!
Which model soft starter is needed for a 4 -3 ton unit?
Just an update. I have installed my Soft Starter from Micro Air, and I honestly didn’t think it would work. My goal was to be able to run my 5 ton A/C unit using my 13,000 watt generator. My generator is the DuroMax XP13000HXT. I have it hooked into my breaker box, and use natural gas so that I didn’t have to worry about running out of propane, or gasoline. Using natural gas will take the watts down to 10,000 (running watts 8,500). Running amps for 240 is at 35 or so. My biggest concern was the peak amps after installing the Soft Starter. I was still seeing it on the app at 63-69 peak amps. So I figured this would be too high for my generator. I was pleasantly surprised when it worked! I was able to run my A/C, have 2 fridges, and 2 separate freezers, along with 2 TV’s, internet, and a couple of fans on in bedrooms (I wanted to see if it would still cut on with these other things on at the same time). I forgot to get a peak amp reading before installing the Soft Starter, so I’m not sure where it was in the beginning. I’m still not quite sure why it worked. I would have thought that with the peak amps still around 65 (avg), that it would have been to many amps for my generator to handle the load. I”m just extremely happy it did, as it’s hot as hell here in TX, and we have already had the power go out twice this summer (once for 12 hours overnight).
They make soft for 3 phase and for single 277
Can I use this in place of a "Compressor saver"?
Correct, as a former home builder this just makes sense
Really glad to hear you liked it. Thanks a lot for the feedback Thomas!
Lost power for a couple of days during Hurricane Ian and had a very difficult time getting my AC to turn over even with a 22KW whole home generator. We have a 2 ton and a 5 ton. Had to cycle through the breakers and shut items down until I had freed up enough power to let the AC compressor kick on. Could only get the 2 ton to fire up. Learned about this item last year and finally got around to ordering an X48 and X72. Install is next week. The other challenge was finding an electrician who would do the install. AC company said an electrician had to do it while most electricians would say it was an AC install issue. Finally found an electrician who installed these and recommended the Micro Air before I even told him my preference. Has no problem with me purchasing the product on my own and saving me on their 44% markup. I'll give an update after the install. No AC in Florida during Hurricane Season is not a lot of fun. Looking forward to getting this done.
excellent post @sjacuk65. I reside in Fort Myers where Ian kicked our rear. I’m seriously considering installing the soft start unit. If possible, please reply to this post with the electrician company name so I can follow up and potentially hire them for my situation. Best regards…
I have a more cost effective solution and better product called Sure Start.
@@Electric_Sherlock I live in a high rise condo where backup power generators are prohibited. My Desire is to extend the HVAC system overall life and efficiency. It appears the soft start upgrade would help dramatically but I’m open to suggestions. I Also want the ability to monitor the HVAC system remotely via a smartphone since the outdoor unit requires permission for access. I’ve serviced my home HVAC system in WA state, but have since relocated to a condo in FL where homeowners are forbidden to perform any work themselves even if one possesses the necessary skill set. Please advise…
System Info: Unit installed 1/2019. Trane 4 Ton, 14.5 Seer Split System, OD Model 4TTR4048L1000, AH Model TEM4A0C48S41SB, 208/230 feed, 45 amp breaker AHU, 40amp breaker ODU, Honeywell T-6 Digital Thermostat.
Update: Successful install Can't believe the difference during start up. Smooth and quiet versus the traditional jolt we are all accustomed to hearing during startup. Not in a big hurry to see these in action during an outage but do feel better about having them installed.
@@rsmrsm9374 I’m not certain this is possible. If they don’t give you access or at least someone access to the units then you can’t install anything. If they do give you or a qualified & licensed individual access then a smart start coupled with just about any smart thermostat should likely suffice your situation.
Have to give you 10 stars cause you showed me how to install the power inlet box and the easy start. It's amazing my 10,000 watt generator can power my 3 ton ac and all the lights in my house. 22amps is all that it takes to start now thank you! Alot of people you help I'm sure don't leave a comment only the ones that have problems. Your content is very informative and needed!
That is awesome! Really glad to hear you have gotten things installed and where you want them to be! Thanks a lot for taking the time to leave this feedback!
Just installed one on my AC following this method and went from 90 amps pre installed to 22.5 amps after install now I can run my 3HP AC with my 3500 Predator. Great video!
5.13.23 Great video Adam. I have the easy start ASY-368-X48-BL and a Bryant heat pump 697CNX0 36000 ABAA. The unit is work real good. I did have an issue with the Bluetooth connecting. When connecting found something that started with ADPXXXXXXX, however I found out needed to start something like EASYXXXXXXXX. All is good. I also had an issue with the capacitor. I have one of those Turbo2000 so I sent the wire diagram over to Micro Air and they sent me back a colored diagram of where the wires should go.
Awesome! Love to hear it. Honestly, the folks at Micro Air have always been super helpful and responsive when I have needed help with something or had a question. Really glad to hear you had the same experience. Glad you are liking it and thank you very much for the feedback Chuck!
I so appreciate your videos, I work as a maintenance tech at a retirement community and have used your videos so many times to help me get the job done. Keep up the great work.
I bought a window unit a while back for use in my bedroom at night (so the main AC wouldn't have to run all night). It is an LG "dual inverter" unit. As I understand it, "dual inverter technology" includes a soft start feature that helps to lessen electricity use. I can say for sure that I don't have that GrrrRRRR!!! sound when it kicks on like older window units did and my main AC unit. does As for energy cost savings, I'd probably have to get something like a Kill-a-Watt kind of thing to quantify it.
