A soft-start is an electrical device that reduces the high surge of current when your A/C compressor starts up.
For some members, soft-starts are necessary to ensure their Base battery can back up the entire home during an outage. Whether a soft-start is required depends on the type of A/C unit you have.
Here’s why:
When an A/C starts, there’s an initial electrical surge known as locked rotor amps (LRA).
Older A/C units typically have higher surge levels, which can exceed the Base system’s capacity to handle these spikes.
A soft-start helps temper this surge, making it compatible with the system.
If a soft-start is required for your A/C, Base will let you know during the intake process. Base’s HVAC partner will then schedule the installation as part of your setup—at no additional cost to you.