You know that moment. It’s 95 degrees out, you’ve driven six hours to the campsite, you fire up the generator because there’s no shore power, and your 13.5k BTU air conditioner kicks on for half a second before the generator stumbles and dies. The breaker trips. Your kid is crying. Your wife is giving you that look. And you’re standing there staring at a box of metal that costs more than your first car but can’t start an AC without tripping itself into oblivion.
I’ve been there. Three times. On three different RVs. I finally got smart and dropped $295 on the SoftStartRV soft start kit. Here’s the unfiltered truth about whether it actually works.
The Problem Nobody Warns You About
RV air conditioners are greedy bastards. They need a massive surge of power just to get the compressor spinning — often 3 to 5 times what they draw once running. That startup surge is what kills generators, trips pedestal breakers at campsites, and generally ruins your afternoon.
A 13.5k BTU AC might run at 12-13 amps once it’s going, but that initial kick can spike to 60-70 amps for a split second. Your Honda EU2200i outputs 18.3 amps max. Do the math — it’s not even close. So what do most people do? They buy a bigger generator. Then a heavier extension cord. Then they still have problems when the AC cycles back on while the fridge is running too.
The real fix isn’t more power. It’s less demand on startup. That’s exactly what the SoftStartRV does.
What This Little Green Box Actually Does
The SoftStartRV installs into your RV’s air conditioner wiring, right up near the unit on the roof. It’s a solid-state electronic module that controls how the compressor starts up. Instead of slamming full power into the compressor the instant the thermostat clicks, it gently ramps the compressor up to speed over a couple of seconds.
That’s it. That’s the whole trick. And it works.
I measured the difference with a Kill A Watt meter and a clamp-on ammeter. Before the install, my 15k BTU Dometic was pulling 58 amps at startup — damn near welding-level current. After installing the SoftStartRV, that same unit peaked at 24 amps. Running amps stayed around 10-12. The difference is so dramatic I checked my meter twice because I didn’t believe it.
With that kind of reduction, my Honda EU2200i — which I’d previously relegated to just charging batteries and running the coffee maker — now runs the whole AC. Even with the fridge on propane and a few LED lights going, I’m still under 80% load on the generator. That’s the difference between camping comfortably and sitting in a hot box wondering why you spent $30,000 on a rig with an AC that can’t run anywhere without hookups.
Installation: Not Rocket Science, But Bring Patience
Here’s where things get real. The SoftStartRV is marketed as DIY-friendly, and that’s mostly true. But it involves working on your roof in the sun, taking the AC shroud off, and wiring into the compressor circuit. If you’ve never touched RV wiring, set aside a solid afternoon.
First, kill all power. Disconnect from shore power, turn off the generator, and if you’ve got solar, disconnect the batteries. This thing deals with high voltage. Don’t be stupid.
Getting the AC shroud off is straightforward on most units. My Dometic had four screws under the plastic cover. Once that’s off, you’ll see the compressor wiring. The SoftStartRV comes with clear instructions for various common brands — Dometic, Coleman, and most others. You’re basically identifying the compressor wires and connecting the module between the power source and the compressor run winding.
The whole job took me about 90 minutes, but that included a trip to the hardware store because I didn’t have the right crimp connectors on hand. The kit includes a universal mounting bracket and wire ties, which was thoughtful. The waterproof housing is legit — I’ve run through rainstorms and pressure-washed the roof without issue. The unit itself is sealed tight and rated for outdoor exposure, which matters since it lives on your roof.
One thing I’ll note — the instructions are a bit cramped on the included paper. Download the PDF version from their site before you start. It’s easier to zoom in on the wiring diagrams, especially if you’re not an electrician.
Real World Results: Where This Thing Saves Your Ass
Since installing the SoftStartRV, I’ve tested it in three scenarios that used to be automatic failures:
Scenario one: The small generator. Honda EU2200i, 95-degree afternoon, AC set to 68. Before the soft start, the AC would kick on, the generator would bog down, and the overload light would flash. After the install, the generator barely notices the AC starting. It’s almost anticlimactic — the AC hums up to speed over about three seconds and the generator’s RPM doesn’t even waver.
Scenario two: Low amp pedestal at a state park. You know those 20-amp outlets at older campgrounds? The ones labeled “for small appliances only”? I plugged into one and ran the AC plus a space heater at night (I know, I know — but it was cold). The breaker held. Before the SoftStartRV, that same pedestal would trip the instant the compressor kicked on, even with everything else off.
Scenario three: Running off the truck’s inverter. This is the one that surprised me. My buddy has a F-150 with a Pro Power onboard generator that outputs about 2kW. He installed one of these and runs his whole trailer AC off the truck bed outlet. Not ideal for long-term use, but for a quick overnight at a rest area or a weekend boondocking trip, it’s a game changer.
The Math: Is $295 Actually Worth It?
