STERLING POWER PS121500 AC-DC Inverter Handbook Instructions
- June 11, 2024
- STERLING POWER
Table of Contents
PS121500 AC-DC Inverter Handbook
Instructions Manual
PS121500 AC-DC Inverter Handbook
Remote control with 5 meter cable – optional (Part No PSRC)
Part No:
PS121500
PS122000
PS123000
PS124000
PS241500
PS242000
PS243000
PS244000
PS482000
PS484000
PSRCD121500
PSRCD122000
PSRCD123000
PSRCD124000
PSRCD241500
PSRCD242000
PSRCD244000
EN55032:2012
EN60950-1 : 2006+A11
2009+A1
2010+A12
2011+A2:2013
Sterling Power Products
Pure Sine (PS Series)
AC/DC Inverter Handbook
WELCOME
INTRODUCTION
Welcome
Welcome to the Sterling Power Products Owners Handbook for the product
series ‘PS’, shorthand for ‘Pure Sine’.
Please take your time to read and fully understand the contents of this
Handbook. These guidelines are developed with your safety and the products
performance in mind and failure to follow or understand these guidelines may
lead to voiding the product warranty or even leading to damage or injury for
you or your setup.
If you are unsure of any step or guideline then please consider reaching out
to Sterling via our web contact form or our phone service and we shall offer
our support.
Thank you for choosing Sterling and we hope to serve your travels well.
Using this Handbook
This manual must be read throughout before installing this electronic
device. Do not lose these instructions – keep them safe. The most up to date
instructions can be found on the Sterling Power website. Please refer to the
latest instruction manual before contacting Sterling. At Sterling, we
endeavour to include all of the product information that we can think of into
the manual.
Installation of the electronic device must be carried out by qualified and
trained personnel only. The personnel must be familiar with the locally
accepted guidelines and safety measures.
LEGAL GUIDELINES
SAFETY AND LEGAL
Warranty and Terms
Your 100 % satisfaction is our goal. We realise that every customer and
circumstance is unique. If you have a problem, question, or comment please do
not hesitate to contact us. We welcome you to contact us even after the
warranty and return time has passed.
Each product manufactured by Sterling Power comes with at least a 2 year
limited factory warranty. Certain Products have a warranty period of time
greater than 2 years. Each product is guaranteed against defects in material
or workmanship from the date of purchase. At our discretion, we will repair or
replace free of charge any defects in material or workmanship that fall within
the warranty period of the Sterling Power product. The following conditions do
apply:
– The original receipt or proof of purchase must be submitted to claim
warranty. If proof cannot be located a warranty is calculated from the date of
manufacture.
– Our warranty covers manufacture and material defects. Damages caused by
abuse, neglect, accident, alterations and improper use are not covered under
our warranty.
– Warranty is null and void if damage occurs due to negligent repairs.
– Customer is responsible for inbound shipping costs of the product to
Sterling Power either in the USA or England.
– Sterling Power will ship the repaired or warranty replacement product back
to the purchaser at their cost.
If your order was damaged in transit or arrives with an error, please contact
us ASAP so we may take care of the matter promptly and at no expense to you.
This only applies for shipping which was undertaken by our company and does
not apply for shipping organised by yourself. Please do not throw out any
shipping or packaging materials. All returns for any reason will require a
proof of purchase with the purchase date. The proof of purchase must be sent
with the returned shipment. If you have no proof of purchase call the vendor
who supplied you and acquire the appropriate documentation.
To make a claim under warranty, call our customer care check telephone numbers
on www.sterling-power.com or www
.sterling-power-usa.com. We will make
the best effort to repair or replace the product, if found to be defective
within the terms of the warranty. Sterling Power will ship the repaired or
warranty replacement product back to the purchaser, if purchased from us.
Please review the documentation included with your purchase. Our warranty only
covers orders purchased from Sterling Power. We cannot accept warranty claims
from any other Sterling Power distributor. Purchase or other acceptance of the
product shall be on the condition and agreement that Sterling Power USA LLC
and Sterling Power LTD shall not be liable for incidental or consequential
damages of any kind. Some states may not allow the exclusion or limitation of
consequential damages, so, the above limitations may not apply to you.
Additionally, Sterling Power USA and Sterling Power LTD neither assumes nor
authorizes any person for any obligation or liability in connection with the
sale of this product. This warranty is made in lieu of all other obligations
or liabilities. This warranty provides you specific legal rights and you may
also have other rights, which vary from state to state. This warranty is in
lieu of all other, expressed or implied.
