Man, I need to install one of these on my wife's hair dryer. I swear, every time she's in there the lights start dimming like she's making Frankensteins monster. Thanks for the info...I may install one on my AC as well ;)
Thanks, man. Gonna be installing the ICM-870 32A version at the end of July when I can get a hold of one (seem to be OOS online everywhere). Why do HVAC pros recommend hard starts if the issue is the "hard start" noise and harshness? Yeah, they're like $15, but don't the hard starts decrease the life of the compressor? (so money grab and earlier replacement?) I like the quiet operation of these soft starts and the fact that my compressor will (should) last longer.
Easy install on goodman package unit , tore it apart cleaned and releveled unit, 1/2" towards house , condenser pan was over flowing, 79 in rush now 22 Amos and it's much quieter.
Most of the videos I have viewed show connections made to a double phase capacitor with 3 poles. However, I have a Trane heat pump system that is single phase (only 2 unmarked poles on top of cap). How would I connect a ICM870 soft start to my system....thank you
I saw this video a few weeks back and bought one soft start, because of the this video. But that thing only lasted me 2 weeks then it took a shit, although for those two week it worked real good and it reduced the inrush. I personally won’t recommend it
Mine failed after 31 days. I opened the case with the help of a heat gun. The internal CB60 100uf 330Vac failed and leaked oil all over the place. I replaced the capacitor with Amazon "Appli Parts motor start capacitor 108-130 Mfd (microfarads) uF 330 VAC universal fit for electric motor applications 1-7/16 in Wide 3-3/8 in Height CON-108-330" and the fuse with Ebay "NTE 5x20mm 12.5A 250V Fast Acting Ceramic Fuse". This fixed it.
Good afternoon, I wanted to ask you about a follow up to the icm870-16a. How is the quality of the construction? Also what is the life span of the ICM870? Is the ICM870 better than the Micro Air? Your thoughts. Thank you for your time.
It seems like everyone in my industry has a new idea to get money out of people for something that is unnecessary. Air conditioners needed start kits they would come from the factory with 1 installed. Usually when compressor hard start it is because they are low in lubricants because of repeated Freon leaks. They sell Kits that come with a tube and 2 hoses that you can put oil treatment in compressors instead of constantly coming at people with these hard start kits treat the cars don't put a band aid on it.
You were comparing prices of a 9A ICM870 unit (1Ton AC max) to a much larger EasyStart unit. The ES is still more expensive, but that was like comparing a pinto to a suburban.
Looking at my situation Sir do you feel a soft start can help my units with RLA of 10.5 & LRA of 47? It’s a duo 2.5ton hvac unit setup Or is its main purpose/function is use with generator? Which is a great feature!
Question: I have watched this several times but know that this is for a 16A is the 32A done practically the same way? I am doing this for my generator (to power my home) and I have followed the steps of this but I notice my contactor does not engage when my generator is trying to activate it. I have to push the contactor for the 4 min delay then it get the compressor running but as soon as it shuts off it will not get started again unless I hold it for the 4 min. Thanks
Great Video instruction. However, just curious what was the rushamp when hard starter was installed. Without hard starter the start amp was ~74. and with the soft start it is 24 something. But how much was it with the hard start? Hard starter are much cheaper.
These seem to have been out of stock for a while. Are they really popular or just having stock issues? Either way I think I will go with a microair. The price made me want this one, but its out of stock and when I looked at the reviews I saw enough negative ones that I am not willing to risk it.
My 16A model lasted 6 weeks before it died. I have 3-ton unit with an RLA of 15.1A and the soft start couldn't handle it long term. The product is not very good imo. Pay extra and get a better made unit.
I am glad I watched til the end where you mentioned that high-efficiency units already have soft-start features because that is what kind of unit I have. I really enjoyed the way you took us through the process. Not very often that I look at an instructional video and come away with so much confidence. Thank you.
In 33 years, I have seen disconnects simply wired around where the disconnect is essentially a junction box, or one of the legs wired around because of a melting situation etc, and they, for whatever reason, didn't change the disconnect. So....everything I ever disable gets confirmed with a hot stick before I touch a wire. I'm the nervous type. :) Great video.
Just some friendly advice...from a complete noob...if you could explain at the beginning in ELI5 terms what this is/does and why would it benefit a home owner. I'm clueless
I"m hoping someone can please help me! I just installed the ICM870 on my 2.5 ton Carrier unit. I ran the red wire to the common on the run capacitor. I then Ran the blue to the Herm. Ran the brown to my yellow run wire ( I took the yellow off the T2 side of the connector and sliced it to the brown) as directed, I then ran the Black wire to the T1 side of the connector. I took a deep breath and reinstalled the disconnect. the unit started up and the unit flashed 3 times indicating "high current" I immediately shut it down and went back to my original setup praying I didn't destroy something. Everything seems to be running fine at the moment, but don't know how to approach this problem. thank you in advance for any guidance
I have been a HVC tech and contactor for about 20 years and i not see one on any unit . If they are so good why is it that i have not see one on any unit I have worked on.
I've used ICM Head pressure controllers, 3 phase voltage protectors and furnace control boards and have always had excellent results. I'm glad to see that they are making these soft starts. I'd been thinking about adding one to my RV's AC but other company's prices seemed exorbitant.
Hey Tad, I just installed this unit in central FL on my 1989 Carrier 2.5 T R-22 Heat pump and I got some different results than what you got with yours. My system is rated for 82 LRA and 16.5 RLA respectively. My actual LRA at start up was 84 prior to install and after it went down to only 16.03 but my unit goes into the delay mode for about 3 to 4 minutes before allowing the compressor to kick on while the fan motor is already running. The RLA also was cut in half to only 7.5 when the system is cooling. I have a newer fan motor on the heat pump and a newer 45/5 capacitor on this system and also it used to have a hard starter to help the compressor. Once again, this is from 1989! There are controversies about this unit saving you on your electric bill and what is your take on this?
Thanks for your follow up interest. Unfortunately I didn’t get a chance to try. The HVAC company I purchased the ICM870 from refunded total cost plus shipping when I sent it back. He discontinued selling the control and sent back all his remaining stock to the manufacturer? Haven’t had a chance to to reorder from another source. Going to hold off a little and monitor feedback from other users. Can’t believe I’m the only one that has experienced this problem?
