Words by Steve Fennell
If you’re like us, we love the fresh breezes coming off the water or a mild cool front with a slight wind blowing through the RV day and night. However, those inevitable hot days of 38° C or more are the key reasons for having an A/C unit, and provide that perfect comfort zone in seemingly furnace-like temperatures.
RVs are afforded with the many comforts of home but having insufficient power – whether from a generator or in an RV park – comes at a time when it’s usually needed the most, especially when you want that cool oasis an A/C unit can provide. The SoftStart RV from NetworkRV is one of the latest RV products that came across our desks for us to test and tinker with, and it’s designed to help off-set power spikes and provide smoother start-ups for the AC unit’s compressor motor in the event available power at an RV park or from a loud generator just isn’t enough.
We like systems that can solve our problems quickly on the road. Given the motor of an A/C compressor requires a large amount of in-rush currents (over normal running currents) and more torque during the initial stage of operation, the SoftStartRV is designed to smooth-out and reduce the load demand and torque of the compressor motor, providing easier, more efficient start-ups when available power wouldn’t normally be enough.
Network RV
According to NetworkRV, it lowers the power consumption by an impressive 65 to 70 percent, which eliminates the chance of tripping a breaker or stalling the generator, and it even reduces mechanical stress of the A/C’s compressor motor. As a result, owners of RVs with one and two A/C units can conveniently run the A/C via 30-amps at an RV park, smaller portable generators, an inverter system, and even off a 20-amp household outlet. The system also frees up available power for other amp-hungry onboard systems such as electronics and various small appliances.
Some other benefits include:
- Eliminates the need to re-wire your RV system for 50-amp power
- It has a weatherproof, non-flammable IP65 housing that’s resin-sealed
- Supports 115V/50-60 Hz motors
- Can manage up to two 36,000 BTU compressors.
- Starts any 115V compressor with Honda EU2000i (or similar units) in ECO mode
Network RV Mike Sokol
With its ability to mount inside most roof-top RV AC units, the SoftStartRV comes with comprehensive instructions, online support and all the necessary hardware for smooth installation. While it’s an ideal DIY project, if you’re not electrically/mechanically inclined we suggest having a professional or your local RV dealer install it for you as some splicing, re-wiring and drilling may be required.
Having air conditioning is not always a necessity on the road. But at a cost of $299, the SoftStart is a small price to pay for added cooling comfort during unbearable heat when ideal power options to run your A/C unit are not readily available.
*SoftStartRV A/C soft starters are discounted to our readers up to $50 off the regular price (depending on the quantity of soft starters that are required) with a 90-day 100 percent full refund guarantee, and a one-year warranty extendable to two-years at no cost with online registration. For more details visit https://www.SoftStartUSA.com/snowbirds