Running 2 Honda generators

SoundGuy wrote:

Butch50 wrote:
Yea, I meant to say EasyStart not soft start. I have watched a lot of videos on the EasyStart and it looks pretty straight forward install.

I suspect you and ktmrfs are confusing the terms "soft start", "soft starter", and "hard start". The Micro-Air Easy Start is a soft starter but unfortunately hard start devices such as the popular Supco SPP6 are often interchangeably referred to by some as "hard" start or "soft" start. If what you're saying is the Easy Start is not at all like an SPP6 then you're absolutely correct, otherwise I have no idea what is meant when you and ktmrfs say the Easy Start is not a "soft start". :h

FWIW, I've been using an SPP6 for years on a variety of A/C units to ease start up but a hard start like this certainly doesn't solve the problem of starting a 13,500 BTU A/C with a 2K genset like the EU2000i when elevation is anything above sea level and ambient temps are anywhere above the mid 80s F. We don't often use A/C when camping even though we most often have shore power available, otherwise if we did and knowing what I know now I'd be investing in a Micro-Air Easy Start Soft Starter Kit, whether I ever intended to power it with a genset or not. ;)

I also tried gthe SPP6 kit and my experience is consistant with yours. sea level, 80F or so the honda gives a mighty grunt and fires up the AC. push into the 90's or go above 1000ft and it gives a might grunt, and then trips out.

with the easy start the honda just smoothly ramps up rpm and AC comes on. Now the limit is what is your density altitude? to high and you will eventually kick out the generator for long term overload.

But now there are the power saving AC units from Coleman and Dometic that drop the running current by several amps, very likely enough to use one honda 2000 even at 5000ft or so. I've run a coleman power cub with a 10A running current for hours on end at 8000ft with no problems on the honda 2000.