Soft start kit and generator

[Nancy P]

I am considering a Honda 2200i companion generator and was wondering what soft start kit is best. Also, will this combo allow me to run the AC on my 2019 25ft globetrotter 30 amp

[foobar]

Micro-air Easystart is what many, if not most airstream owners use for a/c soft start hardware. They work well, we have two of them (one for each a/c on our 2022 Globetrotter 27FB Twin).

As for the Honda EU2200i companion, while it has a 30amp RV style plug on it, it can only handle a little over 16 amps (~1900 watts) continuously.

Yes, the EU2200i can run one a/c (I have one), but not much else at the same time (maybe some led lighting). So keep the battery charger off. Ditto for the microwave, inverter and most other a/c loads. You might be able to run a t/v (<100 watts) or the stereo too, but one a/c is pretty much the limit.

[Al and Missy]

Originally Posted by Nancy P

I am considering a Honda 2200i companion generator and was wondering what soft start kit is best. Also, will this combo allow me to run the AC on my 2019 25ft globetrotter 30 amp

I bought a MicroAir EasyStart in 2018. I don't know if it is the best in today's market but it works great. I have an older Honda 2000i and it runs my 13.5K BTU AC fine on gasoline and propane at reasonable altitudes. I have never tried it at higher altitudes.

Al

[Bill M.]

I really like the Micro Air Easy Start with the Blue tooth. I really like my 15 year old Honda generator. I have no basis for comparison with the competing products.

[thinairflyer]

Your generator will run your A/C with a MicroAir Easy Start very well at sea level. However you lose 3% of your power for every 1000 feet of elevation gain.

[Captn.Ken]

I have the Micro Air Easy Start and the Honda 2200i companion model. They work great with each other. I converted my Honda to propane and have never put gasoline in it at all.

[jeffmc306]

No question the Honda is the gold standard.

Our local farm store had a Champion 2500 dual fuel on sale for $399. I couldn’t pass it up. We also have a Micro Air SoftStart on our main 15K air conditioner.

It works great and runs off the trailer’s low pressure port after separating the two regulator parts.

YMMV!

[JohnTF]

Learn some basic math 1st .

And then Ohms law - https://www.allaboutcircuits.com/too...aw-calculator/

If you want to go futher - DC theroy .

Point being is - typically RV roof top AC take about 3,500 watts to start .
A 2,000 watt generator is about 1,500 short ---- hard on both the generator & your AC .

Next is the [ over priced " easy start " systems ] are mainly just a couple [ or so ] capacitors - these are basically just a quick charge / discharge units - to make up for / or add to the extra power needed for an instant of surge of starting a motor / compressor .

A couple of extra componenets are /or can be more than one capacitor & or relays to start the fan & compressor at different times --- so both do not start at the same time --- the 3,500 watt serge .

As an example - take the cover off your airconditioner - get the numbers off the capacitors [ and or also someone that has an " easy start " ] and go to a electrical supply place and price the components .

EasyStart - is just charging for the " EASY " they sell you a package --- so you do not have to figure out the above .
It is not that hard .

Its been a few yrs. [ pricing going crazy ] - but in the past I could put to gether an easy start system for less that $50 , depending , less than $25 .
Many times you get one can - capacitor --- with 2 different capacitors in the same can --- 3 differnet connections , one for power in , 2nd for compressor & 3rd for fan , some labled - start & run .
The point being so the compressor & fan [ 2 differnet motors ] starting at the same time .

Lastly is running what many [ do not understand ] these underrated generators - for AC systems --- are shorterning the life of both the generator & aircontitioner ---- by running the gentset at over max & running AC under min.

[Life is a Highway]

Micro Air service and tech support are outstanding

[Bill M.]

- "by running the gentset at over max & running AC under min."

according to the measured volts and amps shown by the Bluetooth Easy Start my Honda 2000 runs my 13500 Dometic just fine. I do have to turn the power converter off. I do run on gasoline. I probably have never run it at above 5000 feet elevation.

I expect most people only run the AC on a small generator a few days a year. If I lived and camped Down South I would probably have a big electric start generator.

Of course the companies make a profit selling these soft start units. That is the way the world is supposed to work.

[Jason P M]

Originally Posted by foobar

Micro-air Easystart is what many, if not most airstream owners use for a/c soft start hardware. They work well, we have two of them (one for each a/c on our 2022 Globetrotter 27FB Twin).

As for the Honda EU2200i companion, while it has a 30amp RV style plug on it, it can only handle a little over 16 amps (~1900 watts) continuously.

Yes, the EU2200i can run one a/c (I have one), but not much else at the same time (maybe some led lighting). So keep the battery charger off. Ditto for the microwave, inverter and most other a/c loads. You might be able to run a t/v (<100 watts) or the stereo too, but one a/c is pretty much the limit.

I thought the 2021 and later Dometic AC units have a soft start built in? At least that is what Dometic told me.

[foobar]

My 2022 Globetrotter 27FB Twin was manufactured in late May to early June time frame and my dometic a/c units didn't come with built in soft start hardware. I had heard the same information, but it wasn't accurate for my trailer build anyway.

[Rey.A]

Originally Posted by foobar

My 2022 Globetrotter 27FB Twin was manufactured in late May to early June time frame and my dometic a/c units didn't come with built in soft start hardware. I had heard the same information, but it wasn't accurate for my trailer build anyway.

Foobar, how did you confirm? Visual inspection, documentation, or called AS?

