#hard start

Tech Tips:

Potential for Good and Evil (The Hard Start & Potential Relay)
I have spent most of my career being afraid of hard start kits; I heard too many horror stories of start caps exploding and sales technicians telling every customer they need one. It dawned on me recently that it may be time for me to take a more mature look at start capacitors, potential relays, […]
Read more
This is Not a Soft Start
I used to call PTCR devices a "Soft Start". I was wrong.
Read more
Start Capacitor & Inrush, Facts & Myths – Part #4
Now is the part where we get specific about start capacitors and inrush. If you haven't read the first three parts, please do so before reading this one, or it may not make sense. (You can find Part #1, Part #2, and Part #3 at these links.) I'm going to come out and say it […]
Read more
Start Capacitor & Inrush Facts and Myths – Part #1
This series of articles is one of those that will bug a lot of people because it will go against a lot of what you've been told about compressors, start capacitors, and inrush current. For that reason, I want you to work through a few thought experiments first and maybe even stop and try it […]
Read more
No, It’s NOT a Ground!
I was walking around at the AHR conference today, and I stopped at the booth of a popular hard start kit manufacturer (especially popular with white-shirt sales techs). I listened to the guy behind the booth “training” some municipal maintenance techs on the use of his hard start kit. (To be fair, I actually think […]
Read more

Podcasts:

Hard Start Types and Applications Podcast
In this episode, Bryan speaks with James Bowman from Rectorseal about hard start kits, PTCR devices, run capacitors, compressor overheating, and the Kick Start product. We also go pretty in-depth on potential relays and how they operate. Hard start kits are mechanical potential relays connected to a capacitor, and they aid in starting the compressor. […]
Read more
Hard Start Kits, Stay Brite #8, AHR, and More
In this episode of the HVAC School Podcast, we talk about some cool technologies and controversial tools. Joe Shearer joins us to talk about hard start kits. Some people believe that hard start kits are only suitable for one-time use, but Joe and Bryan believe that there's a lot more to it than that. If […]
Read more
loading

To continue you need to agree to our terms.

The HVAC School site, podcast and tech tips
made possible by generous support from