I think its a fair up charge for most people who are completely incapable/uninterested of wiring in a DIY soft start. plus you can move this from rv to rv or even to your home.
For people that wire these themselves, Is their anyone doing a diy plug and play wire themselves. I like the plug and play for beii on g able to swap to different ac units. Thanks for the video. Yours was the clearest I could find on the topic!
The surge protection would definitely help protect your appliances at an RV park. Some of the older RV parks have questionable power connections. A few years ago we were at one of the older rv parks here in East Texas and while running our microwave, the campers in the lot next to ours turned on both of their 15000 btu roof top ac units. The sudden drop in power caused our microwave to quit working and it never worked again. I'm just glad it was less than $100
That stinks,but standard surge protection doesn't really do you much good in a voltage sag situation only for spikes above nominal voltage. Unless this gizmo has a low voltage clamp built in, but I have not seen that advertised from looking around at them. I know the joys of bad power, lost a brand new CPAP machine camping, bought an audio/hifi surge protect after that that ,which has low voltage clamp thats adjustable same for higher than 3% over voltage. Happy travels
I’ve been looking at it for my house. Note it’s going to save but very little electric. But it’s letting you safely start your AC. Also it may prolong your AC. This is not a hard start system. A hard start does just the opposite. Great job, thanks.
This is amazing. My 4K watt generator won’t run my AC while hunting. Blows the breaker soon as I try turning it on. Going to give it a try, thanks for the video!
@@moneymaker1986 you could always use the 30a to 15a adapter if you're running a 3500w generator. You're probably pulling 11a at startup. Just don't turn anything else on but LED lighting and you should be fine.
I just asked that same question I know it's like a year later. No thanks on having to connect to a device/ bluetooth just to use the device I just bought.
That was an odd scenario. The current never increased beyond the 2.7-8A after it started. So, the startup and running current was the same? I didn't see the surge. Thanks for presenting this!
Love the portability, like being able to get instantaneous info, but if I heard right from you, that YOU HAVE TO turn it on with a phone, im out, want plug and play not worried about having a phone, connection issues etc etc. should build it with a digital display on the box just like the kill a watt. Good video 👍
I'm looking for a solution for a similar problem on a non rv use case. That current meter is too slow to show the inrush or inrush reduction. I'd like to see it with a faster meter or even an analog meter. I have a very similar (looks the same) and the current draw with the compressor on is a fair amount higher. That's weird. Was that start current you showed on the display with an it plugged into mains current or was that recorded with the soft start box.
On a battery/solar setup Could this be plugged into the designated outlet AC is plugged into In a camper then the unit itself plugged directly into it?
A 2000w soft start module/relay, without the pretty enclosure, retails for about $15. It works on any single phase electrical device up to 2000w. ActiveStart, and other soft start companies, are selling expensive pretty cases.
Very interesting! Do I need the phone and the app to use this unit? I hope they make simple unit without the Bluettoth and all the bells that I do not need, I just need to be able to start my AC.
My question is, would this go before, or after a surge protector for those of us using a generator, that has a surge protector plugged into it. So would you plug in surge protector first, then this unit, then shore power? Or plug this unit in first to the generator, then the surge protector to that, then shore power to the surge protector? 🤔
So, will it soft start a well pump? After all, it's another motor load. I'm wondering because I might want to put one on my whole house generator. Sometimes when my well starts, my lights in the house will dim slightly.
They have a 50a version, I'd run it inline right off the generator before or after the generator line that way it should soft start everything downstream
I’ve got a soft start installed on my RV unit. Do you think I could use the 20 amp active start when plugged into someone’s house and that would help even more?
So what’s your opinion if I plug this directly in Tamara electric refrigerator in my RV do you think it would stop the surge that it pulls on my inverter?
Yes, that’s the point of this device is to reduce the amperage of surges for a/c units, fridges…anything that has a high surge this will help the generator “ease” into it
Thanks for this video. Does the 30 amp version work if connected to a 15 amp 110v hookup with an adapter? For when at a spot without 30 amp hookup, or if using with a generator without 30 amp port.
Nice video very well explained..! Recently I installed a new roof AC unit from Rec pro 9,500 BTU it works fine with the Honda 2200 I would like to buy it so the initial surge doesn't stop my TV power...any time the AC compressor comes on...the TV stops..one question..the 20 amp unit is just enough for this issue..? It has the Bluetooth app like the 30 Amp has... 🙏 Thanks
Hey Brian - used to have a camper and plan on getting another one. What is the reason for having the 30a one on the pedestal? Just to control surges and give you a monitoring point?
Just because RVs typically have a 30amp receptacle, or 50 amp for the big ones. You’d just use your standard 30 amp extension cord with the 30 amp version.
