What does "Instant recycle" refer to and why is it important?

In addition to the normal cycling (i.e. starting and stopping) that a compressor does to maintain a certain degree of coolness in a home, there are times when children or even adults will adjust the thermostat too frequently, causing a "short-cycling" effect. This effect can also be caused by lightning, momentary power outages, etc. "Instant recycle" refers to the ability of a hard start device to assist the compressor in starting regardless of the required frequency of starts. Unless a hard start device has the ability to instantly recycle, it may not be available to assist the compressor when short-cycling conditions exist which can create an extreme strain on the compressor windings and lead to compressor damage. Kickstart hard start devices have the ability to instantly recycle, and therefore can be counted on to assist the compressor in starting regardless of the frequency of starts.

To illustrate, many two-wire devices need time to cool down or re-set after they have operated. This is because they typically use either a heat sensing device or a timer to determine when the start capacitor should be taken out of the starting circuit. It is important to note that these devices must complete their "cycle" before they are again ready to operate. Unfortunately, the time required for these devices to cool down or re-set may not coincide with the starting demands placed on the compressor. Kickstart hard start devices, on the other hand, utilize true potential relays that have the unique ability to instantly recycle without delay no matter how quickly or frequently the compressor is required to start.