As I understand it, there are "main" AC units with "dual inductor" technology. I imagine the operating theory of "dual inverter" and "soft start" is similar. But this Easy Start thing is obviously WAY less expensive than a new technology main unit.
Good video! Thanks! 🙂
I've used this on my RV for years so I could easily run my AC on the RV with my 15a home connection instead of the 30a but never thought to install one on my home AC. Great tip!
I put an Easy Start on my unit about 2 years ago. Micro-Air is located just east of Trenton NJ, and as I live down in South Jersey, I decided to visit the factory.
Let me tell you.... with over 40 years of professional work in electronics for the Federal Government, I am beyond impressed with the design, manufacturing and quality control I personally witnessed at Easy Start.
As for warranty, last summer I had a problem with my unit. I called the company, explained what was happening, and they told me to bring it back to them. Again, I drove up there, talked to the engineering guys, and they just pulled a NEW unit off the production line, updated their records, and handed it to me. Unbelievable in this day and age!
I brought it home, reinstalled it, and powered everything up. Just as before.... staged compressor startup. Not only does this GREATLY reduce the inrush current, it also reduces wear on the compressor.
By the way, I run my house on a Ridgid 8KW running watts generator when needed (through a panel lockout kit) and it starts my AC just fine. Bottom line: if you have a generator for your house and also have central air.... JUST GET ONE OF THESE!!!
This comment is so helpful. May I ask, as someone with no background in electronics and AC etc, do these also save on the electric bill?
@@LK-bz9sk I would imagine that if there was any savings, it actually would be quite small. The inrush current that the EasyStart replaces is only there for a few hundredths of a second. The larger benefit is the ability to use your AC when operating off a generator, as well as the decreased stress to the compressor unit over long-term. I hope this explanation helps.
@@thomasgrunwald9065 this is very helpful. I appreciate the info.
@@LK-bz9sk No, it will not.
@@LK-bz9sk Actually it does not save money on electricity bill. However certainly it will increase the life of the compressor and everything behind (cables, breaker, relays etc) by the fact that it will avoid this high inrush current. This inrush current is like start your vehicle with gas pedal at full throttle for a second, every time you need it.
Put this on my home ac 2 years ago. BEST thing i ever done. IMMEDIATELY cut my cost on my electric bill. Highly recommend this to anybody that wants to save money and a piece of mind.
What percentage cost off your power bill would you say?.. i live in Vegas, so my bill is like 5-600 during the summer months.
@@starmc26 I'm in Dallas. Bill was constantly 500. I'm at 375 now. HUGE difference.
That is AWESOME!!!
i smell BS. these don't cut your energy costs, they just ramp up the motors starting speeds instead of surging full power to crank them on immediately. these don't save energy while the motors idle, that's simple physics and energy consumption. ever since these things started showing up on youtube and a/c techs swearing by them i have heard all sorts of magical stories about how they will deliver your child for you, wash your car and save you thousands on your home and auto insurance.
Doesn't your compressor still draw the same amount of running power? This device seems like it staggers start up but the total energy required to start and run hasn't changed so I don't know how this will impact your energy consumption.
My service tech recommended this when he came this spring. My home is 3 yrs old and has a basic “builder grade” hvac system. I definitely notice my ac is a lot quieter when it kicks on than my neighbors. It’s hard to compare the electric usage as we are cooler this year than last.
Thanks a bunch
I live where hurricane threaten or hit every few years. I just bought a bigger tri- fuel generator to run it on natural gas. I was told by my ac guy to get this soft start for my 3.5 ton unit. THANKS FOR THE VIDEO!!!!
(Update) As a former Army Gen Tech, I appreciate videos like this! I installed a generator inlet and load tested my house with my Westinghouse 9500 gen and it overloaded it.
I installed the microair X48 on my 3.5 ton AC and the generator took it like a champ! As an added project, I installed emergency lights outside my house where my inlet is during power outages at night.
Great videos! 👍🏿
I watched at least a half dozen videos on the installation of the Easy Start 368 and this one is by far the most useful and descriptive of the wires and components each wire goes to, thank you!
I put one of these on my RV AC a couple of years ago to run my AC on a small generator while camping. I think I'll add one to my home.
Excellent video, you covered everything in detail. I've already purchased the Mico-Air Easy start and it took my starting load from 105 down to as low as 32, allowing me to run the AC on a 7000w generator. I thought you brought it home when you hooked up the smaller generator and it handled the load. Lastly your breakdown of the Easy Start and explaining how it works was more detail than the manufacturer. Very helpful they should be cutting you a check. Congratulations on a great presentation, I'm am now a subscriber.
Man I just got hit with a 400 dollar bill for a dual capacitor and valve stem replacement on my a/c. I wish I had seen these videos of yours sooner. You make it seem so easy. I am definitely going to install that soft start on my unit but I have to save the money for it first. It is pricey but we’ll worth it. Thanks so much for spreading this knowledge my friend.
A soft start won't fix a bad capacitor or leaking valve stems just saying. I'm pretty sure it won't prevent the capacitor from failing either.
