SoftStartRV

Category: Blog

  • RV Industry Veteran Launches A/C Soft Start Kit

    RV Industry Veteran Launches A/C Soft Start Kit

     

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    Cassidy Curtis

    NetworkRV

    954-815-9532

    doug@softstartusa.com

     

    RV INDUSTRY VETERAN LAUNCHES A/C SOFT START KIT FOR CAMPERS 

     

    Fort Lauderdale, FL: With RV sales at a record high and more Americans working from home than ever, NetworkRV launched a new product that provides a smart solution for RVers: the SoftStartRV. The SoftStartRV is an accessory for RV air conditioners, which controls and regulates the voltage intelligently. This enables RVers to start their A/C in low power situations, campgrounds and while boondocking. Whether campers want to run two air conditioners at once, or simply utilize a small generator to the highest capability, the SoftStartRV empowers customers to stay cool anywhere, anytime.

    “We’re thrilled to celebrate our 4-Year Anniversary with adding our SoftStartRV to our list of products at NetworkRV,” RV Industry Veteran Doug Curtis, Co-Founder, said. “This revolutionizes A/C comfort capabilities for adventurers, RVers and off-road campers to stay cool as they escape COVID confinement and explore the great outdoors.”

    Benefits of the SoftStartRV include:

    • Start two air conditioners on a 30-amp hookup.
    • Start one air conditioner using only a small portable generator.
    • Start one air conditioner on 20-amp household current.
    • Start one or two air conditioners using your onboard inverter system.

    The SoftStartRV is now available for sale with NetworkRV at www.softstartrv.com/pr2. For a limited time, buyers can receive special pricing for SoftStartRV by NetworkRV’s Anniversary Sale, including $30 off the purchase of 1 SoftStartRV. Find high-res photos at https://softstartrv.com/productshots/.

    About NetworkRV: NetworkRV is a leader in the RV industry, providing a digital community for manufacturers, suppliers, and RV enthusiasts. Today, the company is committed to empowering RVers by providing extensive market research on the newest products for their next outdoor adventure. 

    Like and Follow NetworkRV on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NetworkRV/. Follow on Instagram at @Network_RV and Twitter at @Network_RV. Subscribe to the NetworkRV Youtube channel at www.youtube.com/channel/NetworkRV.

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  • I Have Two 15,000 BTU A/C Units On My Fifth Wheel, Will A SoftStartRV Help Me

    I Have Two 15,000 BTU A/C Units On My Fifth Wheel, Will A SoftStartRV Help Me

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    I Have Two 15,000 BTU A/C Units On My Fifth Wheel

    Would A SoftstartRV Help Me On Starting Them?

    And Can I Reduce The Size Of Generator I Need To Haul Around?

    In order to reduce the size of your generator and still run 2 15kBTU Air conditioners at the same time of one 30 amp hookup, you need to install 2 SoftStartRV units, one on each A/C.

    Of course, the total wattage required by two 15kBTU systems would not leave much “electrical room” for other appliances on a 30 amp cord, but the fact that you can now do this type of operation speaks to the powerful features and benefits of the SoftStartRV.

    You will need to plan for approximately 1,800Watts for each of your 15k A/Cs, equaling 3,600 total Watts.

    Think about the need for power to your other appliances, such as your water heater, your microwave and your refrigerator. Perhaps you have a converter/battery charger as well.

    Then plan for whatever power management you are ok with.

    The really good news is you will not require any extra generator capacity for the startup of your 2 A/C units since 2 SoftStartRV units – one on

    each A/C, will reduce the starting surge to be only a few amps higher than the steady-state power requirement of your two Air Conditioners. A single Honda 2000 or a Yamaha 2000 generator or similar should get the job done nicely with 2 SoftStartRV units.

    To purchase one or more SoftStartRV units direct, go to: https://softstartrv.com/offer

    Copyrights 2019 – All Rights Reserved

  • Can I Use A Coleman Mach 3+ Air Conditioner With A Yamaha EF2200iiiS Generator And A SoftStartRV? Will This Combination Work?

    Can I Use A Coleman Mach 3+ Air Conditioner With A Yamaha EF2200iiiS Generator And A SoftStartRV? Will This Combination Work?

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    Can I Use A Coleman Mach 3+ Air Conditioner With A Yamaha EF2000iS Generator And A SoftStartRV? Will This Combination Work?

    We’ve had some customers install SoftStartRV units into 13.5K or 15K BTU A/Cs and start and run them on 2,000 Watt generators successfully.

    Unfortunately some customers found that not all 2,000 Watt generators are built the same – as is the case with the Yamaha EF2000is.

