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Old 06-16-2012, 01:56 PM   #1
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I added the Hard Start capacitor to the AC unit of my ST22BH today. Very easy addition and so far it seems to be working.
I can fire the AC using a Honda 2000i genny and run it fine.
The real test will come when it get into the 90's. Then I will see. The genny would not run it last weekend when it got over 90.






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Old 06-16-2012, 11:43 PM   #2
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I find that very interesting. I added the hard start capacitor on our AC earlier this year.
The Honda 2000i still couldn't get it running. It did cut back on the amps that the AC drew, but not enough for the Honda to get it going.




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Old 06-17-2012, 01:23 AM   #3
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Interesting Old Farmer.....
What size unit tops your RV? Mine is only a 13500 dometic.
I also know that when it gets really hot, the units are much harder to start. So I will see.
Also, the higher the elevation the more umph you need. One chart shows that for every 1000 ft of increase above sea level you loose 5% of the power of your genny while taking at least 5% more to start the AC.






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Old 06-17-2012, 04:17 AM   #4
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That's what sits on my roof, 13500.
My

buddy who is an electrician came over. I wanted to use his amp gauge to

see what the AC drew for amps starting up, before the cap change. Sorry

to say it wasn't enough to amount to anything. Maybe two amps. Then we

tried it with the Honda 2000i hooked up running at full throttle.

Stalled it right out. Ya know, I could

have sworn I ran my old Hitchhiker on that little Honda. Maybe I did,

like Mike said some compressors start harder then others. I have a volt

meter plugged into an outlet in the camper. I started the fan first,

then the AC. With the Honda on line it just bottomed that volt meter

right out. The little genny just didn't have enough poop to recover

before stalling.
Anyway, did the test--didn't do me any good other then the fact of knowing it won't work for me..




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Old 06-17-2012, 08:47 AM   #5
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I've never heard about a a/c hard start capacitor is this just something you add when you use a generator often? Or is it something that helps your a/c?
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Old 06-17-2012, 09:44 AM   #6
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There has been a lot written on the subject,,,,It is a very common modification not exclusive to generator use but most commonly done for one. Most stock units do not come with one but I have read that some do. However the ones that come with the unit are usually underpowered.
The most common one to use for RV ACs is the Supco SPP6 or SPP6E. According to the mfg. the SPP6 is the one to use.

Here is a good source:
http://www.modmyrv.com/2009/05/27/rv-air-conditioner-hard-start-capacitor




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Old 06-19-2012, 09:52 AM   #7
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Update:
So without the hard start capacitor the AC will not run at anytime off a Honda 2000.
With the hard start capacitor added the AC will work on the genny but only when the temps are lower, low to upper 70's.
Today it is 92 degrees and the AC will not work on one Honda 2000i.
I am fortunate to have 2 honda on hand, so for the first time I hooked up the parallel cables and then of course they started the AC just fine.
I will see if after running I can shift the gennys to the economy (quiet) mode or not.






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Old 06-19-2012, 11:58 AM   #8
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From all the research/reading I have done on this---I think you will be able to not only switch to the quiet mode, but you should be able to "start" your AC in the quiet mode.
Let us know how it pans out.




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Old 06-19-2012, 01:07 PM   #9
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My 25rb has a 15k unit.

I can run the AC on an 80's day on either 110v connection (30amp plug with one of those Walmart plugs to put in a wall socket) in my shop or with a Yamaha 2000 inverter genset in regular mode (not eco).
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