Do You Really Need a Soft Start for Your AC?

Have you thought about a soft start for your AC? Perhaps you’re ready to hit the road and chase warmer temperatures, but how will you stay cool in your RV with no shore power? Whether boondocking in the wild or moochdocking at a family member’s house, running the AC may not be an option because it requires so much energy; even being plugged into a typical 110V household outlet won’t always cut it. 

This is where AC soft starts come in. For many RVers, soft starts make it possible to run their AC when they’re either plugged into a household outlet or running off battery power. But how do soft starts work? And do you really need one? Let’s talk about that. 

What Is a Soft Start for an AC? 

A soft start is a device you hook up to your RV’s air conditioner. It limits the initial current of electricity when the compressor first kicks on. This reduces the strain on the motor and decreases the spike in amps that occurs when the AC starts up. It even reduces wear on its internal circuits, thus extending the lifespan of your unit. 

Do You Really Need a Soft Start for Your AC?

Is it really worth investing time and money installing a soft start for your AC? This depends on the type of RVing you’ll do and your existing electrical setup. If you plan to stay at RV parks with access to full hookups, you won’t need a soft start for your AC. This is because most RV and campground electrical hookups can handle the initial spike in current when your AC first starts. 

Another obvious reason you may not need one is if you plan on camping in cool climates. You’ll focus on heating your RV, not cooling it down. 

However, suppose you plan on boondocking or plugging into a friend or family member’s outlet for the occasional rest. In that case, you’ll probably benefit from a soft start. Let’s take a look at how they work. 

Pro Tip: In addition to using a soft start for your AC while boondocking, use these 40 RV Boondocking Tips To Make Your Off-Grid Camping Better!

How Does Soft Start for RV AC Work?

Air conditioners guzzle energy — especially when they first turn on. When the compressor first kicks in, the current will briefly jump up past 30 amps (roughly 34-35 amps). This is called a surge current. After that, the amperage hovers around 11-14 amps. Therefore, the problem isn’t the running current at all, just that initial spike.

A soft start for an RV AC works by gradually building up the initial voltage instead of allowing a huge spike in amps when it first starts. It causes the compressor to take longer to start, but the amperage doesn’t jump up as high. Rather than jumping up to 30 amps, it will stay under 20. 

Therefore, instead of being a sudden energy spike, the amperage increase has a slow curve. In fact, good soft starts like SoftStartRV can reduce the initial current by up to 70%. This allows RVers to start their ACs in various circumstances. 

These situations include starting an AC unit on a smaller generator, being plugged into a 15 amp shore circuit or even starting an AC from an inverter.

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Can I Run My RV AC Off My Batteries?

This question ultimately depends on the type of batteries you have, your AC, and various other factors. For example, you can’t usually run your air conditioner on lead-acid batteries. They’re less energy-dense than lithium, and they can only handle a 50% discharge. 

However, if you have enough amp hours of lithium-ion batteries (270 Ah+), a large enough inverter (at least 3,000W to 5,000W), and a soft start, you can use your AC for a few hours during the hottest times of the day. The key is the soft start and the upgrade to lithium. 

How Do You Install a Soft Start on an Air Conditioner? 

It’s relatively easy to install a soft start on an AC. You’ll need your soft start, a wire stripper, wire terminals, and tools to remove your cover. You’ll install your soft start into the run capacitor of your AC to influence the amperage of that first current surge.

Start by attaching end terminals to the wires of your soft start. This will make it easy to connect to your AC when on the roof. Then, once you’ve taken off the cover, identify the wires that attach to its run capacitor. 

You’ll need to disconnect these, attach them to the soft start, and then attach the soft start wires back to the run capacitor. Basically, the soft start will intervene before the current gets to the run capacitor. For an amazingly detailed tutorial, take a look at this video.

Pro Tip: Unsure about the ins and outs of your air conditioner unit? We put together The Complete Guide to RV Air Conditioners to make it easy to understand!

How Much Does a Soft Start Cost? 

Soft Starts aren’t necessarily cheap, but if they mean the difference between dealing with sweltering heat and staying cool in your RV, they’re probably worth it. In general, they hover around the $300 range regardless of the brand you choose. Popular models include the MicroAir EasyStart for $299 and the SoftStartRV for $319. 

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How Long Do Soft Starts for ACs Last?

According to SoftStartRV’s website, it has over 45,000 operation hours. And while we don’t have the operation hours for the MicroAir EasyStart, you can expect any model to last approximately 10 years with normal use. 

Do You Really Need A Soft Start?

So, is it worth buying a $300 soft start for your RV to limit the number of amps your AC gobbles up? That depends. If your access to electricity is limited, it’s probably worth it. This is especially true if you’ll travel in the summer or in winter hotspots like Florida and Arizona.

If you want to start your AC on generators, weak shore circuits or inverters a soft start is a great idea. It will not only allow you to get it started, but also help reduce stress on the AC components and the equipment running it.

Like we said before, the running current of your AC is not the problem—it’s the initial start-up. Therefore, a soft start could easily make the difference between having AC and not having it at all. 

Do you think a soft start is worth it? Let us know in the comments below.

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