It is good see people sharing knowledge Thanks But I have a question: I have an home a/c 5 - 6 tons. Is there some specifics model for my unit or it is an standard unit for any ac? Thanks
The RED wire from the ICM needs to connect directly to the contactor terminal that the capacitor common wire goes to. The reason is this: the gauge of the wire to the capacitor common may(in most cases) be smaller than the gauge of the ICM Red wire. If the ICM Red wire is connected to the capacitor terminal it forces the compressor current to go through a smaller wire!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BTW I love my ICM870-16a!
if a smaller wire is connecting L2 to C, how is the ICM pushing current back on it? The device controls the inrush to the comp motor, it does not provide a current source to push back against L2.
You are exactly correct on RED wire ICM to contactor terminal L2 (run side) and not off the C terminal at the capacitor. Even so, the ICM 870 looks very gimmicky, though it may be a good application on low voltage situation, generator power, or multiple equipment simultaneous starting. On a single AC unit, as the video shows, it is totally unnecessary, especially where a hard start/potential relay (about $50) is installed. The ICM 870 reliability and longevity, 5 years from now, is also a question mark.
Great instructional video but why should I put one of these on my home AC? If I am not worried about power outages, no backup generator, no concern about sophisticated electronics impacted by HVAC starts etc. What am I missing??
Tedd you're the man!!!... even a simpleton like myself can go ahead and install one of this nifty devices with no issues if they follow your very well explained to the point instructions. Keep up the good work brother! 😎
Is the reason that you chose the 16Amp version exclusively because your RLA is less than 16 but more than 9 for the smaller soft start option? I think I'm following you on that. Great video so far!!!!!
Watching your video inspired me to run out and pick up one. My unit is about 15 years old and runs good. Had to replace the cap a couple of years ago but that’s it. Installed the ICM870 16A. My compressor 208-230V 13.6LRA and 76LRA so I believe I have the right one. As you mentioned wiring couldn’t be any easier. When I press in the control relay all I get is a low hum. Any ideas what’s going on? Went back to original wiring and compressor works normally. Suggestions greatly appreciated! Thanks
Hey Joe, I saw this on the manufacturer website. May be the reason. " ICM870-16A: For AC’s with a Compressor Load Amp Rating (RLA) of 9.1-16A - * Note: The ICM870-16A will handle a condenser up to about 2-1/2 tons " What size is your condenser? Not sure if that is the same size as the unit? Mine is a 4ton unit, not sure if it will work on mine. Apologize if I sound ignorant, just getting into DIY HVAC.
Hi Jason, Thanks for taking the time to respond. After about 4 days I was able to get some assistance from Tech Support at ICM. I emailed tech pics of condenser specs and wiring schematic. Tech said ICM870-16 was sized correctly. When I energized the contractor no lights lit. Line voltage was 240VAC top and bottom of contractor. All wiring was correct turns out I may have got a bad one. I reordered another and hoping for success. I really want this control to work! Joe
Great video, thank you for showing this. Hard start vs soft start? I usually install a hard start capacitor on my units. They are cheaper ($50) and get the job done (Amrad). On my 3T York, the LRA is 83.9Amp but with the Amrad I get 21Amp, pretty good. Let me know your thoughts and keep the good job! Also note that the reduction in Amp draw depends on your system. On my former R22 the hard start amp drop wasn't great. On my 410a York, it's way much. Scroll compressor vs piston?
@@jeffreyrood8755 A hard start capacitor provides a quick burst of energy to start the compressor motor reducing the Amp drown, while a slow start capacitor provides a gradual increase in energy to help reduce stress on the motor. In both cases, it reduces the wears and tears on the system.
Installed a micro air brand two years ago. Been great so far. Installed it to be able to run my 3ton AC on a portable generator during hurricane season. Last year we got hit with Hurricane Ian here in SWFL . Lost power for about two weeks. Ran the whole house with AC on a portable generator thanks to soft start like these. I just recommend the ICM units to a few friends. Thanks for the great video.
Ditto on my unit. I’ve not had to go 14 days, but I have ran the entire house (2 ac units each with their own MicroAir ES) and they ran flawlessly. I’m pretty sure my bill is lower too since it’s reducing the running amps significantly.
I just bought and installed the 870-32a model on my 3.5 ton unit, and was wondering if anybody knows why a new feature of a 4 min delay was added to the newer units? Now the fan kicks on and runs by itself for 4 mins before the compressor actually will start. ICMs website calls this out as a new feature, anybody know what the point of this actually is?
My understanding is that the delay prevents a compressor startup while the compressor is pressurized. The four minute delay allows internal pressure to bleed down before a restart. This protects the compressor from starting up while "loaded".
This applies to the AC compressor in you vehicle, also. If you turn off your car AC you should allow four minutes for a bleed down of pressure before restarting it.
Installed the 16A today, put the black wire on the wrong side of the contactor and killed my 3 year old central Texas capacitor. Not too bad of a lesson, now I’m familiar with replacing the capacitor and have a backup for when this new one fails 🙃 Thank you for the video!
Not every installation requires the features that the micro air offers. The micro air does allow diagnostic information to be sent to the company, the units firmware can be upgraded through the phone connectivity. Customized adjustments or firmware can be made if there is an issue. The micro air logs quite a bit of information which can be read through the phones Bluetooth connection. The ICM unit looks good and it’s probably sufficient for many installs. DIY people who live where the units are installed are more likely to use the connectivity features
FYI: The ICM pdf instructions are wrong: "Step #1 a) Disconnect factory installed compressor run wire from the run capacitor (c/common/L2) terminal" and connect it to the brown wire. This is wrong. Their official video clearly shows that the compressor run wire is removed from the contactor NOT the capacitor. Step 2 is also wrong. In addition, Step 4 is deceptive as no splicing occurs with the black wire as it's simply connected to the contactor. I notified them of the errors.
