Micro-Air EasyStart 368 Install on Trane XL16i 5-ton A/C

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Күн бұрын

This video documents my installation of a Micro-Air EasyStart 368 Soft Starter (Model ASY-368-X72-BLUE) on my Trane XL16i 5-ton residential air conditioner. Included at the end of the video is the specific connection diagram that the support folks at Micro-Air provided using the electronics photo that I sent to them. The installation was straightforward. Overall results included a 50% starting current drop and a quieter startup.

Пікірлер: 75

@williambray3996 6 күн бұрын

I installed on my Trane 3.5 ton unit using this video. It runs great on my 13K watt generator now.

@litzdog911 6 күн бұрын

Excellent!

@sjc4915 4 күн бұрын

What model Trane unit?

@williambray3996 4 күн бұрын

XL 15 i

@dalltex 11 ай бұрын

Nicely done. If anyone watching attempts this upgrade I would recommend exposing more of the wires to reduce strain and to make connections easier.

@Finaltouchone1 9 ай бұрын

My man, in a world where A.I. algorithms are hiding help videos, I'm glad your video slipped through the cracks. The micro-air website gave me every wire diagram EXCEPT for my trane. I found your video, did step by step and it's working perfectly. Got the Bluetooth showing me all the info, too. Much appreciated.

@Berniesf Жыл бұрын

I have the same exact setup. Went from 95 amps to 31. Now I can run the AC with a 15k peak/12k running watts generator

@g-wolf9445 11 ай бұрын

This is probably the second DIY video that I have seen on this topic and I would also recommend changing out the start and run capacitors first if they are showing signs of age like rust/corrosion or low capacitance. Change them out one at a time allowing a couple of run cycles each time to make sure that the system is still functioning correctly before you tie in the Easy Start. Great video presentation. Thank you for sharing this.

@litzdog911 11 ай бұрын

Great advice. My start and run capacitors look and tested fine, so I didn't need to replace them.

@georgeb132 Жыл бұрын

I have a Trane XL16i, 4 ton unit and just installed the ASY-368-X72- BLUE and my starting amps went from 122 amps down to an incredible 34.7 amps and my running amps are down to 9.3 amps.

@TheThesweetgee 11 ай бұрын

I have a 4 ton also and was wondering about doing the x72 instead of the x48. Just in case I upgraded my unit didn't want to purchase another easystart unit.

@georgeb132 11 ай бұрын

@@TheThesweetgee your going to have to use the X72. The X48 is only for up to 3 1/2 ton units

@rwstarke Жыл бұрын

I have a 4-ton (46,000 BTU) A/C unit. Two years ago I installed a Micro-Air EasyStart 368 (4-ton) Soft Starter ASY-368-X48-BLUE. It now has 26,400 starts. My AC unit now uses 12.8 to 13.8 Amps and a Start Peak of 33 to 36 Amps. I bought it at Global Yacht Supply. It was shipped from Micro-Air.

@TheThesweetgee 11 ай бұрын

I was wondering about global yacht. So they are a legit company..

@rwstarke 11 ай бұрын

@@TheThesweetgee They were 2 years ago.

@rwstarke 11 ай бұрын

@@TheThesweetgee I don't see anything recent on their social media. The address looks like an office. I would stay away.

@blackrifle6736 11 ай бұрын

*TheSweetGee has the clue. When GYS was on 12th Court in Riviera Beach they actually had a legit storefront. Then GYS moved around a bit. As you mentioned, GYS is now an office (Suite F) on US-1 in NPB. Have only one sketchy Yelp review and that Drop-Ship vibe. As every Floridian knows, scammers and flakes abound because new marks arrive here daily. Proving once again, PT Barnum was right. Cheers!*

@jesushernande5371 9 ай бұрын

I thought for a 4 ton you need a x72 not a x48 . How did you made your choice ? I have a 4 ton trane

@casshern86 2 ай бұрын

Easy understand, thank you.

@mario7mag 18 күн бұрын

Thank you so much!!

@SpringRubber Жыл бұрын

Thanks for posting the video. I also have a Trane XL16i that was installed in 2018 but it's a 3 ton unit and only has one capacitor. Good to see you re-oriented the wire nuts on the line cable to point up -- looks like you had a numbskull tech who installed them down so they could collect water and debris. I'm considering installing one of these devices and when I took off the access panel on my A/C, whoa, a chipmunk (I'm guessing) had built a little nest in there. And the top of my capacitor is rusty - another indication the area behind the panel is open to intrusion.