@@MindzEnt you are right. I meant when I said “these videos”, I was referring to all the A/C videos he has including the one where he shows how to replace the bad capacitor for dirt cheap. I know I didn’t type that up good. My bad. I was so upset I had spent the 400 dollars and literally the day after these videos pop up on my TH-cam cue showing me how to do it for a fraction. It’s like life was teasing me or something. Lol.
0:25 this is a great video. I installed this today using your video. Took about 30 minutes. Went from about 130 in rush amps to about 25. Amazing.
A lot of the benefits of this, I already expected. The one I wasn't prepared for, which you mentioned, was how much quieter our unit's startup is!!! I am pretty alert to noises throughout the house; but since having installed this, I honestly couldn't tell you when our A/C is running! -Purchased this as our all-electric home's primary heat pump would cause my 20kw generator to puke its guts out if anything bigger than a toaster was also running when it would cycle in, causing more-sensitive devices to shut down or power conditioners to kick in. I haven't had a real-world test on the standby gen as it was only installed a day ago, but I highly recommend to install for any one of the number of benefits you mention.
Thank you so much! I live in hurricane prone Florida and rely on my generator to get me thru the misery of losing power. Additionally, we do get surges here. I’m going to have my AC installer install this on my AC. Much appre!!
Appreciated
Recently I installed had a brand new entire system installed and the next day I installed a micro air 368 on our 3 1/2 ton unit which had a 110 amp on rush amperage, and a 35 running amps, AFTER about 325 startups we have been averaging a start up amperage 24-25 amps and a run amperage of less than 5-6 amps 👍🏼👍🏼amazing savings 💵💵💵😁😁😁👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
how much does it save though, is there a noticeable difference in overall usage a month?
OMG amm I reading that right??? THIS is the answer on my solar system! That is crazy
Umm, running current reduced from 35 A to 6 A? You done violated the laws of physics there…
Y'all go ahead and void the manufacturers compressor warranty
I suspect you have a multi-stage or variable stage compressor and you're comparing one stage to another stage. There is no way it went from 30-something amps to 6 amps on the same stage.
It is very possible that you got a measurement at full compressor power compared to a lower stage. 6 amps is reasonable for a low stage.
I installed this a few weeks before my whole house generator was installed. After installation, the installers powered up the system to test with the AC load. I have a 4 ton unit and the rated start amp is 144. When the AC was powered up, the Generac did not cough when the AC unit powered on! The installers were flabbergasted because they did not realize I had the "Macro Air" installed LOL. They had assumed I would have to have load balancing done such as taking out things like my dryer, but after this test, they said my whole house was good to go.
Nice summary. The Easystart is a combo hardstart capacitor boost to improve starting torque and a triac (like light dimmer) voltage ramp during startup. It bypasses its voltage ramp circuit and disconnects extra starter capacitor (inside Easystart) after the approximately half second startup.
Only thing I would have left in video is showing the progressive startup current reductions as it does the five cycle learning process. Also important to allow the unit to remain off between each training cycle for at least 5 minutes to allow time for air conditioner refrigerant gas to equalize. Eaststart has a timer that enforces the five minute minimum off time if your A/C unit does not already have it.
You mentioned fan comes on a few seconds before compressor. This allows an inverter-generator in reduced rpm ECO mode to rev up its engine before compressor surge current jumps on inverter-generator.
I would just like to note that if your system has a Compressor Monitoring System (CMS) as did mine, the 5 second power delay will have to be disabled in order to accommodate the Easystart. I was unaware of this until I had the unit in hand. This information is not in any of the literature describing the product as far as I am aware.
@@DarrinCanote So how did you get that done? How do you disable the 5 sec delay?
@@krisashford There’s a procedure in the instructions on how to do this. Basically, ‘Normal Operation’ is deselected and ‘No Pwr-Up Delay’ is selected. They recommend doing this before fully installed, but Thankfully, I discovered that my CMS runs fine even with the 5 sec delay.
Many thanks for this video. Following this video, I was able to successfully install soft starters on my two a/c units. I'm getting my home setup to run a Genmax portable generator and a Generlink device hooked to my power meter. Keep up the great work!
I followed your instructions a few years ago to install this unit and get my house ready for the generator to power it and everything still works great. Love your videos!
I followed his instructions years ago and my house exploded!
I installed this a few weeks ago. I was able to mount the unit inside my house. It has preformed perfectly. I have a video on how I did it but it is true that if you have any fear at all.... call the man and have a pro do the job. I'd also say that you need to talk to the installer of you system to make sure you don't mess up any warranty you may have by installing this. It does make a click noise so if you think that will bother you, if you install where you might can hear it, then consider that but for me it sounds great!
I worked on artillery tracking radars in the military and we had a soft start in our low voltage power supply. 350v @ 350a was our low voltage. But the soft start was relatively simple, ran the 3phase 400 Hz into 3 very large resistors, and as power was applied after a certain amount of time it would then use a large relay to short across the resistors thereby giving full power.
This is a great product to showcase. I’m definitely interested in it. Thanks!! I’m a bit surprised these aren’t mandatory to soften the spikes on the grid. The inrush current is brief but has full access to the grid for a short time.
Different issue there with the Radar. The high voltage caps on the secondary side of the stepup transformer look very much like a dead short when discharged. The resistors are there to limit the peak current that the secondary rectifier string has to contend with and prevent them from blowing.
I guess you are talking about a different thing
I love how organized and detailed your instruction videos are. Great job!
