What’s a “Soft Start” for Your AC and Why Should You Care? Ever notice your lights flicker or your breaker trip when your air conditioner kicks on? That’s because AC units pull a huge surge of power to get started. A soft start device helps solve that. It gradually ramps up your AC’s compressor instead of hitting it with full power all at once. That means less strain on your system and fewer power issues around the house. Why it’s a smart upgrade: \t•\tSmooth startup = longer equipment life \t•\