Factory Easy Start

[Overland]

Quick question - can someone tell me where Oliver installs the Micro Air Easy Start module?

 

i.e., it's supposed to be somewhere in this photo, right?

 

 

Thanks

 

 

 

[rideandfly]

Yes, the location would be seen your photo and is shown in the following link. Can't find any photos of our installation, but followed MicroAir's installation manual on our Penguin II.  Assume Oliver does the same.

 

http://microair.net/main/products/manuals/EasyStart_364_Installation_Guide_for_Dometic_Penguin_II.pdf

 

 

[KWRJRPE]

You guys are way smart. When I purchase my Oliver LEII soon, I must rely on the factory to install Easy Start correctly because I certainly don't know how. No problem - all it takes is money. Question - with the Easy Start, solar option, battery upgrade, inverter, and practically every other upgrade, will I be able to start and run the AC on battery power? If so, what are the concerns? I recently purchased a Honda EU2200i (still in the box) and will use it with Easy Start to run AC, but, there may be times it is more convenient to simply run on battery. Thoughts?

[Overland]

Thanks Bill. I guess that explains why mine doesn’t seem to work as well as it should.

 

kwrjrpe, I believe that trumpetguy said that with the easy start he could run his AC off battery for short periods. Even if you can though, you won’t get much run time off of it.

[ScubaRx]

Consider AC operation off batteries to be primarily a pipe dream. It CAN (and has) been done but certainly not easily or cheaply. If you have a generator, that is your best bet.

[Townesw]

Does this help any?

 

[Overland]

Thanks - that’s exactly where I was expecting it to be, but I guess that Oliver forgot to install it. I’ll give them a call tomorrow to get it straightened out. I hate to have to drive over there again but it is what it is.

[dharmardr]

Thank you for your input Steve, valuable, as always.

[Overland]

Having the ability to run the AC off batteries isn't a total waste of effort though.  You might not be able to run it all day and night (unless you fill your closet with batteries), but being able to run it for 15-30 minutes can be really useful for cooling the trailer off at a lunch stop or before bedtime if the outside temp hasn't fallen enough yet to sleep comfortably.

[rideandfly]

Like previously said, it's possible, but has an additional cost.  We installed Easy Start and use a 2000W Honda gen-set to run the AC when away from shore-power.

 

Was Trumpetguy one of the first to use Easy Start on an Ollie?  Trumpetguy ran his Ollie's AC with batteries for hours at a time, found his thread very interesting:

 

http://olivertraveltrailers.com/topic/ac-running-on-batteries/

[ScubaRx]

...Was Trumpetguy one of the first to use Easy Start on an Ollie? Trumpetguy ran his Ollie’s AC with batteries for hours at a time, found his thread very interesting:

 

http://olivertraveltrailers.com/topic/ac-running-on-batteries/...

 

Yes, he was the pioneer.

[Ken_Judy]

I have read that on delivery you should bring a list of the options you purchased for your Ollie and make sure they were installed.  I can't believe you need to bring a ladder, take the cover off the A/C  and make sure the factory installed your Easy Start.  The other item friends paid for and found missing was the built in surge protector.  You need to take off a screwed down panel and know what you are looking for.  This is a bit disconcerting.

[Overland]

My delivery experience shouldn’t be seen as typical in any way, for a myriad of reasons. And I know they’ll make it right.

 

I haven’t heard back from Jason but I think I’ll just ask them to send me the unit to install myself. Not that it’s anything I want to do but it will be a good learning experience and I don’t really want to take the trailer over there.

[Townesw]

You can see the Easy Start without removing the A/C top cover. You will need a ladder.

 

The Easy Start is that beige colored box behind the copper tubing.

 

 

Closer view of the Easy Start through that rectangular opening:

 

 

But yes, you need to put your eyes on everything, standard equipment as well as options.

[RnA]

Thanks! Picking ours up next month. I’ll look to make sure the easy-start is installed. I think the other options will be more obvious but we’ll check just the same.

[Mainiac]

Does the Easy Start help the AC start when on Campground 110V power? Sometimes (?) Campground power is 'fragile', especially when it is hot and the grid is stressed. In some older parks it is rare to see 120 v at anytime.

[mountainoliver]

Yes, the Easy Start will always help the AC start. This is exactly why I would think that the campgrounds and RV parks would want Dometic and other manufacturers to use the Easy Start as a standard. Require less current at startup and extend compressor life equals a win-win.