Great video !!! I've installed two of these units, one on a 3 ton (my own home) and another on a 2.5 ton on a family member AC, This video explains everything to detail ! I live in FL, hurricanes are a part of life here. My 5,500w generator powered my AC unit (3 ton) with the Easy Start - no problems!!! To add, if you purchase an Easy Start for your AC, the customer service / tech support is great. I had an issue on my install, I sent a few pictures of my AC unit and the wires, they responded back same day (within an hour) and I was able to complete the install. If you want gain the full capacity of your generator and remain cool, and overall prolong your AC, do the research and get an Easy Start! Worth the investment. Again, Great Video !
I have the biggest version of this device. I couldn't recommend this enough. My generator (12 KW) was able to start my AC previously, but it was hard on it. After adding one of these, it starts with no problem. Further, this device has several safeties built in (under/over voltage, over amperage, line frequency under/over, restart timer). I blew a capacitor, and this prevented my compressor from trying to start until I replaced the capacitor. There is a set of diagnostic LEDs that are visible on the outside. I noticed that there was a problem when I was pulling out of my driveway from 40' away. I mounted mine on the outside, since it has a waterproof housing. My unit is a 16 SEER 5 ton, and my inrush current was specified to be up to 120A. I was measuring around 80 A. Once installed it is around 40A.
What are your running amps?
@@lnfinity4752 I run about 13 to 15A depending on the outside temperature. The running amps are really not that different than without the Micro Air easy start. It just keeps you from drawing huge current while starting.
@@elinbenson My unit is also a 5 ton scroll and it draws 14-16 running amps depending on conditions. It draws ~68 amps on start with the Micro Air unit. Micro Air Bluetooth unit has logged over 15k starts since installed.
@@lnfinity4752 Mine is a scroll compressor too. It is a 16 SEER unit. You might try to reset the Miro Air and let it relearn. I had a problem with mine having higher starting amperage. I reset it, and it went back to starting at 40 amps.
I’ve watched and rewatched this video a half dozen times. I received the new Micro-Air Easy Start FLEX earlier this week and I’m writing the installation instructions for my Carrier, 3 ton 25HBC537A300 model. I’ve watched the Micro Air video also and your video is easier to follow. I think the biggest hurdle are all the different model AC Units on the market, do they or don’t they use other start components and of course the different color wires between manufacturers. I now have a very good idea of everything I need to do.
I had taken a lot of photos of the inside of my unit, the schematic, the contactor, and capacitor. Now I’m able to watch videos and reference my photos at the same time while writing instructions for my unit. I don’t doubt I’m over thinking it and now that I have it on paper, it’s really very easy to install.
I have a clamp on amp meter, but it doesn’t measure in rush. Like a sign from above I happened upon the Klein CL445 model at Lowe’s earlier this week and snatched it up, because I never see a clamp on amp meter capable of measuring in rush locally.
Big morning tomorrow, hopefully I won’t let smoke out of anything. Of course all this is so I can better run my house from my portable generator and hopefully extend the life of my two year old compressor even more.
Thank you for posting this video.
Keep us posted
@@ariz7493 All installed up and running. I did seem to have issues later in the day that worried me but installing batteries in my thermostat and making sure the condensation drain was clear and it’s all working well again. My initial in rush current read with a Klein CL445 was 87.9 amps. After all the programming starts the Micro-Air app is saying my last start peak is 27.7. It’s noticeably quieter when it starts. I’m at 73 total starts since installing it yesterday.
"Let the smoke out of anything" 🤣As a young kid my grandpa had me convinced that all electronics had smoke installed at the factory and once you let it out it would never work again,
Installed mine today. Waaaaaaaaay cheaper than a whole house standby generator. Excellent video!
What does this have to do with a whole house generator?
@@535banshee It lets you use the AC with a portable generator.
He probably didn’t even watch the video to be saying that.
So, another Micro Air Easy Start success story. I installed it yesterday and went from 110.6 starting inrush amps to 45.9 amps. I was hoping for a little more but I'll take it. Anything to save on the energy bill. Thanks again. I also encountered a problem with my NEST thermostat. Because we had not been using our HVAC heating much after a mild winter the built in lithium battery in the NEST wasn't charging so I was getting a delay on A/C startup. Luckily we had a 5th wire in the thermostat wire bundle that had just been tucked away inside the wall and not connected at the furnace mother board (the C wire) that supplies 24v to the NEST. Once connected on both ends, no delay. All is good.
After Houston had two storms so far that knocked out the electricity it is time to get this soft start because it was hot on both outages. Thanks so much for this video. You explain in detail why and how.
I'm here in Houston,pro AC tech since 2004
@@JamieArellano-nl1lghow much to get one installed?
@@Jezeus11 300
@Jezeus11 cost of the soft start is 320
@@JamieArellano-nl1lg 👍 I just looked them up. Doesn’t look too complicated to DIY now that I’ve seen the whole video.
Installed mine yesterday. This video was very helpful. I went from 109 amps start up to 38 amps. I haven't tried the generator yet but I'm confident. It would ALMOST start the unit before. I have an 11,000 watt peak generator with 8950 watt continuous capabiltity. We have two fridges, a deep freezer and a mini fridge. The generator has never struggled at all with the heat pump turned off. I've even had a brain fart and welded a few minutes before remembering I was on the generator. I think the 3.5 ton heat pump will start just fine now. Thanks.
