RV A/C and hard start capacitor

[hpcmbw]

Hello All, I've got a 1997 5r with a Dometic rooftop a/c system. I picked up a $550.00 2900/3200 quiet generator from Costco (Firman brand) in hopes of running my A/C. My old Coleman 3500/4000 generator ran the a/c fine, but is really loud. The a/c will start off the Costco generator, but when it cycles off, then on again, it often overloads the generator, which means I have to unplug from the gennie, then shut down and re start gennie to get a/c again. I tried a couple different hard start capacitors from Amazon (SPP6 Supco and Antoble brands both about $10.00) but they actually made things worse- the gennie would die when the a/c is first turned on. I've tried turning a/c to gas and turning off all power in the RV already.

Any other ideas for hard start capacitors or other options? I know the right answer is to get a bigger gennie, but a 4000w quiet gennie is way out of my price range.

Thanks for any ideas!

 

[Lou Schneider]

It's not cheap, but the Easy Start 364 claims to lower the starting surge below what an easy start capacitor can accomplish.

There are several Youtube videos showing it letting roof A/Cs start and run on 2000 watt inverter generators.  I don't have any experience with this device, but I have seen similar technology work.  My shed has a Frigidare Energy Star 5000 BTU soft-start window air conditioner that will start and run on my Honda EU1000i in eco mode.  The same size A/C it replaced wouldn't start on a Honda Eu2000i generator.

 

[wndopdlr]

I am curious as to the elevation of the trailer when you tried your new genny setup.  We ran into a similar problem with our Predator 3500 when we were above 7000'

 

[Senator]

It's not cheap, but the Easy Start 364 claims to lower the starting surge below what an easy start capacitor can accomplish.

I can run a 15K A/C with my Honda 2200.  The A/C has an Easy Start.  I installed two of them, one on each A/C.