    We have multiple confirmed cases of our SoftStartRV unit being successfully installed and running great on the following 2000 Watt generators:

    – Honda EU2000i

    – Westinghouse 2000iXLT

    – Yamaha EF2000iSv2

    If your Yamaha generator is the older model EF2000is, perhaps a non v2 model, then our SoftStartRV unit will probably not work for your situation.

    We came across this issue a few months ago, and we discussed it in an online forum. Several people were able to research and find out that Yamaha – in an attempt to compete with the Honda 2000 Watt generators, realized that their original EF2000iS 2000 Watt generator was truly not 2,000 Watt!

    So in an effort to compensate, Yamaha had to make design changes and introduce the v2 model that is now on a par with a Honda EU2000i.

    To recap: The older Yamaha like yours (assuming it’s the Yamaha EF2000is cannot sustain much power above 1,600 Watts from the A/C starter, so since most RVs A/C units are in the neighborhood of 1,750 Watt especially on hot days, the older Yamaha models were always declaring an overload fault above 1,600 Watts. This is well under 2,000 Watts.

    It turns out the generator really needs to be able to sustain close to 2,000 Watts in order to keep any RV A/C running. And it also needs to have at least some additional room for any other auxiliary electrical loads in your RV.

    Solution: Purchase a Yamaha 2000 Watt EF2000iSv2 or a Honda or a Westinghouse making sure the Wattage is 2,000 or more. Then get a SoftStartRV and install that for total freedom from 20 or 30 amp hookups. Go into the boonies with freedom and cool air anywhere.

    Get your SoftStartRV here: https://softstartrv.com/offer/

    Copyrights 2019 – All Rights Reserved

  • Will A Champion 2200iiW Generator Start My RV A/C?

    Will A Champion 2200iiW Generator Start My RV A/C?

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    Will A Champion 2000W Generator Start My RV A/C?

    Question. Will a Champion 2000 inverter start my Dometic RV A/C at 13.5 with a SoftStartRV and have you tried this combination?

    Yes we have tried this combination. Because of the lower cost over similar size generators, we have had several inquiries about using our SoftStartRV with this generator, the Champion 2000, model number 73536.

    Several months ago a customer purchased a SoftStartRV and she was operating its 13.5 BTU A/C on this particular Champion model.

    Unlike the great SoftStartRV successes we’ve seen with customers who own the Honda 2000i or the Yamaha EF 2000i or a couple of other very popular inverter generators; the Champion 2000 did not stack up to be the same type of generator.

    We found that even with the contractors that installed this Champion they could not start the 15K Dometic penguin, even though our Honda 2000i could start the A/C – even with the eco-mode turned on. So the conclusion was that the Champion 2000 is truly not a 2000W generator.

    The largest AC we could start and run on this Champion 2000W with SoftStartRV installed was a 9 KBTU Marine unit.

    We don’t recommend you purchase a SoftStartRV if you want to purchase – or already own – a Champion 2000W. We were equally as disappointed since the combination would’ve been a very low-cost solution for many customers. The Champion 2000W doesn’t even come close to the Honda 20001 or the Yamaha EF 2000i.

    Buy a Honda 2000 or a Yamaha 2000 instead, if you want your A/C to run with a SoftStartRV.

    Copyrights 2019 – All Rights Reserved

  • Is There A Way To Run Two AC’s Off Of One SoftStartRV Unit.

    Is There A Way To Run Two AC’s Off Of One SoftStartRV Unit.

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    Is There A Way To Run Two AC’s Off Of One SoftStartRV Unit.

    I’d like to design a solar system for my new Airstream with 13,500 and 15,000 BTU units.

    It is possible electrically to wire a single SoftStartRV into 2 A/C units, but it would compromise the SoftStartRV’s ability to monitor each of the A/C compressors during their run time. It would also probably cost more than just buying a 2nd SoftStartRV due to the need for additional wiring in between both Rooftop A/C units, and the labor costs. Also the wiring needed between the A/C units, together with the power relay switching devices connecting the wires to one compressor at a time, would end up being a veritable disaster. Sorry. This is not a sales pitch to sell 2 SoftStartRV units.

    Some of our customers that have 2 A/C units designate just one A/C as the only A/C they will use when they're operating on their stand-alone 2,000 Watt generator. Their choice in doing this is a trade-off in the ability to run both A/Cs on a single 30 amp hookup – or on 2 generators in parallel, since not everyone can afford 2 SoftStartRV units.

    If you intend to setup a solar type system with a single 4,000 Watt inverter to run both Air Conditioners, you would be better served installing a SoftStartRV into both A/C units. This way, it will not matter which A/C is cycling on at any given time.