Thank you, great video and very helpful to install this unit if you run a generator. Price is way above what you could get for a hard start kit though. $379 vs $50... I don't want to shell this type of money. I went with Amrad capacitor and hard start kit. Reduced my LRA from 83.9A to 23A. I'm happy with that on my 3T York. Keep the good work!
LRA is 'locked rotor amps'. This is generally a ridiculously high amperage. The number you need to compare is RLA (running load amps).
I bought my kit from their website, they have an universal one now that was just released in July 2024 that works from 1 to 6 ton ACs according to the manufacturer. I used this video for the installation and made it very easy. Make sure the wire that comes from the contactor that has direct connection is the one that connects to the brown wire. The balck wire goes to the side that the switch controls. Both wires that go into the contactor will be 120 each. My softstarter is using 27 amps to start the compressor, and now I am able to run the AC with my generator.
Yes I just got my hands in the Flex model yesterday. Will be making a video on it shortly! Glad you’re getting such good results!
@@HowToHomeDIY do you recommend purchasing their EasyStart Universal Installation Kit?
@@HowToHomeDIY Does that mean that the Flex has a different way of connecting? I just ordered a Flex
Are you telling that the orange wire from the Flex dos not go to the HERM on the capacitor?
@willemtenwolde5826 I have not installed it yet but the instructions appear to be the same as on the previous models.
I just installed one of these last week after watching another one of your videos it was very easy to install. I don’t have a amp clamp to test the before starting amps but it’s down to 34 amps on my 5 ton unit. Thanks for all your great content
Wow, thats great! These things really are awesome devices. Thanks for sharing your experience Jim!
Great info and explanation. I installed a hard start capacitor two years ago to be better able to power my home with a 13k generator and it helped with starting. But this is will be a huge help. Didn't know it even existed. Many thanks. Time to go order one.
I had one of these in my camper so I could run the AC on a 2000w generator. Flawless.
Thanks for the video. You are the only youtuber that explains this in a way that makes me feel confident enough to do this.
You might want to check with your warranty provider before installing. Just in case diy or product voids warranty
@@FreshairSolider Thank you this is a great point I kept in mind. Unfortunately I had 3 HVAC guys come out they made it sound super difficult along with an unreasonable quote. I did it myself after studying the schematics, install took less than 30 minutes. I felt confident every step of the way, luckily my set up is exactly the same as in this video, works wonderfully for the past 8 months.
I always enjoy your videos, I installed one of these myself after researching on TH-cam. I saw one video where the person used hook magnets to attach it to the access cover. I ordered the magnets and they work great. I used a freezer bag to cover it for extra protection and used zip ties to close the bottom of the bag around the conduit. This makes it easy to remove for service. I run my whole house on my tri-fuel duromax generator.
Can you post the link?
Just connected mine. Same ac unit, same MA soft start. Had to remove hard start first. Thanks a lot for your help.
I installed an EasyStart last year when I got a Predator 9500 (set up and wired for a possible second 9500). We have an all-electric house with heat pump. The EasyStart works well: it reduced the inrush from nearly 90A to typically 20A. Soon after installing it we had a heavy rain and mosisture got into the housing, and i resealed the housing after drying it out. One thing that would be nice is that the bluetooth would connect when the compressor is not running in ordeer to get stats.
Another excellent how to video, so the soft start is working with generator and regular power.
Good video. I installed a Hard Start Kit (as per your video) and it is working extremely well for me. My start-up amperage dropped from 72 A down to 41 amps. It was only about $15, but is doing a great job. The Soft Start "starts" at $400+ and I understand the difference in capability: however, I will stay with my existing kit...a great reduction for minimal cost.
But the soft start is impressive. Thanks
What size is your unit? 72 amps is LRA territory
Thanks for this video. I purchased this device and took less than 10 minutes to install. I went from 60 n rush amps to 23. Generator runs my entire house without issues. Customer service is top notch.
I've watched several of your videos and you are great at explaining the why and how of things. I just installed my Micro-Air soft start following your directions and everything went great, lowered my starting amps from 53 to 26! I also watched your video on the transfer switch, power inlet, etc. Great advice, much appreciated!
I have one of these on my 3.5tonne American standard single stage. Reduced starting amps from 110 to 31. So that's 7300 watts vs about 24000 before. Installed new, almost two years old now no problems.
These are becoming very popular in the RV industry. I have personally installed several of the Micro Air Easy Starts in my customers’ roof A/C units and they flat work, first time, every time
Oh nice. They actually offer Bluetooth now. Had mine 3 years ago with backup battery. It was so new at that time and hvac have no idea about it. End up install it myself. It was a best investment ever.
I have that installed about 5 years ago. Awesome results. Saves you $$$ on the a/c lifespan alone. The multiple starts makes it easier on your a/c. My neighbors compressors kicks in are way louder than mine and when I use my generator I never got overloads. Not cheap but it pays back eventually. Nice video.
have you noticed any reduction in how well the system cools your house? i'm curious about whether or not the reduced running amps means a reduction in cooling capability.
@@dt05it shouldn’t affect the running power of the compressor. Electric motors tend to use 3-4x their continuous power to start up at full speed. This soft start just eases the compressor into its continuous amperage rather than go full speed ahead. Similar to what an inverter compressor does.
@@CorvetteCoonass understood about the inrush amps. I’m referring to the running amps. The video specifically said that the running amps after the soft start was slightly lower than before the soft start was installed.
