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Start Home A/Cs & Heat Pumps with Less Power

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SoftStart Home™ high-performance soft starter turns on central A/Cs and heat pumps with less power and less noise – and when paired with home solar energy system or a backup generator, helps A/Cs run while freeing up electrical power for other appliances

Table of Contents

A home central air conditioner is the most energy-hungry appliance in a typical home. Depending on location and season, it can account for about 70% of a monthly electric bill.

With high or fluctuating electricity costs, aging power grid problems, and emergencies that require backup power, many homeowners are looking for ways to keep comfortable during normal AND special conditions. So it’s natural that improving air conditioning efficiency can play a big role in that quest.

How SoftStartHome Uses Less Power, Saves on Costs Now and Later

When a central A/C or heat pump starts, it can require 7 to 8 times the amount of electricity used when it is normally running. The startup creates such an instant drain on the household power that lights can flicker and other appliances can be affected. 

The sudden inrush of power also jolts and superheats the A/C’s own components which can lead to premature wear or breakdown. You know that is happening every time you hear the loud “thump” when an air conditioner starts up. 

The SoftStart Home™ high-performance soft starter from SoftStartUSA reduces the power to start a central air conditioner or heat pump by up to 70%. Designed for 6-ton/72,000 BTU units with 115-230VAC single-phase motors, SoftStart Home connects directly to an air conditioner or heat pump to help “throttle back” the startup power to only 2-3 times the standard A/C running power. 

As a result, SoftStart Home helps homeowners greatly reduce their overall household peak amperage, extend the life of heat-sensitive components, and enjoy quiet comfort all day and all night.

Achieve Cool, Continuous Comfort

Even in Low-Power Conditions

As more homeowners look for alternative sources of electric power – whether to ease their reliance on a power grid or to obtain essential backup power in emergencies – a SoftStart Home soft starter offers even more advantages in limited power applications.

From sources such as 2200-watt and larger generators or solar-energized, a SoftStart Home soft starter allows you to run an A/C or heat pump more effectively by greatly limiting condenser startup power. Especially in emergency situations, this frees up power for other vital appliances such as refrigerators or medical devices – all while keeping the A/C or heat pump running.

And to ensure even more complete power efficiency, SoftStart Home devices can be connected to other inductive-reliant startup appliances, such as refrigerators, freezers and pumps – to help further reduce inrush power spikes that can shut down a limited-power source.

Power Up More Appliances

Because each SoftStart Home cuts the inrush current of all “hard-starting” appliances, the backup power won’t trip off when these appliances start while others are operating. Water heaters, coffeemakers, lights, hair dryers and entertainment centers will keep running as long as the “running” power of all the appliances does not exceed the amount of power being produced.

World-Class Technical Service and Support

To make the installation process as easy as possible, SoftStartHome.com offers simplified installation schematics for many central air conditioners. The Customer Support section also lets customers register their product purchase which automatically extends the SoftStart Home warranty to two years.

To assure successful installation, the SoftStart Home support team offers several personalized options if extra help is needed. 

For example, if SoftStartHome.com doesn’t have instructions for a specific air conditioner, a custom drawing will be made. All it takes is submitting a picture of the electrical diagram on the air conditioner and information about the A/C via a Support Ticket from the website. Once that is complete, a color diagram with step-by-step instructions will be sent to the customer.

If someone is still not comfortable with the installation process, then a complete “live” installation with a SoftStart Home technical expert can be scheduled through the Support Ticket process. Set up a date and time with the support team and one of their members will walk you through the installation, step-by-step, over the phone.

Learn More About SoftStart Home Startup Technology

To learn more about SoftStart Home products and how they can improve energy use and help keep homes comfortable in most any situation, please go to SoftStartHome.com. SoftStart Home™ is a product of SoftStartUSA, an industry leader in home and RV power management products.

We Want To Earn Your Trust

Your trust in our SoftStartHome product is truly appreciated. We’ve learned the importance of referrals in our business, and we value your recommendation. If you know anyone in your residential network – family, friends, or neighbors – who needs expert advice or solutions for effective home cooling, please know that we’re here to assist them.

We are committed to making homeowners more informed by providing comprehensive guidance, solutions, recommendations, videos, diagrams, and live technical support for rooftop installations. Our goal is to help them stay cool and comfortable in their residential homes.

Rest assured that your recommendation holds great weight, and we hope to continue earning your trust as you suggest our services to those in need of reliable cooling solutions. Thank you for your trust and support.

