AC surge protector and hard start kit

I do think that is a good idea. A 5-2-1 hard start capacitor kit is about $50 and a easy DYI project. If you can change a capacitor you can easily install the hard start kit yourself. Many YouTube videos on this. I DYI’d installed a hard start kit on my HVAC last month. Many higher end condenser units come with hard start capacitors installed at the factory.

Apparently heat and voltage spikes are the 2 main factors which take out capacitors prematurely. Though it looks to me a HVAC surge protector, whose main function is to protect the compressor, is also not a difficult DYI item to install on your outside 240V disconnect, and I presently don’t have one on my unit, I’m going to have a electrician install one for me. I know I can do it myself I just don’t like messing with 230/240 volts. I need to get a electrician to the house for another job figured I’d just let them install one for while they are here for the other job. Here is a video I watched a couple days ago on this - this guy is a HVAC company owner in FL and a licensed electrician. LINK

Also many recommend that a surge protector be installed on the HVAC even if you have a whole house surge protector as many surges can originate internally within the house bypassing the whole house surge protector.

No recommendation on the Halo - don’t know enough about them.

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Is this like a souped up start capacitor?

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No idea what it is.

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Nearly hospital grade air filtration for your house? Sounds legit

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He said it makes sure that mold doesn't build up in the system.

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ETA: how long has this guy been servicing your AC?

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As long as the unit. It made more sense than the home warranty so I kept them on. I will probably drop them after my winter tune-up.

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tigers444

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If you, and others, want to learn a bit more on the function of a “hard start” capacitor and the advantages they provide in our hot climate watch this 30 min classroom lecture video (HVAC instructor teaching a class to HVAC students - guy is a good instructor) LINK. You can get the skinny in the first 12 min or so but the last 5 min of so is important as well because he discusses what hard start capacitors to avoid and why.

I installed the 5-2-1 start kit by CPS Products.

A service call to replace a capacitor is about $250. Doesn’t make much sense to pay $250 or whatever in the chance you need it. As often as we talk about them happening on here, it’s really not that often that a capacitor goes bad. Maybe once or twice in the life of a 8-15 year AC unit. Many units go their entire life without many problems at all.

Also OP, Hvac work is about to become cheaper once the fall and cool weather hits and they aren’t as busy.

Surge protector never does surge protection. A protector is only a connecting device to what does all protection - to what harmlessly dissipates hundreds of thousands of joules.

If an A/C needs that protection, then every household appliance (dishwasher, clock radios, washing machine, LED & CFL bulbs, modem, refrigerator, GFCIs, door bell, garage door opener, microwave oven, dimmer switches, and smoke detectors) must be protected.

Protection only exists when a potentially destructive transient is connected low impedance (ie less than 10 feet) to earth. Only earth harmlessly absorbs surge - as made obvious by the number - hundreds of thousands of joules.

A protector in an A/C has no earth ground. Earth ground only exists at the service entrance. Where effective protectors (installed for free and required by code) also exist for telephone, TV cable, satellite dish, etc.

One 'whole house' protector, that costs about $1 per protected appliance, is also superior protection for an A/C. Since that is how it was done in all facilities that could not have damage even 100 years ago.

An effective solution always answers this question. Where do hundreds of thousands of joules harmlessly dissipate? Lightning is typically 20,000 amps. So a minimal 'whole house' protector is 50,000 amps. Then it is a connecting device so that hundreds of thousands of joules dissipate harmlessly in earth. Are not anywhere inside a home.