Furrion A/C Soft Start Install?

[LeeB-4]

I know Soft Start is a brand name and I'm not necessarily asking about kind. I'm just asking if anyone has installed a soft start (type) for their Furrion A/C unit. What Brand do you install?

I have a brand new 2024 Starcraft 189RG and I would like to boondock once in a while. Everything on my unit is 12v except the A/C unit, TV and Microwave. I have a 2200i watt Generac that I have with me all the time.

LeeB

 

[JudyK-JAY22rb]

I know Soft Start is a brand name and I'm not necessarily asking about kind. I'm just asking if anyone has installed a soft start (type) for their Furrion A/C unit. What Brand do you install?

I have a brand new 2024 Starcraft 189RG and I would like to boondock once in a while. Everything on my unit is 12v except the A/C unit, TV and Microwave. I have a 2200i watt Generac that I have with me all the time.

LeeB

I have a new 2022 Jayco 22r with the 14,500 Furrion Chill. From what I understand the 14,500 and the 15,00 are virtually the same.

I installed an SoftStartRV (brand) into my A/C a couple months ago. I did it because I wanted to use my Predator 2000 (peak) watt generator. It was pretty straight forward dot install and the generator has no problem. handling the A/C once the soft start module was installed. Prior to that, the generator overloaded immediately. My camper is 50amp (2nd A/C capable) I used an adapter from 50amp down to 15a, 120v adapter. The receptacles on my Predator are 120v rated 13.3a

 

[LeeB-4]

JKyle...... Thanks a bunch. So the install was pretty straight forward? To me Furrion is a kinda sorta off brand and I was hesitant doing the install....
Thanks again LeeB

 

[JudyK-JAY22rb]

JKyle...... Thanks a bunch. So the install was pretty straight forward? To me Furrion is a kinda sorta off brand and I was hesitant doing the install....
Thanks again LeeB

I'm a 57 y/o woman with no electrical experience, whatsoever. I did end up having to put in a 'help ticket' and spoke with their tech via phone. The tech was SUPER knowledgable about the Furrion unit, was super friendly and had no issue staying on the phone for as long as we needed, until the SoftStart was installed correctly and the A/C was working.

I had followed the diagram to the letter, but after install, my unit's compressor would not kick on. That's why I had to call. After some time moving a few wires, we figured it out. Furrion tends to change up their wiring at times, making it tough for the SoftStart guys to have accurate wiring diagrams. A couple wires needed to be switched. After that, the compressor came right to life, as soon as I started the A/C.

I would not hesitate to go with SoftStart RV, as their LIVE HELP is 5 star.

Be sure to have several copies of your working diagram, I did, just in case the wind blew the one I was using, away.

I took a bag up to the roof with me containing all the tools I knew I'd need, including a multimeter, plus a few I might 'need.'

I just installed an RV Air Systems diverter into my A/C as well, this past week. Cranks the A/C's cooling ability and dampens the noise very nicely.

 

[LeeB-4]

I'm a 57 y/o woman with no electrical experience, whatsoever. I did end up having to put in a 'help ticket' and spoke with their tech via phone. The tech was SUPER knowledgable about the Furrion unit, was super friendly and had no issue staying on the phone for as long as we needed, until the SoftStart was installed correctly and the A/C was working.

I had followed the diagram to the letter, but after install, my unit's compressor would not kick on. That's why I had to call. After some time moving a few wires, we figured it out. Furrion tends to change up their wiring at times, making it tough for the SoftStart guys to have accurate wiring diagrams. A couple wires needed to be switched. After that, the compressor came right to life, as soon as I started the A/C.

I would not hesitate to go with SoftStart RV, as their LIVE HELP is 5 star.

Be sure to have several copies of your working diagram, I did, just in case the wind blew the one I was using, away.

I took a bag up to the roof with me containing all the tools I knew I'd need, including a multimeter, plus a few I might 'need.'

I just installed an RV Air Systems diverter into my A/C as well, this past week. Cranks the A/C's cooling ability and dampens the noise very nicely.

