POWERDRIVE PWD400 400W Power Inverter User Guide

POWERDRIVE PWD400 400W Power Inverter

Product Information

The product is an inverter that converts DC power from a 12V battery to AC power. It has a continuous output of 400W and a surge power of 800W with battery cable clamps. The inverter has two DC terminals, a positive and negative, and a cooling fan with ventilation openings. It also has safety features that shut off the inverter if it overheats, overloads, or short circuits.

Product General Safety Rules

• Read all instructions before using the inverter to avoid personal injury.
• Keep out of reach of children.
• Do not overload the inverter by powering an appliance that draws more wattage than the inverter can handle.
• Keep the inverter away from heat vents, direct sunlight, and water.
• Do not use any accessories or attachments that are not recommended for use with the inverter.
• Keep the inverter away from fire and smoke.

Product Operating Tips

• Operate the inverter only in dry and cool locations.
• The unit will shut down if it overheats, and it will auto-reset after it cools down.
• To avoid slight discharge from the battery, disconnect the DC cable clips from the battery when the inverter is not in use.

Helpful Formulas

• To convert amps to watts: Amps x Volts = Watts
• To convert watts to amps: Watts / Volts = Amps

Product Usage Instructions

1. Attach the ring type connector marked with red to the positive (+) DC terminal on the power inverter, and attach the ring connector marked with black to the negative (-) DC terminal.
   CAUTION: Reversing the polarity will cause the fuse to be damaged, which can easily be replaced with a new one on the back of the inverter.

2. Tighten the nut on each DC terminal by hand until it is snug.
   Do not over-tighten.

3. Attach the negative (black) clip to the negative (-) battery terminal.

4. Attach the positive (red) clip to the positive (+) battery terminal. Make sure both clips are securely connected to the battery terminals, as a loose connection will cause the voltage to drop and may cause the cables to overheat, resulting in equipment damage or fire.

5. Turn on the inverter.

6. When properly connected to a 12V battery, turning on the inverter will illuminate the green LED light and deliver AC power to the outlet(s).

7. Plug the AC product(s) you wish to operate into the AC outlet(s) and switch them on, one at a time.

CAUTION: If there is more than one AC product connected to the inverter, turn on the higher powered product first.

GENERAL SAFETY RULES

WARNING: Failure to read all instructions may result in serious personal injury.

• Avoid wet environments. Do not get the inverter wet.

• Store the inverter in a safe place when not in use.
  Keep out of reach of children.

• Use the inverter for its intended purpose ONLY. Do not overload the inverter. Trying to power an appliance that draws wattage larger than inverter’s capability will result in damage to the inverter.

• Disconnect appliances. Disconnect the appliance from inverter when not in use.

• Proper cooling is essential when operating the inverter. Do not place the unit near the vehicle’s heat vent or in direct sunlight.

• Use of accessories and attachments. Do not use any accessories or attachments that are not recommended to use with your appliance. This could result in damage to the unit.

WARNING: Keep away from WATER, FIRE and SMOKE!
The inverter will shut off if overheated, overloaded, or short circuited.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

WARNING: To reduce the risk of electric shock:

• Do not connect to a household AC outlet or distribution panel.
• Do not connect the inverter to any ignition protected areas, such as 12V cigarette lighter type plugs.
• Do not let the inverter get wet.
• Do not insert foreign objects into the AC/11 OV outlet or the USB port.

WARNING: To reduce the risk of fire:

• Do not operate near flammable materials, fumes or gases.
• Do not expose to extreme heat or flames.

WARNING : To reduce the risk of injury or property damage:

• Do not attempt to connect or set-up the unit or its components while operating your vehicle. Not paying attention to the road may result in a serious accident.

• Always use the inverter where there is adequate ventilation. Do not block ventilation areas.

• Always turn the inverter off before disconnecting the inverter from the vehicle battery.

• Make sure the nominal input voltage is 12V DC.

• Do not use with positive ground electrical systems*. Reverse polarity connection will result in a blown fuse and may cause permanent damage to the inverter and will void warranty.

• The majority of modern automobiles, RVs and trucks are negative ground.

  • Keep in mind that this inverter is unable to power the appliances or equipment that produce heat, such as hair dryers, microwave ovens and toasters.

  • DO NOT OPEN THE INVERTER: There are no user-serviceable parts inside.

  • Do not use this inverter with medical devices. It is not tested for medical applications.

  • Keep away from children. This is not a toy!
    Install and operate unit only as described in this instruction manual.

  • Please be careful when you use this inverter in a boat. It is not qualified for marine applications.

  • Check unit periodically for wear and tear. Take to a qualified technician for replacement of worn or defective parts immediately.