Leave us a review

Click the button below for your preferred platform.

As a small business, we appreciate your feedback. Your testimonials really help us deliver the best products to you as we continue to grow. If you’d be so generous, consider leaving your testimonial on our public platforms to spread the word of SoftStartUSA! Thank you!

Connect with us on socials

Click the button below for your preferred platform.

We make it one of our top priorities to connect with YOU, our customers. Connecting with our customers over social media has enabled us to build relationships and connections with you. Your likes, comments, and reposts help us deliver the best products as we continue to grow. Thank you for supporting a small business!

easy installation with softstarthome on an ac

SoftStartHome Installation Is Quick & Easy

easy installation with softstarthome on an ac

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SoftStart Home™ A/C Soft Starter is Quick and Easy to Install on Your Home Air Conditioner

Table of Contents

Kent H.'s Hassle-Free Installation Experience

When Kent H. of North Texas decided to install a SoftStart Home soft starter on his Lennox central air conditioner, he did so knowing that the installation process would be a breeze.  His research showed that SoftStartUSA, maker of the SoftStart Home™ A/C soft starter, provides the most information possible on how to install their products. Not only that, but the 24/7 online support and “live” technician help further prove the company’s dedication to making any installation as easy as possible.

Easy To Access Installation Diagram

From the SoftStartHome.com Support pages, the installation diagram for the Lennox air conditioner was easy to find and print for reference. After previewing the diagram and using his experience gained from years of home maintenance projects, Kent pretty much knew what to expect. He began by shutting off power to the unit and removing the outer cover from the air conditioner’s control area.

Wiring Made Easy With Step-By-Step Instructions

Kent determined where the SoftStart Home unit would fit in the control compartment, and after setting the soft starter on top of the A/C unit, he then followed the step-by-step instructions to make the proper wiring connections.

Reliable & Tidy Wiring with the SoftStart Home Installation Kit

Kent made the connections using standard wire crimpers, a screwdriver and black electrical tape. The SoftStart Home Installation Kit includes all connectors and wire ties needed to make secure, clean connections.

Green Light Indicates SoftStartHome is Working Properly

After completing the wiring connections, Kent turned power back on to the air conditioner and checked his installation. A green light on LED 1 let him know that the SoftStart Home soft starter was working correctly. 

Secure SoftStartHome Unit & Complete Installation

He could then proceed to secure the unit inside the control area of the Lennox air conditioner with the supplied fasteners and/or the adhesive pad on the back of the soft starter.

Kent estimated the installation time took about 15-20 minutes. 

To assure the SoftStart calibrates properly to the central air conditioner or heat pump, set the home’s thermostat as close to ambient outside temperature as possible, and let it run for 30 minutes. After that, the air conditioning or heat pump can be run normally.

See the entire Youtube video below:

Watch This Residential SoftStartHome Installation

Learn More About SoftStart Home Startup Technology

To learn more about SoftStart Home products and how they can improve energy use and help keep homes comfortable in most any situation, please go to SoftStartHome.com. SoftStart Home™ is a product of SoftStartUSA, an industry leader in home and RV power management products.

We Want To Earn Your Trust

Your trust in our SoftStartHome product is truly appreciated. We’ve learned the importance of referrals in our business, and we value your recommendation. If you know anyone in your residential network – family, friends, or neighbors – who needs expert advice or solutions for effective home cooling, please know that we’re here to assist them.

We are committed to making homeowners more informed by providing comprehensive guidance, solutions, recommendations, videos, diagrams, and live technical support for rooftop installations. Our goal is to help them stay cool and comfortable in their residential homes.

Rest assured that your recommendation holds great weight, and we hope to continue earning your trust as you suggest our services to those in need of reliable cooling solutions. Thank you for your trust and support.

Leave us a review

Click the button below for your preferred platform.

As a small business, we appreciate your feedback. Your testimonials really help us deliver the best products to you as we continue to grow. If you’d be so generous, consider leaving your testimonial on our public platforms to spread the word of SoftStartUSA! Thank you!

Connect with us on socials

Click the button below for your preferred platform.

We make it one of our top priorities to connect with YOU, our customers. Connecting with our customers over social media has enabled us to build relationships and connections with you. Your likes, comments, and reposts help us deliver the best products as we continue to grow. Thank you for supporting a small business!

