It’s broke...................
Marker for later. I started looking into that several years ago also.
I have seen soft start starters on large motors that might overload the system if allowed a standard start. Motors typically have a high starting amperage compared to their running amps, thus the soft start.
I’ve seen a couple of YouTube videos about them, but how they actually work, I’m not sure. Maybe not much more than an extra capacitor to get the compressor going, and maybe a timer to have the fan motor startup several seconds earlier to lower the power surge a little bit.
I self installed a soft start on my RV air conditioner. Works great allows me to run air conditioner on my Honda 2200 generator. It also worked when I ran my old Honda 2000 but you had to make sure nothing else was running.
Out of curiosity, is your AC unit circuit one that is actually powered when the generator runs? A lot of time, the circuits powered to run when the generator is on are limited due to the generator capacity and are only there to run some lights and the fridge and freezer. It takes a big gen-set to run an AC unit.
You may need to just get a new soft start module. I know they’re expensive, but they aren’t difficult to install.
The other possibility is that the start/run capacitor in the condenser unit is bad.
If it died at 4 years, there must have been a 3-year warranty on it.
Higher capacitance run caps in parallel. Solved my A/C compressor stalling, buzzing, probably burning itself out and not starting using a 10kW genset. Was having to “kick start” the motor on by flipping the breaker on and off until it started. Started even faster with the new caps when on grid power. No dimming lights anymore either.
Did that about 20 years ago with cheap Chinese caps and that Trane compressor is now 30 years old and still starts and runs great on grid. But probably just jinxed it...
If it worked before on battery, then it’s the capacitor INSIDE the AC system. It has one already to help smooth inrush flow during startup.
It was one reason I installed a variable speed heat pump for my home. That basically has a built-in "soft start" capability anyway. Plus it saves a ton of money even if I didn't have solar.
I have. It’s a cap for one of the motors - compressor I believe. They all have starter caps, but the soft start is a variation.
From AI -
A soft start AC capacitor is a type of capacitor that helps to reduce the rush of current during start up to protect the motor of your air conditioning system. It also helps reduce the amount of wear and tear on the other parts of the system, allowing for better and more consistent performance for your air conditioning unit.