Micro-Air EasyStart Home A/C Installation

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The Micro-Air EasyStart reduced the start surge current of this Rheem 36kBTU home air conditioner from 77.4A (measured, rated 77 LRA) to an astonishing 19.7A. This then allows the system to operate on a limited-current power source such as a home generator or a home solar inverter. All the details of the actual installation, comparison testing, and technical explanations are covered.

EasyStart RV Rooftop Installation Video Outline:
00:00 - Introduction
01:53 - Accessing the Electric Box & Wiring Identification
04:01 - "Before" Startup Test without EasyStart
06:01 - Mounting the EasyStart
07:12 - Wiring (Part 1 - Termination points, crimp terminals, etc.)
10:59 - Wiring (Part 2 - Actual work at 5x speed)
12:08 - Wiring (Part 3 - Review)
14:27 - “After” Startup Test with EasyStart
15:56 - Faults & EasyStart Compressor Protection
17:43 - Bluetooth App
20:26 - Generator Sizing with & without EasyStart
21:18 - Generator Cost Savings & Other Benefits with EasyStart
22:21 - EasyStart Benefits while on Utility Power
22:44 - Summary & Closing

EasyStart 368 Product Webpage:

EasyStart 364 Product Webpage:

EasyStart Knowledge Bank:

Air Conditioner:
2015 Rheem 36000 BTU Home Air Conditioner
Model RA1436AJ1NA

Test Equipment:
Extech 380949 True RMS AC/DC Mini Clamp Meter
Matteo’s “Patented” high-speed Ammeter built from random parts - no model number (yet ;-)

Camera Used in this Video:
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX10

Editing:
Vegas (Sony) Movie Studio Platinum 13.0

Music:
“The Barber of Seville” - composed by Gioachino Rossini (1816)

Micro-Air proudly designs, develops, and manufactures all of its electronic control products in the USA, since 1983.

© Micro-Air, Inc. 2023

[Retaile]

My EasyStart installation was far from textbook, after I followed the install procedure to the letter, I had a red fault light. After texting with product support, I realized my ACs wiring may have been reversed from the factory. With guidance from Roger at tech support, he was able to verify my diagnosis and provide an alternate wiring solution. These folks were patient and very understanding. Can't say enough good things about their expertise and customer goodwill!

[Yoda]

I installed an ASY-368-X48-BLUE on my 3 ton A/C unit last week. I’ve been in the HVAC business for over 40 years. I’ve seen a lot of changes to the equipment over the years but the Easy Start has been one of the best ideas in years. I haven’t liked the way the compressor started since the day I installed the system. It works fine but is noisy on startup. The kind of noise that makes you think, “That has to be shortening the life of the compressor”.
The Easy-Start was extremely easy to install and there is no change to how the unit is operated. A customer would not see any difference in the way they use the system. The compressor starts quietly now and the startup amperage went from 83A to 25A. Awesome!
Thank you so much for making this device.

[bassiclogic]

The best starting device I have ever seen in my 40 years as an AC Tech! I would advise to checking your uf/ microfarads with a meter on the existing capacitors and see if they are up to the manufactures value. All capacitors lose value over time and age with usage. No system should ever be close to let alone exceed LRA. Locked rotor amps. I have always installed starting devices on new equipment, because it gives longer life of the compressor. It's controversial over the term easy start or hard start. They both do the same thing with a large capacitor and potential relay in the circuit. All Trane units are designed with these and some others as well. But most do not incorporate this technology. I do not recommend using a second device on a system with one on it!

[jdr]

Just a follow-up - After installing the EasyStart, I pulled the trigger on a new inverter generator. I purchased a duel fuel (gas/propane) GENMAX 9000iED. I did the break-in, converted to a floating neutral, and did my whole house test. Because of EasyStart, I can run my entire house, with all steady state and cycling loads (all lights, ceiling fans, TVs, computers, bathroom fans, 3 ton AC for the house proper, mini-split for the garage, 2 refrigerators) with no load management required. Additionally, with minimal load management, coffee pot, microwave, air fryers, hair dryers can all be run. House AC, oven/stove, clothes dryer does require load management. But the important thing is the house AC can be run just fine on the generator WITH all of my normal creature comfort's and on propane. No more bad gas/gas storage issues. Thanks Micro-Air for a terrific product.

[dancarney]

Your presentation was professional, clear, well thought out and easy to understand. You stayed on topic and did not wonder off into other topics only then to 45 seconds later return to your main talking point. That Bluetooth APP is wonderful. What a great product you're installing. Thank you.

[davidellis]

I’m a believer in this technology. I installed one of the units on my RV rooftop AC units and was able to run it on a 15 amp garage outlet. Now looking to buy one for my home AC and new Camper.

[skidoorider]

This product is the greatest invention since sliced bread, kudos to the inventors, I have a Rheem 3 ton AC unit that had a LRA of. 77 amps and 12.5 amp normal run for fan, after installing the micro air 368 easy start, I went from a LRA of 77 amps down to 24.2 LRA and normal fan run down to 5.4 amps, just completed a test and was able to start the AC with my 7250 W Predator generator

[Erock]

Just purchased and installed my second easy start. First one was on my last home with a 3 ton ac. No issues there and worked perfectly with my generator. My new home has a 5 ton ac and the LRA label stated 157 amps. I didn't have a chance to actually test it but after the install and learn process, the peak amps on start up went down to 32! Wow is about all I can think to say. Again I should have no issues using my generator and running my ac. Thanks!