SoftStart Home Potential Energy Savings Report – Part 2

SoftStart Home Potential Energy Savings Report – Part 2

By Mike Sokol from RVelectricity.com

Thanks for joining us in part 2 of this article series. Picking up where we left off, let’s talk about…

Indirect Energy Savings

If a consumer needs to occasionally power their house during an electrical outage from a portable generator, bi-directional charging EV truck or solar Powerwall, then SoftStart Home can provide additional Indirect energy savings. That’s because by reducing the compressor inrush current it enables the consumer to use a heat-pump in their house instead of portable electric space heaters or electric baseboard heating. And according to the EPA, a heat pump can reduce energy heating costs by as much as 50% to 70% compared to resistance heating.

The reduced starting inrush current from SoftStart Home will allow a home owner to run a Central Air Conditioner and/or Heat Pump from a smaller 120/240-volt, 7,000-watt Inverter Generator or PowerWall inverter system.

That’s difficult to accomplish with a 7kW class inverter generator and the stock starting capacitor. Typically, an air conditioner or heat pump using a stock starting capacitor on a 2 to 4-ton compressor would require a larger 10kW to 12kW, constant RPM generator, which uses much more fuel to operate as well as being much more noisy in the neighborhood. 

There are also Dual-Fuel inverter generators available such as this DuroMax XP9000iH that can use either gasoline or propane, thereby increasing the refueling possibilities. This style of generator not only drops the engine down to idle speed at times of low power usage, it’s also enclosed in an acoustic baffle to reduce engine noise while running. This is an advantage in a neighborhood power outage where you might not want to advertise that you have a generator.

Basically, the SoftStart Home unit will reduce compressor inrush current by as much as 80%, so that instead of a noisy 12kW generator that uses a lot of gasoline to run at a constant speed in order to maintain a 60 Hz output, a consumer can provide emergency backup power to their home during an electrical outage with a 7kW inverter generator that has much lower fuel consumption.

This is especially important during the winter months where in recent years the electric power grid has been disrupted for a week or more at a time, with thousands of people put at risk due to a lack of electricity for heating.

Energy Saving Estimates

The actual energy savings due to heat pump usage rather than resistance heating is a linear function. So, if a consumer in Maryland with an electric power rate of 16 cents per kWh used 200kWh of energy in a month for resistance heating, that would cost $320 per month of electrical energy to operate. The same house using a heat pump could use only 100kWh or less of electricity to provide heat, which would cost only $160 per month. And, of course, the ability to heat the house with a heat pump during an energy blackout using an affordable dual/fuel generator could save lives, and would essentially be priceless. 

About the Author:

Mike Sokol is an electrical and professional sound expert with 50+ years in the industry. His excellent book RV Electrical Safety is available at Amazon.com. For more info on Mike’s qualifications as an electrical expert, click here.
Join Mike’s popular and informative Facebook group.
And you don’t want to miss Mike’s webcasts on his YouTube channel.

For information on how to support RVelectricity and No~Shock~Zone articles, seminars and videos, please click the I Like Mike Campaign.

Learn More About SoftStart Home Startup Technology

To learn more about SoftStart Home products and how they can improve energy use and help keep homes comfortable in most any situation, please go to SoftStartHome.com. SoftStart Home™ is a product of SoftStartUSA, an industry leader in home and RV power management products.

Trust has to be earned and we want to earn it.

We appreciate the faith and trust you have placed in us in purchasing and using our SoftStart products. More and more we’ve come to understand that we are a referral-based business. Hence, we appreciate and encourage anyone in your life right now such as a father, mother, son, daughter, uncle, cousin, neighbor, or fellow camper that has a need to be cool anywhere in their RV, and needs THE BEST expert opinion or soft start solution. We promise you we will give them our preferential service. And even if they choose to NOT buy our products, we will still try and help them solve their RV cooling issues.

Because you referred us, we are ready, willing, and passionately able to serve the people that are important to you. We want to help make smart campers smarter by giving them the most thorough, most meaningful, professional soft start advice. We will provide for them solutions, recommendations, videos, diagrams, plus LIVE rooftop tech call support. We will treat them in an incredibly special way on how to stay cool anywhere, anytime in their RV.

So please feel confident in your recommendation of us. Trust has to be earned, and we hope we have earned that in you to a degree you feel at ease in suggesting that special person, or special dog or cat who may need camper cooling in hot weather. We trust our help will be sought without reservations, thanks to your sincerest recommendations.

Leave us a review

Click the button below for your preferred platform.