I’ve been watching many videos on adding a soft start for a/c compressor to “improve efficiency and operational life” of the compressor. I’m sorry but all I see you adding another failure point to a factory designed system that costs $300-$800. If it was such a great thing to have, don’t you think all a/c manufacturers would have installed them on all their systems. The ONLY reason you would consider adding a soft start to and a/c condensing unit is to lesson the voltage drop on your home when running it on a backup generator!!!
when you lower the amps On a compressor during startup, you can save the compressor from having damage during high current startup, so you can help yourself to not have to replace a part that can be very expensive to replace. Also, saving thousands of dollars on a generator is a good thing. If you're worried about the part that you put ongoing bad, install. A surge protector and then you can protect the part that you put on that. You're worried about having to replace.
My first condensing unit lasted 22 years as all I did was replace the capacitor and contactor every 4 years and wash coils every spring. How many $400 soft starts would I have had to replace in that time? I’m not wasting my money on something that isn’t needed
This I way off the list but great watching Question 🙋♂️ could it be used in different applications example TABLE SAW/POWER HAMMER (Blacksmith) ROOM DUST COLLECTOR(I have to bump the start on switch to get the catch bags from immediately inflate) Thanks
@@TaddyDigest wow answered so quickly I will be trying to send you a donation for helping out I’ll also try to figure it’s connections I’ve just learned a 2 wire version The motors are older than you 1900’s the table saw I bought at a garage sale in 1989 and it was used then. The Dust collector I’m not at shop is pretty good size. Ya just put a new project on my list of many Cheers
Thank you for the info. I am trying to figure out if I can use this as I want a home BU gen. My AC is a 3.5 ton RUUD 2023 MFD. It says on the label 110.2 L.R.A and 17.7 R.L.A. It appears that this unit is no longer available. One difference the competitor had was a troubleshooting feature and Bluetooth connection for readings.
Should not be installed, on the exterior of AC unit. From installation instructions: "CAUTION: The ICM870 must be mounted in an area where it will not be exposed to water or the elements. Exposure of the ICM870 soft start to water can cause failure of the control and is a risk for fire or other electrical safety hazards."
I had an electrical engineer at the house yesterday and we chatted on the issue of my lights dimming when ac starts up. He recommended getting a soft start as my house is new. Now I just need to find a ac company to do this
The ICM870 has a IP65 rating and is sealed enclosure. it can withstand large amounts of falling or spraying water in the environment. The only thing that you don’t want are the wires getting wet and those need to be protected.
This is Miguel How are you doing Ted? I purchased the ICM870/16A and installed it on a old 3 1/2 ton carrier and it keeps giving me a fault 3 Do you have an idea on what's wrong? Thanks
Great video. Question: 78 amps at start-up. Is that at 120 or 240 volts? I would like to know how many watts does it takes to start up the unit at 78 amps. Also, are the same volts for the running? I know it's amps x volts = watts. Thanks.
@@TaddyDigest I haven’t used the ICM controllers on compressor, but I’ve seen many of their products used on condenser fan motors in colder ambient areas where cooling is still needed (must maintain higher pressures or will have evap freezing problems). Motor bearings tend to wear out quicker. Also, The sensor for the device often shorts or opens, which typically either prevents the fan from coming on, or will act like the control isn’t even there and allow the fan to run full speed. I trust a mechanical fan control more (still not perfect tho). Motors without the proper bearings and grounding don’t like the variable frequency. When the frequency is less than motor design, there can be parasitic capacitance that causes frosting (pitting) and fluting in the bearing. Best to use inverter duty motors. Can get away with grounding rings, but still not ideal. Same thing for 3-phase heavy commercial equipment with VFDs, if the motor isn’t inverter duty, over time the bearings will start growling at you like crazy.
Question for all you ac guys. I have 20 yrs experience. How come with a soft start kit I dont see the amps slowly increase, its always hard like a hard start kit. Ive tested hard start kits 521 and soft start kits. Ive found no difference from what I could tell, other then the fan coming on first before the compressor with the soft start kit. Are we sure a soft start kit is just not a hard start kit with a time delay to allow the fan to start up first? Im pretty sure an inverter is required for true soft start. Ive opened soft start kits, they contain the same relay and capacitor of 521 kits.
Its a damn shame these videos promote this junk. 32 year HVAC tech in SE Texas. Put one on my 3 ton system, lasted a week. Busted it apart found the cap in it blown up. Parts house got another one under warranty. Lasted two weeks same issue. Unit is 15.1 amps fla but is only pulling 12.6 running. I use a lot of ICM products but these are pure junk.
That's not good. I want to know more. This could be a good learning experience for me? Do you have an email where I can reach out to you. Have you reached out to icm controls about the product circumstances? I have one of these on my air conditioner. It works great 👍 let me know bother 🙂
Never tried one on AC units Tad, but you can bet the bank I’ll have one ordered tomorrow and on my units at my house by next week. Thanks for the insight. If I can see a change at my house I’ll be recommending to most of my PM customers for sure.
It's a pretty cool product I am very impressed and I'm very happy to have these and I may be able to get them direct for you I can let you know. give me about a week to figure everything out. Would you be interested in that. Wonder if more people would be interested I will do some research Thanks Mike
I need help!! I decided to try to install one of these myself. I open up the condensing unit panel only to discover there’s no contactor for the compressor or condenser fan. Just a transformer, run capacitor and an electronic board. Does this mean I cant install a soft starter??? Ty.
This thing is B.S. and junk. They all are. It does NOT reduce anything. Using $50 clamp meters to measure modified sinewaves which fools the meter, and thinking the same motor with the same torque load on it now runs on one quarter of the current, is the findings of a fool.
@@TaddyDigest Do you know anything about electricity? A $50 clamp meter cannot measure altered wave forms coming out of that box. It will give false low readings because the power is no longer 60hz which that meter is designed to read.
Appreciate the video! how would I go about finding out what amp ICM870 I need, the 16 or 32 if ALL my info on the inside of my panel is illegible lol.... every single thing is faded off the sticker.
Question about How do I bypass the Coresense Diagnostic module to install the ICM870-16A. ICM states to bypass it but just wondering how to do that. Thank you in advance.
