MicroAir EasyStart Flex (ASY-398) A/C Soft Start Catastrophic Failure

EasyStart Flex (ASY-398) air conditioner condenser soft-start has been installed on July 15th, 2024. Failed catastrophically on August 3rd, 2024 via either moisture getting in through the bowed casing seal or capacitors exploding bowing out the casing.

Installed in the electronics compartment under the weather cover in a Trane XR16 (4TWR5030N1000AA).

[nsmith]

It's not the gasket seal. Micro Air had a bad batch of capacitors on 4% of their Flex soft start units with serial number 398006209 or less. What is your serial number? According to MicroAir, they have resolved the problem on units greater than s/n 6209.

[dragonfalcon]

Thank you for the video! Between the YouTube comments here and the Amazon reviews, this is an EXTREMELY bad look on Micro Air. I ALMOST bought one of these before seeing all the failure reviews. There are A LOT. Amazon really should force Micro Air to take the listing down. This is ridiculous. Any updates did you get anything working now?

[michaelboykin]

Thanks for the input folks. I was about to install one on my 5 to unit, to run off of a 13k generator during outages.

[maxwellcrazycat]

I contacted Micro-Air about that defect in the cover. They sent me another unit. It has the same defect. They told me that they are aware of the defect. But it won't affect the seal. We'll see.

[Derek-simu]

Mine failed in about two months. Same thing 4 out is 6 capacitors blew up.

[GH-wtww]

Might be the bowing is from the capacitor gases inside. Now I'm skittish after watching yours tank in such a short time. Mine was installed not long ago by my HVAC Co. Keep us informed how the company handled your situation.

[GH-wtww]

I received my replacement Easystart Flex from MicroAir due to a small amount of moisture building up on the top clear case, and was installed by my HVAC company an hour ago and I'm back up and running. MicroAir support has been great and they stand behind their product. But the tech pulled out 2 older models of the MicroAir easy start which has failed from their customers because of water intrusion so I had them install behind the panel where the capacitor goes. The HVAC techs believe the high humidity here in my area is building up where the tail whip enters the case.

[patrikwilliams]

Mine failed after 2 months of use on a 4 ton unit

[mr.boniato]

What was the issue with this model? The seal can't be the issue since the item is inside the unit. It has to be a defective part.

[MichaelRitenour-wd]

My Easy Start Flex just failed the same way within 24 hours of installation on my 4ton AC by an HVAC licensed and experienced technician.

I have already submitted an RMA request. Hopefully it will go smooth.

[whatindaheezy]

Question: I thought Capacitors could handle external weather conditions? The capacitors that come installed in the condensers from the factory last years and they are also easy to swap. Why would these fail from moisture?

[DrFunFly]

My Flex failed after 1 week of operation. Trying to get a replacement.

[novalee]

Mine failed in 3. A waste of 400 dollars.