You know the cliché, right?

Our hero has less than a minute to save the world, by defusing the supervillain’s bomb. But suddenly, he or she can’t remember – do they cut the red wire or the blue? Getting it right means another day of beer and pizza.

Getting it wrong means we probably all get sucked into a black hole of oblivion and there’ll be no more movies. The clock ticks down, the indecision wracks our hero’s face. Which is the right wire? WHICH IS IT?

Heroes. Consistently underestimating the usefulness of a good wiring diagram throughout movie history.

We’re not necessarily suggesting the world will get sucked into a black hole of oblivion if you try to wire up your RV air conditioner SoftStart control without a wiring diagram – but why take the risk?

Even if the consequences are notably less dire, they’re still an absolute pain in the butt if you get it wrong. And helping you to not get it wrong is the sole reason wiring diagrams exist.

They’re literally only there to help you avoid the hassle (and perhaps electrical consequences) of attaching the wrong wire in the wrong way.

What Is A Wiring Diagram?

A wiring diagram in its simplest form is a pictogram that acts as a map of a potentially complex system.

It will show you the wires in a system, including which color they are. And it will show you how they should be positioned, connected, and placed in order to get a piece of equipment to work properly.

You take the wiring diagram to the real-world piece of equipment, and while it’s representative, not photographic in nature, you should be able to follow the diagram in real terms, to make sure your wiring is all as it should be.

Black holes of oblivion and pains in the butt are thereby avoided.

Where things get interesting – which is to say occasionally brain-achingly complicated – is that most different manufacturers of the same essential product will have their own wiring arrangement, and so will need to provide their own wiring diagram.

Often, this also changes from make and model to make and model.

So suddenly, there’s a world of wiring diagrams, and there you are, back to the stress of Square One, wondering which wire goes where.

Why Are Wiring Diagrams Useful?

Have you heard the phrase “A picture paints a thousand words”? Sometimes, a picture also simplifies a thousand words, and simplification of complex information into easy-to-understand versions that allow a non-specialist to do electrical wiring has got to be a good thing.

The more complex a system you’re trying to describe, the more important graphical simplification can be. For instance, if you were trying to write out the wiring information for an Advent Air SoftStart control, you’d write something along these lines:

1. Turn off the power before starting to work.
2. Connect the yellow wire from the SoftStartRV to the HERM terminal on the run capacitor.
3. No, not the red wire on the HERM terminal. That’s connected to the compressor. Do not touch the red wire at this point.
4. Connect the black wire from the SoftStartRV to the “C” terminal on the run capacitor 
5. Splice the blue wire from the SoftStartRV with the white wire from the “R” terminal of the compressor. (See instructions elsewhere on how to splice wires together)
6. NOW, splice the red wire from the SoftStartRV with the blue wire, then attach that to the L1 terminal.
7. Attach the brown wire from the SoftStartRV to the “OL” terminal of the compressor. (OL stands for Overload terminal).
8. Check the connections.
9. Turn on the power. 
10.   Lower the thermostat and turn on the fan first. 
11.   Then turn on the A/C.

Eleven lines of instruction, and some of it complicated. Try taking that description to the SoftStart control and translating it to the real world.

Some people will have no problem reading out the lines and following the instructions.

Lots of other people, who have a more visual learning process, could look at the lines of text all day long and still have no idea how to translate them to the three-dimensional reality in front of them.

By using a wiring diagram, the important wires and components are shown clearly, allowing people to tune out all the unnecessary detail, and see what goes where, and how.

Any Make, Any Model?

The point of all of this is that there should be both options available to anyone trying to wire up their SoftStart control for their RV air conditioner.

That’s why the wiring diagrams of a whole host of models, with supplementary written instructions for those who prefer them, are gathered together on a support page at SoftStartRV.com.

The user needs only to click the model of their control to see the wiring diagram.

This can either be printed out in hard copy or, perhaps of both more practical use and more ecological principle, can be enlarged on the screen of a smartphone, for comparison almost 1:1 scale to the controller itself.

This makes for a clear visual guide to the process – backed up by words in areas where the diagram might fall short of absolute clarity, such as wire-splicing.

No Model Left Behind?

The market for SoftStart controls is dynamic, and it moves on. As such, every opportunity is taken to update the bank of wiring diagrams available. For instance, a database is maintained of wiring diagrams outside the standard.

By sending an email to raise a work ticket, you can have the wiring diagram for your specific model pulled from the archive and sent to you.

What’s more, if there’s no wiring plan on record for your control – an unlikely situation, but you never know – SoftStartRV is able to customize a wiring diagram for you specifically, and add it to the database.

