Compressor restart protection

Power is back.
Your compressor
may not be ready.

A sudden campground power interruption can stop an air-conditioner compressor while refrigerant pressure is still uneven. RVShield lets you choose when output returns—so the restart timing can match your equipment.

Watch the 48-second explainer Compare delay settings
48-second explainer

Why wait before
the A/C restarts?

See what happens inside a rooftop A/C after a brief outage, then compare RVShield's three selectable restart delays.

Power returns first. A safe compressor restart may need to happen later.
Illustration of an RV rooftop air conditioner and the compressor inside it
Illustrated reference from the explainer. Rooftop unit shapes and internal layouts vary by model.
What the delay protects

The compressor
works under pressure.

Your rooftop A/C contains a compressor that circulates refrigerant. If power disappears while it is running, high- and low-side pressures may need time to equalize.

Restarting too quickly can ask the compressor to start against that remaining pressure. The result may be a difficult start, increased current, a protective trip, or extra mechanical and electrical stress.

RVShield settings

Choose when
output returns.

The delay starts after RVShield confirms that incoming power is safe to reconnect. Your A/C manufacturer's requirements still take priority.

0seconds

Immediate output

Use only when the A/C or controller already provides the required internal restart delay, or when the connected load does not need compressor protection.

30seconds

Short buffer

Adds a brief pause after power returns. It is not a substitute when the equipment manufacturer requires a longer restart interval.

180seconds

Full three minutes

Provides a complete three-minute pause, consistent with the restart guidance found in several representative North American RV A/C manuals.

After an interruption

Power back.
Wait. Restore.

RVShield separates incoming-power recovery from output reconnection, keeping the RV supply off during the selected countdown.

1

Power returns

RVShield checks that the campground source is within its safe operating limits.

2

RVShield waits

The selected 0-, 30-, or 180-second countdown determines when output may resume.

3

Output is restored

Once the countdown ends, RV power is reconnected for the equipment's own controls to operate.

North American examples

What common RV A/C
manuals tell owners.

These examples show why model-specific instructions matter. Features can differ between A/C units, thermostats, and control boxes—even within one brand.

Brand / exampleRepresentative guidanceOriginal source
Dometic FreshJetWait at least three minutes before restarting after a manual shutdown.FreshJet manual (PDF) →
Coleman-MachSome compatible thermostats include a built-in three-minute anti-short-cycle delay.Thermostat manual (PDF) →
Furrion ChillCertain controllers and thermostats apply about a three-minute compressor delay after a power event.FACW12PA-BL manual (PDF) →
GE Appliances RV rooftop A/CWait at least three minutes after shutdown before restarting the compressor.Owner's manual (PDF) →
Free download

The RV Electrical
Safety Guide

Keep the essential campground checks, fault guidance, and power-safety references in the RV—not just in a browser tab.

  • Pre-hookup inspection checklist
  • Reverse polarity, open ground, and open neutral
  • When to disconnect and walk away
  • Five hidden threats to RV appliances
  • Generator and campground hookup guidance
▧   RV Electrical Safety Guide
  1. The 5 Campground Electrical Threats
  2. Pre-Hookup Inspection Checklist
  3. Reverse Polarity: How to Spot It
  4. When to Walk Away (and Why)
  5. AC Compressor Care: The $2,000 Mistake
  6. Boondocking Power Safety
①   What's your RV setup?
Selectable restart timing

Make the delay match
the equipment.

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