Kevin Means
Site Team
Every September, we meet other family members at a campground on the Colorado River, and the campground has 30 amp service only. It's always over 100 degrees during the day, and often in the 80s at night. Our coach has three Coleman Mach 13,500 BTU AC units with heat pumps and condensation pumps. It's no surprise that we can only run one AC unit, but at those temps, one AC unit obviously doesn't cut it.
I recently bought and installed two Micro-Air Easy Start 364 units, which they claim will allow you to run two 13,500 BTU AC units off 30 amp service, simultaneously. They do so by ramping up the compressor's start cycle, vs. its typical hard-start.
Their installation instructions direct you to disconnect some wires, tap into others and remove the factory start capacitor. The instructions are actually pretty straightforward, but the problem is, our Coleman's wiring is not as is depicted in their diagrams. It's close, but not identical. I'm thinking that's because ours also have heat pumps and condensation pumps, but I'm just guessing at that.
Despite interpreting the instructions as well as I can, I still can't get two AC units to run off 30 amp service, and when I remove (disconnect) the start capacitor, as instructed, my condensation pumps no longer work. I can hear the compressors trying to start, but after a few seconds, they shut off. Reconnecting the start capacitor gets the condensation pumps working again, but the two compressors still won't start on 30 amps. The only other appliance running is our res fridge.
I've sent two emails to "customer support" and while they've acknowledged receiving them, no one has responded. This the only way to contact customer support. There is no phone number to call. I've read all their FAQs, but nowhere is the issue of condensation pumps addressed. Has anyone with AC units that have heat pumps and condensation pumps installed these? If so, I'd love to hear if and how you got them to work. Thanks.
Kev
I recently bought and installed two Micro-Air Easy Start 364 units, which they claim will allow you to run two 13,500 BTU AC units off 30 amp service, simultaneously. They do so by ramping up the compressor's start cycle, vs. its typical hard-start.
Their installation instructions direct you to disconnect some wires, tap into others and remove the factory start capacitor. The instructions are actually pretty straightforward, but the problem is, our Coleman's wiring is not as is depicted in their diagrams. It's close, but not identical. I'm thinking that's because ours also have heat pumps and condensation pumps, but I'm just guessing at that.
Despite interpreting the instructions as well as I can, I still can't get two AC units to run off 30 amp service, and when I remove (disconnect) the start capacitor, as instructed, my condensation pumps no longer work. I can hear the compressors trying to start, but after a few seconds, they shut off. Reconnecting the start capacitor gets the condensation pumps working again, but the two compressors still won't start on 30 amps. The only other appliance running is our res fridge.
I've sent two emails to "customer support" and while they've acknowledged receiving them, no one has responded. This the only way to contact customer support. There is no phone number to call. I've read all their FAQs, but nowhere is the issue of condensation pumps addressed. Has anyone with AC units that have heat pumps and condensation pumps installed these? If so, I'd love to hear if and how you got them to work. Thanks.
Kev