Hard Start Kits VS Soft Start Kits | Which Is Better?

Easy Start Kit For 1-1.5 Ton Air Conditioner/Heat Pump:

Easy Start Kit For 2-3.5 Ton Air Conditioner/Heat Pump:

Easy Start Kit For 4-6 Ton Air Conditioner/Heat Pump:

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This video is for educational purposes. Any and all HVAC repair work is done at your own risk. Any person attempting to deal with any type of refrigerant MUST have their EPA 608 certificate. The DIY HVAC Guy channel is not responsible for any possible damages or injuries caused by the use or misuse of the provided information.

[samTollefson]

I put a 521 hard start on my 20+-year-old 3-ton A/C unit, and the starting amps dropped from 41.9 to 26.7, a 35% decrease. My 8750 inverter generator easily starts it. After running for a few minutes, I gradually flip on the rest of the breakers so the refrigerators and freezers don't all start at the same time. We often have a week or two each storm season where the power is off. We get power after all the businesses and rich people's homes get reconnected. Welcome to Floridaaa.

[Optimization_Coach]

Just installed 2 micro air units on my 4 ton ac units. Had to call customer service and they resolved the issue pretty quickly. Went from 129 to 30 amps on my downstairs and similar to up. Very nice and definitely like the Diagnostic app as well. My 5500 generator will run these no issue now.

[ncooty]

@0:33: A hard-start kit doesn't give an extra boost of current. It's a capacitor. Capacitors in AC circuits are buffers; they don't store and release jolts as in DC circuits. A hard-start kit uses a capacitor installed in parallel to phase-shift some of the current for a power-correction. This reduces inductive reactance and improves efficiency, thereby REDUCING in-rush current, not increasing it.

[felaxchow]

I installed the Micro-Air EasyStart on my 2.5 ton heat pump back in August 2021 and been very happy with it. Living in a subtropical zone and dealing with frequent summer storms tripping out the grid extension cord. I have generator power and no A/C for several hours can make things uncomfortable really quickly. The $400 price tag is abet steep, but the ability to run my 800 ft² home in "normal" mode including a 30 gallon electric water heater on a 9, 500 Wp inverter generator in economy mode and not skipping a beat when the compressor kicks on is a godsend.

The onboard diagnostics and compressor protection has saved me at least two $125 service truck roll calls plus parts. Having the EasyStart unit intervene in a fault event is way better than having the thermal overload tripping out. I've ran into one by the time someone realize what is happening the compressor housing was hot enough to fry an egg on it.

As for the ICM870, I think it is a great budget friendly version for those who don't want the geeky bells and whistles. According to their specs, using the 16 amp version might be pushing the limits on a 4.5 ton OSU. Can't wait for them to release the 32 amp version soon enough since my neighbor wants one installed, but not $400 interested. If my memory serves me correctly the LRA is around 100+ amps definitely stall out a 20 kW natural gas generator and maybe not so much on a diesel version. The power head might not like it, but it'll muscle through it.

Pricey investment as it may, but in the long term when your HVAC is at the end of its service life. The soft start unit is still good to transfer to the new replacement unit if it doesn't already have one already. Even the basic one has enough smarts to relearn to the operating characteristics of the new compressor.

[jasonbuckner]

The ICM870 9amp is perfect for RV’s, the ICM870 16 and 32 amp is good for your home AC units. They’re 159 for the 9amp and the 16 and 32 amp is about 179. Half the price and it’s been around in the hvac industry for years. We’ve used them in server rooms with UPS on the server and AC units cooling the servers that will run on battery back up before the generator start up and some just run on ups systems till you can get power back up and running.

[xxxblanco]

I subbed bro, I like how you try to educate homeowners in plain terms and show people how to do things in an easily understood way

[spinjector]

You should do a video that demonstrates the difference in sound before & after.

[ad-ccsw]

I just installed one yesterday. Even without thinking about a generator this will help your outside unit with amperage draw. Highly recommend. I paid $370!for the one installed. Total cost was $800 for the job. Definitely worth it in the long run.

[TheModelmaker]

Just installed the ICM-860 as the price is about half of the micro-air. Start up amps is 28 on a 4 ton unit. I didn't have meter to measure inrush before installing, but with the cost saving I was able to get a Kaiweets 208D clamp meter and still have money left.

[mwtchng]

I installed the hard start kit myself 3-4 years ago and noticed it also helped reduce the running noise of the compressor. I'd also like to replace the hard start kit with easy-start if will help prolong the compressor life. I have a dual AC system and I can see will cost between $800-$1K for the easystart but will save on installing it myself. With his easy-start i can use my backup gen (honda ge EU3000si with transfer switch) to run one of my AC unit in case of a power outage. My solar with Enphase microinverter is capable of providing power (no batt bckup) but requires additional components ($5k-6K) for it to work.

[Capt-Intrepid]

There is a company now making Soft Start Kits for less than $200. It's called the ICM Controls ICM870-16A Soft Start.

[harryhenderson]

Regarding Hard Start Kits, only use those with an external relay and not a resistor only. We have had resistor units not drop out after start as they get weak, and the compressor start windings end up toasted. Relay type are more reliable

[dreednlb]

Just ordered a micro air soft starter after watching many videos, including your install video. I have solar with battery backup. This will allow me to run the AC while off grid.

[thomasjacques]

Getting ready to add solar panels with battery backup and my solar installer wants to install a "soft-start" device so I can run my home AC even during a grid outage. Now I know what he's talking about.

[everss]

I put a 521 hard start on our new 4 ton, LRA dropped from 107 to 48., Easy for a generator to start

[rcisneros]

Thanks for the video and thanks to the posters for all the helpful comments.

[douglasbaker]

Just watched another HVAC guy. He took one off of a unit and acted like it was the worst thing somebody could do to a unit. Thoughts?

[Zaero]

Thanks for all the great content! Really helped me understand the difference.

[boblatkey]

The soft Art kits are also excellent for people that have solar systems with battery back up. Many inverters cannot handle the surge current of an air conditioner but with a soft start it is usually no problem and you can run your air conditioner for a few hours without running your batteries down too low during a long-term power outage

[hitekrednek]

This explains what i was asking about in other video. 😅 Thank you! Your vids are great at explaining things to us knuckleheads. 😊