The Lowdown
SoftStartUP is an innovative product that doubles as a surge protector while reducing startup power demand by up to 50%. SoftStartUP is a game changer for RV and travel trailer owners struggling with power options to run air conditioners and other appliances.
Overall
Pros
- Plug and play device
- Allows for AC use in situations that were not possible before
- Added surge protection for peace of mind
- The Bluetooth connected mobile app is useful for managing and monitoring power usage
Cons
We recently told you about SoftStartUp, a power management device for RVs. This innovative product doubles as a surge protector while reducing AC startup power demand by up to 50%. SoftStartUP is a game changer for RV and travel trailer owners struggling with power options to run air conditioners and other appliances.
The creator of SoftStartUp first released SoftStartRV, which wires into an RV air conditioner to lower the initial power demands. SoftStartUp takes that same ability and adds surge protection to create an all-in-one product to manage camping power.
The SoftStartUP is a simple box with 30amp plugs on both ends; it also comes with an adapter so that it can use standard shore power plugs.
Along with being plug and play and needing no special installation, the SoftStartUp also is Bluetooth enabled; it can connect to a mobile app that monitors power usage in real-time.
I have been using the SoftStart app on my Chromebook tablet, and I can now easily pick and choose my usage to match my power input levels. The app helps you figure out if a specific appliance may be causing interrupted power issues by measuring:
- Current (Amps)
- Voltage (Volts)
- Resettable Energy (kW/h)
- Nonresettable Energy (kW/h)
Here is a first-look video with more to come; we’ll do some testing with generators and 30amp power hookups in the future, as well as some testing with it, connected to my house to see if the SoftStartUp can help during a power outage.
I cannot wait to get the SoftStartUp out into the field to do some real-world testing. In the meantime, I appreciate that with it, I can run my RV’s AC connected to shore power without tripping the breaker that’s also connected to our pool pump.
Not only can two air conditioning units run off of 30amp service, but they can run one A/C and perhaps a few appliances off a 2000w small inverter. Campers can now use a much smaller, lighter, and quiet power source, which will also add to fuel savings.
The SoftStartUP is truly an innovative device; I’ll be adding more posts about my experience using it soon.
For current SoftStartUP pricing and discounts, visit the manufacturer.
Source: Manufacturer supplied review sample
What I Like: Plug and play device; Allows for AC use in situations that were not possible before; Added surge protection for peace of mind; The Bluetooth-connected mobile app is useful for managing and monitoring power usage
What Needs Improvement: Nothing as of yet