Smart Start
Posted: Jul 27th, '11, 15:03
I believe the cost for that unit is around 350 bucks.
Soft starters have been used for a while in the commercial and residential HVAC and run about 200 bucks.
Hard start kits usualy will do the same thing for 50 bucks.
The soft starter just starts the compressor more slowly reducing current needs where as the hard start kit uses large capacitors which store energy and its expelled on startup reducing the spike in start current.
If someone is really on the hairy edge of current consumption, then the soft starter would probably do a little better.
In theory they should make the compressor last longer, less current, less stress.