Maybe it’ll save you money. You’ll never know
@@dt05 We have had this soft start unit installed on our 3.5T central air unit for about 3 years. It was originally installed to reduce compressor start-up amperage so we could make use of a smaller, portable generator for whole house purposes. We live in TX (where it is HOT in the summers) and have noticed no reduction in cooling capability. This product just works and is worth every penny, just in cost savings for the generator hardware alone.
In talking to 2 large HVAC companies in San Diego, they both like these but said you don't buy one to save on your electrical bill or make the A/C unit (my application) more efficient. Yes does help save the compressor motor and actually help the other important appliances in your house against surges. They also are talking (both of them) about the kit itself costing $800.00, before installation. Good video thanks.
The difference between "flooring it" every time a light turns green and slowly accelerating up to speed. Which is easier on your car's engine?
Hey man, excellent DIY video. Perfect instructions and it was a breeze. Starting 143 A after 5 runs 27-30 A. Can’t believe how much it helped on A. AC runs good and it’s a lot more quiet during start up.
Added to my condo unit… easy install and works as advertised. Just wish the Bluetooth would connect even when the compressor isn’t running.
Yeah that would be great if it would. Glad to hear you like yours though. Thanks for sharing your experience Daryl!
Thanks to you I picked one of these up and installed it and could not be happier. Thanks!!!!!
Prepping for Solar system and I installed Micro-Air’s on a 5 Ton AC and a 1.5 Ton AC.
The 1.5 Ton AC start was 44 Amps, dropped to 12.5 Amps.
The 5 Ton AC start was 127 Amps, dropped to 32 Amps.
We also have a Pentair 140K BTU (12 Ton/7 hp compressor) pool heater that has a 185 Amp LRA. I checked with Micro-Air and they said that their products went to 5 tons. I found an Eltwin Hyper Engineering SureStart that is rated to 185 Amps start and 16-32 run Amps. I installed the Eltwin and the Start current dropped from 194 Amps to 44 Amps.
The change on startup for the Pool Heater and 5 Ton was very noticeable, so much quieter!
You definitely need another 100 ton worth of central air on your solar system..😝
I have a 4-ton (46,000 BTU) A/C unit. Two years ago I installed a Micro-Air EasyStart 368 (4-ton) Soft Starter ASY-368-X48-BLUE. It now has 26,400 starts. My AC unit now uses 12.8 to 13.8 Amps and a Start Peak of 33 to 36 Amps. I bought it at Global Yacht Supply. It was shipped from Micro-Air. It now costs $332. I have a Firman T07571 Tri-fuel and run it on NG.
Soft starting is common practice in indistries when starting motors (whether using an electronic soft starter, VFD or delta-wye starter). I'm kinda surprised to hear that about home AC units ONLY NOW.
Outstanding video, Adam. Thank you for sharing your knowledge about all of this! You explain things so well, also.
Ha Ha what knowledge?
I'm in North Florida we just had a storm blow threw this week and take out the power for 12 hours. Hooked up my generator it's a 12000 like yours. It will not power my 4 ton AC unit so I have some portable AC units on wheels. Actually went and orderded another one becuause the 2 I have only make it bearable. This safe start is a game changer. I'm taking the unit I purchased back to Lowes and buying this. Thank You
Yup I got those same storms. Luckily for us the power never went out though. My yard is completely soaked and I’ve already seen one moccasin since everything is so wet. But yeah this thing really is a game changer. There is story after story in the comment section from people seeing dramatic reduction in in rush current. Whenever the next hurricane actually hits us up here like Irma did where I didn’t have power for a week, I’m ready.
They need to sponsor you and give you a % of every soft starter sold.
I have a 2.5 ton and its makes a nice clunk when it starts but my next door neighbor has a big 5 ton and wow it actually makes a really loud disturbing bang when it starts it sounds terrible and its pretty new. Now I know why. The science makes alot of sense and your install video is alot better than the install instructions on Micro Air's web site christ its terrible and would scare anyone off.
Looks like I need there Model 368. Thanks for the video I'm going to get one based on this video! Subbed & Upped!!
can you add another video which shows in more detail how you did 5 startup and run sequences to sync the soft start with the A/C unit? did you use the thermostat for all 5 startup tests? I want to be sure I do everything right to make sure this unit will perform correctly.
Yes. I just used the thermostat to turn on the ac and then turn it off after it ran for a bit. Just repeated the process for 5 total starts and stops.
Best item since sliced bread. Should help keep my new AC compressor last longer.
Having just been through a 6 day power outage this is of great interest to me. I have a 5,000 watt generator and it will run everything but the main AC. I have in the past installed a couple of Mini Split units in my home. One in the master bedroom, I used to work a lot of midnight shifts so this helped me sleep darning those times. And one in my garage. The mini splits ran just fine and most everything else. My neighbor across the street had had a whole house standby generator system installed several years ago and I did lust after it but just not in the budget, but when I heard from her that it kept tripping out I did take a look but I couldn't figure out anything. She finally got the generator service man out and blamed the AC for the problem. It was drawing 97 amps inrush current. So this looks like a fix. Thanks for the video.
Thanks for making this, made my install a breeze. Going to test with my 1150 watt generator and my 7200 watt solar battery setup.
