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Old 07-09-2022, 04:06 PM   #1
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New variation of the RV SoftStart

Just read this article in RV Travel and it could come in handy for those with a 30 amp RV who would like to add a second air conditioner.

https://www.rvtravel.com/rv-electric...rtup-rvt-1060/

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Old 07-10-2022, 03:50 PM   #2
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That's a great item for a portable generator but they are proud of it at $900 ($600 discounted) as it costs as much as the generator.

July 4th weekend I was in Largo, FL (close to 100 degrees, no trees) and used both my A/Cs on 30 amps for initial cooldown (13.5K and 15K) - no compressor cycling. Once cooled down the 15K keeps up so no need for the 13.5K unless things got uncomfortable. At that point turning on the 13.5K would again be for getting the temp down, so again, no cycling.

I can see no scenario when I needed to run both A/Cs where both compressors would have to cycle.
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Old 07-10-2022, 04:46 PM   #3
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Yeah, campground electrical should handle 150 ms surge. If 30A breaker trips it’s likely due to prolonged current demand which this won’t address.

It probably won’t help traditional generators as much anyway because they have enough inertia to get them through that short inrush period. So it gets back to mostly inverter generators, and the only one I’m aware of is the Onan 2800i that is used primarily in van campers, and that’s hard wired through a transfer switch. This new softstart wouldn’t help much in that case either.

I personally like idea of air conditioner manufacturers installing Softstart in A/C at factory and be done with it. When mass produced on an assembly line added cost should be minimal by comparison.
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Old 07-10-2022, 04:50 PM   #4
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That's a great item for a portable generator but they are proud of it at $900 ($600 discounted) as it costs as much as the generator.

July 4th weekend I was in Largo, FL (close to 100 degrees, no trees) and used both my A/Cs on 30 amps for initial cooldown (13.5K and 15K) - no compressor cycling. Once cooled down the 15K keeps up so no need for the 13.5K unless things got uncomfortable. At that point turning on the 13.5K would again be for getting the temp down, so again, no cycling.

I can see no scenario when I needed to run both A/Cs where both compressors would have to cycle.

Talking about running larger 50A RV on 30A service, it seems some don’t think you can ever have too much of anything, but I disagree. Last week I helped analyze an RV that has two 15K A/Cs (and not even high efficiency) where the full 30K of cooling is not needed unless in Death Valley in July.

Bottom line is that both A/C combined exceed 30A campground service, so owner could only run 15K of air conditioning. Worse yet is that one A/C and microwave combine also exceed 30A.

Two high-efficiency 13.5K would be more than enough cooling 99.99% of time, and would allow running 27K of cooling instead of being limited to 15K on 30A service; plus would allow running one A/C while microwave is used. In this case less would be more.
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Old 07-10-2022, 06:35 PM   #5
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Originally Posted by Bob Nodine View Post
Just read this article in RV Travel and it could come in handy for those with a 30 amp RV who would like to add a second air conditioner.

https://www.rvtravel.com/rv-electric...rtup-rvt-1060/
Very interesting 30 amp plug in

I wonder if one could run a 1500 watt space heater and microwave at the same time on 30 amp shore power.
Sometimes my microwave separate 20 amp Junction trips with space heater on & microwave


My tech hooked our microwave and all outlets to the 3000w inverter ( which does run microwave great). He used a separate 20 amp breaker. This trips when on shore power and space heater and starting microwave.
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Old 07-10-2022, 07:00 PM   #6
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For those that run space heaters, bring an extension cord and use the 20A shore power just for the heater. Your 30A service will love you for that. No more tripping breakers.
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Old 07-10-2022, 07:18 PM   #7
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Very interesting 30 amp plug in

I wonder if one could run a 1500 watt space heater and microwave at the same time on 30 amp shore power.
Sometimes my microwave separate 20 amp Junction trips with space heater on & microwave


My tech hooked our microwave and all outlets to the 3000w inverter ( which does run microwave great). He used a separate 20 amp breaker. This trips when on shore power and space heater and starting microwave.
No, soft starts only reduce starting current (not running current) which the heater doesn't have and if suppressed for the microwave - could damage it.
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Old 07-10-2022, 07:55 PM   #8
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For those that run space heaters, bring an extension cord and use the 20A shore power just for the heater. Your 30A service will love you for that. No more tripping breakers.
How does one get the 15amp wire into the MH?
FOR folks not that bright

On a Thor vegas
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Old 07-10-2022, 08:21 PM   #9
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How does one get the 15amp wire into the MH?
FOR folks not that bright

On a Thor vegas
One option:
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Old 07-10-2022, 08:43 PM   #10
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One option:
Interesting. We have our heater in the front between driver and passenger seat in order to avoid the golden retrievers.
Maybe bring a 15amp up the side step where battery is?
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