Are soft start devices a good idea for an AC condenser?
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I noticed how loud my AC condenser is at start. How expensive are these soft start
devices?
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Soft start devices for AC are for the motor only. Soft Starters place a device called a reduced voltage starter, or soft starter, between the motor and the incoming utility line to regulate the amount of current fed to the motor. Soft Starters enable the AC induction motor to speed up in smaller, resulting in less current drawn than with a traditional motor starter. Due to decreased voltage, torque is also reduced resulting in a soft, or easy start. They start at about $300+
The noise you are hearing may be the compressor that a soft starter will not work on since the compressor voltage is 220V. If this loud noise started recently then it's possible that the system is low on Freon. Have an HVAC tech check the system out. The compressor is cooled by the Freon. If the Freon gets too low the compressor will overheat, fail, and lockup.