Absolutely wonderful job you done. It seems that it would be worth a manufacturer's while to include a soft start built-in and I wonder if there is any manufacturer currently doing this in their HVAC,s. I am glad to find you and I have subscribed.
Currently there are no manufacturers including this on their units but Micro Air has told me they are in talks with some of them to start including them on some of their units. We will see. Thanks a lot for the feedback James and look forward to seeing you more around the channel!
Some RV AC units come with a Soft-Start function, to allow the RV and its AC to run off a small gasoline generator at a campsite. I added to my RV's AC the unit that was demo'd in this video just to reduce wear 'n tear on the compressor.
This is excellent! I’ve been wanting to add a soft start for a long time but was afraid to do so. Now I believe I can do it myself.
If I can do it -- and I did -- anyone can!
I installed mine the same day I installed my 4 ton heat pump no regrets!!!
Another great video. Clear, concise and helpful for those willing to approach DIY and focus on safety. I found you when searching on capacitor replacement in the past. I have 2 Tesla power walls but considering this soft start given I also have pool pumps as a way to reduce the initial surge in a power outage if everything is on.
Ug I'm😅😊ky 0:26 k6m😊0🎉
Guy installing my 9500/7500 generator switch to my breaker told me that there was no way it would start my 4 ton ac. I think you've proven him wrong with the soft start kit. Had a local ac guy wanting $900 for the soft start kit install. Seems pretty simple and I'll install the $400 kit myself. Thanks
My problem is that I recently installed a new Carrier A/C system through a contractor about a year ago. The contractor has said that If I install a soft start kit myself then the warranty would be voided by Carrier. I must hire a licensed electrician or an HVAC company to install the soft start kit to keep the warranty in force. 😲
Yeah, that'll likely be the case for any unit that is new and still under warranty.
@@bgroovin1343 The warranty goes for many years, so I got to hire somebody. Contractor wants $1,200 to $1,400 to install it. Might get a better price with some bidding. Life isn't always that simple.
Unless you have a maintenance plan with the company, you can still install it yourself and remove when there is a service call. They have no ways to know tmo.
@@cyrilasfrenchyaz Bit of a hassle to uninstall, but I guess you could do that.
I installed this soft starter late summer last year. My starting amps went from 75 to 40. I have a 17 year old Ameristar unit and it's such a noticeable difference when it starts. I don't get the light dimming anymore and since the unit is outside the master bedroom window it's much quieter when it starts up. And most importantly, my Preditor 9500 inverter generator runs my whole house including outdoor low voltage lighting during a power outage. My home is the envy of the neiborhood. Great product so far. We'll see how the power consumption is this summer.
Awesome! Thanks a lot for taking the time to leave your experience with it. I have loved mine for the last 3 years.
Compressors are designed to handle short 80A startup current peaks. They are not damaged by startup current peak. 80A for 1/10th second is the same energy as 20A for 1/2 second, so there is no energy savings. A whole house surge protector protects the whole house, not just the AC, and is cheaper and easier to install.
Not sure what your point is. Whole house surge protector is not going to help your generator start your AC like this will
This is the best video i have found just got my unit hooked up it works my ac but i have to turn off everything firdt for the unit to come on was looking for a fix thank you sir top notch video
We installed one on our camper ac unit. Absolutely love these!
It's interesting to see this for residential usage. All my 1000 TR chillers at work use VFD save one and we see the difference when we have to use the latter.
Why don’t all ac’s have soft starters? Is there any draw backs to the soft starter?
Any AC I've had in the last 15+ years have this built in as part of the unit (the soft start protection stuff, not the monitoring). I'm not in the US, and on 230v standard AC supply so maybe it's just different in the US? 🤷♂
It's primarily due to expense. These units run about $300 and it would be hard to sell that to many people, would make an AC system less competitive to another.
If you have a full variable speed AC system then you have it integrated as part of that technology. But 99% of single and two speed ACs will not have this at least in North America.
I did the exact same thing. MicroAir soft start, 10,500 running watt dual fuel generator converter to tri fuel. I was able to run 4 ton AC using natural gas (AC rated at 29 amps). I only tested it and never had to use it in a power outage, but I was highly motivated after going through the Texas Snowmageddon a few years ago! I did not check the gas meter, but that generator was really sucking the natural gas. All in, including hiring an electrician to install the 50 amp outlet, it was around $3,200. I have moved since then and now have an all electric home, so I will be using gasoline.😩
Do not use these....
@@ericdavidson5011 why?
Appreciate the video! I've got a Trane 3 ton unit. Purchased my micro air thru your provided link, got it fast, and then the contactor broke prior to installing this...got that fixed and finally was able to hook this up today. Very simple hook up. Very quick to do. I didn't check my start up amperage but it's looking like I'm hitting at 23.7 start up amps now. I can hear and easier start up as well. And when the T-storms come and knock out my power, I feel better about running this unit on my generator.
Unless you have an old, stuck compressor that needs the help of a hard start, this seems like a no brainer to me. What do you think?
Problem is most Copeland compressors advice AGAINST installing these on their compressors you have to cross reference through Copeland to be sure it’s compatible. I’ve done classes with Copeland and don gillis when he was the lead trainer over there and they really hammered on this. Just heads up while you tell homeowners to put this on their equipment where they could be voiding their warranty or damaging their equipment
@@madeinusa1576 Agreed. I have found that for those Copeland Single Phase residential models such as the ZPxNN series, that support soft starters, it greatly reduces the startup noise and serves as a really surge protector in use cases that require these parameters.
