I have this posted on another forum and don't seem to be getting any answers to the question.Okay guys, my knowledge of electricity does not even make me dangerous. I have been doing a lot of reading in regards to getting a generator for my toy hauler and came across the term "Hard start capacitor". From what I could gather this works the same as a soft start kit. If that is true, why would you use one versus the other. The only reason I can find after doing very limited research is that the soft start kit is $300 versus the $10-$15 for the capacitor. If some one could please explain the difference and also the pros and cons for each, I would greatly appreciate it.Please take it easy on me, as I stated I know nothing about electricity other than don't stick a butter knife in the wall outlet. Thanks for all your help.

There are 3 pages of posts containing 'hard start', if you care to peruse them.

short course about motors. When starting they initially draw up to 6 times the running current for a brief second then come up to full speed and drops to the running current. That is to much for a small generator so the motor doesn't start. the $300 soft starter slowly speeds the motor up allowing a small generator to carry the load.The $15 capacitor does nothing in this application.

My Coleman Mach air conditioner came with a hard-start capacitor already installed.I replaced it with a soft-starter with good results. I can run my air conditioner using a modest generator, but I rarely do. It also reduced the clunking sound when the compressor first starts, which is nice.The two technologies are totally different. The hard-start capacitor stores electrical energy which it then releases into the compressor start winding on start-up. The soft-starters, such as Easy Start, work by limiting the current to the main (run) winding during start-up and allowing the current to ramp-up over a quarter of a second or so. The result is far less in-rush current and a smooth start.As stated, there is much more posted here if you do a search for it.

Mike134 wrote:short course about motors. When starting they initially draw up to 6 times the running current for a brief second then come up to full speed and drops to the running current. That is to much for a small generator so the motor doesn't start. The $300 soft starter slowly speeds the motor up allowing a small generator to carry the load.The $15 capacitor does nothing in this application.Getting just a wee bit technical ... a "soft starter" temporarily switches a current limiting resistor inline (series) with the motor windings. It then removes the resistor after a few seconds (deluxe models may monitor the current and keep the resistor in the circuit until the current drops below a certain value).

Blacklane wrote:My Coleman Mach air conditioner came with a hard-start capacitor already installed.I replaced it with a soft-starter with good results. I can run my air conditioner using a modest generator, but I rarely do. It also reduced the clunking sound when the compressor first starts, which is nice.Amazed at the reduction in compressor start noise with the micro-air.waiting on hot weather to test with generator.

Hard start capacitor | Good Sam Community

19 Replies

Mike134
Explorer
May 13, 2020

Getting just a wee bit technical ... a "soft starter" temporarily switches a current limiting resistor inline (series) with the motor windings. It then removes the resistor after a few seconds (deluxe models may monitor the current and keep the resistor in the circuit until the current drops below a certain value).

Not so sure the micro air uses that old school method of starting motors. Have to deal with the heat from the resistors and the unit comes in a sealed plastic housing. I've serviced a few industrial motors and those reduced voltage starters using resistors you described get replaced with either soft starters or if speed control is desired VFDs.
philh
Explorer II
May 13, 2020
get EZ start instead.
troubledwaters
Nomad
May 13, 2020
Put the $300 into a bigger generator. The increased wattage is much more useful for all kinds of other uses around the house and the toy hauler. The soft start is a one trick pony, wattage has multiple uses.
Lwiddis
Explorer II
May 12, 2020
X2, mike. OP, do some more reading.
red31
Explorer
May 12, 2020
Blacklane wrote:
My Coleman Mach air conditioner came with a hard-start capacitor already installed.

I replaced it with a soft-starter with good results. I can run my air conditioner using a modest generator, but I rarely do. It also reduced the clunking sound when the compressor first starts, which is nice.

Amazed at the reduction in compressor start noise with the micro-air.
waiting on hot weather to test with generator.
theoldwizard1
Explorer II
May 12, 2020
Mike134 wrote:
short course about motors.
When starting they initially draw up to 6 times the running current for a brief second then come up to full speed and drops to the running current. That is to much for a small generator so the motor doesn't start. The $300 soft starter slowly speeds the motor up allowing a small generator to carry the load.

The $15 capacitor does nothing in this application.

Getting just a wee bit technical ... a "soft starter" temporarily switches a current limiting resistor inline (series) with the motor windings. It then removes the resistor after a few seconds (deluxe models may monitor the current and keep the resistor in the circuit until the current drops below a certain value).
Blacklane
Explorer
May 12, 2020
My Coleman Mach air conditioner came with a hard-start capacitor already installed.

I replaced it with a soft-starter with good results. I can run my air conditioner using a modest generator, but I rarely do. It also reduced the clunking sound when the compressor first starts, which is nice.

The two technologies are totally different. The hard-start capacitor stores electrical energy which it then releases into the compressor start winding on start-up. The soft-starters, such as Easy Start, work by limiting the current to the main (run) winding during start-up and allowing the current to ramp-up over a quarter of a second or so. The result is far less in-rush current and a smooth start.

As stated, there is much more posted here if you do a search for it.
Mike134
Explorer
May 12, 2020
short course about motors.
When starting they initially draw up to 6 times the running current for a brief second then come up to full speed and drops to the running current. That is to much for a small generator so the motor doesn't start. the $300 soft starter slowly speeds the motor up allowing a small generator to carry the load.
The $15 capacitor does nothing in this application.
2oldman
Explorer II
May 12, 2020
There are 3 pages of posts containing 'hard start', if you care to peruse them.

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Hard start capacitor

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