As a small business, we appreciate your feedback. Your testimonials really help us deliver the best products to you as we continue to grow. If you’d be so generous, consider leaving your testimonial on our public platforms to spread the word of SoftStartUSA! Thank you!

Connect with us on socials

Click the button below for your preferred platform.

We make it one of our top priorities to connect with YOU, our customers. Connecting with our customers over social media has enabled us to build relationships and connections with you. Your likes, comments, and reposts help us deliver the best products as we continue to grow. Thank you for supporting a small business!

SoftStart Home Potential Energy Savings Report – Part 1

SoftStart Home Potential Energy Savings Report – Part 1

By Mike Sokol from RVelectricity.com

This is an initial study calculating the potential energy and cost savings from a SoftStartHome installation on a 15 year-old typical 2-ton residential air conditioner.

This study has not been peer reviewed, but it does show that a substantial amount of energy can be saved during the inrush/starting cycle of a traditional residential air conditioner compressor. These same energy saving values can be extrapolated to larger single-phase residential and commercial air conditioners with up to 6-tons of capacity.

 

I’ve broken this report down into two separate sections. The first section shows the Direct Energy Savings of the SoftStartHome unit attributable to the reduction in starting inrush current and compressor start time. Note that the SoftStartHome technology does not reduce running current during the compressor running cyle, only the starting cycle.

The second section shows the Indirect Energy Savings of the SoftStartHome unit that’s attributable to the ability of a heat pump instead of resistance heating. This is especially important if the residential heating system needs to be powered from a portable 7kW generator, an EV truck with bi-directional charging, or even a solar panel system with a PowerWall battery storage system. All of these are basically 120/240-volt split phase inverters with approximately 7kW of available output power.

Direct Energy Savings (Part 1)

The SoftStartHome controller does not reduce any energy usage during the compressor run cycle. Its primary function is to reduce peak inrush current during the starting cycle. This may reduce monthly power costs in states that have peak-demand limits which increase the cost of all average electrical rates.

As a side-effect of reducing these peak inrush currents, SoftStartHome also reduces the startup noise level (DeciBels of SPL), but that’s the subject of another report.

You can see in this graph from another 2-ton air conditioner that there’s a substantial reduction in both the average Sound Pressure Level (SPL) as well as creating a less intrusive spectrum.
Again, this will be covered in another report with video comparing noise levels of a number of air conditioners with before and after recordings.

Inrush energy comparison

This is a just a visual calculation of the inrush current comparison between the stock starting capacitor and SoftStartHome installation on the 2-ton residential air conditioner above. As you can see, there’s a substantial difference in the amount of inrush energy required during each compressor starting cycle.
My visual guestimate is an energy savings of around 840 watt-seconds of energy per starting cycle. That’s 1,400 watt-seconds minus 560 watt-seconds equals 840 watt-seconds of energy.

To calculated kWh of energy during the starting inrush we divide 840 watt-seconds by 3,600 (seconds in an hour) which equals 0.23 Wh savings which is 0.00023 kWh per starting cycle.

If we then assume 6 starting cycles per hour, that works out to 6 times 0.00023 kWh times 24 hours in a day which equals 0.033 kWh per day. Multiply 0.033 kWh by 365 days in a year, and that works out to 12 kWh per year for a 2-ton compressor cycling 6 times per hour.

Now we’ll plug in the cost of electricity per kWh in the USA’s ten most expensive states. As you can see from this chart, the cost per kWH is continually rising by 10% to 20% per year, so ROI calculations are a moving target.

In California, for example, there would be a savings from inrush current energy reduction of $0.26 times time 12 kWh savings. That’s only $3.14 per year in straight energy savings. But that doesn’t include the reduced cost for peak energy demand factors, which have been reported at up to $75 per month for some residences.

Of course, your actual kWh and dollar savings per year will depend on air conditioner duty cycle, ambient air temperature, delta-t and a number of other variables. But my initial testing shows that the SoftStart technology not only reduces the inrush current and starting sound levels substantially, it also reduces the amount of energy used by each air conditioner.

To be continued in our next blog post.

If you have any questions about the SoftStart Home, please feel free to contact us here. 

About the Author:

Mike Sokol is an electrical and professional sound expert with 50+ years in the industry. His excellent book RV Electrical Safety is available at Amazon.com. For more info on Mike’s qualifications as an electrical expert, click here.
Join Mike’s popular and informative Facebook group.
And you don’t want to miss Mike’s webcasts on his YouTube channel.

For information on how to support RVelectricity and No~Shock~Zone articles, seminars and videos, please click the I Like Mike Campaign.

