Using a SOFT STARTER with Bluetti AC Series generators

Product Discussion BLUETTI AC Series
1

After some research today I found what might be very useful for use on various Bluetti solar generators. However, I’m posting here in the “AC Series” forum mainly because I own the AC200P and AC70 solar generators and that’s my application for the particular GS10 SOFT STARTER found at link below.

GS10 SOFT STARTER
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07VQ2RZSN/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A1GM2012IUY588&psc=1

My application is to operate a 1/2HP sump pump (rated 115vac, 7.3amps) during a hard rain situation where it continuously cycles ON for 10 seconds and OFF every 70 seconds during the storm when a power outage is most likely to occur.

Good news is, my AC200P can handle the surge current and has successfully operated the sump pump for at least 24 hours, with plenty of power (capacity) to spare, during my last power outage. However, I’m reluctant to try powering the sump pump with my AC70 for fear of the initial surge stressing/damaging the inverter.

With all that in mind, I’m thinking it would be a good investment to spend $170 on the GS10 SOFT STARTER if it would allow me to safely operate the sump pump using the AC70 solar generator. Additional benefit would be less stress on the AC200P inverter since it can already operate the pump, but because the pump cycles so frequently.

Any thoughts on all this?
Anyone have experience with the GS10 SOFT STARTER or any similar soft starters?

–pete–

2

@pete2004
The maximum input current of this soft starter is 15A, which means that the starting current of this pump may also reach 15A. AC70 may not be able to handle it, while AC200P can.
However, I cannot guarantee the compatibility between this soft starter and our machines. There are no related soft starters available for testing in the lab.

1 Like
3

Admin, thank you and I do understand what you mean when you say the AC70 may not be able to handle a 15A surge because 120vac X 15a = 1800w surge and the AC70 is only rated at 1000w continuous.

I’m reading the AC70 user manual and no where does it spec the MAX INRUSH CURRENT or SURGE POWER. In my AC200P user manual, SURGE POWER spec is 4800W, so I’m assuming it can handle 4800w / 120vac = 40amps inrush current for a very short period of time. Correct?

I must say this inrush surge issue has been the most difficult part of my Bluetti experience so far because the info needed to determine if a particular device will work with my Bluetti generators is not found in the user manuals of the devices or the Bluetti manuals. For this reason I’m going to purchase a digital clamp type multimeter that’s capable of measuring INRUSH CURRENT of the devices (refrigerators, freezers, pumps, power tools, etc.).

INRUSH CURRENT METER
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BRPP58LS/ref=sw_img_1?smid=A2NOFZGOKNP3PJ&psc=1

Again, thank you for the info, and I’d appreciate if you could provide some important info that’s not currently available in the AC70 & AC200P user manuals so that I can better determine how to configure my solar generator systems. If you could simply fill in the blanks below I’d greatly appreciate it.

AC70
Max Surge Power = ______________
(If possible, what is the max surge current for what period of time)
Roughly, __________amps for ________miliseconds.

AC200P
Max Surge Power = 4800 watts
(If possible, what is the max surge current for what period of time)
Roughly, __________amps for ________miliseconds.

AC70
DC OUTPUT only = ON (no loads), Self-consumption rate = __________watts.
AC OUTPUT only =ON (no loads), Self-consumption rate = __________watts.

AC200P
DC OUTPUT only = ON (no loads), Self-consumption rate = __________watts.
AC OUTPUT only =ON (no loads), Self-consumption rate = __________watts.

–pete–

4

@pete2004 AC70 has a peak power of 1500W and a duration of 1s. AC200P has a duration of 500ms.
Please check the AC200P no-load consumption below:
d6f1f260e18f7041dfef35b2c734b0f0
AC70: DC ON-5W, AC ON-15W

5

Thanks again!
Once I get my new clamp inrush meter and the GS10 slow starter, I’ll post my test results here. --pete–