My furnace/AC is dumb, once the 'stat calls for cooling all three motors start at once (air handler, condenser fan and compressor). If a stepped time delay could be added I'd bet that not only would the lights not dim so much but (if I wanted to add one) a smaller standby generator would be needed to power it, too.
ICM has the timer you need to stage your equipment start-up. ICM is a common product line at most HVAC supply houses.
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