Starting Air Conditioner with Generator.

Hi,
the company is Qualtex in qld
http://www.qualtex.com.au/products/search?search=hard+start
They have 2 types the spp5 at $11 and spp6 at $55.00

Cheers
John

Hi,
I am no expert but have a look on the us rv sites and you tube. I am confident it will work because I am sure I read reviews or you tube videos of guys having it done.
The heron is a proper rv generator and from memory I think in the US they sell a specific hard start kit for it or you can use one of these kits.
Ok basically there are 2 or 3 wire kits. The 2 wire kit seems good. Just check if your heron has a start capacitor or not.
The wiring is super easy. 2 wires. Just depends if your unit has a start cap or not as to were you plug it in.
If unsure a sparky would do pretty cheap.
From what I learnt is that all gennys must be able to run in overload for several seconds to meet AS.My genny is an inverter type sold at BCF like the Honda and they hate overloads.Compare the specs they should be similar.
The hard start kit starts the compressor within .25 of a sec or thereabouts.
Once the compressor starts turning amps drop dramatically it automatically turns the start windings off.
So it firstly gives it a quick boost to start the aircon, lowers drawn start amps and fools the genny if in instantaneous overload so it keeps going.
My genny just revs up for 1 second and then revs down and keeps going. Doesn't even max out at any time.

I got suspicious as I have a portable aircon I use in my sons cabin and it started with the genny without strain. I opened it up and it has a huge start cap and some other circuitry so nothing dims.ie voltage regulators
It figures since you will plug it into a powerpoint near other appliances.

I make no money out of all this info, I just wanna help fellow travelers from what I learnt cause the rv industry here are sharks.

Also wont have to park near vans with huge gennys lol.
For $11.00 plus postage it is worth a try.

Cheers
John

Sorry,
meant Heron is a proper rv air con.
Geez my aircon is a 3.4kw your heron is only 2.2kw
U gotta be able to start it lol.
john

Seriously sounds like when you restart the aircon is in Locked Rotor stage the highest power start up as there is still pressure in the system.
You can either try waiting longer before restart or try the supco.
My aircon cycles no problem and is bigger.

Cheers
john

My heron 2.2 has alway run on my eu20i it does have trouble in 42+ temperatures restarting when i shut genny down for refueling but only then. Cycling normally is not a problem. There is no capacity for anything else though. It may have been modified before I bought van 2nd hand though.

Hmm. The hotter it is the less efficient your capacitor is they hate heat and you aircon may need more startup and your genny produces less power.
On the roof I guess the unit gets hot.
Maybe wait 10 min extra. Air cons have valves that equalise pressure slowly.
Best to have a look to see what is in your aircon. Caps do go bad.

Cmon any tradies out there?
Personally it seems the combination I mentioned is your problem. I would fit a Supco as a cheap fix if it annoys you.

Cheers
john

Also, make sure that your battery charger, electric HWS, etc are all turned off if using the Honda. There are only so many watts available, and boot up takes most of those.
My Honda handles them all no problem.

cheers
Laurie