Hey Tadd I just wanted to say thanks for the great tip, I am in central florida and just installed a whole home generator and was concerned the a/c would trip. I think this whole install took me maybe 15 minutes. Great tip on checking the wiring diagram on the unit; a quick review of the diagram and this was plug and play. Again thanks so much!
Harry Homeowner here...I love the idea of a soft start for my older ac unit. (great video too) So my question is this- I have a 19yr old Carrier ac unit which shows: -5 ton -RLA 28.8 -185.0 LRA The thing starts so violently and probably gonna get a new fan motor and redo the foundation... However would you suggest using the ICM16A, even though my RLA is 28.8 or should I just go for the more expensive Micro Air ASY-368-X72Blue, which is rated for all the above specs.....? Any input would be greatly appreciated!!
Great video. I don’t really feel comfortable messing with electricity, so I would hire someone to do this for me. Can an electrician do this or should it be an HVAC tech, and what would be the expected rate for adding this component? Thanks.
Rate for adding this component depends on where you're at and the company. You choose could be a hundred dollars or could be up 2 hundred dollars An electrician could definitely install this but I would get an hvac technician
Ok first how would this effect maintenance at all that makes no sense, then I was like wait ill see then you hit me with the start Amps LRA. Sweet baby J you were not even close Locked Rotor Amps (LRA) - Current drawn by the compressor if the rotor is locked and can't move while electric power is applied. Just saying remember what Nancy Regan said and just say no!
@@TaddyDigest That's good to hear. I've had my eye on one of these for a while but have seen dozens of pictures of the capacitors popping in the older white ones. The newer blue ones are supposed to be fixed but who knows. Also weird that your box shows a blue one but yours was white.
1) do they really work on amps draw. 2) how long do they really last !!! 3) what a the difference be twin this Icm and a 123 relay with a capister. 4) how about showing us one that u installed one year ago and after a year show us how its still working !!!! There are alot of people wondering.
Did you check the existing capacitor to ensure mf levels? In the begining there was a hard start kit. I understand there was an existing hardstart, but it was there for a reason. I would have replaced the run capacitor and installed this soft start kit. I would have also liked to see a comparison vid of a hard start kit vs this unit and start and run capacitor set up vs this unit as well. Nice vid.
Thanks Ted, awesome Video
Going to make changes to my two compressors for a cold storage
Man, I need to install one of these on my wife's hair dryer. I swear, every time she's in there the lights start dimming like she's making Frankensteins monster. Thanks for the info...I may install one on my AC as well ;)
lol hahaha
😂
Genius 😂😂
I bought one of those magic boxes and my stock investments rose 300%. Great product. My clamp confirmed it!!
Thanks, man. Gonna be installing the ICM-870 32A version at the end of July when I can get a hold of one (seem to be OOS online everywhere).
Why do HVAC pros recommend hard starts if the issue is the "hard start" noise and harshness?
Yeah, they're like $15, but don't the hard starts decrease the life of the compressor? (so money grab and earlier replacement?)
I like the quiet operation of these soft starts and the fact that my compressor will (should) last longer.
installing icm on my sister's 2.5 ton tomorrow.,
Very cool brother
Easy install on goodman package unit , tore it apart cleaned and releveled unit, 1/2" towards house , condenser pan was over flowing, 79 in rush now 22 Amos and it's much quieter.
Most of the videos I have viewed show connections made to a double phase capacitor with 3 poles. However, I have a Trane heat pump system that is single phase (only 2 unmarked poles on top of cap). How would I connect a ICM870 soft start to my system....thank you
Instructions say do not mount where exposed to water and elements
I saw this video a few weeks back and bought one soft start, because of the this video. But that thing only lasted me 2 weeks then it took a shit, although for those two week it worked real good and it reduced the inrush. I personally won’t recommend it
I would love to know what happened
Did you reach out to icm controls and find out what the deal is
Did it get hit by lightning or something
@@TaddyDigest I haven’t reached out, It had been running fine throughout the day. But around 9-10 the soft start stopped working with a solid red led.
Mine failed after 31 days. I opened the case with the help of a heat gun. The internal CB60 100uf 330Vac failed and leaked oil all over the place. I replaced the capacitor with Amazon "Appli Parts motor start capacitor 108-130 Mfd (microfarads) uF 330 VAC universal fit for electric motor applications 1-7/16 in Wide 3-3/8 in Height CON-108-330" and the fuse with Ebay "NTE 5x20mm 12.5A 250V Fast Acting Ceramic Fuse". This fixed it.
Good afternoon,
I wanted to ask you about a follow up to the icm870-16a. How is the quality of the construction? Also what is the life span of the ICM870? Is the ICM870 better than the Micro Air? Your thoughts. Thank you for your time.
It seems like everyone in my industry has a new idea to get money out of people for something that is unnecessary. Air conditioners needed start kits they would come from the factory with 1 installed. Usually when compressor hard start it is because they are low in lubricants because of repeated Freon leaks. They sell Kits that come with a tube and 2 hoses that you can put oil treatment in compressors instead of constantly coming at people with these hard start kits treat the cars don't put a band aid on it.
You were comparing prices of a 9A ICM870 unit (1Ton AC max) to a much larger EasyStart unit. The ES is still more expensive, but that was like comparing a pinto to a suburban.
Looking at my situation
Sir do you feel a soft start can help my units with RLA of 10.5 & LRA of 47?
It’s a duo 2.5ton hvac unit setup
Or is its main purpose/function is use with generator? Which is a great feature!
Question: I have watched this several times but know that this is for a 16A is the 32A done practically the same way? I am doing this for my generator (to power my home) and I have followed the steps of this but I notice my contactor does not engage when my generator is trying to activate it. I have to push the contactor for the 4 min delay then it get the compressor running but as soon as it shuts off it will not get started again unless I hold it for the 4 min. Thanks
Great Video instruction. However, just curious what was the rushamp when hard starter was installed. Without hard starter the start amp was ~74. and with the soft start it is 24 something. But how much was it with the hard start? Hard starter are much cheaper.
These seem to have been out of stock for a while. Are they really popular or just having stock issues? Either way I think I will go with a microair. The price made me want this one, but its out of stock and when I looked at the reviews I saw enough negative ones that I am not willing to risk it.
