Some lights dim on HP startup...

[crabjoe]

This is really wired... Just last week, I noticed that when my AC (heat pump) started up, the lights in my dining room dimmed. Never noticed the lights dim before. The next time it started up, I made sure to see if the lights in whatever room I was in would dim... And it didn't .. Last night, when the AC started, my porch light dimmed, but my lamp post didn't.. I would have figured all the incandescent bulbs would have dimmed...

With that said, I'm thinking a hard start kit might fix this.. but while looking for one, I see there are soft start kits.. I'm now confused...

I've got a 3.5 ton Rheem RP14 ... Anyone know what the correct sized start kit might be? What would be better .. a hard or soft start ?

 

[jkwilson]

Sometimes it's unavoidable short of larger service with some heat pumps. But it can also be a sign of a bad neutral connection somewhere in the system.

 

[Junkman]

I had the same thing happen when I was on a shared transformer with a neighbor. If he had his whole house air conditioner going, and my whole house air conditioner started up, I got a dimming of the lights. I notified the electric company, and they did something that I am unaware of, since after they left, there was no more problem. It was repaired during the daytime, when I wasn't around, so I don't know if it was a bad transformer, bad connection, or something between the pole and the homes. All that I cared about, was that it was fixed, and they did that.

 

[bazar01]

With that said, I'm thinking a hard start kit might fix this.. but while looking for one, I see there are soft start kits.. I'm now confused...

I've got a 3.5 ton Rheem RP14 ... Anyone know what the correct sized start kit might be? What would be better .. a hard or soft start ?

Don't do the hard start kit yet.

Check the voltage on the 120V outlets and as well as the 240V outlets (from dryer or HP).
If it is lower than normal, you have a bad neutral connection either from the main panel or from the power company.