Copyright and Plagiarism
Copyright © 2022 Sterling Power. All rights reserved.
Reproduction, transfer, distribution or storage of part or all of the contents
of this document is strictly prohibited. If you wish to use all of this
document, or excerpts from it, Sterling Power must be contacted.
Liability
Sterling Power can not accept liability for:
- consequential damage due to use of this device
- possible errors in the manuals and the results thereof
Device Modification
Please do not modify the device unless you have been instructed to do so by
Sterling Power, directly. Product modification shall be done at Sterling, when
needed. Warranty shall be voided if personal attempts are made to modify the
device, without Sterling’s approval.
SAFETY GUIDELINES
SAFETY AND LEGAL
Product Guidelines
Your Sterling Power product should only be utilised for it’s designated
purpose. Use the Sterling Power PS Inverter ONLY :
For DC to AC power conversion
With fuses protecting both the AC/DC cables
In a well ventilated, dry, dust-free and condensation free environment
When the Owners Handbook has been read and wholly understood
Transport and Storage
Ensure that the mains supply and battery leads are disconnected before
transporting or moving the unit. No liability can be accepted for damage in
transit once equipment has been unpackaged. Store the product in a dry
environment, between –20°C to 60°C.
Refer to the battery manufacturer’s manual for information on transportation,
stowage, charge rates, recharging and battery disposal for your battery care.
General Maintenance
The device must be switched off during maintenance and all cables removed from
the direct feed to or from the unit. It must also be protected against
unexpected switching off. Remove battery connections and ensure unit is off.
If repair is required, only use original parts. Unauthorised attempts to
repair Sterling units will lead to the warranty being voided. Only someone
with adequate understanding of electronics and the unit itself should attempt
a repair.
Ensure your connections are good and clean and aim to protect your unit from
humidity and water ingress.
Safety Precautions
Inverters can be heavy, do not lift unassisted.
Ensure that your model is correct for your intent. 110V/240V, 12V/24V/48V.
Incorrect use can lead to damage.
Orientation is not critical to unit function, however may affect water ingress
rating.
Place as close to the house/leisure bank in use as possible.
Ensure inverter is off during install.
Disconnect AC wires during install.
Connect AC output to a Residual Circuit Breaker (RCD) and current overload
trips.
When installing DC cables, connect to the inverter first and then, via a fuse
on the positive line, connect both cables to the battery terminals in use.
Sterling recommend Multi Core Tri Rated AC cable
Install device in a well ventilated space for cooling purposes.
Do not expose the unit to snow, rain, water, spray, condensation, pollution
etc.
Do not cover or obstruct the ventilation.
Device connects to common negative. Common negatives must be earthed.
In case of fire, use fire extinguisher equipment suitable for electrical
fires.
Avoid all possibilities of reverse polarity or short circuiting.
Check cabling and connections frequently and ensure the connections are
sufficient.
Always protect DC and AC cabling with the appropriate fusing.
Ensure the unit is adequately and safely mounted to prevent displacement and
damage.
Always use a professional to install electrical products.
Ensure the product is correctly set up for your battery.
Turn the unit on before turning on the AC appliances connected to it.
Keep out of reach of children
WARNING :
All electrical appliances carry the risk of electrical shock. This
equipment is designed to be used in combination with a permanent energy source
(the battery). Always turn the AC power off and disconnect the battery before
performing any maintenance or inspection.
Do NOT remove the panelling to inspect the internals unless expressly told to
by Sterling. This is not a product designed to be user-serviced.
Do NOT use the device in situations where there is danger of gas / dust /
vapour explosions, or around potentially flammable produce.
Front Panels
PRODUCT INFORMATION
- Green LED means unit on and working. Red LED means fault.
- Simple toggle on/off switch
- 5V 2.1A USB port
- Remote port.
- LCD screen – displays battery voltage, inverter wattage use and an estimated battery state of charge meter.
- Twin socket – UK socket and Schuko Euro socket.
- AC cable connection point – with AC cable extension
- Live Earth Neutral – cable to be connected to AC distribution / sockets
- RCD – Residual Current Device – a protection device designed to trip if there is leak in the neutral.
- DC terminals – 8mm bolts. Red positive | Black Negative
LCD display screen
The LCD display screen automatically toggles between battery voltage and AC
output wattage. Both of these values are good approximations, they are not
100% accurate.