[WhereStream]

Originally Posted by jeffmc306

No question the Honda is the gold standard.

Our local farm store had a Champion 2500 dual fuel on sale for $399. I couldn’t pass it up. We also have a Micro Air SoftStart on our main 15K air conditioner.

It works great and runs off the trailer’s low pressure port after separating the two regulator parts.

YMMV!

I'm considering the same Champion dual-fuel (waiting for a good sale price).

What did you have to "separate" to run it on propane via the Airstream's low-pressure port?

I intend to run it on propane only, if possible.

[jeffb831]

Originally Posted by Jason P M

I thought the 2021 and later Dometic AC units have a soft start built in? At least that is what Dometic told me.

This is not true. I contacted Dometic in May 2022, asked them the question, and this was their response:

I am sorry but none of our RV AC units come preinstalled with a soft start. We do have the Brisk 2 that comes preinstalled with a hard start, to aid in use with a generator.

Not sure what a "hard start" is but no soft start.

[Aironius]

I have no experience with "soft start" systems, but when I tried a sinewave generator with a tested output of 3.5kW, it would not run my 2500W AC unit. The first startup was good, AC ran, compressor cycled off. At that point, the generator rpm dropped to the required output level of the AC fan. When the compressor kicked back in, the generator tried to rev up but the load was too much. It struggled at barely over idle speed, did not rev up, voltage dropped, the lights got dim, the compressor did not start and I had to abort the test. If I manually held the generator throttle open before the compressor started it would work. The sinewave generator could not anticipate the sudden increase in demand. My take-away was that a constant rpm generator like the big Onan the PO had been using is OK because it is already at the required rpm, while a sinewave may be "caught with its rpm down". Check this out before you invest $$.

[foobar]

Originally Posted by Rey.A

Foobar, how did you confirm? Visual inspection, documentation, or called AS?

It was confirmed when I had A&P Vintage Trailer Works open up the a/c's to check during my upgrade project with them back in August 2022. They are a factory authorized service center and installer for Dometic. Once we confirmed that soft starts were not present, I had them install micro-air easystart units in both of them.

[foobar]

Originally Posted by Aironius

I have no experience with "soft start" systems, but when I tried a sinewave generator with a tested output of 3.5kW, it would not run my 2500W AC unit. The first startup was good, AC ran, compressor cycled off. At that point, the generator rpm dropped to the required output level of the AC fan. When the compressor kicked back in, the generator tried to rev up but the load was too much. It struggled at barely over idle speed, did not rev up, voltage dropped, the lights got dim, the compressor did not start and I had to abort the test. If I manually held the generator throttle open before the compressor started it would work. The sinewave generator could not anticipate the sudden increase in demand. My take-away was that a constant rpm generator like the big Onan the PO had been using is OK because it is already at the required rpm, while a sinewave may be "caught with its rpm down". Check this out before you invest $$.

Recommend turning off any "eco" mode on the inverter based generator.

The Honda manual recommended this for any heavy loads. I have found this to be good advice even for the Honda as the heavy load of an a/c compressor cycling on can sometimes trip the overload protection on the Honda before the engine has a chance to ramp up to meet the spike in demand.

[Genboy]

Originally Posted by JohnTF

Learn some basic math 1st .

And then Ohms law - https://www.allaboutcircuits.com/too...aw-calculator/

If you want to go futher - DC theroy .

Point being is - typically RV roof top AC take about 3,500 watts to start .
A 2,000 watt generator is about 1,500 short ---- hard on both the generator & your AC .

Next is the [ over priced " easy start " systems ] are mainly just a couple [ or so ] capacitors - these are basically just a quick charge / discharge units - to make up for / or add to the extra power needed for an instant of surge of starting a motor / compressor .

A couple of extra componenets are /or can be more than one capacitor & or relays to start the fan & compressor at different times --- so both do not start at the same time --- the 3,500 watt serge .

As an example - take the cover off your airconditioner - get the numbers off the capacitors [ and or also someone that has an " easy start " ] and go to a electrical supply place and price the components .

EasyStart - is just charging for the " EASY " they sell you a package --- so you do not have to figure out the above .
It is not that hard .

Its been a few yrs. [ pricing going crazy ] - but in the past I could put to gether an easy start system for less that $50 , depending , less than $25 .
Many times you get one can - capacitor --- with 2 different capacitors in the same can --- 3 differnet connections , one for power in , 2nd for compressor & 3rd for fan , some labled - start & run .
The point being so the compressor & fan [ 2 differnet motors ] starting at the same time .

Lastly is running what many [ do not understand ] these underrated generators - for AC systems --- are shorterning the life of both the generator & aircontitioner ---- by running the gentset at over max & running AC under min.

. What you are describing is a hard start system, quite different from a modern electronic soft start. The system you describe basically stores extra energy then releases it all at once to start the air conditioner. Effective, but not great when running on a small genset. The "soft start" is quite different. It modifies the ac waveform, which lowers the incoming voltage and current, which lowers the load on the generator. This lower power inrush is easier on the genset and on the air conditioner. My Honda eu2200 can easily start the 13500 air conditioner, starting amperage is down to approximately 18 amps.

[Genboy]

Foobar gives good advice in post #18. Turn off eco mode. From your description, it sounds as though you would benefit from a soft start. By lowering current inrush and delaying compressor startup, your 3500 watt genset should easily start your air conditioner.