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Old 08-09-2018, 04:49 PM   #1
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Easy Start for AC - Better Directions Needed

A friend and I just installed the Easy Start 364 on my Airstream today. It took watching Youtube videos, looking at the included instructions etc , and calling the Easy Start help line to figure it all out. I am a novice and he has a electrical engineering degree. He commented that the instructions seemed a bit confusing at least on the stage 4 as below. General Instructions would be real helpful. I would have summarized the instructions as follows:


Big Idea: You'll eliminate the existing Starter Capacitor and use two wires of the Easy Start for that function. They will wire into the Running Capacitor (replacing the function of the starter capacitor). You'll splice the two remaining wires of the Easy Start into wires that come off of the compressor. They will not be connected to the running capacitor in any way when you're finished.


Here are the basic steps we did:

1 The Easy Start has four wires: orange, white, black, brown

2 The existing Starter Capacitor (the small one) is removed and now redundant. Unplug it from the Running Capacitor (the large one) and substitute the orange and white wires on the Easy Start in place of the wires that were coming from the old starter capacitor. (This takes care of the first two wires on the Easy Start)

3 Splice the black wire from the Easy Start into the blue wire that you can follow back from the compressor. We cut the blue wire, stripped the two ends where we cut it, and soldered it to the black Easy Start wire.

4 There is a white wire that connects the compressor to the running capacitor. Disconnect it from the running capacitor and splice/connect/butt connect the brown wire from the Easy Start onto the white wire where you've disconnected it from the running capacitor. It will no longer be connected to the running capacitor in any way.

Hope these help. There was some confusion as we tried to read the instructions. I have a Penguin II low profile 15,000 BTU AC on my 24 foot Flying Cloud 2014 Airstream. We started it with a normal 20 amp plug at home. We did it about 6-7 times. It got harder and harder to tell when the compressor came on. It is very quiet. I am using a Honda 2200i and had to cut off all the other breakers in the trailer to get it to all come on okay. I can tell the generator is working to power the AC. I don't think it should be used in economy mode.
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Old 08-09-2018, 04:50 PM   #2
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Have you seen this thread?

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f37/...ge-165115.html

Good luck,

Peter

PS — There is also this thread

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f427...rt-172429.html

. . . in this A/C etc. sub-forum:

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f427/
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Old 08-10-2018, 06:08 AM   #3
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I am new to Airforums and don't know exactly where to look for things, post etc. I looked and looked for AC etc in the big listing and didn't see it include in any categories for forums. We did read pretty much everything on the site I believe and there was still a lack of clarity concerning where and how to wire in the brown wire on the easy start. I just thought my post might help someone.
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Old 08-10-2018, 06:11 AM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by OTRA15 View Post
Have you seen this thread?

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f37/...ge-165115.html

Good luck,

Peter

PS — There is also this thread

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f427...rt-172429.html

. . . in this A/C etc. sub-forum:

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f427/
I just did a search under the "Forums" tab at the top and my browser shows nothing with AC in it. Perhaps because I am on a Mac using Firefox. .... not sure. Any thoughts?, faberm
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Old 08-10-2018, 08:28 AM   #5
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The new search function in the blue box way above works better.

"AC" = https://www.google.com/search?q=AC&s...com&gws_rd=ssl

I would suggest adding more search terms to refine the results.

Did you open the links in Post #2?

Check out the small blue type font organizational headings at the top left with the ">" symbol between them. If you click on one of those, you will go right to that forum or sub-forum.

I am using a Mac and Firefox, so that is not an issue IMO.

The navigation here within the site is pretty standard stuff on the Internet. If it is all new to you, don't rush . . . take your time. It is much easier if you can "explore" on a computer or laptop, instead of a small device like a phone or tablet.

Good luck,

Peter

PS -- "Easy Start" results: https://www.google.com/search?q=Easy...=airforums.com
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Old 08-10-2018, 03:41 PM   #6
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This is the best, most comprehensive--yet simple--AS Microair Easystart installation video around. Concise (except for the generator bit at the end--looks like a good generator, but it doesn't add anything to the Microair Easystart installation "instructions").





Hope this helps! (Originally found this on an AirForums thread, by the way.)


I just installed my Easystart this past Sunday, and I found this video to be extremely helpful--and concise ("brief"). My A/C (the usual abbreviation for Air Conditioning; AC usually means Alternating Current) had the PTCR (whatever in the heck that is!) in the start capacitor wiring. Everything else was great.



After 6 starts on AC (Alternating Current from a 20A circuit in my garage), I couldn't hear the compressor kick in at all. Will try the generator later this month at a campground. I'm using the Wen 56200i inverter generators, two of them, with a synchronizing module with a 30A plug), and I believe one of them will run the A/C (air conditioner) just fine.


I get that the Microair-provided instructions have to be somewhat generic because the A/C manufacturers make the same models but with different wiring diagrams and different wiring, but from what I saw on the Microair website they have provided lots of specific diagrams and information for lots of different A/C units, for both AS and SOB (Some Other Brand) units.


Very happy with my Microair so far. The test will be at the end of the month, in Western Colorado near the Four Corners area! Some elevation, plus some pretty good ambient heat, which should increase the load on the compressor (and therefore the generator).
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Old 08-11-2018, 10:04 AM   #7
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We respond to instructions in different ways.
Thats why there are hundreds of explanations for any subject.