In that instance, not only are you getting the wiring diagram that you need, so you’ll never cross your wires again, but you’re also helping anyone with the same unit in the future, by having led the demand for the appropriate diagram.

Currently Listed

Currently listed on the SoftStartRV support page, there are wiring diagrams for:

• Advent Air
• Carrier
• Coleman Mach 1,3,3+, 10x, and 15
• Coleman Mach 8.2
• Coleman-1976-760
• Coleman-1976-761
• Coleman-1976A736
• Coleman Mach 1976E136
• Domestic Blizzard
• Domestic Brisk I & II
• Domestic DuoTherm, and
• Domestic Penguin I & II models.

So if your model is among them, you’re in immediate luck – you can just download your wiring diagram immediately. For all other makes and models, an email will tell you if the wiring diagram is in the database, or whether you need one created bespoke.

Belt And Suspenders

People are wildly different. As we’ve said, some people would have no difficulty following the written instructions for how to wire a SoftStart unit into their RV air conditioning unit.

But lots of people wouldn’t ‘get it’ without the help of the stripped-down visual aid of a wiring diagram.

The truth is that ultimately, both are necessary for a ‘belt and suspenders’ approach – meaning double the certainty that whoever ends up with whichever unit, they have enough information to do the job.

The Instinct Of Pictures

It’s not without reason that often, we learn first through pictures, rather than words. Pictures make up the majority of our earliest books, because our brains are great at processing visual images, irrespective of audible or written language.

We’re great at turning pictures into stories, into information, and frequently into instruction.

That’s also why, for instance, instruction signage on our roads is usually delivered as pictures, rather than words. Green, really speaking, is just a color. But in the context of a traffic signal, we read green as go, as an instruction to move forward.

In just such a way, even if we’re in the percentage of people who can read lines of instructional text and translate them directly into three-dimensional imagery and instruction in the real world, it’s always useful to have a wiring diagram.

It’s useful because even if you understand a line like “Attach the brown wire from the SoftStartRV to the OL terminal of the compressor. (OL stands for Overload terminal),” you may not be certain which of the elements the OL terminal is.

A wiring diagram shows you not only what it is, but where it is, and if you didn’t have any idea, you could easily follow the line of the labeled brown wire to find the element labeled OL. A wiring diagram takes the guesswork – and the uncertainty – out of the process.

And while it would be possible to write instructions as to what the OL terminal looks like, with words, there is a point of diminishing returns.

The more you write, the less clarity you have, and before you know it, you’ve lost people in a sea of words. Add a wiring diagram, get straight to the point, and cut out the flim-flam.

What is a soft starter?

Motors require a lot of energy to get started, and then they’ll require even more to get up to their maximum speed. To get a motor started, it will drain up to eight times the usual working power from your power source. As you can imagine, this is a lot of strain and stress put onto your motor!

A soft starter is designed to lessen the burden and protect the motor and other components of your system from overheating. They can also prevent electrical damages from occurring thanks to lowering the initial inrush of current.

Rather than the motor being thrust a whole load of current at initial startup, the soft starter works to gently allow more current to flow to the motor, a little at a time. Not only does this protect the motor from the inrush of current, but it also helps the motor accelerate smoothly.

Modern soft starters will use solid-state devices, such as Silicon Controlled Devices (SCRs), to control the initial current. These devices start up as soon as the motor is turned on and restrict the amount of current passing through to the motor.

Once the motor is started and is ready to accelerate, the SCRs will begin to relax and allow more power to get through to the motor. The SCRs will turn off once all of the currents have reached the motor, and the motor will remain at a constant speed until you want to turn it off.

As you turn the motor off, the SCRs will turn back on and work to slowly power down the motor. Again, this protects all of the components of your system from being damaged from the current moving too quickly around the system.

What are soft starters used for?

There are many uses for soft starters, from starting an AC motor or regulating a water plant facility.

Below we are going to be looking at just a few of the applications in which you can use a soft starter, but bear in mind that there are many other applications suitable for a soft starter.

For an AC Motor

An AC motor has traditionally been started by using the maximum amount of current, voltage, and torque all at the same time. This pressure put onto the motor was enough to get it starting, but not without a price.

Likewise, when the motor is turned off, all of these things are immediately stopped. This traditional method is one of the main reasons that AC motors have a shorter lifespan and are prone to overheating.

This is because the initial inrush of current is around 6 to 8 times the motor’s rated current. Imagine all of that power racing towards the motor with it having nothing to protect itself with. No wonder the motor gives up prematurely – it’s overworked and overtired.

A soft starter can eliminate these issues altogether. As we’ve mentioned earlier, the soft starter works to reduce the initial inrush of current and torque. Instead, it leaves the AC with a much gentler way to start without all of the damage.