@litzdog911 Жыл бұрын

You have a keen eye! Yes, those wire nuts should have been pointed up. Fortunately the EasyStart is in a weatherproof enclosure, so it could, in theory, be mounted outside. But we get lots of moisture in Seattle, so I'm glad it fit in that compartment.

@zygotepeyote 10 ай бұрын

I think you sold yourself short Jim. Your first reading of around 61 Amps was with the device installed. Had you taken a reading with a meter capable of detecting inrush current before you installed the device it would have been a lot more than 61 Amps! Probably closer to 100 Amps. Without knowing this number it is impossible to say but I would bet your number for current drop was more like 65-70%. Great job and thanks so much for sharing. Much appreciated!

@fattysgarage1754 4 күн бұрын

100%. Came to say this exact thing.

@nhojcam Ай бұрын

actually, your before and after starting amps are better than you indicate. most ac's start at 80 to 100 amps, so your results are really pretty phenomenal. certainly, this amperage would be able to be started with a 50 amp generator no problem, even with the generator running other essential things on the circuit.

@phbrinsden Ай бұрын

My Trane 5 ton went from above 80 at start to 29.9 after 5 learning runs. Running at 13 amps.

@joeretired4552 25 күн бұрын

Very good video. Did you happen to check the amps on the Fan? I am curious to know what the fan amps are initially to allow deducting the fan amps from the Total amps prior to installing the Easy Start. That would provide the amps initially by the compressor to allow knowing what the Easy Start is doing with the compressor after installation. I am considering a similar installation for my Trane outdoor unit with Easy Start 368 Blue unit. Did you contact Trane and ask about using the Easy Start ? I want to know what they said if you did. Thanks for your video - now, what does Trane think of the Easy Start device???

@litzdog911 25 күн бұрын

No, I did not contact Trane. My A/C was out of warranty, so it didn't seem necessary.

@joeretired4552 25 күн бұрын

@@litzdog911 same as me. I was curious what trane people might have to say, if anything. Something like “absolutely go ahead and see how it goes.”

@tkonzl6059 Жыл бұрын

I have a 2008 model Trane XR13 5-ton unit with an EasyStart installed that the Live Current is between 12 and 14 amps. However, the Last Start Peak fluctuates between 34 and 74 amps. Why the huge fluctuation I don't know, but the EasyStart doesn't seem like it would help my A/C to work with even a mid-sized (9,500 W) generator.

@emsaiii 4 ай бұрын

in your recap - you do NOT remove the black wire - you removed the screw and put the easy start black wire onto that same terminal, and re-inserted the screw.

@DS-fb9te 2 ай бұрын

He’s not a pro. 😏he’s a DIY😎

@mohavie2360 2 ай бұрын

awesome video sir.. what is this app that you are using? pretty nifty

@mikequartucci9700 10 ай бұрын

Jim, how did you contact MicroAir and send them your pics of your wiring, what procedure did you use?

@litzdog911 10 ай бұрын

I reached out to them via their website. Under "Support", select "Contact Us" and complete the information form. They responded in one day.

@BladeAndrade 2 күн бұрын

I'd like to know what is the LRA on your AC unit's label so we can have an idea of how much reduction the micro-air is providing.

@litzdog911 2 күн бұрын

Trane 4TTX6060, LRA=118A on the label.

@pds4184 6 ай бұрын

I hope you dont mind if I ask a question, I have a 5ton Carrie dual stage blower motor, did they say how to connect that by chance, Does your unit had dual stage motor?

@litzdog911 6 ай бұрын

No, my unit does not have a dual stage motor. But Micro-Air was very prompt in sending me wiring instructions, providing excellent support.

@GH-wt7ww Ай бұрын

Any issues with the Micro-Air EasyStart 368 Soft Starter (Model ASY-368-X72-BLUE) since posting the video? Really looking hard at the soft start for my 5 ton A/C. Great video thanks for posting.

@litzdog911 Ай бұрын

No issues. It's working great. The app and Bluetooth connectivity make it easy to verify that it's doing its job.

@dreednlb Жыл бұрын

Likely cut the in rush current by more than half. Even on that first start it was already working. You would have needed to use a clamp meter to measure the in rush current before you connected the soft starter to truly know what your original in rush amperage was.

@litzdog911 Жыл бұрын

Great point. I didn't have a suitable clamp meter to measure the original inrush current. The A/C label indicates LRA=118A, so the EasyStart certainly lowers it quite a bit.

@mr.boniato6402 7 ай бұрын

Would adding this void the warranty if something happens to a brand new AC unit?

