AC Hard start additions
Any new developments (in the last couple years) to the problem of starting/running a Dometic 13500 AC unit with a generator? Thanks,Mike
Forum Discussion
jjrbus wrote:
Rumor has it that some of the new roof air have a hard start installed at the factory. If they are no one is advertising it!
I got some bad info on the net then experimented a bit. I run an 8000 btu window unit with a Honda 2000, added a hard start an run the Honda in ECO mode!
I would have installed a mini split years ago but do not have room for the inside unit.
a lot of the "hard starts" installed at the factory are the same as what is in the over the counter AC units, a start cap for the compressor. Coleman and dometic sell OEM units w/o any start cap for the compressor. grunt grunt.
If the AC already has a start cap, a "hard start" cap may help some, but likely not much. Even with a hard start cap installed Locked rotor amps is still in the 50A range, well beyond what most 2000VA or so generators can supply for enough time to get the motor running enough to get the back EMF up to the point that the running amps are in the 15A range.
I graphed the start current with a micro air on My Coleman Mach III. PEAK start current is 20A for < 1 second, well within the capability of most 2000VA generators, even in eco mode. It took 3 or 4 of the "start learning cycles" that are called out to get their. Initially peak starting current was 45A w/o the micro air.