The battery symbol (with the 5 bars) approximately indicates the state of
charge of the battery. It makes this decision based purely on the voltage. It
is NOT an accurate representation of the SOC or health of the battery the
inverter is connected to. Check our power management panel (PMP series) for
accurate Ah counting and battery voltage readings.
FUNCTIONS AND FEATURES
PRODUCT INFORMATION
Introduction
Ensure you have read the manual completely before using this device. A full
understanding of the capabilities of the Sterling Power product is crucial to
it’s continued performance and your safety.
This inverter converts a 12V or 24V or a 48V DC voltage into a usable AC
voltage with a pure sine wave (100127V/220-240VAC). This inverter allows you
to utilise a battery power source to supply power to equipment that would
require mains supply. The voltage for the input and the voltage for the output
is dependent on the model.
Be aware that some products have power surges on initial engagement. Ensure
that these start-up peaks are within the inverters operatable range. Some
peaks can be up to as much as 5 times the continuous power consumption of an
electrical product.
Notes of Use
Prior to using the inverter ensure that all cables are mounted correctly
and are secure. Never use the inverter when cables are damaged. Ensure the
inverter is [ON].
It is normal for the housing to get warm during operation. The fan will keep
operation within a safe and efficient range.
If you will not be using the inverter for a significant length of time you
will benefit from disconnecting it from your battery over the period.
LED Indicators
POWER – GREEN – Battery connected and the switch is in the ON position.
FAULT – RED – Fault on the DC input or internal temperature
FAULT – RED BLINKING – Fault on the AC output
Cross reference with trouble shooting page for solution
USB Output
All Sterling Power PS inverters have a 5V USB port. Maximum load is 2,1
amps.
Remote Control
PSRC is the product code for the Sterling Power Pure Sine Remote Control,
the round-remote control intended for use with the PS series of products. When
it is connected it is important that the main switch on the inverter is in the
OFF position. When the inverter is in the OFF position the remote control can
toggle power on and off.
LCD Display
The LCD screen displays the battery voltage (V), output power (W), battery
state of charge, low voltage protection alarm, over voltage protection alarm,
overload protection alarm and the over temperature protection.
Cooling Fan
The fan is temperature and load influenced. At a certain load, dependent on
model, the fan will engage automatically. As internal temperature increases
the fan will gradually increase in power.
INSTALLATION
PRODUCT INFORMATION
Mounting
Ensure, if you are choosing to wall mount, that your mounting points are
secure and sufficient to hold the weight with the mounts you choose to use.
Ensure that there is space for ventilation (minimum 10cm) to allow air
circulation. Ensure at least 2 of the available mounting supports are screwed
in for install.
Neutral Earth Bonding
These units are neutral earth bonded, tying the neutral to the earth
terminal. This gives 230V across the live and neutral terminals but also from
live to earth. This allows an RCD to operate safely as intended and is
compliant with hard wire installation requirements on vehicle installs.
Install Preface
All electrical installations should be carried out by a professional
electrician. High voltages are a reality when utilising an inverter and do
have the potential to kill you. Ensure your input and output voltage needs are
correct for the model you have before continuing.
Sterling do not provide, by default, the cable necessary for your
installation. We are of the belief that every install is unique to the client
and as such we cannot presume. Ensure that your cable thickness is sufficient
and safe for the current we can expect to move through it and ensure that you
fuse your cable when connecting to a battery.
Installation Instructions
Red cable refers to the cable on the positive DC line. Black cable refers
to the cable on the negative DC line.
- Ensure all instructions have been adequately understood and you have ensured your personal safety.
- Connect one side of the red cable to the positive DC terminals at the back of the inverter and one side of the black cable to the negative DC terminals at the back of the inverter.
- Tighten all connections firmly
- Connect the remaining ends of cable to the battery. The red positive cable connects to the positive terminal on the battery. The black negative cable connects to the negative terminal on the battery. These cables should be correctly fused and the connection itself must be firm, tight and sufficient.
Do NOT reverse polarity the inverter (Positive to negative, negative to
positive). This can destroy the inverter and would not be covered under
warranty.
Grounding
The AC output ground must be connected with the grounding point for the
connected equipment. The ground connection on the inverter itself should be
connected to the ground chassis on the vehicle with 6mm2 cable.
AC Equipment
All Sterling PS inverters have two plug sockets. One Schuko (Euro) plug and
one UK mains plug. Ensure that your AC equipment does not exceed the power
rating of the inverter. The inverter is at risk of becoming damaged in the
instance of power surges. This damage is not covered within the warranty as it
constitutes invalid use.