@litzdog911 7 ай бұрын

Great question. That's something you would need to ask your A/C manufacturer. Mine was no longer under warranty, so it wasn't a concern.

@stevekelly7488 Жыл бұрын

What is the second capacitor for? Is it part of the run capacitor or a hard start cap?

@litzdog911 Жыл бұрын

It's a switch relay capacitor, not hard start cap.

@RW-to2fy 8 ай бұрын

Must a hard start and should be removed before Easy Start is installed

@gentrylabarda8576 2 ай бұрын

That’s for the fan

@bryantjenks3598 11 күн бұрын

I have the Trane XLi18 4TWX8 which looks very similar to yours. When I looked at the Trane electrical one-line it shows a variable speed fan, so the 240V is directly connected to the fan and then turned on by control wires. I am assuming yours is the same and doesn't cause a problem with switching on the fan first? I sent an email to Micro-Air and they said it shouldn't be an issue. But wanted to ask someone who might have installed it on the same type of CU.

@litzdog911 11 күн бұрын

Yours is different. My A/C does not have a variable speed fan. It seems that there are several version of this A/C. But they're right, it should still work fine. The EasyStart helps with the compressor and doesn't do anything for the fan.

@bryantjenks3598 10 күн бұрын

But doesn’t the micro-air start the fan first then the compressor?

@litzdog911 10 күн бұрын

@@bryantjenks3598 Yes, but it doesn't change the default fan startup, only the compressor.

@jeffdonofri8027 Ай бұрын

is there any expected reduction in the "running" amps?

@litzdog911 Ай бұрын

Not really. Main benefit is reduction in the starting amperage.

@user-dc6mg2rk8p 10 ай бұрын

Should I get a 368-72 for my 4 ton a/c?

@litzdog911 10 ай бұрын

Yes.

@didyuknow Жыл бұрын

not very scientific way to present the benefits. the start peak current on cycle 1 is already reduced from normal and not the same as the startup current without the easy start. if it it was 61A with easy start. Without it you would read above 100A+ for a 5 ton unit. Just read the sticker on the unit (LRA value). That means you had a 70% reduction in peak current. That means you could use a portable power generating unit about half the size you would need if the easystart was not installed. This should extend the life of just about everything except the wires on the compressor including the contactor, start capacitor, compressor. I don't remember seeing the model of the unit you used but for a 5 ton unit it should have been the X72 version.

@litzdog911 Жыл бұрын

Yes, it's the X72 version. My current clamp meter can't properly measure inrush current, so I didn't try. But I agree with you that it's most likely a much greater percentage. My unit's LRA = 118A.

@blackrifle6736 10 ай бұрын

*Inrush current clamp meters require one-cycle (16.6 mS), peak sample-and-hold circuitry, preferably processed through a recirculating remainder math algorithm. That's why the good ones such as Fluke meters ain't cheap and the cheap ones will lie to you. Cheers!*

@blackrifle6736 10 ай бұрын

@@joekano6952*Your comment is spot-on. This is critical and often overlooked.*

@gerardomireles122 Жыл бұрын

Why you say first The orange wire joint with the herm connection And later you say the orange wire connect on the run point terminal Connection explained Or you confused the run with herm cool interesting

@litzdog911 Жыл бұрын

I'm not great with colors. That's why I included the exact wiring diagram and showed closeups of the connections. Hope it was helpful.

@peterjslover 11 ай бұрын

This would be very helpful if your hands in your body weren't blocking the connections you are making

@litzdog911 11 ай бұрын

That's why I tried to be sure to show those connections again, and include the detailed connection diagram.

@-19510 8 ай бұрын

His hands were in the way momentarily, but you could still see all the connections very clearly! Good job!

@phbrinsden Ай бұрын

At about 70% through Jim does a nice revisit to clearly show where everything goes. My 5 ton Trane looks just like yours Jim. Very helpful vid.

@geraldschilli8870 10 ай бұрын

It still amazes me how installers mount the c/u so close to the wall of the house & how home owners don’t trim back shrubs & plants that are too close to the c/u. Wake up people & pay attention to detail.

@garyrider8842 10 ай бұрын

all I see is hands

@litzdog911 10 ай бұрын

Yep. Kind of hard to video without my hands there. Hopefully you can see enough to follow along.

@johnnyking1977 10 ай бұрын

I agree with you, but let's give him credit for DYI. What got me confused is that he first said "to remove the compressor black wire" when in reality he added the black wire instead. Ninety nine percent of all the videos I watched done by so called professional installers neither one of them moved over the wires or at least cut the wire tie for a better picture. After all he has done a good job!