Dometic A/C Hard Start Mod & Generator Question
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Forum Name: Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
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URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=3835
Printed Date: 03 Jun 2025 at 5:24am
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Topic: Dometic A/C Hard Start Mod & Generator Question
Posted By: EEBowHunter
Subject: Dometic A/C Hard Start Mod & Generator Question
Date Posted: 13 Aug 2013 at 10:56am
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Just a quick question for my fellow r-podders. I recently purchased two Yamaha EF2000is generators to power my 2010 RPod 171 (no electricity available where we camp). In parallel they do just about everything I could ever want including run the A/C and everything else in the trailer simultaneously. The one annoyance is that both generators in parallel don't have enough juice to start the A/C in economy mode. This means that we have to leave the generators running full open if we want the air conditioner to maintain a constant temp in the camper (turning itself on and off). My question is, do you think installing a hard start capacitor kit will allow me to start the A/C with two parallel Yamaha ef2000s running in economy mode? The A/C installed in it is a Dometic model 620412.331 11,000 BTU unit. |
Replies:
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 13 Aug 2013 at 11:57am
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The best answer is.. "maybe". It costs about $15 to do the hard start mod. It allows mine to start on a single Honda 2000i.. a friends won't. ------------- |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 13 Aug 2013 at 2:39pm
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Yup, the 2000 is on the edge and depending on several factors may or may not work. Outside temperature, oil used (use synthetic it will help), altitude. You also need to make sure other things aren't online like the electric side of the water heater. Its easy to forget about that one. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual 
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Posted By: EEBowHunter
Date Posted: 13 Aug 2013 at 2:52pm
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Given the altitude and crazy heat we've been having, a single 2000 won't start the A/C even with eco mode turned OFF. Two 2000s in parallel work like a champ but won't turn the A/C on when they are in economy mode paralleled. I guess I'll just have to try it and see how much of a difference it makes. I really hate to run the generators full open all the time b/c they're wasting a lot of fuel. The hard start kit is pretty cheap...is there a downside to running the A/C with a hard start capacitor? |
Posted By: Outbound
Date Posted: 13 Aug 2013 at 7:47pm
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I think you're out of luck. The startup surge is somewhere around 16-18 amps, which is a huge load from the low idle of econo mode. A start cap would help smooth that down, but you'd likely still have way too much instantaneous load.
Ask the same, a start cap is inexpensive and the install is dead simple, so it may be worth a try. ------------- Craig :: 2009 RP171 towed by a 2017 F150 |
Posted By: Goose
Date Posted: 13 Aug 2013 at 8:07pm
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Where is the best place to pick up the soft start cap and from those that have done it what is the part number that you used. I have thought about doing this over the years but have not gotten to it. My Onan is an old contractor unit (early 70's model) that puts out 2.5K but will have had time starting the A/C. Goose ------------- Mother Goose's Caboose..2011 RP171..07 Grand Cherokee 
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Posted By: Sleepless
Date Posted: 13 Aug 2013 at 9:02pm
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Amazon has some reasonably priced. You may want to read this article, too. http://www.modmyrv.com/2009/05/27/rv-air-conditioner-hard-start-capacitor Bob ------------- 2014 R-Pod 178 (OUR POD) 2009 Chevrolet Avalanche |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 13 Aug 2013 at 10:24pm
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Also try the synthetic oil if you don't already have it in those gennys. Someone on another forum claims it changed his marginal setup to one that would start his genset after making that switch. I'm a little surprised yours has a problem, with over 4000 watts available for surge. My Yamaha EF2400is starts mine every time and is always in eco mode (you can't take it out, a design feature I disagree with).
------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
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Posted By: Goose
Date Posted: 14 Aug 2013 at 11:30am
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Thanks Sleepless for the link.
Thanks Tech for the thought on synthetic oil in the gen, I use Mobil 1 in the Jeep and in my Cub Cadet but had not considered it for the generator. Goose ------------- Mother Goose's Caboose..2011 RP171..07 Grand Cherokee
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Posted By: Sleepless
Date Posted: 14 Aug 2013 at 12:35pm
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Goose, that link was for a Dometic installation. I have a similar link for Coleman units if you need it. Bob ------------- 2014 R-Pod 178 (OUR POD) 2009 Chevrolet Avalanche |
Posted By: EEBowHunter
Date Posted: 15 Aug 2013 at 9:48am
Agreed...but for the sake of thoroughness I went ahead and ordered the Supco SPP6E capacitor: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002JP3MEK/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 as well as a hard start capacitor specifically spec'd for my Dometic unit: http://www.americanrvcompany.com/Dometic-3311883000-Hard-Start-Kit-Camper-Trailer-RV I'll try 'em both out next time I'm out there...I guess the worse that can happen is that I have a couple of used capacitors to throw on eBay  |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 15 Aug 2013 at 9:59am
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I might take one for myself if it fits my model. Of course I was JUST up there and didn't write down the model number. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
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Posted By: Outbound
Date Posted: 15 Aug 2013 at 8:45pm
That's the same one I installed in my A/C. Even on mains, I have noticed that the compressor starts easier. At the very least, the bigger start cap may offer a little better protection if a campground's electric is browning out. ------------- Craig :: 2009 RP171 towed by a 2017 F150 |