Other AC Power Supplies
Some users may wish to run this inverter in conjunction with other AC power
supplies such as a mains supply or a generator. This is NOT suitable. Having
the inverter involved with other AC power supplies in a circuit will damage
the inverter and this is not covered by warranty. You must utilise a cross-
over switch for use in these situations.
Legal Obligations
An inverter MUST be safe for use. It may sometimes be difficult to obtain a
good grounding/earth connection however this is important to it’s safe
operation. In some circumstances it is obligatory by law to have these units
safely grounded. To determine cable size / fuse size, refer to page 11.
INTEGRATED PROTECTIONS
PRODUCT INFORMATION
Protections
The PS series inverter has a number of protections dependant on the model.
Low Voltage Warning
In the instance of low DC voltage on the input an acoustic signal will
engage.
12V Models :
24V Models :
48V Models :| Engage at
10.5V +/-0.5V
21V +/-0.5V
42V +/-0.5V| Disengage at
11.5V +/-0.2V
23V +/-0.2V
46V +/-0.2V
---|---|---
Low Voltage Protection
If the input voltage continues to drop after the alarm signals the low
voltage protection will engage. AC output is shut down and the red fault
indicator will trigger. The alarm will continue to sound. The inverter will
automatically restart when the voltage has risen sufficiently.
12V Models :
24V Models :
48V Models :| Shut down at
10V +/-0.5V
20V +/-0.5V
40V +/-0.5V| Restart at
12.6V +/-0.2V
25.2V +/-0.2V
50.4V +/-0.2V
---|---|---
Over Voltage Protection
If the input voltage rises outside of safe parameters then the PS inverter
will trigger its over-voltage protection. The AC output will be shut down and
the red fault indicator will trigger. When the input voltage has dropped to
safe levels the inverter will restart.
12V Models :
24V Models :
48V Models :| Shut down at
16V +/-0.5V
32V +/-0.5V
64V +/-0.5V| Restart at
12.6V +/-0.2V
25.2V +/-0.2V
50.4V +/-0.2V
---|---|---
Temperature Protection
In rare instances the internal cooling provided by the fan may be
insufficient. In these instances the temperature protection feature will
engage. This disables the AC output and the red fault indicator will engage.
Once the inverter has cooled again it will restart automatically.
Short Circuit on Output
The inverter will switch off the AC output if it detects a short circuit on
the output side. The red fault indicator will flash intermittently. Inverter
will restart automatically when the fault is resolved
Overload Protection
If the AC output is demanding power that is greater than the inverter is
rated to safely provide the overload protection will disconnect the output.
The red fault indicator will flash intermittently. Once the problem is
resolved the inverter will restart.
Warranty Note
In the instance that the protection is not quick enough to engage and you
manage to damage the unit (either through overload, over voltage, etc) this is
not at fault of Sterling and the unit will not be liable for warranty.
Sterling Power is not liable for the potential degradation of your batteries.
This may occur if you continually and repeatedly drain your batteries down
past their preferred guidelines.
TROUBLESHOOTING
PRODUCT INFORMATION
Buzzer Alarm
The acoustic warning implies low DC voltage on the input. Please charge your
battery or supplement the load by charging your battery while running the
inverter.
Solid Red Fault Light
A solid red fault light implies there is either an input fault or the
temperature protection is active.
In the instance of an input fault you will likely register the input voltages
from your battery as being too low or too high. When the voltages return to
normal levels the inverter will engage.
In the instance of the temperature protection causing the fault, please verify
that the fan is working and that the inverter has sufficient ventilation. If
the inverter is located in an area of high ambient temperature and frequently
seems to have temperature trips, please consider relocating it into a cooler
area.
Blinking Red Fault Light
A blinking red fault light implies there is an output fault. This will
likely either be a short circuit or an overload. Please safely attempt to
check your AC appliances for a fault. When the fault is resolved the inverter
will restart automatically.
Green LED But No Output
This can imply a number of potential faults and is largely due to using
improper equipment. Please verify that your battery capacity is sufficient to
supply the requested load. Please verify that all of the connections between
the inverter and the battery are sufficient. Please verify that the cables in
use are sufficient for your demand. Please verify that the power being
requested is within the rating of the inverter.