My 16A model lasted 6 weeks before it died. I have 3-ton unit with an RLA of 15.1A and the soft start couldn't handle it long term. The product is not very good imo. Pay extra and get a better made unit.
I am glad I watched til the end where you mentioned that high-efficiency units already have soft-start features because that is what kind of unit I have. I really enjoyed the way you took us through the process. Not very often that I look at an instructional video and come away with so much confidence. Thank you.
You're welcome,
Thank you so much for taking the time to watch the whole video
More videos to come
How to make your A/C system quiet? Put your compressor on the roof...You people that put it under a window are whacky.
you move the camera back and forth allot makes me sea sick.
In 33 years, I have seen disconnects simply wired around where the disconnect is essentially a junction box, or one of the legs wired around because of a melting situation etc, and they, for whatever reason, didn't change the disconnect. So....everything I ever disable gets confirmed with a hot stick before I touch a wire. I'm the nervous type. :) Great video.
Great advice! I had a rental property and someone had wired around the disconnect.
I'm nervous like you and it saved me from a nasty surprise.
Why wouldn’t a company put this in from the factory? It would be a great sells pitch…
Just some friendly advice...from a complete noob...if you could explain at the beginning in ELI5 terms what this is/does and why would it benefit a home owner. I'm clueless
This soft start is actually not bad in cost compared to other brands. Good find👍 I also like the fact it’s pretty compact
You added the word “pretty”.
@@mrBDeyehow observant of you..
@@randybobandy9828 You are smarter than me. Exactly how is it pretty compact?
It’s not a soft start. It’s a scam. Just use a hard start.
@@jman0870 not the same thing 🤦🏿♂️🤦🏿♂️🤦🏿♂️
Wish you would have grounded that capacitor before you added those wires.
Just saying
I"m hoping someone can please help me! I just installed the ICM870 on my 2.5 ton Carrier unit. I ran the red wire to the common on the run capacitor. I then Ran the blue to the Herm. Ran the brown to my yellow run wire ( I took the yellow off the T2 side of the connector and sliced it to the brown) as directed, I then ran the Black wire to the T1 side of the connector. I took a deep breath and reinstalled the disconnect. the unit started up and the unit flashed 3 times indicating "high current" I immediately shut it down and went back to my original setup praying I didn't destroy something. Everything seems to be running fine at the moment, but don't know how to approach this problem. thank you in advance for any guidance
I would reach out to icm controls they have Tech support that can help you
@@TaddyDigest thanks Tad, will do
I have been a HVC tech and contactor for about 20 years and i not see one on any unit . If they are so good why is it that i have not see one on any unit I have worked on.
I’ve heard that those soft starts are not waterproof, if mounted outside they will get water!
You know that your current clamp can only detect Active energy and not Reactive energy? You are not saving energy...
That is correct
I've used ICM Head pressure controllers, 3 phase voltage protectors and furnace control boards and have always had excellent results. I'm glad to see that they are making these soft starts. I'd been thinking about adding one to my RV's AC but other company's prices seemed exorbitant.
Glad to know your experience has been good, that's excellent.
Definitely for the r v
Better for the generator if you use one
Hey Tad, I just installed this unit in central FL on my 1989 Carrier 2.5 T R-22 Heat pump and I got some different results than what you got with yours. My system is rated for 82 LRA and 16.5 RLA respectively. My actual LRA at start up was 84 prior to install and after it went down to only 16.03 but my unit goes into the delay mode for about 3 to 4 minutes before allowing the compressor to kick on while the fan motor is already running. The RLA also was cut in half to only 7.5 when the system is cooling. I have a newer fan motor on the heat pump and a newer 45/5 capacitor on this system and also it used to have a hard starter to help the compressor. Once again, this is from 1989! There are controversies about this unit saving you on your electric bill and what is your take on this?
The actual soft start will not save you money on your electric bill, but it will help reduce compressor damage during startup
Thanks for your follow up interest. Unfortunately I didn’t get a chance to try. The HVAC company I purchased the ICM870 from refunded total cost plus shipping when I sent it back. He discontinued selling the control and sent back all his remaining stock to the manufacturer? Haven’t had a chance to to reorder from another source. Going to hold off a little and monitor feedback from other users. Can’t believe I’m the only one that has experienced this problem?
It is good see people sharing knowledge
Thanks
But I have a question:
I have an home a/c 5 - 6 tons. Is there some specifics model for my unit or it is an standard unit for any ac?
Thanks
The RED wire from the ICM needs to connect directly to the contactor terminal that the capacitor common wire goes to. The reason is this:
the gauge of the wire to the capacitor common may(in most cases) be smaller than the gauge of the ICM Red wire. If the ICM Red wire is connected to the capacitor terminal it forces the compressor current to go through a smaller wire!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BTW I love my ICM870-16a!
if a smaller wire is connecting L2 to C, how is the ICM pushing current back on it? The device controls the inrush to the comp motor, it does not provide a current source to push back against L2.
You are exactly correct on RED wire ICM to contactor terminal L2 (run side) and not off the C terminal at the capacitor. Even so, the ICM 870 looks very gimmicky, though it may be a good application on low voltage situation, generator power, or multiple equipment simultaneous starting. On a single AC unit, as the video shows, it is totally unnecessary, especially where a hard start/potential relay (about $50) is installed. The ICM 870 reliability and longevity, 5 years from now, is also a question mark.
The mirror image can be reverses by a button on your phone app....😆
Great instructional video but why should I put one of these on my home AC? If I am not worried about power outages, no backup generator, no concern about sophisticated electronics impacted by HVAC starts etc. What am I missing??
It just helps the compressor not to have huge startups Which can save it from being damaged
For the record, ICM 870 is retailing for over $200 when tax is included, more if you add in shipping charges.
Ok, Charleston South Carolina here. Riddle me this Coolerman. How does reducing power in to the unit affect the cooling power?? I'm confused here.
It doesn't affect the cooling power
It reduces the wear and tear on the compressor.