Hi Clay...Another benefit for using on a pedestal has more to do with how good the power is at the park especially if it has lower voltage which cause the startup spike to be higher. This product also has monitoring for low and high voltage which could damage your electronics. The output is turned off in those conditions and will restart again after a 3-5 minute delay.
I would be curious how today's electronics will like it, there was a product similar to it years ago and it was pulled due to damaging sensitive electronics due to low voltage, the hardwired versions only control the compressor and not the electronics so no damage occurs with that style, I would be curious to read the patent details to see how he was able to avoid the low voltage death
We do not keep the voltage low for very long as in msec time frame. The key is we do not kill the power completely and ramp up the load without interfering with other appliances that might be running.
You say "To get this thing turned on you have to go into your ActiveStart app". Did you mean that you can't just plug it in and use it, you have to turn it on with the app? And if so, do you have to do that each time you use it? Also, does it eliminate the motor surge on the generator? I have a Honda 2200i and I like to run it in Eco mode but whenever I have the A/C on (also 5000 BTU) each time the A/C compressor starts the 2200i has to speed up to meet the demand so I have to run it full throttle all the time. This is what I am trying to eliminate because Eco mode runs almost twice as long on a tank of gas. Thanks, I really appreciate any information you can provide!
You do not have to use Bluetooth with this…you can just plug it in and use it without. And it does eliminate the surge because it reduces the amperage draw so the generator does not have to rev up the RPMs
The 20 Amp is WAY more than you said, it's like $360! I was headed over to get one. That's pricey. I guess if you couldn't make one on your own it would be better than nothing. Thanks
You won’t be able to run all your equipment if your camper needs 50amp ( 2 a/c units?) you would be able to partially run your camper if you use a dogbone adapter to go from 30amp to 50 amp
Very ingenious product but it is pricey. It’s almost the same cost as the generator. I wonder if it works with some of the portable power stations and higher draw devices
We have the standard A/C in our 2021 Coachmen Leprechaun 260DS. We have a 30 amp service, which works both units off shore power with no problems. We added and extra A/C in the bedroom. If we use the 50 amp unit, will it run both? If you can, please reply soon. We want to buy this, but we're not sure which to get or if it will work.
You technically will never get more than 30amp going into your rv. So, it’s tricky to say the 50 amp version would work. Sure, it probably would handle all the a/c units and get them started, but will your RV wiring handle the steady current after startup with the a/c’s running? I’m not sure if your power draw on the a/c units.
@@BrianWatersOutdoors brian, after I sent the email, I realised I was referring to the 50 amp unit instead of the 30 amp unit. Our RV is based on 30 amp, and that power runs both units nicely. We had the second A/C installed by the dealer who sold us the RV and they are certified by Coachmen, so we trust their work. You did say they have a 30amp unit didn't you? By the way, I think you did a great job on your video.
Wait what? I have a watchdog surge protector when I plug into shore power. Why would I need this? My under carriage Onan runs the RV AC. ( yea hard start)How would it “just plug into my generator”? What works to run AC off batteries?
This device is used to decrease the start up / surge amps of your ac. If you have a big enough generator, you might not have any issues. However, this also could help prolong the life of an ac unit because it minimizes the large surge and strain on the components.
Hi Jean...If you use batteries than you have an inverter as well and this product will reduce the surge the inverter will have to handle and not trip its overload when the AC starts.
4:52 - I was sold until you said I have to use an app! No! No! Tell that maker that we aren’t interested in an app! It needs to work all the time without the app! When we are in a limited power situation we don’t want to be wasting battery power to jack with an app
Active start wouldn't run my RV AC using a 2500 watt generator inverter.. I kept getting the NAN on the display. After researching It looks like if you have an off grid solar system, the inverter will shut off the active start.
Little expensive on that for something you’re gonna put on a camper if you’re towing a camper already just get a bigger generator. You shouldn’t have too much problems with the extra weight for the house, though it may be worth it if you hardwire it to your AC.
Or you can make your own 12 amp unit with an SCK-0512 Inrush Current Limitin, ICL 5 OHM 15% 12A 22MM guy here on you tube shows you.... very simple.... for a fraction of the price. you can make higher amp units too upto a point.
@@BrianWatersOutdoors thank you. It's getting to the point where everything wants you connected to the internet or Bluetooth and it's getting ridiculous people are trying to get away from that stuff, some of us anyhow.
$275 for a box with electrolytic capacitors and a bluetooth transmitter is awful pricey. That's a lot of money spent to run a basic standard bedroom AC unit even when camping.
Ridiculous three or $400 that's more than the air conditioner cost brand new. It's half the cost of a mini split. that will run off of your solar or generator or anything else.