Learn More About SoftStart Home Startup Technology

To learn more about SoftStart Home products and how they can improve energy use and help keep homes comfortable in most any situation, please go to SoftStartHome.com. SoftStart Home™ is a product of SoftStartUSA, an industry leader in home and RV power management products.

Trust has to be earned and we want to earn it.

We appreciate the faith and trust you have placed in us in purchasing and using our SoftStart products. More and more we’ve come to understand that we are a referral-based business. Hence, we appreciate and encourage anyone in your life right now such as a father, mother, son, daughter, uncle, cousin, neighbor, or fellow camper that has a need to be cool anywhere in their RV, and needs THE BEST expert opinion or soft start solution. We promise you we will give them our preferential service. And even if they choose to NOT buy our products, we will still try and help them solve their RV cooling issues.

Because you referred us, we are ready, willing, and passionately able to serve the people that are important to you. We want to help make smart campers smarter by giving them the most thorough, most meaningful, professional soft start advice. We will provide for them solutions, recommendations, videos, diagrams, plus LIVE rooftop tech call support. We will treat them in an incredibly special way on how to stay cool anywhere, anytime in their RV.

So please feel confident in your recommendation of us. Trust has to be earned, and we hope we have earned that in you to a degree you feel at ease in suggesting that special person, or special dog or cat who may need camper cooling in hot weather. We trust our help will be sought without reservations, thanks to your sincerest recommendations.

Leave us a review

Click the button below for your preferred platform.

As a small business, we appreciate your feedback. Your testimonials really help us deliver the best products to you as we continue to grow. If you’d be so generous, consider leaving your testimonial on our public platforms to spread the word of SoftStartUSA! Thank you!

Connect with us on socials

Click the button below for your preferred platform.

We make it one of our top priorities to connect with YOU, our customers. Connecting with our customers over social media has enabled us to build relationships and connections with you. Your likes, comments, and reposts help us deliver the best products as we continue to grow. Thank you for supporting a small business!

How to Start Home Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps with Less Power

SOFTSTART HOME™ Keeps People Comfortable and Safe at Home – Even Using Backup Power or Solar Power

CORAL SPRINGS, FL – For homes that rely on limited electrical power sources – such as solar power or backup generators in emergencies – the new SoftStart Home soft starter provides uninterrupted comfort when used with air conditioners and heat pumps.

SoftStart Home™ high-performance soft starters turn on central A/Cs and heat pumps using up to 70% less power than
normal. When paired with a home solar energy system or backup generator, it helps A/Cs start while freeing up electrical power for other appliances.

Especially for homeowners looking for “off-grid” options such as solar energy, the smoother-starting A/C that results with a SoftStart Home unit eases the strain on battery-stored energy, making it a virtual “must-have” for those considering a home solar energy system.

“With a SoftStart Home unit connected directly to their central A/C or heat pump, homeowners can stay comfortable all the time virtually no matter what their power source is,” said Doug Curtis of SoftStartUSA. “It lets them convert their existing “hard-starting” unit to a more efficient, less noisy “soft-starting” appliance without spending thousands on a new central unit,”  Curtis continued.

Up to 70% Less Power Needed to Start a Central A/C or Heat Pump

Designed for 6-ton/72,000 BTU air conditioners and heat pumps with 115- 230VAC single-phase motors, a SoftStart Home soft starter connects directly to the A/C. It “throttles back” the startup power to only 2-3 times the standard running power, and quiets the loud noise or shudder when the unit starts.<br><br>
As a result, it can reduce overall household peak amperage, extend the life of heat sensitive components, and provide quiet comfort all day and all night.

Achieve Continuous Comfort – Even in Low-Power Conditions

As more homeowners look for alternative sources of electric power – whether to ease their reliance on a power grid or to obtain essential backup power in emergencies – a SoftStart Home soft starter offers even more advantages in limited power applications.

From sources such as 2200- watt and larger generators or solar-energized batteries, a SoftStart Home starter allows homeowners to run air conditioning more effectively by greatly reducing the appliance’s startup power. Especially in emergency situations, this frees up power for other vital appliances such a refrigerators or medical devices – all while keeping the air conditioning system running.

Learn More About SoftStart Home Startup Technology

To learn more about SoftStart Home products, how it can improve your energy use and help keep your home comfortable in most any situation, please go to SoftStartHome.com.

SoftStart Home is a product of SoftStartUSA, an industry leader in home and RV power management products.​