Can you use a soft starter for every AC motor?

Some AC motors require something a little stronger than a soft starter. If the power needed to start the motor is too high for a soft starter to deliver, a hard starter might be better to use.

These offer the motor an even bigger inrush of current to get it started, but in a much safer way rather than leaving it uncontrolled.

Moving back to soft starters, these are best used in AC motors when you’re living off the grid and away from mains power. When you have a small generator and want to power up an AC unit, you’ll need a soft starter to protect both the generator and the AC motor.

RV owners particularly enjoy using soft starters because there is less worry that their generators and AC units are going to be left with a shortened lifespan or being prone to overheat. So, soft starters should not be used on every AC motor, but they can be invaluable in RVs and motorhomes.

Other Applications for Soft Starters

Soft starters can be used anywhere that needs a helping hand keeping the startup and cooldown gentle to prevent damaging the components in your circuit. Once the motor has been started up, the speed of the motor will then need to remain constant and not change.

Take a water plant facility for example. Water enters the plant at a certain speed, with a demand for water coming out of the plant that remains consistent. The water pump has the job of keeping the water moving in and out of the water plant facility.

You can install a soft starter onto the pump’s motor to prevent the inrush of current lessening the lifespan of the motor and pump. The soft starter will allow the motor to accelerate steadily until it reaches its maximum speed.

As the pump does not need to work any harder or slower due to the demand for water exiting the plant always staying the same, a soft starter can be installed without any issues.

If the demand was fluctuating, you might want to install a variable frequency drive (VFD). This device is similar to a soft starter but it allows the speeds to change, so the pump would be able to work harder or slower depending on the water demand at that time.

What is the difference between a soft starter and a variable frequency drive?

A VFD is quite similar to a soft starter in the way that it works, but there is one big difference between the two. A VFD can control an AC motor that needs to run at different speeds. As soft starters can only be used on applications that require the motor to remain at the same speed, a VFD works for the applications that need a flexible motor speed.

VFDs adjust the frequency of the motor, allowing the RPMs to be altered. It does this by converting the AC to DC using diodes. A capacitor will then clean the DC before the transistors change the DC back to AC. This allows the VFD to alter the frequency of what is being supplied to the motor. In turn, this will alter the RPMs and therefore the speed of the motor.

Take a fan as an example. If the fan only had a one-speed setting, a soft starter would be the device for the job. However, if the fan had a variable speed to keep up with the fluctuating temperatures, you would use a VFD.

What is the difference between a soft starter and a DOL starter?

We’ve heard all about soft starters by now, so let’s take a look at another method of starting your motor. Rather than gently feeding current to the motor like a soft starter, this method does quite the opposite.

A Direct On Line (DOL) starter allows the motor to be turned on as soon as you press the ignition switch. There is a direct connection between the power supply and the motor, so there is nothing in the way of an instant power-up.

DOL starters are the quickest way to get a motor up and running, but they are often only reserved for small loads only. This is because too big of a load would require too large of an initial inrush of current to get the motor started.

There is often thermal or electrical overload protection within a DOL starter to protect the motor from a shortened lifespan or overheating. Many people like DOL starters because it is considered the cheapest and easiest way to start a motor, but you have to be careful.

A motor needs an initial inrush of current that is up to 10 times the usual running current of a motor. DOL starters will require all of this at their disposal, so make sure that your power source is up to the job.

Summary

Soft starters are best used when the motor needs to stay at a constant speed once it has been turned on. Soft starters can also be used when you want to preserve the motor and your appliance’s lifespan due to a gentler method of starting it up.

However, soft starters will not fit the bill of every application out there. If your motor needs to change speeds all the while it’s running a VFD would fit better. Similarly, if your motor needs a larger starting current to power on, a DOL could be the ideal option.

Soft starters are the least common type of starters on the market currently, with hard starters, direct on line (DOL) starters, and variable frequency drive (VFD) starters being more widely available.

So, instead of trawling the internet for the best soft starters on the market, we’ve found the best one for you to use on your RV’s air conditioning unit.

A soft starter can dramatically help your AC unit run inside your RV. We will be looking into how this is possible, as well as how you can make your RV AC work better. Let’s get started, shall we?

What is a soft starter?

A soft starter is a device that can be used to start your motor if it’s struggling on its own. While a motor might have a rather modest running current, the starting current is often six to ten times higher than this. With all of this pressure on a motor, it’s no surprise that it can have difficulty starting on its own.

While the soft starter can help your motor start, it can also prolong its lifespan by preventing it from overheating and becoming overloaded. The soft starter reduces starting torque of a motor which can be the main culprit of premature damage.

