Dometic Smart Start

[flrockytop]

The topic of small gen sets and AC's come up from time to time and one of the problems is always having enough power output to start the AC. I just saw an article in Power and Motoryacht that talks about this

http://www.dometic.com/enus/Americas/USA/Marine-News/SmartStart-Reduces-Startup-Surge/

This may solve the problem.

Roger

[Captains Cat]

It may well do the trick. Did you notice the Oct 2009 date on the article? Where has this been. I can't find it listed for sale on any website..

Charlie

[Will-C]

some ripped off info from another site

Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 474
Rep Power: 4



Hey HONDA genset users .....

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Have you seen this SmartStart Control from Dometic?

products - Dometic

Looks like cost is around $350, and might solve some problems I have today. I use my AC leaving the eco-switch disabled, as this is the only way my Honda start my TurboVector 12,000BTU. It scream loud, and I must be alone at anchorage otherwise I'm shamed to use it. I'm willing to give it a try and hope I can turn on the eco-switch and benefit of a less laud genset. Someone at Cruising forum stated his 8,000 runs almost at idle (well, the eco-on, I mean)
and revs up just a bit when compressor cycle. Anyone have experienced this ?




Looks like a simple hard start capacitor which can be had in similar kit form for $150 or less. These have been around forever, are nothing new and do as advertized. I installed a hard start cap on our 16k BTU A/C years ago and our Honda 2000 has no problem starting/running it.




I put a hard start capacitor on my cruiseair and it will start with my little 1 KW genset with 1.5 KW surge capacity. Cost for the cap was about $15 and if you can make up an extension cord you have the technical skill to install the capacitor.






How to size such capacitors and how to connect to actual AC. Would you share some drawings ? Thanks.
__________________



How to size such capacitors and how to connect to actual AC. Would you share some drawings ? Thanks.

Included are both a schematic and written description of an example:

RV Air Conditioner Hard Start Capacitor | ModMyRV

with a little searching, you can easily find the part for $15 compared with the $350 ripoff you asked about


----------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Captains Cat]

Thanks D.D. Where's the schematic and other info?

[Will-C]

Charlie,
Here is what I found,
http://www.modmyrv.com/2009/05/27/rv-air-conditioner-hard-start-capacitor?orderComments=true

Be Cool

D.D.

[thataway]

One has to understand that the "Smart Start" from Dometic is much different than the hard start capaciters which are used to drop the start up current. There is an excellent article on Sailnet by the Dometic Staff writer: Basically it is that the Smart Start is a micro processor which allows far less current to be used, and is entirely different technology.


The test used a Honda EU 2000, with a Cruise Air 16,000 BTU marine AC unit:

The SmartStart made a dramatic difference. With the ECO switch turned on, the generator was able to tolerate the 18 amp start surge with only about a 20% drop in voltage. With the ECO switch turned off, the generator didn’t even flinch (i.e. no measurable voltage drop).

Summary
As was cited elsewhere in this thread, the Honda EU2000i can support a 16,000 BTU air conditioner without any added hardware. But as our testing showed, this would only work if the ECO mode was turned off. Adding the Supco SPP6E provides a marginal improvement, but for our specific test with the 16000 BTU system, it could not guarantee a reliable start-up if the generator was operating in ECO mode. Beyond this, if other equipment is already loading the generator (e.g. sea water pump), that will further reduce the available amperage for the compressor start-up. Adding the Dometic SmartStart provides a dramatic improvement, provides a reliable start under almost all conditions, and will allow the generator to be run in ECO mode, which will certainly reduce fuel consumption.

http://www.sailnet.com/forums/gear-maintenance/62158-honda-eu2000i-air-conditioning-3.html The article does bring up the potential problems with the portable generators on boats, but the experience has been that if safety precautions are used, they appear to be very safe.