Window AC and Soft Start

[GerryS]

Executive Summary:

I'm looking for details from anyone who has installed an Easy-Start in a 5000 BTU Window AC

Blathering Question:

I know air conditioning isn't everyones thing...but for me, it is a MUST have. Living in the midwest means temperatures well into the 90s with humidities to match are not uncommon.

I am struggling to find camp sites now because of the influx of new campers - all of which are running to the state parks, so us "old timers" who have been doing this for a while need to find alternatives. Some without power. Thats OK...I have a small generator which does the job just fine...EXCEPT for AC. Actually, it runs the AC just fine. Except for the start of the compressor....the surge causes the generator to surge as well, so my gentle guiet hum of a honda or yamaha randomly blips into high speed calling attention to itself.

In the past, I owned a class A with a 13.5k BTU would run on my generator as well, but it needed a Easy-Start from Microair to handle the compressor surge. It worked great. I was right at the limit of the generator but if ran.

WIth a 5k BTU window unit, I'm well below the power demand....but the surge remains and a Micro-Air will surely solve that problem. Internally, the window shakers work exactly the same as any other AC....but...is there room inside to stuff a easy start? Has anyone attempted this modification?

I know the electrical hookups, I'm more curious if there is any room to remotely fit the controller inside, they can be mounted remotely but I really dont want to start cutting holes into my Camp Inn

[Socal Tom]

Most of the newer 5K units have built in soft start systems. My 1K Honda handles my 5K fridgidare just fine. How old is your AC unit? It might be cheaper to get a newer unit?
Tom

[drhill]

Please - tell me more about units with a soft start. I am in Alberta and have never owned a window air conditioner. We do get some hot weather but always a nice cool mountain breeze in the evening. Until Now. This past week has been hot (35-36C, just shy of 100F) and dead calm every evening. Gets cool enough by 1-2 am to open a window and cool the house some, but each day the house temperature creeps higher.

So I have been looking for a window unit, probably won't actually find anything in stock until it cools down here. A soft start would not be necessary, but nice to have in case I needed to use it with a generator some day. But I have never heard of one with a built in soft start, but as I said- I have never owned one. What model is the Frigidaire that you have? Any idea how I would find out what units have this built in soft start? The store websites give little information.

Hopefully your response helps GerryS too.

Thanks.

[Socal Tom]

They don't advertise having soft start, but as a consequence of the energy saving standards its built into the system, just look for something with a higher SEER rating and it will have a lower startup requirement vs the old school models.

[dbhosttexas]

The info on soft start on newer models is a good bit of info. Just curious though. Which model do you have that you know is soft start? I have a teeny 1kw generator and really am trying to avoid buying a new one. More of a matter of compactness than cost... Although cost is an issue.

I currently have a 6.5K BTU Goldstar unit from about 2005 and it's amp rating is under that of the generator, but it will still stall the generator out when the inrush current hits.

[MickinOz]

Here in Oz, you would look for a label that says "inverter technology".

[Shadow Catcher]

Supco makes a hard start capacitor about $13 The RV jobs are about $300

[drhill]

I have been reading up on them, and as MickinOz says - look for inverter technology. The only ones I have found here are LG 9500 and 14,000 btu units and Midea 8,000 and 12,000 btu units. I can't find any references to any as small as 5,000 btu. These ones I have "found", I have just found information on. After last weeks heat wave in Western Canada there are no air conditioners in the stores.

[printer]

They are going to incorporate the technology on the larger units first, would like a unit at 5000 btu with the technology. Quieter also. Maybe one day.

[dbhosttexas]

Supco makes a hard start capacitor about $13 The RV jobs are about $300

I'm planning on doing this to my 6.5k btu unit...

[MickinOz]

I have been reading up on them, and as MickinOz says - look for inverter technology. The only ones I have found here are LG 9500 and 14,000 btu units and Midea 8,000 and 12,000 btu units. I can't find any references to any as small as 5,000 btu. These ones I have "found", I have just found information on. After last weeks heat wave in Western Canada there are no air conditioners in the stores.

They are going to incorporate the technology on the larger units first, would like a unit at 5000 btu with the technology. Quieter also. Maybe one day.

I'm afraid I should have researched the subject a bit before I posted.
It is very common here in ducted and split units, which is why I thought just grab one with an inverter in it, but it turns out a wall/window air-conditioner with an inverter is rare here too. Gotta be a big one. An inverter driven 1.5KW / 5000 BTU unit doesn't seem to exist here in Oz, either. Pity. Back to the soft starter, I guess.

[MickinOz]

Gotta say, that u-shaped Midea 8000 BTU unit looks interesting.

[Socal Tom]

They are going to incorporate the technology on the larger units first, would like a unit at 5000 btu with the technology. Quieter also. Maybe one day.

All I can say is that I had an older 1970/80 era 5K unit. I couldn't get it to start with a 2.5KW generator, with the fridgedaire I got a few years ago it starts reliably with a 1K generator.