Tedd you're the man!!!... even a simpleton like myself can go ahead and install one of this nifty devices with no issues if they follow your very well explained to the point instructions. Keep up the good work brother! 😎
Is the reason that you chose the 16Amp version exclusively because your RLA is less than 16 but more than 9 for the smaller soft start option? I think I'm following you on that. Great video so far!!!!!
yes absolutely
Watching your video inspired me to run out and pick up one. My unit is about 15 years old and runs good. Had to replace the cap a couple of years ago but that’s it. Installed the ICM870 16A. My compressor 208-230V 13.6LRA and 76LRA so I believe I have the right one. As you mentioned wiring couldn’t be any easier. When I press in the control relay all I get is a low hum. Any ideas what’s going on? Went back to original wiring and compressor works normally. Suggestions greatly appreciated! Thanks
Any suggestion why the ICM870 doesn’t work?
Hey Joe, I saw this on the manufacturer website. May be the reason. " ICM870-16A: For AC’s with a Compressor Load Amp Rating (RLA) of 9.1-16A -
* Note: The ICM870-16A will handle a condenser up to about 2-1/2 tons "
What size is your condenser? Not sure if that is the same size as the unit? Mine is a 4ton unit, not sure if it will work on mine.
Apologize if I sound ignorant, just getting into DIY HVAC.
Hi Jason, Thanks for taking the time to respond. After about 4 days I was able to get some assistance from Tech Support at ICM. I emailed tech pics of condenser specs and wiring schematic. Tech said ICM870-16 was sized correctly. When I energized the contractor no lights lit. Line voltage was 240VAC top and bottom of contractor. All wiring was correct turns out I may have got a bad one. I reordered another and hoping for success. I really want this control to work! Joe
@@joetakayama1866 any luck with the replacement unit?
I read on some reviews this item has a 4 min dely to start up. Is that true?
Great video, thank you for showing this. Hard start vs soft start? I usually install a hard start capacitor on my units. They are cheaper ($50) and get the job done (Amrad). On my 3T York, the LRA is 83.9Amp but with the Amrad I get 21Amp, pretty good. Let me know your thoughts and keep the good job!
Also note that the reduction in Amp draw depends on your system. On my former R22 the hard start amp drop wasn't great. On my 410a York, it's way much. Scroll compressor vs piston?
What's the difference between the hard start and soft.
@@jeffreyrood8755 A hard start capacitor provides a quick burst of energy to start the compressor motor reducing the Amp drown, while a slow start capacitor provides a gradual increase in energy to help reduce stress on the motor. In both cases, it reduces the wears and tears on the system.
@@jeffreyrood8755 My question as well. Huge price difference
supco spp8 for $30 should do the same thing
Installed a micro air brand two years ago. Been great so far. Installed it to be able to run my 3ton AC on a portable generator during hurricane season. Last year we got hit with Hurricane Ian here in SWFL . Lost power for about two weeks. Ran the whole house with AC on a portable generator thanks to soft start like these. I just recommend the ICM units to a few friends. Thanks for the great video.
Glad to know the experience was good with the micro air.
Crazy experience, I'm sure through the hurricane.
Glad you're here and glad you're okay.
Ditto on my unit. I’ve not had to go 14 days, but I have ran the entire house (2 ac units each with their own MicroAir ES) and they ran flawlessly. I’m pretty sure my bill is lower too since it’s reducing the running amps significantly.
@@modestcody123 The soft start kits only lowers the LRA / in rush amps......running amps are the same.
@@darknes7800 It doesnt lower the starting amps either.
@@modestcody123 Yeah sure your bill is lower, that thing must be a mini power station, Lol
I just bought and installed the 870-32a model on my 3.5 ton unit, and was wondering if anybody knows why a new feature of a 4 min delay was added to the newer units? Now the fan kicks on and runs by itself for 4 mins before the compressor actually will start. ICMs website calls this out as a new feature, anybody know what the point of this actually is?
My understanding is that the delay prevents a compressor startup while the compressor is pressurized. The four minute delay allows internal pressure to bleed down before a restart.
This protects the compressor from starting up while "loaded".
This applies to the AC compressor in you vehicle, also. If you turn off your car AC you should allow four minutes for a bleed down of pressure before restarting it.
Locked rotor amps are not the same thing as starting amps. Any HVAC tech worth a shit would know this.
That is correct
Starting amps is when the motor starts.
Locked rotor amps is when the motor is locked up.
Installed the 16A today, put the black wire on the wrong side of the contactor and killed my 3 year old central Texas capacitor. Not too bad of a lesson, now I’m familiar with replacing the capacitor and have a backup for when this new one fails 🙃
Thank you for the video!
Costs more than 150.00
Great video ! Will this device also save me money on my electricity bill since it lowers the start up current ?
No, sir. It will not save you money on the electric bill
Not every installation requires the features that the micro air offers. The micro air does allow diagnostic information to be sent to the company, the units firmware can be upgraded through the phone connectivity. Customized adjustments or firmware can be made if there is an issue. The micro air logs quite a bit of information which can be read through the phones Bluetooth connection.
The ICM unit looks good and it’s probably sufficient for many installs.
DIY people who live where the units are installed are more likely to use the connectivity features
Is this install similar to installing on package unit
they dont have a 32a for my house yet .I have a 4 ton .
FYI: The ICM pdf instructions are wrong: "Step #1 a) Disconnect factory installed compressor run wire from the run capacitor (c/common/L2) terminal" and connect it to the brown wire. This is wrong. Their official video clearly shows that the compressor run wire is removed from the contactor NOT the capacitor. Step 2 is also wrong. In addition, Step 4 is deceptive as no splicing occurs with the black wire as it's simply connected to the contactor. I notified them of the errors.
Thank you captain
I’ve been watching many videos on adding a soft start for a/c compressor to “improve efficiency and operational life” of the compressor. I’m sorry but all I see you adding another failure point to a factory designed system that costs $300-$800. If it was such a great thing to have, don’t you think all a/c manufacturers would have installed them on all their systems. The ONLY reason you would consider adding a soft start to and a/c condensing unit is to lesson the voltage drop on your home when running it on a backup generator!!!
when you lower the amps On a compressor during startup, you can save the compressor from having damage during high current startup, so you can help yourself to not have to replace a part that can be very expensive to replace.