As well as reducing the torque of your motor, the soft starter works by reducing the starting current. As the power source is turned on, the initial current is up to ten times the amount that your motor is designed for.

Without a soft starter, this inrush of current all forces itself to your motor and puts a great amount of strain on it. However, the soft starter will take this inrush of current and stop the majority of it from reaching the motor.

Once the motor is started, the soft starter will allow the current to be fed through to the motor, little by little, until the motor reaches maximum speed. This gentle way of starting the motor makes it much smoother and easier on the motor and other components in the system.

Why do RV AC units need soft starters?

When vacationing in an RV, you’re most likely either going to be using a generator for your main power supply or a hookup at an RV park. Both of these power sources are not ideal for using an AC unit on their own, which is where soft starters come in.

The hookups at RV parks are more often than not 30 amp. This is fine for running your appliances such as the refrigerator and hairdryers, but not so much an AC unit. A lot of RVs will have two or more AC units to ensure that the entire vessel is cool enough to be enjoyable.

However, the inrush of current from the 30 amp hookup will only be enough to start one of the AC units up. With a soft starter, the inrush current will be lessened to allow both of the AC units to work.

Alternatively, if you’re traveling off the grid with only a portable generator to supply you with power, your small generator might not be powerful enough to get your AC unit started. Using a soft starter makes this much more possible by gently starting the AC unit successfully.

Best Soft Starter for Your RV Air Conditioner

Now that you have an idea of why soft starters are so important when it comes to using air conditioners in RVs, which is the best one to purchase? That might just be the simplest question to answer – SoftStartRV by NetworkRV is the best soft starter for your RV air conditioner.

Below we will be looking at the most impressive features that the SoftStartRV has to offer.

What can the SoftStartRV run?

Above we looked at why using a soft starter in your RV is so important when it comes to enjoying the air conditioning. Without a soft starter, you might experience spluttering air conditioning or an AC unit that doesn’t even turn on.

The good news is that the SoftStartRV can help your AC unit to be run on numerous different sources. On a 30 amp hookup that you’d usually find at an RV park, the SoftStartRV enables your RV to be able to run two AC units rather than just one.

Your RV will be much cooler and enjoyable thanks to this tiny device that fits into the inner workings of your motorhome. But that’s not all it can do.

With the SoftStartRV you can run one AC unit from either a small portable generator or a 20 amp household hookup without any issues. So, when you’re traveling off the grid you can still enjoy the cooling effects of one air conditioner thanks to the SoftStartRV.

Finally, the SoftStartRV also enables you to run one or two air conditioners using your onboard inverter system. You can choose whether you want to run one or two using this as it could affect your other devices.

Reduces AC Noises

If you’ve ever spent a night in an air-conditioned motorhome, you might be painfully aware of the thumping noises that the AC units make as the compressor kicks into gear. These might not be as noticeable in the daytime when you’re bustling around enjoying your vacation, but that doesn’t mean that you won’t be disrupted in the middle of the night.

Thankfully, the SoftStartRV can eliminate these noises and the ‘trailer shaking’ that you might experience throughout the night. Enjoy some much-needed relaxation and recuperation with the help of a SoftStartRV.

How does the SoftStartRV work?

As you know, soft starters are designed to gently start up a motor rather than allowing all of the initial inrush of current to speed to the motor as soon as the power source is turned on. Some soft starters can reduce the initial current by 50 to 60%, and that is considered a great difference from using it without a soft starter.

However, the SoftStartRV goes one step further and can reduce the starting current from 100% to 30-35%. That is an incredible difference between the starting currents, and it is no wonder that you can start your AC units up with ease thanks to this device.

There is no need for you to purchase a separate contactor or capacitor, either. The SoftStartRV has both of these components built-in, so you don’t have to worry about purchasing any other components for your soft starter.

The SoftStartRV allows you to run the majority of your appliances along with your AC units without any problems. Without the soft starter, you might not be able to run any appliances with the AC, or very few as the best result.

You can run the majority of your appliances on your generator or the hookup as well as the AC unit, as long as you have the SoftStartRV working alongside the air conditioning units. There is no need to purchase a larger generator or suffer through the blazing temperature of the summer sun.

Size and Weight

With any RV, you might be worried about exceeding the legal limit of how much weight you’re allowed in your RV. When planning a vacation in a motorhome, you are going to want to have everything with you – just in case.

That means packing clothes that you haven’t worn in years, handheld devices in case you get bored, and more board games than you could possibly play with during your vacation. But once you weigh all of your luggage and are brought back down to reality, you’re going to be very picky with what you allow in your RV.

That being said, you don’t have to worry about the SoftStartRV’s weight taking you over that threshold. Weighing less than 2 pounds allows you to install the device and forget it.

