Does a Furrion AC Need a Soft Start?

[jas451]

Is a 'soft start' needed or preferred with a 'Furrion' AC? Last summer had an issue with our thermostat and control box not communicating, and during the diagnosis the tech made the comment that the AC was only pulling 2-3 amps when running....and I've been able to run AC when on a 15-20 amp circuit.
He said that Furrion has two motors, where other brands utilize one ???? So that's the difference???
So would the 'soft start' even be worthwhile?

 

[Riverbug]

Do you have a Furrion Chill Cube? That, I believe, is the only model that has the dual fan motors and acts like a mini-split. If that's the case, you don't need a soft start because it doesn't have the initial in-rush amperage that typical A/C's do, which causes issues for generators and 120V outlets.

But the soft start is only built to lower that initial in-rush current. It does not alter the current that is drawn during normal operation. If yours is only pulling 2-3 amps, that would indicate to me that your compressor is not engaging. The tech didn't elaborate on that at all or indicate there is a problem? Does it still cool the RV? If it does, then perhaps it is the mini-split type and running on a low setting?

 

[jas451]

No, it is not the Chill Cube. Compressor was running and cooling. I've run the AC before on 15-20 amp circuit and it does cool.

 

[Riverbug]

No, it is not the Chill Cube. Compressor was running and cooling. I've run the AC before on 15-20 amp circuit and it does cool.

Yes, you can usually run standard RV A/C on a 15A or 20A circuit but with some risk with that heavy draw at start up and potential brown-out issues if running it regularly, especially if you have anything else running on the circuit. Maybe somebody else will chime in here too, but a 2A or 3A draw for a typical A/C doesn't seem possible. They are usually 11A - 16A. The in-rush amperage is usually around 50A for milliseconds; that's what the "soft starts" mitigate. I find your numbers hard to explain but if it works, it works.

 

[NerkGDguy]

I also have a Furrion AC and run AC on a 20A outlet whenever hooked up at home. I use the 50A cord with a dog bone and have a 118V readout all day.

 

[Riverbug]

I also have a Furrion AC and run AC on a 20A outlet whenever hooked up at home. I use the 50A cord with a dog bone and have a 118V readout all day.

Does yours pull 3A when running? That's what is perplexing to me.

 

[WeeBeenew-iRV2]

A Furrion 15K ac will draw 15.8 amps while running. 3 amps sounds to me like just the control circuit and fan(s) are running only.

 

[NB Canada]

I have mine running often on a 15 amp circuit. Around 10-11 amps according to the watchdog

 

[BoredWeasel]

how was he looking at current, If he was using an amp clamp it is probable that he didnt zero it or the zero was off. It is also possible that the compressor was off and just the fan was running

 

[Weebeenew]

Is a 'soft start' needed or preferred with a 'Furrion' AC? Last summer had an issue with our thermostat and control box not communicating, and during the diagnosis the tech made the comment that the AC was only pulling 2-3 amps when running....and I've been able to run AC when on a 15-20 amp circuit.
He said that Furrion has two motors, where other brands utilize one ???? So that's the difference???
So would the 'soft start' even be worthwhile?

From what I've been reading. Both the chill. And chill cube have two fans. Most others only have one. Soft starts have their place. Honestly. In a two ac rv. I'd put a soft start on only one of the ac's.I'd would do the main one in the living area. The chances of both ac's starting at the same time is pretty remote once your rv has cooled initially. And I'd question the tech with trying to say that the ac was running and only drawing 2-3 amps. I'm also doubting it is a zero issue. I'm betting he had the hold feature on.Or the min/max on. Don't ask me how I know!

 

[NerkGDguy]

Does yours pull 3A when running? That's what is perplexing to me.

I have no idea, my surge protector only displays voltage.

 

[jas451]

I can't remember exactly, just a comment that he made while running the AC.....we were diagnosing trying to find out why the thermostat and the control box were not
'talking' to each other as I kept getting an error message on the stat. Turned out that the thermostat was bad, and the new one that GD had sent me was bad also, and had to overnight one as I was trying to leave and get out go town. I was told it must be the control box, so I ordered a replacement, but that still didn't work. Tech took the control box and thermostat and bench tested, and pretty much narrowed it down to the thermostat, as I guess they don't have a very good history. So now I have a spare control box and a thermostat, as I had ordered a thermostat as well in case he hadn't had been able to get one from his service provider. I very seldom run the AC at home,
maybe a couple of hours total in the three years that we've had this trailer, but if I need to I guess it will.

 

[jas451]

I installed the softstart yesterday.....Tech implied that there may not be a whole lot of benefit unless I want to run off a generator, but I had it so I went ahead and installed it. Guess I'm covered in any case.

 

[BoredWeasel]

on a 30 amp trailer I noticed a difference. the 120 volt lamp doesn't flicker when it starts. it is much quieter when the ac starts.....no big compressor load up

 

[Scott'n'Wendy]

No, it is not the Chill Cube. Compressor was running and cooling.

The techs meter is faulty then.

 

[18CrewDually]

Is a 'soft start' needed or preferred with a 'Furrion' AC? Last summer had an issue with our thermostat and control box not communicating, and during the diagnosis the tech made the comment that the AC was only pulling 2-3 amps when running....and I've been able to run AC when on a 15-20 amp circuit.
He said that Furrion has two motors, where other brands utilize one ???? So that's the difference???
So would the 'soft start' even be worthwhile?

How was he getting the reading? If he used an amp clamp you have to isolate the hot and clamp just that one wire. If you clamp hot & neutral you'll get a funky reading.

 

[RV2600RB2]

Yup. My Furrion a/c runs on 120v/15a as well at home. No idea about a generator.

 

[Hoopy Frood]

Yup. My Furrion a/c runs on 120v/15a as well at home. No idea about a generator.

I'd be curious what the voltage is reading.