Also, saving thousands of dollars on a generator is a good thing.
If you're worried about the part that you put ongoing bad, install. A surge protector and then you can protect the part that you put on that. You're worried about having to replace.
My first condensing unit lasted 22 years as all I did was replace the capacitor and contactor every 4 years and wash coils every spring. How many $400 soft starts would I have had to replace in that time? I’m not wasting my money on something that isn’t needed
This I way off the list but great watching
Question 🙋♂️ could it be used in different applications example TABLE SAW/POWER HAMMER (Blacksmith) ROOM DUST COLLECTOR(I have to bump the start on switch to get the catch bags from immediately inflate)
Thanks
Yes it could be used in those applications
@@TaddyDigest wow answered so quickly I will be trying to send you a donation for helping out
I’ll also try to figure it’s connections I’ve just learned a 2 wire version
The motors are older than you 1900’s the table saw I bought at a garage sale in 1989 and it was used then. The Dust collector I’m not at shop is pretty good size. Ya just put a new project on my list of many
Cheers
Thank you for the info. I am trying to figure out if I can use this as I want a home BU gen. My AC is a 3.5 ton RUUD 2023 MFD. It says on the label 110.2 L.R.A and 17.7 R.L.A. It appears that this unit is no longer available. One difference the competitor had was a troubleshooting feature and Bluetooth connection for readings.
You can
@@TaddyDigest OK I found it on back order.
I put a spartan soft starter in my dometic penguin 2 roof ac
What is the difference between a RECTORSEAL Kickstart soft start kit and this? RECTORSEAL is a reputable brand and theirs is half the price?
I'm really not sure because I don't have any Experience with that brand
@@TaddyDigest appreciate the reply 👍
Should not be installed, on the exterior of AC unit. From installation instructions:
"CAUTION: The ICM870 must be mounted in an area where it will not be exposed to
water or the elements. Exposure of the ICM870 soft start to water can cause failure of
the control and is a risk for fire or other electrical safety hazards."
Thank you for adding this
I had an electrical engineer at the house yesterday and we chatted on the issue of my lights dimming when ac starts up. He recommended getting a soft start as my house is new. Now I just need to find a ac company to do this
The ICM870 has a IP65 rating and is sealed enclosure. it can withstand large amounts of falling or spraying water in the environment. The only thing that you don’t want are the wires getting wet and those need to be protected.
why does this brand have so many terrible reviews compared to the Micro air?
not sure
Will the 16 amp work on a carrier 4 ton about 7 yrs old anyone thank you in advance
I would use the larger model for sure I dopnt think the 16 will work
Tad how do I get the right amp icm control soft start for my unit?
Hey, sergio, check out their website.They should have a reference guide for you to be able to use
This is Miguel
How are you doing Ted?
I purchased the ICM870/16A and installed it on a old 3 1/2 ton carrier and it keeps giving me a fault 3
Do you have an idea on what's wrong?
Thanks
Reach out to ICM controls and they can
help you they have Tech support
Go to the website get their email or their phone number
Thanks
4 months later it's $189.21 at supply house.
Demand must have went up
Great video. Question: 78 amps at start-up. Is that at 120 or 240 volts? I would like to know how many watts does it takes to start up the unit at 78 amps. Also, are the same volts for the running? I know it's amps x volts = watts. Thanks.
that's at 240 volt
Thank you
would this help with efficiency or make my power bill drop? lol
definitely won't make the powerbill drop
ICM Low ambient/fan cycle controls are absolute garbage. I wouldn’t trust this product with my compressor.
let me know your experience. I need to learn
@@TaddyDigest I haven’t used the ICM controllers on compressor, but I’ve seen many of their products used on condenser fan motors in colder ambient areas where cooling is still needed (must maintain higher pressures or will have evap freezing problems). Motor bearings tend to wear out quicker. Also, The sensor for the device often shorts or opens, which typically either prevents the fan from coming on, or will act like the control isn’t even there and allow the fan to run full speed. I trust a mechanical fan control more (still not perfect tho). Motors without the proper bearings and grounding don’t like the variable frequency. When the frequency is less than motor design, there can be parasitic capacitance that causes frosting (pitting) and fluting in the bearing. Best to use inverter duty motors. Can get away with grounding rings, but still not ideal. Same thing for 3-phase heavy commercial equipment with VFDs, if the motor isn’t inverter duty, over time the bearings will start growling at you like crazy.
Question for all you ac guys. I have 20 yrs experience. How come with a soft start kit I dont see the amps slowly increase, its always hard like a hard start kit. Ive tested hard start kits 521 and soft start kits. Ive found no difference from what I could tell, other then the fan coming on first before the compressor with the soft start kit. Are we sure a soft start kit is just not a hard start kit with a time delay to allow the fan to start up first? Im pretty sure an inverter is required for true soft start. Ive opened soft start kits, they contain the same relay and capacitor of 521 kits.
Its a damn shame these videos promote this junk. 32 year HVAC tech in SE Texas. Put one on my 3 ton system, lasted a week. Busted it apart found the cap in it blown up. Parts house got another one under warranty. Lasted two weeks same issue. Unit is 15.1 amps fla but is only pulling 12.6 running. I use a lot of ICM products but these are pure junk.
That's not good. I want to know more.
This could be a good learning experience for me?
Do you have an email where I can reach out to you.
Have you reached out to icm controls about the product circumstances?
I have one of these on my air conditioner. It works great 👍
let me know bother 🙂
Mine also lasted about a week. Debating on trying another one or getting a refund.
Never tried one on AC units Tad, but you can bet the bank I’ll have one ordered tomorrow and on my units at my house by next week. Thanks for the insight. If I can see a change at my house I’ll be recommending to most of my PM customers for sure.
It's a pretty cool product I am very impressed and I'm very happy to have these and I may be able to get them direct for you I can let you know.
give me about a week to figure everything out. Would you be interested in that.
Wonder if more people would be interested
I will do some research
Thanks Mike
Let us know your direct price
Thx
Ted is my hero. Always direct with the info, no fancy shenanigans.