Similar to the weight issue, you might have reservations about the size of the SoftStartRV. There is limited space inside of a motorhome, and it fills up quickly! However, you do not have to worry about the size of the SoftStartRV.

It measures 6 x 3 x 3 inches, making it incredibly small and easy to carry with you. Not that the size of the device would matter anyway, as it is installed near your AC unit out of sight.

Fitting the SoftStartRV

There has to be a catch, right? Everything that we’re saying is simply too good to be true. But what else could there be to catch you out on? Installation within the RV, perhaps? Do you need to hire an expensive professional to fit the soft starter properly?

No, you don’t have to hire anyone – installing the SoftStartRV by yourself could not be easier, and you even get a number of tools to help you with the installation process. Along with the SoftStartRV device, you will receive a turnkey install kit, screws, tiles, wire caps, and more.

All of these tools and hardware pieces are free of charge to ensure that you don’t need to make any more purchases while waiting for your soft starter.

Along with the soft starter and all of the hardware you need to install it with, you will receive a list of well written and clear instructions. If you find that you’re having any trouble with these, there are then a number of web install videos, guides, and directions that you have access to.

Finally, if you are still having trouble installing the device, you can request a tech support installation call. Many previous customers have taken advantage of this option and found them incredibly helpful and intuitive.

SoftStartRV Price and Warranty

The price that NetworkRV is offering is very competitive, with a current deal ongoing in which you can save money. If you were looking to purchase more soft starters from NetworkRV, you would save even more money!

So, if you wanted to run more than one AC unit in your RV and needed more than one SoftStartRV, it makes sense to purchase them altogether to maximize your savings. The SoftStartRV also comes with free shipping to anywhere in the USA and Canada.

Moving onto the warranty, you can rest assured that your investment is protected by not one, but two warranties from NetworkRV. Within the first 90 days of your purchase, you have the opportunity to get your money back if you’re not completely satisfied with the soft starter. This is a guarantee from the manufacturer.

Alternatively, if the 90 days surpass and you find a fault with your soft starter that has been created during the manufacturing process, you can activate the one-year manufacturer’s warranty.

One excellent thing about the warranty offered by NetworkRV is that you can extend it from one year to two years – for free. That’s right, you can double the length of your warranty at no additional cost from your pocket.

Finally, if you love the SoftStartRV as much as everyone else and refers your friends to the company, you will receive a $25 bonus from NetworkRV.

Summary

Soft starters are incredibly important when it comes to running your AC units inside of your RV. The small device allows you to enjoy the benefits of air conditioning while still having your other appliances running, such as the refrigerator or your entertainment devices.

But which soft starter is best for running your AC units inside of your RV? In our eyes – the SoftStartRV by NetworkRV is undoubtedly the best option on the market. The price is competitive and the manufacturer offers the best warranty on the market.

The soft starter is incredibly easy to install without a professional, and you have countless sources of information at your disposal to ensure that the installation is as simple as possible for you. There is also an excellent tech support line to call if you need additional help.

The SoftStartRV can enable you to use an AC unit on a small portable generator or two AC units on a 30-amp hookup. No matter what you need your soft starter for, the SoftStartRV is definitely the one for you.

Air conditioning is a must-have when it comes to RV vacations. In a 33-foot metal container, with the summer sun pounding down relentlessly on your RV, it’s going to get incredibly hot inside.

RVs tend to have poor windows that allow little airflow, so you need to figure out another way to cool your family down enough to enjoy your holiday.

Air conditioning is the answer to all of your prayers. It cools the air down incredibly quickly to leave everyone in a much better mood. You can keep the AC on all day and night for the best results.

However, there are plenty of issues that arise with AC units inside RVs. Today we’re going to be discussing these as well as finding out whether a Honda EU2200 generator will run an AC unit on its own.

Issues with using AC units in RVs

Let’s get these out of the way so that you can see why we’re looking for a device to power an AC unit. RVs require a lot of energy, so they need a powerful generator that is going to be able to power everything that you need in the motorhome.

If you’re planning on staying in your RV for a number of consecutive days or weeks, you’ll need the generator to power up the refrigerator, entertainment devices, and power sockets to charge up your belongings.

Oh, and you also want it to keep your AC unit running for the duration of your trip. We’re not asking for too much, are we?

There are plenty of RV parks that allow you to pay for a pitch. You can park up here and use the facilities such as the bathrooms and the electric ports. These are most commonly 30-amp hookups.

Using these hookups take the strain off of your generator. Depending on the power of your generator, this is likely to be more powerful and therefore make it easier to run all of your appliances.

However, the initial in-rush of current only allows you to use one AC unit within your RV rather than both. So, you’re left with all of your appliances and devices running, but with only one AC working to cool the air.