Thanks it's good to know you got on the phone support.... I may give it a shot when it gets cooler. I'm in the Central Valley of California and it's going to get over 100* for awhile here and I have it parked under a Metal Cover with little wiggle room from the top of the TT to the cover...

Thanks again.... LeeB

 

[JudyK-JAY22rb]

You’re welcome!

 

[kevinantholt]

Lee,
I have installed this on my trailer and also my brother in laws 2009 Jayco.
I use mine with a EcoFlow Delta pro and my BIL uses his with a Honda 2000 gen.
Both work great and easy to install.

https://a.co/d/9q2N7pb

 

[skids-JAY]

I am jealous. I have a Westinghouse i2500 genny and live at 8800 feet elevation. If the temperature gets into the mid 80's F, it will start the AC for one cycle of the compressor. Then it is too much for the i2500 to handle. I do the the micro aire (sp?) soft start.

 

[440scout]

I am jealous. I have a Westinghouse i2500 genny and live at 8800 feet elevation. If the temperature gets into the mid 80's F, it will start the AC for one cycle of the compressor. Then it is too much for the i2500 to handle. I do the the micro aire (sp?) soft start.

I'm using that same(?) generator running on propane to operate a 13500-k btu a/c with softstart. Thats at approximately 5200 altitude and the generator seems to work fine.

 

[JudyK-JAY22rb]

I am jealous. I have a Westinghouse i2500 genny and live at 8800 feet elevation. If the temperature gets into the mid 80's F, it will start the AC for one cycle of the compressor. Then it is too much for the i2500 to handle. I do the the micro aire (sp?) soft start.

Well, I can admit, I do not know a whole lot about elevations and the effect on gas engines, but I do wonder and am skeptical that all soft-starts behave the same way. If they did, I assume the new pole plug soft start by the maker of SoftStart RV would work just as well as their wired-in model, but it doesn't.

I'm at a whopping 56' elevation here in CT.

 

[JudyK-JAY22rb]

Lee,
I have installed this on my trailer and also my brother in laws 2009 Jayco.
I use mine with a EcoFlow Delta pro and my BIL uses his with a Honda 2000 gen.
Both work great and easy to install.



https://a.co/d/9q2N7pb

I also have the EcoFlow Delta Pro and the Predator 2000. Both run the A/C, outfitted with the SoftStart RV, without a problem.

 

[skids-JAY]

This may help:

Revised 10/6/22

Generator de-rating for temperature and elevation

Other brand generator specs: Your generator power rating was established using standardized tests (like ISO 8528-1).* By specification, this testing is conducted at 500 feet MSL (mean sea level) and at 77°F.* For every 1,000 feet above 500 MSL, you lose 3% of rated power; for every 10°F increase, you lose 1% of rated power.* [These are the numbers for an Onan 5500W generator - your numbers may be slightly different, but in the same ball park.]

So, your (constant output) 2200 watt generator, operated at 8800' MSL and 81°F has an actual constant output capability of 2200 less [8.3 x 3% altitude de-rate] less [1 x 1% temperature de-rate] = 26%.* 2200 x .74=1630 watts. Available amps would be 1630/120=13.6 amps.* Again, your generator testing numbers may be slightly different than the Onan numbers shown here.* But the concept is exactly the same.*

Test for iGen 2500 at home (8800 ft el.): 75F outside, 80F inside, set at 72F, Soft Start recalibrated and installed.
Started on full power switch (not eco).
Started fine, showed 1420 watts, eventually showed 1450 watts.
Outlets showed 120+ volts, using 25ft orange extension cord rated at 1875W.
Note: 1875W is 15.37amps at 122V or 15.63 amps at 120V.

 

[Schiel1]

Since it is a new unit. I would email Furrion and ask them if it will void the warranty. I have a Coleman Mach unit and they said yes, unless I used their brand slow start. It was actually cheaper than both the other brands.
That said, if you just go ahead and install it. TAKE PHOTOS, and.keep any wires you remove. If the unit goes bad during warranty you can pull the slow start off and wire it back to the original state.