Thank you my brother
@@TaddyDigestTad is …. da best. 👍
as far AMP I can find it on the wiring scamatic ?
Wow. I'm so buying one for my heat pump. Instant suscriber😂❤👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
I need help!! I decided to try to install one of these myself. I open up the condensing unit panel only to discover there’s no contactor for the compressor or condenser fan. Just a transformer, run capacitor and an electronic board. Does this mean I cant install a soft starter??? Ty.
You should still be able to install it
@@TaddyDigest oh, ok. good.
Taddy, I just installed two of these on my units today and I'm amazed at the inrush reduction....
Excellent adrian Glad to hear this my friend
It didn’t sound any different upon startup, should it have?
yes
it should be much quieter
Can I use the ICM 16A version on my Carrier 5 ton unit? It's RLA is 25.60 Amps and LRA is 150.0 Amps.
I would use the 32 amp model?
@@TaddyDigest Thanks
How does some one know what unit do that need for there AC 9a or 16a or 32a.
check the website in the description there is a guide
Can I use a wago connector for the brown wire on the soft start and the red run wire on the contactor
Yes you can do that
Hello sir,this is Tony from phx,1? Can it be wire the red cable straight to the contactor?
This thing is B.S. and junk. They all are. It does NOT reduce anything. Using $50 clamp meters to measure modified sinewaves which fools the meter, and thinking the same motor with the same torque load on it now runs on one quarter of the current, is the findings of a fool.
Did you watch the video?The amp draw before was higher than the amp draw after installation.
Learn the limitations of your $50 Amazon clamp meter
@@TaddyDigest Do you know anything about electricity? A $50 clamp meter cannot measure altered wave forms coming out of that box. It will give false low readings because the power is no longer 60hz which that meter is designed to read.
My meter was not fifty dollars.The meter used in this video was three hundred dollars
Go be upset somewhere else
@@TaddyDigest Upset? not me, maybe you because your realizing that you just spent $300 on a magic box that doesnt do what you thought it would.
It clearly says it’s not water proof or weatherproof. Glad you installed it on the inside unit .
Could you expand on which model one might need. Is there a chart or something that would tell me weather I need the 9amp or 16amp. Thank you.
I would like to know this as well
it has a schematic wiring diagram that shows you how to wire it.
I installed it yesterday and it works great. No more loud motor start. Thanks for the video.
your welcome brother Thank you for watching
Appreciate the video! how would I go about finding out what amp ICM870 I need, the 16 or 32 if ALL my info on the inside of my panel is illegible lol.... every single thing is faded off the sticker.
Holy smokes this guy has a twin! Solomon from the old ford truck RUclips channel………ford era
Question about How do I bypass the Coresense Diagnostic module to install the ICM870-16A. ICM states to bypass it but just wondering how to do that. Thank you in advance.
Hey Tadd I just wanted to say thanks for the great tip, I am in central florida and just installed a whole home generator and was concerned the a/c would trip. I think this whole install took me maybe 15 minutes. Great tip on checking the wiring diagram on the unit; a quick review of the diagram and this was plug and play. Again thanks so much!
That is awesome! Glad I could help.
How do I know what soft start to get for my Lenox AC model # ML14XC1-060-230A04? LRA is 127.9, RLA is 22.2
Can this ICM870-16A Soft Start be mounted Sideways / horizontal without issue??
i wouldn't see why not
thank you for your reply and a fantastic video @@TaddyDigest
They can be mounted sideways without any issue. They are made to withstand the elements and are sealed pretty well.
Harry Homeowner here...I love the idea of a soft start for my older ac unit. (great video too) So my question is this- I have a 19yr old Carrier ac unit which shows:
-5 ton
-RLA 28.8
-185.0 LRA
The thing starts so violently and probably gonna get a new fan motor and redo the foundation...
However would you suggest using the ICM16A, even though my RLA is 28.8 or should I just go for the more expensive Micro Air ASY-368-X72Blue, which is rated for all the above specs.....?
Any input would be greatly appreciated!!
Doesn't seem like the ICM16A would cut it, although evidently there is a newer 32A unit coming soon. The Micro-Air X72 is probably a safer bet
Great video. I don’t really feel comfortable messing with electricity, so I would hire someone to do this for me. Can an electrician do this or should it be an HVAC tech, and what would be the expected rate for adding this component? Thanks.
Rate for adding this component depends on where you're at and the company. You choose could be a hundred dollars or could be up 2 hundred dollars
An electrician could definitely install this but I would get an hvac technician
Ok first how would this effect maintenance at all that makes no sense, then I was like wait ill see then you hit me with the start Amps LRA. Sweet baby J you were not even close Locked Rotor Amps (LRA) - Current drawn by the compressor if the rotor is locked and can't move while electric power is applied. Just saying remember what Nancy Regan said and just say no!
Would you describe the difference between a HARD START kit, a SOFT START kit and a START ASSIST kit please.
Runte Mountain
It's been a year now and this is one of the older white box units. I wonder if the internal capacitor popped on his yet.
Still works.Everything is still working really well
@@TaddyDigest That's good to hear. I've had my eye on one of these for a while but have seen dozens of pictures of the capacitors popping in the older white ones. The newer blue ones are supposed to be fixed but who knows. Also weird that your box shows a blue one but yours was white.
1) do they really work on amps draw.
2) how long do they really last !!!
3) what a the difference be twin this Icm and a 123 relay with a capister.
4) how about showing us one that u installed one year ago and after a year show us how its still working !!!!
There are alot of people wondering.
I love watching HVAC videos . I've been an aircraft mechanic for 25yrs and I am looking to change my career to be able to work in daylight!
That's awesome glad to hear my friend thank you for watching
Did you check the existing capacitor to ensure mf levels? In the begining there was a hard start kit. I understand there was an existing hardstart, but it was there for a reason. I would have replaced the run capacitor and installed this soft start kit. I would have also liked to see a comparison vid of a hard start kit vs this unit and start and run capacitor set up vs this unit as well. Nice vid.
I'm hesitant to buy this because of the so many bad Amazon reviews about people complaining about it dying within days... what's up with that?