202QBWE - Installing AC Soft Start Capacitor

[MrKABC]

2022 Keystone Springdale 202QBWE.
Installing a Micro Air Easy Start 364 soft start capacitor.

https://www.microair.net/products/ea...r-conditioners

My 202QBWE AC unit is a 13500 BTU Dometic "Brisk II" model 970008682. It's rated to draw up to 20 amps "with or without electric heat" (it doesn't have electric heat). This unit would pop my 15a house breaker from time to time when plugged in to a wall outlet of my home. The installation instructions are located here:

https://www.micro-air.com/support-do...zYxNi42MC4wLjA.

HOWEVER, having completed the installation today I felt some things were missing from the instructions.

TOOLS NEEDED:

• Square bit screwdriver
• 8mm nutdriver
• Wire cutter/crimper
• Box cutter

When you order the soft start, be sure to get the KIT-364-RT2 installation kit - if not you'll need to source your own spade lug connectors, zip ties, extra 12AWG wire (about 14"), and 3 WAGO connectors (two 2-port, one 3-port).

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Remove external cover from AC unit by removing four (4) square bit screws. Two are located on the sides, and two on the front of the cover. Lift cover off, and set aside.
2. The front portion of the AC unit is covered by a polystyrene "clamshell". Grasp on the sides (NOT the front) and lift it straight up. You might get a bit of resistance on the right ("passenger") side due to a bit of tacky adhesive, but it should pop right off. Set cover aside - you should now see the squirrel cage fan and the vent opening to the interior of the trailer.
3. On the left (driver) side of the AC unit, you'll see a gray sheet metal box with model diagram and power stickers. Remove the two 8mm bolts from the top of this box. There is no need to loosen the motor housing bolts. Set aside the cover - you should now see the capacitor and wiring connections.
4. BE CAREFUL using metal tools around the capacitor.
5. The capacitor is strapped in - remove the 8mm bolt holding the strap on the right hand side, and move the capacitor out of the way. This allows you to access two more 8mm bolts at the base of the metal support bracket. Remove those bolts, and pull the entire assembly to the left. You are essentially bending the bracket to allow access behind it.
6. Feed your "extra" wire from the right side of the AC unit following the wiring harness that runs under the motor. You'll need to reach behind the capacitor bracket you just moved in order to capture the wire and feed it through the hole into the capacitor box. This wire now should run from the inside of the capacitor box to the right side of the AC unit, on the other side of the compressor.
7. Place your soft start capacitor on top of the condenser shroud out of the way. Feed the thick gray power lead (containing four wires) behind the capacitor bracket (see pic) and through the hole where the other wiring enters the box.
8. Once you have guided the power lead in to the box, push the bracket back in place and tighten down the lower two 8mm bolts.
9. Re-mount the capacitor within its holder and tighten with 8mm bolt.
10. NOW follow the wiring instructions in the link above: brown wire from lead connects to white wire from compressor into WAGO, white wire from lead to capacitor, orange wire from lead to red wire terminal group on capacitor.
11. Black wire from lead goes into WAGO, and you'll be attaching the end of the wire you ran to the right side of the AC unit under the motor. Your wiring should look like the attached pic.
12. Confirm all connections are tight. If they are, go ahead and replace the cover to the capacitor box, securing with the two 8mm bolts along the top.
13. On the right side of the AC unit, locate the blue wire coming from the compressor. It's in a lead with a red and white wire. The red and white wires run into the capacitor box, and the blue one runs toward the front of the AC unit and down into the trailer. In the "clamshell" there is a small gallery where the wiring is run, you'll be cutting that blue wire in there. My AC unit had a lot of tension in that blue wire, so I was forced to cut the lead coming from the compressor to give more slack to the blue wire. Strip each end of the now-cut blue wire and place in the 3 port WAGO. The third port of the WAGO is used for that wire you ran under the motor to the capacitor box. (see pic).
14. Check your connections, make sure all good - then replace the "clamshell".
15. Now place your soft start capacitor on its side in front of the capacitor box. Secure it to the exterior cover using zip ties. (see pic). Ensure the wiring lead isn't anywhere near the fan or anything that could get hot and damage the wiring.
16. Replace cover, and secure with the four square head bolts.

You're done! Follow the "learning process" outlined on page 27 of the attached guide to get the soft start capacitor acclimated to your power source.

I hope this helps someone!

[sahively]

Very similar A/C to mine (maybe the exact same). I ended up double-sided taping the crap out of mine to that little 90-degree nook in the black Styrofoam. Wasn't sure if it would stay but it's been there three years now.

[cougar23]

You will be happy with the results. Would be nice if factories would include this in the build stage.

[jxnbbl]

Originally Posted by sahively

Very similar A/C to mine (maybe the exact same). I ended up double-sided taping the crap out of mine to that little 90-degree nook in the black Styrofoam. Wasn't sure if it would stay but it's been there three years now.

I've installed 3 of these (although they were softstartrv.com models) all used the 'double sided' tape and have been fine.

[MrKABC]

Originally Posted by sahively

Very similar A/C to mine (maybe the exact same). I ended up double-sided taping the crap out of mine to that little 90-degree nook in the black Styrofoam. Wasn't sure if it would stay but it's been there three years now.

I thought about that! Didn't know if the double stick would hold. Now I know it does!