    The same situation would apply with a 30 amp utility hookup of 3,600 Watts after an install into an Airstream with both a 13.5k and a 15k BTU A/C. If you want to only run one A/C with your solar system of 2,000 Watts, then you'd only need a single SoftStartRV and you'd have to choose the A/C that would only be powered on when using the inverter as the power source.

     To purchase a SoftStartRV visit: https://softstartrv.com/offer/

    Copyrights 2019 – All Rights Reserved

  • Ideal Soft Start Kit For A/C For Dry Camping

    Ideal Soft Start Kit For A/C For Dry Camping

    While dry camping or boondocking , a small Honda generator is all someone truly requires for full-featured camping. Regrettably, most portable generators won’t start your RV’s air conditioner, forcing it to be very sticky and uncomfortable to enjoy those warm days.

    RVers can now start and run with a soft start kit for RV air conditioner using SoftStartRV with their Honda generator. It starts a 15k or 13.5k air conditioner. Now you can stay cool and concentrate on the fun, even in those free camping locations with no electrical hookups.

    Best RV AC Soft Start Kit Signifies A/C Freedom At Any 30-Amp Site

    Today, you can drive your fifth wheel, travel trailer or motorhome, prepared with multiple air-conditioning units practically everywhere and enjoy site seeing, hiking, camping, ,canoeing, fishing, or just hang out around the campsite, aware that when the day time is complete you can chill out in the cool comfort of your camper, even with a 30-amp connection. Forget searching for the fairly few 50-amp sites at national parks.

    RV AC soft start kits have made this possible with the SoftStartRV. The SoftStartRV A/C soft start kit decreases the startup power requirement by up to 70%. Installing a SoftStartRV for each A/C unit not only smooths out the power spike when plugged in, but it makes reduces stress for your generator as well. Now, your 5th wheel, motorhome, 5th-wheel, or travel trailer can take utilize both of the RV air conditioner units your camper came with.

  • I Have Two Roof-Mounted Dometic A/C Units. Do I Need Two SoftStartRV Units?

    I Have Two Roof-Mounted Dometic A/C Units. Do I Need Two SoftStartRV Units?

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    I Have Two Roof-Mounted Dometic A/C Units. Do I Need Two SoftStartRV Units?

    Will the one Honda EU2000i generator be enough, or will I need to hook up my second one as well? I do have both the EU2000i and the Companion one, but I was hoping that I could get away with only having to carry one on our trips. I have a 2,000 watt inverter in addition to a Converter. I have 4 x 12volt deep cycle batteries on board as well as a Dometic refrigerator.

    Your combination of a Dometic 13.5k and 15k rooftop A/C is actually quite common. Our customers have lots of installations into configurations of this type.

    You have 2 basic choices:

    a) If you only want to carry one generator,

    choose an A/C unit into which you will install the SoftStartRV, and that will be the only A/C that will need the SoftStartRV.

    That will be the only A/C you can operate when you are just using a Honda EU2000i. If you go this route, we recommend you choose the smaller 13.5k A/C since that will leave your more electrical space on the generator to supply some auxiliary loads in your trailer to other appliances like your Dometic refrigerator.

    These auxiliary loads will be limited…

    b) If you want to carry both generators to run both A/Cs, or if you want to be able to run both A/Cs on a single 30A cord, then you would need to install a SoftStartRV on both A/Cs.

    Customers tell us that being able to run both A/Cs in hot weather conditions is really a necessity because one A/C can’t typically keep up with the cool air needed in a larger trailer.

    Also, being able to run both A/Cs on a 30 amp hookup instead of having to find the more elusive 50amp hookups is also a huge advantage.

    The auxiliary load is a very important point to consider when it comes to your total generator capacity and how much you want to have to worry – or not – about power management.

    You mentioned the Dometic refrigerator, which can draw upwards of 800 Watts, and a converter which can draw up to 1,000 Watts in rapid charge mode when lighting and other appliances are turned on.

    Those two items – under certain conditions – could almost completely use the entire output from one Honda EU2000i generator. Add that to the consumption of your A/Cs units, 1,600 Watt for the 13.5k and 1,750Watt for the 15k, and you can easily see that you need one generator to handle one A/C and perhaps some small auxiliary loads of no more than 200-300W, and a second generator to handle the other more substantial auxiliary loads like your big refrigerator and converter.

    Ideally, two 2,000 Watt generators and 2 SoftStartRV units on each A/C would work nicely, without having to be concerned about power management.

    Get your SoftStartRV unit(s) here: https://softstartrv.com/offer

    Copyrights 2019 – All Rights Reserved

  • Will SoftStartRV Work On A 15,000 BTU Dometic AC Unit With A Ryobi Inverter Generator?

    Will SoftStartRV Work On A 15,000 BTU Dometic AC Unit With A Ryobi Inverter Generator?

