Customer Reviews

Part No. SPP6 Series PTC Capacitor Combination, Operating Voltage (VAC) 90 - ...

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Works very well to enhance the starting of our 15000 btu RV A/C unit. I originally could not get our 3500 watt generator to provide enough startup power to get the compressor fully up to speed. It would trip the circuit breaker on the generator and shut down. The A/C unit is only 1 year old by the way. Now I can run the A/C off of the generator with no problems. Great modification and price could not be beat.

I installed the softstart (capacitor) on my Trailer RV with a 13,500 BTU airconditioner. I immediately could notice the extra starting boost the compressor had. I needed to dry camp and planned to use a Yamaha 2400HC generator. The generator ran flawlessly in 95 degree heat for the 5 days of camping.

The softstart unit fit in the cover next to the original common starting capacitor for the air conditioner compressor and fan. I used the schematic attached to the air conditioner starting capacitor cover to identify which two of three connectors to use. You don't have to be a good schematic read, simply follow the the lines from the compressor to the capacitor and read the color of the wire on the schematic lines. You want to plug the softstart two wires to the compressor starting capacitor.

With the smaller and quiet Yamaha generator, could use the air conditioner when I needed a rest from driving. I simply left the generator in the bed of my truck and connected a #12/3 Conductor 20 foot extention cord.

It is possible that this product does what it says, but my father purchased and installed it on his Gemini 105Mc Catamaran's A/C with no noticeable change in power load. Meaning, it appears this capacitor didn't change anything. I purchased one and installed on our Hunter 37.5, also with no noticeable change. We both purchased because we had read that with this little gem we could start and run our marina a/c off of a Honda eu2000i generator, but that wasn't the case. The Honda eu2000i has the power capability to run the a/c, but not to get over the start surge.

We ended up using an ammeter to measure the power surge reduction at startup using a Supco and only realized a 5 amp drop in the start surge. So this device will probably work for someone who has an old compressor, which only needs a slight boost to get it running, but still won't work for someone trying to start their a/c on a Honda 2000. Another device we tried is the Dometic SmartStart, which reliably starts our Mermaid 16,500 btu a/c each and every time with the Honda eu2000i on eco mode.

Had a 2007 keystone. The AC worked great with a Yamaha 2400w generator. Upgraded the trailer to a 2011 Keystone. The AC would not start with the same generator. Did some investigating and found out that Keystone, to cut cost, did not spec a hard start capacitor. What a bunch of cheapos, all to save what, 5$?

Tried a SPP6E first and it didn't appear to work. Ordered up this one, an SPP6 and installation took all of a few minutes. It took more time to remove the AC cover then it did to plug in the capacitor. The AC fires up now in a few seconds and the generator does work hard at first, but I got AC. Tried it up to 10,800 feet on a 80 deg day. No problems.

I was surprised to find that my 1000 watt max/800 running watt emergency generator by Champion Power Equipment was unable to run my small 5,000 btu window unit which uses less than 800 watts. The fan would run fine, but when the compressor would try to start there just was not enough juice. I discovered online that compressors can need over 2 times more watts for a split second to get started. I then eventually found reference to hard start kits to compensate and ordered this one doubting it would work. Then to my surprise the compressor started up and ran well, producing ice cold air. It was not very difficult to install, just plugged it in and it just fit inside the housing. The hardest part was getting the stock capacitor out to be able to plug in the SPP6. Great product!

Easy to install, instructions clear enough. Can't really tell if it is actually doing anything because I replaced the "start/run" capacitor at the same time. My AC compressor is 22 years old and a bit cranky. It "sounds like" it starts without any delay but who know... it's cheap and easy so what the heck.

My idea for ordering this item was for it to help start the A/C compressor. I added this to my heat pump and it didn't improve the starting.