As far as the Easy Start is concerned the only thing I would add is to keep the old parts. Then the AC can be restored the original factory configuration for warranty repair.
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Old 08-12-2018, 05:26 AM   #8
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GREAT IDEA! I had sort of planned to do that but wondered.
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Old 08-12-2018, 08:12 AM   #9
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Great video
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Old 08-12-2018, 08:39 AM   #10
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There are also more and better instructions on MicroAir's website.



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Old 08-20-2018, 07:19 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Al and Missy View Post
There are also more and better instructions on MicroAir's website.



Al
Couldn't agree more.

He appears to be a good guy and his video was brief and to the point but extremely weak on content.

For those who have installed a Micro-Air it could be considered a great video. For those who were looking for actual video content, they were left blowing in the wind.

The video was taken from a ladder below the trailer roof line. He just may as well phoned it in.
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Old 08-20-2018, 07:34 PM   #12
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I was told by a Airstream service technician in JC that installing this device would void Dometic’s warranty. Does anyone know if that is true?
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Old 08-20-2018, 08:44 PM   #13
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Quote:
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I was told by a Airstream service technician in JC that installing this device would void Dometic’s warranty. Does anyone know if that is true?


If there is an issue with the AC unit you can simply back out the install and put back the original start capacitor....... easy start itself won’t cause any damage to the unit, at the end of the day it is itself a start capacitor that is intelligently controlled .....
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Old 08-20-2018, 09:00 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DeltaRon View Post
I was told by a Airstream service technician in JC that installing this device would void Dometic’s warranty. Does anyone know if that is true?
Yes, there was a post that indicated there was negotiation to get that changed, but Dometic was not signed on. It sounded like Dometic was purchasing Easy-Start product for some application, so they may have the slightest bit of leverage. Maybe? Pat
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Old 08-20-2018, 09:58 PM   #15
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Easy Start for AC - Better Directions Needed

Note that Dometic themselves resell / OEM the easy start (first generation), its called the dometic SmartStart.... which Matteo designed and his former company (Hyper Engineering) OEM’d to dometic. Hyper Engineering also sold the device direct to consumer and called it the “Sure Start”.

Here is a link to the first generation soft starter - designed by Matteo while he worked at hyper engineering - http://www.hypereng.com

And here is the same product with a dometic label stuck on the box... at double the price.... approved for use in dometic air conditioners....
https://www.dometic.com/en/se/produc...t-iii-_-139057

Video of Matteo demonstrating the first generation ‘sure start’ oem’d to dometic.


Matteo left hyper engineering and went to MicroAir and upon arrival then improved upon his original design with the current MicroAir EasyStart. The MicroAir version builds upon the first generation design and has additional refinement via its software such as the learning cycles that improve its performance.

So here you have it - Dometic themselves not only approve of but also sell this soft start technology. Oh, and if you buy the dometic branded version, the price is almost double that of the superior / latest generation MicroAir version.

When I bought my first EasyStart I did a bunch of homework and weighed all options. MicroAir definitely won out because (1) Matteo is awesome, and he works there now and (2) its simply a superior product as compared to the first generation units.

I’d be surprised if dometic’s OEM relationship doesn’t change over in the future.......
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Old 08-21-2018, 05:59 AM   #16
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Originally Posted by wulfraat View Post
Note that Dometic themselves resell / OEM the easy start (first generation), its called the dometic SmartStart....
. . .
Great update, thanks!

Peter
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Old 08-21-2018, 04:00 PM   #17
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Originally Posted by UnklJoe View Post
Very happy with my Microair so far. The test will be at the end of the month, in Western Colorado near the Four Corners area! Some elevation, plus some pretty good ambient heat, which should increase the load on the compressor (and therefore the generator).
Elevation at Four corners area is around 5,000 feet. You might be out of luck if running a 2,000 watt generator, as you will lose 2-3% power per 1,000 feet of elevation from sea level. I can't run mine at 6200 feet, and at 4200 feet the compressor stalled out frequently, especially at higher ambient temps. Note that I am running mine on propane, which *might* impact power output further, depending on who I ask.

Please report back with your experience!
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Old 08-21-2018, 04:04 PM   #18
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I could run my 13.5k dometic at 5,000 feet with my honda 2000i running on gas.

That was my previous trailer.

My current trailer has a large lithium battery bank and hybrid inverter, so I take what I can get from my 2000i (now on propane) at whatever elevation and supplement with battery power to make up any difference as needed to run my 15k dometic. Works like a charm
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Old 08-21-2018, 04:09 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wulfraat View Post
I could run my 13.5k dometic at 5,000 feet with my honda 2000i running on gas.

That was my previous trailer.

My current trailer has a large lithium battery bank and hybrid inverter, so I take what I can get from my 2000i (now on propane) at whatever elevation and supplement with battery power to make up any difference as needed to run my 15k dometic. Works like a charm

Wulf, interesting. If you could run on your 2000i on gas at 5,000 feet, that seems to confirm that propane causes a hit to generator output. If I'm inferring this correctly. Did you find that you could no longer run yours at 5,000 feet after switching to propane, and therefore had to engage the invertor/batteries to supplement? I'd love to know if the newer eu2200i, even on propane, would give me enough bump.
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Old 08-21-2018, 04:16 PM   #20
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I never tried running the 13.5k in propane.

It certainly feels like you take a bit on propane. I can push the 2000i genset to deliver about 12 or 13 amps before voltage drops below 110v at 5000’ while on propane if I remember correctly.... I’ll see if I can run a test on Thursday or Friday perhaps
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