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    I Have A 15,000 Dometic A/C Unit With A 2200 Watt Ryobi Inverter Generator.

    Will Your Product Work?

    We have some customer feedback from owners with 15kBTU Dometic Rooftop A/C units on several different types of generators. With SoftStartRV we can start and run our A/C on a Honda EU2000i on ECO mode smoothly and with no problem.


    Some other customers have the same success with the Yamaha EF2000iSv2, the Westinghouse 2000iXLT. Unfortunately, we don’t any reports from anyone who has attempted to run their A/C on a Ryobi model – of any kind. Also, not all 2000 Watt generators are built alike, and they do not have the same starting capabilities and output capability.

    Since your Ryobi has 2200W peak, we were able to find the model RYI2200. According to its specs, it has a running output power rating of 1,800 Watts. Some people run into issues with this. With a SoftStartRV unit installed, you'll be able to start the A/C reliably on most 2,000 Watt generators. However, since many 15kBTU A/Cs could draw in excess of 1,800 Watts, especially in very hot weather, the generator will not be able to keep the A/C running indefinitely.

    This is not the fault of the SoftStartRV, but it often gets blamed because the customer cannot start the A/C at all without SoftStartRV So, the first time being able to run the A/C sustained is with SoftStartRV installed, which then gets blamed for any deficiency that the generator might have.

    However, the latest Honda EU2000i generators are very good and they are able to sustain up to 2,000 Watts (16.7A at 120VAC) pretty much indefinitely. We do not know how your Ryobi might perform under this situation.


    If your 15k Dometic is the Dometic Penguin II, you may be able to just get it going under 1,800 Watt (15A), but it will be of marginal performance. The original Dometic Penguin took more power in both 13.5k and 15k sizes, so if yours is the older model, I wouldn’t even attempt it with the Ryobi.
    Get your SoftStartRV here: https://softstartrv.com/offer

    Copyrights 2019 – All Rights Reserved

  • Start Your A/C Units On 30-Amps & Stay Cool While Dry Camping With SoftStartRV

    Camper and Arizona Landscape

    As an RV camper, you fantasize about those wonderful campgrounds in national parks and forests. You thirst for the secluded campsites of former times during the glory days of Route 66 folk lore. As attractive as that may be, experiencing those locations during their summer peak is often a coin-toss between perspiration and melancholy. As is often the case, the power grid at those camping areas is also from the olden days and only offers 30-amps. The more genuine the outdoor experience, the less likely you are to have the power capacity you require to cool off.

    While many private camping areas provide a 50-amp hookup, older and more old-fashioned campsites often offer only 30-amps to power your RV. Furthermore, those that do provide 50-amp connections have a tendency to fill up first. Latecomers and last-minute arrivals only get the 30-amp power.

    The majority of RVers only need 30-amps for most functionality, trusting on that 50-amp surge to start up a second air conditioning unit, often a requirement to stay cool and comfortable during the most popular camping seasons. Keep cool while dry camping with SoftStartRV air conditioner soft start kits.

    https://softstartrv.com/offer

  • Will A Champion 2200iiW Generator Start My RV A/C?

    Will A Champion 2200iiW Generator Start My RV A/C?

    Will a Champion 2200ii inverter start my Dometic RV A/C at 13.5 with a SoftStartRV and have you tried this combination?

    Yes, we have tried this combination.  Because of the lower cost over similar size generators, we have had several inquiries about using our SoftStartRV with this generator, the Champion 2200ii, model number 73536.

    Several months ago a customer purchased a SoftStartRV and she was operating its 13.5 BTU A/C on this particular Champion model.

    Unlike the great SoftStartRV successes we’ve seen with customers who own the Honda 2200iii or the Yamaha EF 2200iii or a couple of other very popular inverter generators; the Champion 2200ii did not stack up to be the same type of generator.

    We found that even with the contractors that installed this Champion they could not start the 15K Dometic penguin, even though our Honda 2200iii could start the A/C – even with the eco-mode turned on.  So the conclusion was that the Champion 2200ii is truly not a 2200iiW generator

    The largest AC we could start and run on this Champion 2200iiW with SoftStartRV installed was a 9 KBTU Marine unit.

    We don’t recommend you purchase a SoftStartRV if you want to purchase – or already own – a Champion 2200iiW.  We were equally as disappointed since the combination would’ve been a very low-cost solution for many customers. The Champion 2200iiW doesn’t even come close to the Honda 2200ii1 or the Yamaha EF 2200iii.

    Buy a Honda 2200ii or a Yamaha 2200ii instead, if you want your A/C to run with a SoftStartRV.

    To get a SoftStartRV with up to $50 off go to: https://softstartrv.com/offer