But what happens when you’re driving to another park or not using a park with available hookups? Unless you want to be left without AC for the rest of your vacation, you’ll need a powerful enough generator to keep the AC units running all of this time.

Key terms you need to know

Now that you know why we’re looking for a generator that is going to be able to power AC units as well as the rest of your appliances, we can get into the article.

However, before we start looking at the Honda EU2200 and what it can do, we have a few terms that we want to clarify first.

What is a soft starter?

A soft starter’s primary function is to prevent a motor from overloading from an inrush of current, as well as protecting your devices from a shortened lifespan.

Soft starters can also help the startup and acceleration of a motor to run much more smoothly than without one.

The soft starter works with two featuring components: the controllers and overload protection. The controllers are able to turn the electrical current on and off, manipulating whether it can reach the motor or not.

The overload protection will then work to protect the motor from overheating from the current running through it.

An overload relay controls the amount of time that the electrical current is able to run through the motor. The shorter the time, the less likely an overloaded motor will be.

A soft starter will be installed just before the motor in the control panel so that it is in the optimal position to control the electrical flow to the motor. Soft starters can be used in any AC vehicle, and they can also be used on single-phase motors.

When using a soft starter for an AC unit, the device can lower the inrush of the current so that it is safe enough to allow the second AC unit to power up.

Using an AC unit without a soft starter will cause the in-rush of current to be too powerful to allow the second unit to power up.

If you want your air conditioning system to work as effectively as it can, you will need a soft starter to help all of the units get up and running.

What is a generator?

A generator is a machine that can produce electricity when you need it and mains power is inaccessible. In an RV, this would be applicable as soon as you drive away from your house or the RV park.

The inner workings of a generator will create electricity and therefore do not need the assistance of any other power sources. These machines are small and portable so they can fit inside an RV without any issue.

Generators come in all shapes and sizes, which alter the power that you can use from them.

For example, there are very small generators that will only generate 200 watts of power, while you can get much larger generators that offer up to 5000 watts of power.

Generators use a fuel source to create their electricity, such as propane, gas, diesel, or bi-fuel. They use these fuels to turn mechanical energy into electrical energy, which is then used to power your devices and appliances.

A little information on the Honda EU2200i

Now let’s introduce ourselves to the man of the hour, the star of our article. You’ve found yourself on our page because you want to know whether the Honda EU2200i will run your AC units with the use of a soft start.

Honda is an incredibly successful company that specializes in cars, bikes, power products, and much more.

What’s more, all of their generators are well received by their customers and Honda generators are often used as the standard for every other generator to be compared to.

The EU2200i delivers 2200 watts of power without any issues, which is 10% more power than the previous model offered. Despite the rise in power, the generator is still as lightweight and compact as the prior model.

Weighing under 50 pounds, the generator in question will not affect your weight limit too much in the RV.

The generator runs incredibly quietly at just 57 decibels, which is less than a lively conversation. You will have no issues sleeping or enjoying your family’s company through the generator noise. You might not even hear it over all of the fun!

Honda’s EU2200i has a mechanical decompressor system which allows you to switch the generator on and off much easier than other generators on the market. You will need little to no force to get your engine running.

We cannot forget about the efficiency of this generator – a single tank of fuel will allow the generator to run for up to 8.1 hours, depending on the load. You can use this generator overnight to keep cool with your AC running.

Perhaps the best feature, when we take it back to whether it can run an AC unit or not, is that you can use two or more of the EU2200i generators alongside one another to take advantage of double or triple the power.

The EU2200i boasts how much it can run for you, such as refrigerators, microwaves, and small AC units. That’s right, the EU2200i does allow you to run an AC unit, but is it enough to keep up with your RV?

Overall, the Honda EU2200i generator is incredibly durable, portable, and powerful. But will it offer enough power to run your AC units to leave you with a more enjoyable environment?

RV air conditioning units in relation to BTUs

Air conditioning units will be measured in terms of BTUs, which is a measure of energy and stands for British Thermal Unit. Despite the name, it is no longer used as a common unit of measurement in the United Kingdom.

BTU refers to the amount of heat energy an air conditioning unit can remove from a room in an hour. So, the higher the BTU rating, the more heat the AC unit can remove from your RV.

If you’re shopping around for an RV or an AC unit for your RV, you should look for a unit with a high BTU rating to feel the effects of your air conditioner.

The larger space, the more likely it is that you will need more than one AC unit. So, your RV will more than likely come with two or even three air conditioners, especially if there are more than two rooms within your RV.

The most common BTU ratings for air conditioning units in RVs are 11,000, 13,500, and 15,000 BTUs. However, you can also get more sizes if these are not optimal for your RV.