Super Expensive Imagine if you need 5 of them because you have split units? Yikes.
Thanks for sharing.
This sounds amazing! We live in South Florida aka Hurricane Alley. Buh bye window unit!! I can use the central air during an outage now. We have a Daiken system and will look into this! Thanks!
AC Techs don't like this ... of course ... it's killing the Bussines! Lol
I have a 22kw Generac Guardian that will probably be fine running my 5 ton unit but I'm going to play it safe and install this brand of Softstart. Thanks for the video.
Congrats on using the correct crimp tool, and not pliers like 99% of TH-cam experts 👍
Thanks for sharing!!! I’m going to explore getting some installed on my units. Reading the comments, it’s so polarizing. There’s the practical side and people see the value. And then there’s these negative Nancy’s that just Pooh on any and everything that saves people money and resources. Mind you they didn’t post the information or share it.
Why don’t AC manufacturers put these on the units from the factory?
Well…we all know the answer to that…Big HVAC doesnt want you to know this ONE secret
Mainly because residential is moving to inverter driven systems.
Because they figured if you were so concerned about it you’d just buy a mini split.
@@acessford101so if you have an inverter AC you really don’t need this right?
Cuz they don't need them
I have one in Florida and will install one in Texas, for generator you need an interlock kit specific for your panel, 50 amp 220 breaker, and 50amp cable for your generator.
Thank you, this will give us HVAC/R techs more work. Mostly when diyers do the install. Also, is this approved by any equipment manufacturer?
Very good instructions! After 10 years I decided to bring in my wiring diagram to keep it safe lol.
So, putting aside all the nice protection features, I guess the point about starting the compressor is that the compressor doesn't actually require a large initial current, if the (smaller) current is delivered in well-timed pulses.
I assume the EasyStart has at least one capacitor that charges between the pulses, and discharges during the pulses to boost the pulse current.
Yes, it just slowly ramps up the power until it kicks on the compressor instead of it just getting a sudden jolt of electricity to get it going. Yes you are correct, it does have a capacitor inside of it.
Very nice demo! I will be using a tri-fuel generator with natural gas which has running watts comparable to your smaller generator’s surge watts. Good to know it can handle the HVAC inrush with the soft start installed!
There is a company now making Soft Start Kits for less than $200. It's called the ICM Controls ICM870-16A Soft Start.
This was THE BEST how-to video I’ve seen yet! Wish I found it before I purchased my Micro-Air. This video would have saved me a TON of time, thank you, awesome job!!!
Mechanical and electrical engineer, here So, in a nutshell, if you hook a gasoline, powered portable generator to your air conditioner, you will burn out your compressor in a matter of time. Without a power conditioner, your compressor will be changing its RPM to match the generator and it’s not designed to ever change its RPM. So beware of what these guys tell you.
I’m assuming if you are using an inverter generator then that wouldn’t be an issue like it would with a standard “dirty” generator?
All that schooling and you still can't pay attention. Did you even watch the video?
Starting up the compressor on your AC unit draws more power than when its running. Some Tstats have the option to limit compressor start ups via a timer. This is a great addition to your home HVAC system. Its been a few years since i worked in the residential hvac field. I do commercial refrigeration these days. I would definitely recommend this but like he said. Paying a hvac company to install it will cost you more than you're gunna want to pay. I really wish i could find videos this informative when i first started working in the field. TH-cam didnt have HVAC videos this good a few years back.
Dang! I just got a whole new AC system but didn’t know about this. How much do you think this would cost to install? I wonder if I can figure out how to install it?
I just installed mine using your video. Nothing exploded or caught fire after the first start, so I'm gonna call that a win. Ended up screwing a painted board to the house and making a wood box on a top hinge for the unit to protect it from the sun. I have awful peak electricity charges so hopefully the unit pays for itself shortly.
That’s awesome! Out of curiosity, how do your peak electricity charges work? Is your rate determined by your higher current draw or what exactly is considered peak usage? I know for some people the power company calls it peak usage at certain times of the day when the most power is used.
Thank you for testing with smaller generator. That helped with my decision to get this.
Just installed mine. I freakin love it. I'm on a 5 ton unit and the peak is 33 amps, run amps is 14. I'm so excited.
So how much has it saved $$ on your AC?
@JT-qc2nb ill compare june bill from last year and this year, and let you know
@@lonestarsmoked Thanks! I'm curious to know.
@@JT-qc2nb Aug 2023 bill was 440$. This Aug is 384$ with a 482kw difference. I tried to keep the variables the same for the month. If this is the cost savings I can expect from here on out, then it's a win!
@@lonestarsmoked Wow, thanks for the info! That adds up over time for some pretty big savings. Everything helps! Thank you.
Howdy again, Thank you again, i did the install in an hours time, mine is on roof and i got a work out just remembering the tools and materials i needed could have saved 20 minutes easy if AC was at ground level. Works great, cool air takes a few minutes to come out as the compressor ramps up. but i no longer hear that loud HMMMMMMMmmmm at start up, so thats a good thing! fyi regarding your update, mine there was two wires on "C" compressor one thicker then other, however the thick wire ran inside to were compressor was, the thinner wire connected to the terminal. i chose the wire to terminal. must be correct as the unit works and i have a green light on the easy start.