[rcinfla]

Two additional recommendations. Scroll compressor slurp up an initial larger amount of oil on initial startup. You should allow compressor to run a minute or two to disperse the oil initially sucked up into compressor head. Several short start-run cycles can log too much oil in compressor head causing oil slugging on compressor.

When mounting EasyStart in electrical compartment it is a good idea to check the sheet metal screw clearance on back side of sheet metal. Driving a too long sheet metal screw into condenser coil will give you a very bad day causing a refrigerant leak in condenser.

[MichaeldeCiutiis]

Nice video. I just installed the EasyStart 368 and it's working well. They only issue I had was connecting the app. There's no documentation telling you what to type in for the Bluetooth ID connection. I finally found another video on YouTube that tells you to just type in "EasyStart_" then press the Connect button. The app will find and connect after that.

[stevem]

7/22/2023 I installed two of them on my Goodman 3 ton ac units. From 79amps drop down to 25 to 28 amps according to the blue tooth app. These things are sweet love them thank you. I found out about these soft starts when talking to the electrician who installed our home generac generator. All these years and never knew about this item. I could kick my self in the ass. Anyway thank you hooked them up today and running great. Thanks.

[fattysgarage]

Best thing I ever bought. Working flawlessly for 10 months now. 26 starting amps on my 3 ton and 9.6 running. Easily turns on a/c unit with my 12kw generator for whole house a/c during hurricane Ian.

[jdr]

Just today installed an EasyStart on my 3 ton unit. Locked rotor amps listed as 77, read 89 using a clamp on. Close enough. On first learning start - 44.5. After last learning start - 27.5. My HVAC guy had not heard of EasyStart before I contacted him. Said he was ordering one for his house today and will start recommending it to his customers. Now I can replace my old Troy Built 13500 with a much more efficient dual-fuel inverter generator.

[jackonthefarm]

Due to your video I bought a Micro-Air EasyStart for my 3 ton A/C unit. My standby gen of 13KW is now way oversized, but means we don't have to economize much in a power outage situation. Thank you for a great product.

[capobiancg]

Hello, just purchase my EasyStart 5 ton unit Oct. 2022. I had all the crimping tools and connectors to install it already. My 15 year old original Westinghouse compressor made a loud bang! noise at start up every time it came on. The inrush current exceeded its limit. After installing a hard start kit the inrush was below it limit, but still BANGed on start up. Once I removed the hard start kit and installed Micro-Air EasyStart 5 ton model the compressor. The compressor fan starts up first and after about 10 seconds or so the compressor starts up Ever so quietly. You almost don't hear starting. From Inside the house it would startle me with each cycle start. Now it is whisper quite inside the house house. I hear the compressor fan more than anything inside the house - no more scary bang ! Worth every penny. My hope is this will extend the life of our A/C unit. It would be nice to have the actual wiring schematic drawing beside the photos on line. So between the online photos and the verbal instructions on this video, I was able to figure out the wiring. I used a variable drill bit to drill a new hole in the electrical box and an external wiring connector to go through my electrical compartment as the EasyStart would not fit inside. 4 self tapping sheet metal screws to mount the EasyStart outside, and done. When the old compressor is at its end of life, it can just be transferred to the new compressor. This is something they should point out, added value that it can be used on your new unit, and you don't have to buy another one. Thank you for the great product video.

p.s. After the EasyStart install, I can easily start and run this 5 ton compressor from the Tesla Solar inverter and Powerwalls without any startup assistance from the grid power!

[David-tfey]

Man this is the exact same A/c model and easy start as mine. All wired exactly the same. This never happens, thank you for making this.

[paulave]

What an awesome product Matteo. I’m seeing ~66% decrease in LRA in-rush current and no more loud buzzing sound on startup! Nice work.

[cliff]

A little late to the Micro-Air party, but living on the Gulf Coast of Florida with the forecast of a robust hurricane season, I had our Micro-Air installed earlier this year on a 2014 3.5 ton A/C unit. Hooked up my DuroMax 9000iH generator today (sister-in-law and hubbo live in Houston and are 5 days into no power) and thanks to Micro-Air, and DuroMax, I ran the A/C, Fridge, Ceiling fans, outlets, etc., without a hiccup. Very cool to have the generator running, turn on the A/C, hear the generator surge for a second and then having full A/C on a very hot, humid (heat index of 104 today) day on the Gulf Coast. THANK YOU Micro-Air for this video and your product!

[trith]

I installed both of these today on my 4ton and 2ton compressors and let me say, they work and do exactly what they say they do. The 4Ton Unit went from around 95-100 amps on start down to 39.4. The 2ton went from 58 to 24.3, absolutely amazing. The compressors are quieter, and start more gently. I can easily start both on my 24kw whole home generator now without any bogging down or lights flickering. This product is well made, and does what it is advertised to do. Took me 2 hours to install both, I have a bad back so I took about 45 mins worth of breaks, if I was myself from 30 years ago this would have been a 30 minute job to install 2. Very easy to install and well worth the money spent.

[yogibeer]

You’ve sold me on this! Where I live in Florida we experience a few power interruptions each year and even though I have a 5500K generator I can’t run my 3 ton unit. The money I spent on a window shaker to use in those times I could have purchased the Easy Start and use my split system. Your explanation was very educational. Thanks