If you wanted to save money, you might opt for two 11,000 BTU air conditioning units.

However, the majority of people will go for the middle of the road option – 13,500 BTUs. These are powerful enough to cool down your RV in an impressive amount of time without being too powerful that you’re wasting power.

Why you need a soft starter to run AC units on a generator

If you’re sick of having to park up in an RV park to run your air conditioner on boiling hot days, you’re not alone. Plenty of RV owners are now trying to find a better way of keeping their motorhome cool.

Many people, when they purchase their first RV, will do their research and decide to purchase a small generator offering around 1,000 watts of power.

While this will be enough to run your important appliances and charge your devices when they need, but certainly not enough to keep an AC unit on.

However, once you realize that your RV becomes incredibly hot during the drives, you will soon learn that you need to invest in a larger generator and an AC unit.

Now, the most important thing to purchase, along with the AC unit and the larger generator, is a soft starter.

Our favorite is the SoftStartRV, which is a small and compact soft starter that is incredibly effective.

Without the SoftStartRV, your generator might be able to run the AC unit but it will be putting much more pressure and stress on the AC unit and your generator.

A soft starter reduces the in-rush of current and therefore can stop your AC unit from overheating and becoming damaged. The SoftStartRV can reduce the in-rush of current from 100% to 30%, making it much safer to run.

SoftStartRV assures that its device allows two AC units on a 30-amp hookup and one AC unit on a small portable generator.

This allows small generators, around 2,000 to 2,500 watts, to run AC units without you having to spend too much on a larger generator. You can also run your other appliances, such as a refrigerator, alongside the AC without an issue.

Will a Honda 2200ii generator run an air conditioner?

Along with the SoftStartRV, many people have had success running an AC unit from a 2200ii-watt generator in their RV.

Their AC units were 13,500 BTU and therefore impressively effective at cooling down the inside of their RV, and they could do it with still a relatively small portable generator!

If you’re still unsure of whether to trust your 2200ii-watt generator with your AC unit, there are plenty of videos on YouTube that show how people have successfully hooked an AC unit to such a small generator.

To save you some time; however, we will let you into the biggest secret of all – the soft starter. With that smaller in-rush of current, the AC unit can power on without any issues and run for as long as your generator will last.

Will any 2200ii watt generator run a 13500 BTU air conditioner?

The only way to answer this question is to test every 2200ii-watt generator with a 13,500 BTU air conditioner to see whether it will run or not.

If you consider the fact that a 2,000-watt Honda generator can run this size of AC unit with a soft starter, there should be no reason why any other 2200ii-watt generator couldn’t.

Can you run a 13,500 BTU AC unit on a 2200ii watt generator without a soft starter?

This is considered very unlikely to be able to do, as most 13,500 BTU air conditioners will require more power than your small generator is offering. If you were to try this, you would be met by lots of angered noises from your generator and air conditioning unit.

It is said that you’ll need a 3,000-watt or higher generator to run a 13,500 BTU air conditioner. This is because an AC unit requires around 2,800 to 3,000 watts of power to startup, but only 1,500 to 2,000 watts to maintain the AC unit.

So, while a 2,000-watt air conditioner would work to maintain the AC unit, you would need more power to start it up.

The soft starter can help you do this, but without the soft starter, you wouldn’t be able to turn your AC unit on. Trying to do this could leave you in a dangerous position.

Will a Honda 2200 watt generator run a 13500 BTU air conditioner?

From our previous answer, we bet that you can guess the answer to this question as well. The Honda EU2200i has 10% more power than a Honda generator with 2,000 watts of power, so running an AC unit with a soft starter should be no problem.

The additional 10% power will help your other appliances and devices continue running without struggling due to the new demanding AC unit.

Much like if you were to purchase a 3,000-watt generator you could run more devices in your RV, the 2,200-watt generator will work just fine with your AC unit.

The 13,500 BTU air conditioner is in the middle of the road and should cool your RV just fine.

While most people prefer two AC units to ensure that their entire RV is cooled to their desired temperature, it’s unlikely that two AC units will run on one small generator.

So, while a 13,500 BTU air conditioner will run on a 2,200-watt generator, you also have the option of choosing a different BTU rating. 11,000 BTU air conditioners will run better on a small generator, but your RV won’t be cooled as efficiently.

On the other hand, a 2,200-watt generator might not be enough to handle a 15,000 BTU air conditioner. The only way you would be able to test this is if you purchased a soft starter and used it alongside the powerful AC unit.

What if you didn’t use a soft starter?

You might want to consider bypassing the soft starter altogether – after all, the Honda EU2200i does in fact state that it can run a small AC unit without the help of a soft starter.

