AC Compressor Getting Old. Hard Start Capacitor?

[Son_of_Norway]

My wife tried to start our rear AC while the generator was running. She told me that it wouldn't work. I checked and found that the breaker on the generator was tripped. Later I ran the generator again and put a clamp meter on the air conditioner while I turned it on. As it started the generator almost died and I saw 22 amps flash briefly on the meter. After starting the air conditioner worked fine.

Is this because of a dying compressor?
Would a hard-start capacitor help? Would 2 of them help even more?
Is it ever economical to replace the compressor?

Thanks for your help.

[ksg5000]

Hard Start Capacitors are pretty cheap - assuming your current AC didn't come with one then there isn't much downside in installing one. I put one on my 91 AC and it made a big difference. Just my 02.

[marcsbigfoot20b]

I would think 6500 watts would be no problem. Maybe there was some other things on in the RV like electric water heater, microwave, etc??

[Son_of_Norway]

The generator is an Onan Emerald III 6.5. The AC is a Coleman 13500 (not sure which model, it was original to the coach, I'm pretty sure.) Ambient was probably around 92. It was even hotter inside the coach.

[j-d]

Could help.

Let me relay what an appliance shop told me: The windings in a compressor increase in resistance as they age. This ups the current draw, and is also hard on capacitors and start devices.

This discussion involved a refrigerator/freezer. The start device shook like it had sand inside. I think it was the remains of a PTCR. I got a SUPCO piece from them, might've been SPP-something, I forget, but it's run that fridge for years.

So if you believe this account, you might find some relief. I can't really say Yea or Nay.

[marcsbigfoot20b]

Not enough info for diagnosis.

What generator, what AC unit, altitude? ambient temps?