MICRO-AIREasyStart FLEX 398 - Bluetooth Soft Start Kit for Home Air Conditioner, RV & Commercial Use, Works with Generators, Reduces Power Surge, Efficient Start-Up - Up to 6 Tons

Excellent soft start lowered my start amps from 38 to 24. It will easily pay for it self in a short time. Living in south Texas the ac runs most of the year. Easy to install and great customer service.

I purchased the Micro-Air EasyStart Flex 398 soft start kit for one of my new Goodman heat pumps that was making a very loud noise and causing the lights to dim a bit upon starting. I had my HVAC guy install it (it was his first time doing so). Installation went well and the results were impressive. Inrush/startup current was reduced to only 15.2 amps and the normal running current was lowered a bit to 3.7 amps (this is for a 2-ton unit). Just to check, we also did a couple of tests where we cut and then restored power to the entire house to simulate a power outage - no issues. Everything worked great, including the Buetooth app. The unit now starts and runs quiet. Even my HVAC guy was impressed. Going forward, I intend to have another one of these devices installed on my other Goodman heat pump (4-ton size) in the near future. Excellent product. Oh yeah - the customer support is also top-notch.

Bought this soft-start until to allow us to run our AC off our portable generator (8.5Kw running watts on propane). Haven't test that yet, but will soon. So far, running normally off line voltage, I'm impressed.I went from 167 start up amps to 32 start up amps. That is an 80% decrease! Within 7 learning cycles, this unit decreased startup amps from 54, to 44 to 38 and finally settling at 32-33 amps. I mean, wow!I did replace my start/run cap with this one, which is an OEM-spec replacement: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00S033F9C?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_titleI read that it's a best practice (though not mandatory) to replace your start/run cap in conjunction with installing this soft-start. The start/run cap takes a beating during normal operation and if yours is more than a few years old and/or you live in a very hot climate like we do, it's recommended to replace it. I replaced the cap and ensure the AC started normally before installing the soft start.I've only had the product installed for a few days on our Carrier 5-ton heat pump/AC model CH14NB060-A, but so far, so good. I'm comfortable working with high voltage wiring but don't know much about AC/heat pump units. So, I did my homework to ensure I didn't make any very stupid and very expensive mistakes.I have to say that Micro-Air's customer service is really great. The wiring diagram they had on their website for my unit was confusing to me and I couldn't really understand it. I emailed customer service and within a few hours I had a customized response from a real human being. He sent me the attached wiring diagram and clearly explained in the email that even though this was not my make/model, the wiring was identical and to just follow the diagram. He was right.The install took just a few hours, taking my time. I had to mount the unit outside of my AC compressor unit as there wasn't enough room inside the control box for the soft start unit.Even if you have to pay an AC technician or electrician to install this for you, it's totally worth it. The fact that we can now run our AC on our generator is a game changer for us.

I've added a picture of the generator that I own as well as the setup with the 30 amps outlet box and 40 amps ciruit breaker and interlock kit in the breaker box of my house. I didn't add a picture of the EasyStart Micro-Air 368 seeing there are so many pictures and videos of the install. I'm a DIY'er, so that's how I was able to do the install myself. It was relatively easy... the hardest part was in drilling the hole to get the cable into the area with the capacitor and all the other cables and then mounting the actual EasyStart unit onto the AC condenser unit... and that's really because I didn't really have the correct drill bit. Other than that it was relatively easy. Keep in mind, I also did my own install of the outlet box and the breaker in the breaker box... so I'm relatively familiar and OK around these electrical components/setups. BUT, if you're not please connect with a certified electrician for the install.So, the main reason for this review is to simply highlight that it WORKS! When I first did the installation of the outlet box and circuit breaker, I ended up doing it to support the 30 amp outlet on my generator but after doing some research I then discovered that maybe I should have done it to use the 50 amp output so as to operate everything in my house, including my 4 ton AC unit. Sure enough, the 30 amp outlet would indeed allow everything the house to fire up nicely... everything BUT my 4 ton AC unit (that would trip the circuit breaker on the generator). Keep in mind that I do have a gas heater and stove... so my 2,300 sqft house really didn't need much. On the other hand, the AC unit does require a large amperage for startup and this is why my generator could not handle it. I was convinced that the 50 amp output was needed for this... so much that I ended up purchasing a 50 Amp outlet box, 50 amp circult breaker, 6 gauge wires for the installation, and generator power cords to support 50 amps from the genrator to the house (and if you've never seen such a power cord before... It's insanely heavy - it's a body builder's workout... LoL!). BUT.... before I did the installation of these items, I also discovered this EasyStart Micro-Air 368 Advanced Soft Starter as well. So before moving ahead with the upgrade of my 30 amps setup to 50 amps... I first wanted to install the Soft Starter on the AC Condenser and testing it out using my 30 amps seup.MAAAAAAAAAAAN... I was soooo surprised by this. It WORKED! It lowered the needed startup amperage of the AC unit that EVERYTHING, YES EVERYTHING worked on my generator's 30 amps output. My refrigerator - Yes, My Garage door - Yes, My microwave - Yes, All my 120V outlets, my Wifi, my ceiling fan - ALL Yes... and YES, YES... My 4 ton AC unit as well - I kept it running for about an hour and my house was COLD!!! Worked like a charm. I'm SOOOO pleased by this product, I just HAD to write this review. And seeing that I did not come across any reviews highlighting this exactly scenario... All the more reason for my reveiw here. Oh, yes... It also lowered the sound level of my generator as well. So all in all, a GREAT investment for me. And guess what, I can now return all the items for the 50 amps setup seeing that it's not necessary any more. I'll definitely install the EasyStart Micro-Air 368 Advanced Soft Starter to all my AC units in any future homes that I end up getting.BTW: And just a quick recommendation to those of you that are DIY'er as well... I ALWAYS keep and extra capacitor and fan motor (for my AC Condensaer) in my house seeing that these are the typical components that end up being an issue with AC condensers (or, at least from my experience). After being charges about $1,500 from a so called reputable electrician in Houston, TX for changing out a Fan motor... I promised myself that will NEVER happen again. It was a total rip off considering the cost of the part and how easy it is to install. So these items I can do myself...I hope this helps someone out there. #aVeryHappyCustomer!