So, what would happen if you were to try to run the air conditioner without installing a soft starter?

There are a few outcomes that you could see depending on how you do this. The Honda EU2200i includes an Eco mode which can be manipulated if you want to preserve your power.

Running the generator without Eco mode (with the refrigerator set to gas)

Running the generator without eco mode turned on, with the refrigerator on gas mode, is the best option to use your AC without a soft starter.

Begin the AC with the fan only and allow it to reach the maximum speed. Once you reach this speed, you can engage the AC’s compressor.

The end result of this is that the AC unit runs without putting any stress on the generator. The generator continues to run without any forceful noises.

Running the generator without Eco mode (with the refrigerator set to auto)

This method is turning the AC unit on just as you would if you were connected to a 30-amp hookup at an RV park. If you were thinking that the generator would work just like the hookup, you were incorrect.

The AC unit will begin by making an aggravated noise with lots of thumping, and the generator is likely to stall.

If you’re able to wait for these concerning noises out, the machines will calm down and run semi-normally, but you will be able to hear how bad this is for your generator and AC unit.

Running the generator with Eco mode (with the refrigerator set to auto)

Finally, deciding to start the fan on your AC unit and turning on the compressor after the fan has reached the maximum speed will leave you with an angry-sounding generator.

However, once the compressor is turned on, the AC unit will begin running as normal.

Why we still think a soft starter is important

As we mentioned earlier, soft starters are very important when it comes to starting the AC unit up. This is because the initial power needed is around 2,800 to 3,000 watts, which is higher than the 2,200 watts that the Honda EU2200i is offering.

So, the fact that people are being able to start their air conditioning units with such a small portable generator is very impressive and somewhat confusing.

One thing is for certain – it is much safer (for you, your generator, and your AC unit) to use a soft starter than to not.

Some people will take the above information and agree that they don’t need a soft starter to run one AC unit on their small generator.

This belief is not incorrect – you can run your AC unit off of your generator without an issue. The question is; however, is for how long?

As we have mentioned above, without using a soft starter seems to make the generator and AC unit make aggravated noises. While these die down after a while, you never want to be left with an angry-sounding generator for too long.

Generators are mechanical devices that are full of fuel and can be dangerous if overloaded. If your generator is making these types of noises, you should stop the problem as soon as possible.

Not only are generators dangerous when not used properly, but they can also be expensive. Grunts and moans from your generator are not to be ignored – it could be a sign that something is being broken or adversely affected by your actions.

Moreover, the AC unit could also be damaged prematurely without using a soft starter. Soft starters prevent the device from overheating and being damaged by being subjected to constant in-rushes of power from turning the device on and off again.

As your generator will need re-fuelling and a break every eight hours or so, you will have to start the AC unit up after every refuel. So, turning the AC unit on over and over again will damage your air conditioning unit as well as the generator.

With a soft starter, the in-rush of current is reduced and therefore protects your AC unit from this. You will be able to turn it on and off as many times as you want without worrying about the air conditioner becoming prematurely damaged.

Soft starters also protect the generator by taking the current into its own hands and increasing it at a slower, more controlled pace. This will reduce the pressure that is put on the generator.

In our opinion, soft starting an AC unit with a Honda EU2200i is the way to go.

What is the best soft starter for the job?

We enjoy using the SoftStartRV when running our air conditioning unit off of our small generators. One of the main reasons for this is because one of their main selling points is that the SoftStartRV can ‘Run One Air Conditioner Using Only A Small Portable Generator’.

Straight away, NetworkRV is telling us that their product can help us achieve what we are hoping for.

Not only this, but the SoftStartRV also reduces thumping from the AC as well, so you can get a peaceful night’s sleep while remaining cool.

Adding the SoftStartRV also could not be easier. You don’t need any specialist equipment, and there is plenty of help and advice online to help you with your DIY project. Install this small device inside your RV and forget about it instantly.

Before you know it, you will have forgotten all about the soft starter installed within your RV. All you will be left with is a generator that can seamlessly run your air conditioner without any hitches.

Summary

Overall, it is entirely possible to run one air conditioning unit from a Honda EU2200i generator. In fact, you can also run the AC unit from most 2,000-watt generators as well. The only additional piece of equipment you will need is a soft starter.

We know that it might be tempting to skip the soft starter, but it is vital in keeping your devices and appliances running without becoming damaged.

Not using a soft starter for this application will shorten the lifespan of both your AC unit and the generator.

The SoftStartRV is a great model that allows you to run one air conditioner off of a small generator seamlessly.

So, the next time you’re planning an RV trip – remember how terrible the heat was last time and add a soft starter and an AC unit to your shopping list!