No LEDs, No Function
In the instance that all LEDs are off, please verify that you are receiving
a valid voltage at the DC input terminals. Please verify this with an
independent voltmeter as read off of the terminals themselves. If you are
getting a 0V reading at these rear terminals then it is likely that a fuse has
blown or your battery, if lithium, may have tripped. There could be a
connection failure somewhere between the inverter and your battery.
If you are getting your battery voltage at the DC terminals please verify that
any fuses have not blown. Some fuses allow a continuity reading even after
they have blown. If you are getting a higher voltage than the inverter is
rated to, this could also explain the fault.
In the instance that none of the above seems to explain the problem and you
are getting a valid voltage at the inverter please verify that the inverter is
turned ON. If the inverter is turned ON and you have valid voltages at the
terminals and the inverter is still not functioning or providing any feedback
then please contact Sterling with voltage readings ready to provide.
SPECIFICATIONS AND CABLE THICKNESS AND FUSE RATING
PRODUCT INFORMATION
Overload
All PS inverters have a 120-150% overload for up to 3 minutes. They have a
200% overload for 3 seconds.
Efficiency
All PS inverters are 90% efficient at full load, 95% efficient at 1/3 load.
Temperature
All PS inverters have an operational ambient range of -10’C to +50’C
AC Output
All PS inverters have an AC output voltage of 200~240VAC, 50/60Hz
PS121500
PS122000
PS123000
PS124000
PS241500
PS242000
PS243000
PS244000
PS482000
PS484000| Rated Power
1500W
2000W
3000W
4000W
1500W
2000W
3000W
4000W
2000W
4000W| DC Voltage
12V
12V
12V
12V
24V
24V
24V
24V
48V
48V| Current
~150A
~200A
~300A
~400A
~70A
~100A
~150A
~200A
~50A
~100A| DC Cable Sizes
35mm2
50mm2
70mm2
95mm2
25mm2
25mm2
50mm2
70mm2
16mm2
25mm2| DC Fuses
200A
250A
350A
450A
100A
140A
200A
250A
80A
120A
---|---|---|---|---|---
PSRCD121500
PSRCD122000
PSRCD123000
PSRCD124000
PSRCD241500
PSRCD242000
PSRCD244000| Rated Power
1500W
2000W
3000W
4000W
1500W
2000W
4000W| DC Voltage
12V
12V
12V
12V
24V
24V
24V| Current
~150A
~200A
~300A
~400A
~70A
~100A
~200A| DC Cable Sizes
35mm2
50mm2
70mm2
95mm2
16mm2
25mm2
70mm2| DC Fuses
200A
250A
350A
450A
100A
150A
250A
---|---|---|---|---|---
Remote Control Use with PS Series inverters
REMOTE CONTROL
Remote Control
PSRC – optional
The PSRC comes with 10m of cable and connects here.
If the inverter is powered up, the green / yellow back light on the remote
shall illuminate displaying voltage <-> power.
If the back light illuminates but there is no display, try turning your
inverter off and on again.
Voltage display – This is the DC voltage read inside the inverter. It is not an accurate voltage reading of your batteries.| Power display – this is a simple AC voltage x AC current calculation. It is a good estimation of the AC power being consumed from the inverter.
Battery state of charge meter. This is a meter that displays the estimated battery state. It works purely from voltages. This is not a reliable state of charge representation.
On and off toggle switch – this button simply switches the inverter on and off. In order to engage the on/off function of the remote the Inverter switch position needs to be ‘O’ – off.
Remote control dimensions to scale
www.sterling-power.com
www.sterling-power-usa.com
Warranty (2 years return to factory)
Copyright © 2022
Sterling Power
All Rights Reserved
Documents / Resources
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STERLING POWER PS121500 AC-DC Inverter
Handbook
[pdf] Instructions
PS121500, PS122000, PS123000, PS124000, PS241500, PS242000, PS243000,
PS244000, PS482000, PS484000, PSRCD121500, PSRCD122000, PSRCD123000,
PSRCD124000, PSRCD241500, PSRCD242000, PSRCD244000, PS121500 AC-DC Inverter
Handbook, AC-DC Inverter Handbook, Inverter Handbook, Handbook
---|---
References
- Power-Usa.com is for sale | HugeDomains
- Sterling Power USA, Marine Grade AC Battery Chargers, Marine Battery Isolator, Advanced Alternator Regulators, DC Powered Battery Chargers & Alternator Powered Battery Chargers, Pro Connect Advanced Battery Relays, BB Chargers, Current Limiting Units
- Sterling Power Products