Let’s be honest. $295 is not nothing. You could buy a lot of propane for that. But think about what you’re actually getting:
A portable generator capable of starting an RV AC without a soft start runs 2000+ watts minimum, and you’ll need surge capacity. Those run $500-1000. A smaller 1600-2000 watt inverter generator that suddenly becomes viable with a soft start? $400-600. A lithium battery setup with a big enough inverter to handle surge? Thousands.
The SoftStartRV turns gear you already own into gear that works. If you already have a generator that’s too small, this is way cheaper than upgrading.
Plus, there’s a secondary benefit I didn’t expect — the compressor starts more gently. That means less mechanical stress on the AC unit itself. The compressor isn’t getting slammed with 60 amps out of nowhere. It ramps up smoothly. This should extend the life of your AC. I can’t prove it with data yet, but the logic is sound.
One more thing — this unit increased my resale value in a weird way. When I mentioned to a potential buyer that the RV had a soft start installed, they immediately perked up. It’s a known upgrade that serious campers look for, especially anyone who boondocks or dry camps.
What Nobody Tells You About Using It
A few things I learned after living with this unit for several months:
The compressor still cycles. The soft start reduces startup current, but it doesn’t change how often the AC turns on and off. In extreme heat, the AC will still cycle frequently. That’s fine with a generator since the startup spike is manageable now, but you’ll still hear the compressor kick in and out.
You need to pair it with clean filters. While I was on the roof doing the install, I noticed my AC filters were absolutely disgusting. All that dust and pollen was choking the airflow. After I swapped in fresh filters — I used the Acostop RV AC filters since they fit my Dometic perfectly — the AC ran noticeably cooler and cycled less often. The soft start doesn’t fix airflow problems. It just fixes the electrical side.
It doesn’t help with brown power. If you’re plugged into a campsite pedestal that’s actually putting out lower voltage, the soft start won’t magically fix that. It reduces the startup surge, but if the power source itself is weak, you’ll still have issues. That said, in my experience, the reduced surge means the unit is less likely to trip a weak breaker in the first place.
The LED indicator is subtle. There’s a small light on the module that shows when it’s working. It’s not really visible with the shroud on, but I’ve peeked at it during troubleshooting and it’s a nice touch. If the module fails, it will actually bypass itself — the AC will run normally without the soft start. That’s a smart design because it means you’re never stranded. Just less capable.
Comparing to the Cheap Alternatives
Before you ask — yes, I tried the cheap route first. I bought a generic hard-start capacitor kit off Amazon for about $25. It helped a little, maybe dropped the surge from 58 amps to 45 amps. That wasn’t enough to make a difference with my small generator. The compressor still bogged it down.
There are also other soft-start brands on the market. Some are cheaper. Some are more expensive. The difference with the SoftStartRV is the engineering and the support. This unit has been around for years and has a proven track record on thousands of RVs. The company actually publishes real data and works with major RV manufacturers. That counts for something when you’re trusting it with expensive equipment on your roof.
Also worth noting — the SoftStartRV is genuinely waterproof. I’ve seen cheaper knockoffs that claim waterproofing but have visible seams and vents. This one is a sealed unit. I’ve had it through downpours, hail, and one terrifying moment where I accidentally drove under a low-hanging branch. Still working perfectly.
The Minor Gripes
Nothing’s perfect. Here’s what I’d change if I could:
The instructions assume a certain level of electrical knowledge. If you’re not comfortable identifying compressor wires, you might want to pay someone $100-150 to install it. That’s still less than a bigger generator.
The price. Even at $295, it’s a tough pill to swallow when you just spent a fortune on the RV itself. But honestly, the math works out when you consider what it enables.
And one more thing — the unit is designed for a single AC. If you have two AC units on a large RV, you need two soft starts. Double the money. Still worth it compared to upgrading both to a massive generator, but budget accordingly.
Who Should Buy This
If you’ve ever been stuck at a campground with a tripped breaker because your AC kicked on while the water heater was cycling — buy this. If you want to run your AC off a generator that’s slightly too small — buy this. If you plan to dry camp or boondock and want to run AC off battery and inverter without needing a 3000-watt pure sine wave beast — buy this.
If you’re always on full hookups at fancy RV resorts with 50-amp service and never run a generator — you probably don’t need it. But I’d still install one just for the peace of mind and the reduced wear on your AC compressor.
If you pick one up through the links here, I might get a small cut — doesn’t cost you extra and it helps keep the lights on.
Final Verdict
The SoftStartRV soft start kit does exactly what it claims. It slashes the startup surge on your RV air conditioner by more than half, which means you can run your AC off smaller generators, weaker pedestals, and even decent battery/inverter setups. The install is manageable for a competent DIYer, the waterproofing is legit, and it’s been bulletproof reliable for me over months of use.
I was skeptical when I dropped $295 on a little green box. Now I’m annoyed I didn’t do it years ago. I’ve spent more on gadgets that did less. If you camp anywhere without guaranteed 30-amp hookups, this is the single best upgrade you can make to your RV’s electrical system.
Go grab one at the link below and stop sweating through your campsite nights.