  • Do not connect the unit to any utility power distribution, systems or branch circuits.

  • Do not use the inverter in temperatures over 104° F (40° C) or under 32° F (0° C).

  • Failure to follow these safety guidelines could result in personal injury and/or damage to the unit. It may also void the warranty.

  • Follow the instructions from the manufacturer of your vehicle battery and AC/11 OV appliance before connecting the inverter to battery. Please pay more attention to the cautionary marking on your vehicle battery.

*Only connect with cables –
Do not use the DC plug with cable

*Only use one set of cables at a time

FEATURES

1. Positive DC terminal: Connect the red end of the DC power cord to it.
2. Negative DC terminal: Connect the black end of the DC power cord to it.
3. Cooling fan and ventilation openings: The high speed cooling fan protects the inverter from over-heating.
4. Replaceable blade fuse
5. LED power & fault indicator
6. Inverter on/off switch
7. AC sockets
8. USB and USB-C® ports
9. Ventilation holes
10. 12V DC plug with cable
11. Battery clamps

See diagram on page 5.

OPERATING TIPS

The inverter should only be operated in locations that are:

• Dry: Do not allow water or other liquids to come into contact with the inverter.
• Cool: Surrounding air temperature should ideally be between 32°F and 104°F. Keep the inverter away from direct sunlight, when possible.
• Well-Ventilated: Keep the area surrounding the inverter clear to ensure free air circulation around the unit. Do not place items on or over the inverter during operation.

The unit will shut down if the internal temperature gets too hot. The inverter will auto-reset after it cools down.
Please find the 11continuous output” and 11s urg e11 power of your inverter as below.
PWD400: Continuous output 400W/Surge power 800W with battery cable clamps

HELPFUL FORMULAS

TO CONVERT AMPS TO WATTS: AMPS X VOLTS=WATTS
TO CONVERT WATTS TO AMPS: WATTS+VOLTS=AMPS
When you turn on an appliance or a tool that operates using a motor, it requires an initial surge of power to start up. This surge of power is referred to as the “starting load” or “peak load”. Once started, the tool or appliance requires less power to continue to operate. This is referred to as the “continuous load” in terms of power requirements. You will need to determine how much power your tool or appliance requires to start up and its continued running power requirements. We recommend that the equipment or appliance switch be in the “OFF” position prior to plugging into the AC receptacle of the inverter. The green LED light will confirm that AC power is on.

1. Attach the ring type connector marked with red to the POSITIVE{+) DC terminal on the power inverter, and attach the ring connector marked with black to the NEGATIVE {-) DC terminal.
   CAUTION: Reversing the polarity will cause the fuse to be damaged, which can easily be replaced with a new one on the back of the inverter.

2. Tighten the nut on each DC terminal by hand until it is snug. Do not over-tighten.

3. Attach the NEGATIVE {black) clip to the NEGATIVE {-) battery terminal.

4. Attach the POSITIVE {red) clip to the POSITIVE { +) battery terminal. Make sure both clips are securely connected to the battery terminals, as a loose connection will cause the voltage to drop and may cause the cables to overheat, resulting in equipment damage or fire.

5. Turn on the inverter.

6. When the power inverter is not in use, disconnect the DC cable clips from the battery to prevent slight discharge from the battery.

OPERATING THE INVERTER

1. When properly connected to a 12V battery, turning on the inverter will illuminate the green LED light and deliver AC power to the outlet(s).
2. Plug the AC product(s) you wish to operate into the AC outlet(s) and switch them on, one at a time.

CAUTION: If there is more than one AC product connected to the inverter, turn on the higher powered product first.
Through its AC outlet, the inverter is capable of powering most 11 OV products at its rated power. The inverter will work under input voltage from 11 V to 15V DC.
When in use, the battery voltage will drop. If the inverter senses that the voltage has dropped between 10.2 and 1 o.av DC, the red LED indicator will turn on. This protects the battery.
Turn off any device that the inverter is powering. When input voltage rises to 11. 7V to12.3V DC, inverter restores to normal.
CAUTION: Most vehicle batteries are designed to provide short periods of very high current for starting the engine.
They are not designed for a constant “deep discharge”. Constantly operating the unit from a vehicle battery until the low voltage shut off will affect the life of the battery. If you are going to power an appliance for a long time, please consider connecting the unit to a separate “deep discharge “battery.
Should a defective battery charging system cause the battery voltage to rise to the range of 15V to 16V DC, the inverter automatically shuts down; and the red LED light will turn on.
CAUTION: Although the inverter incorporates protection against over- voltage, it may still be damaged if the input voltage exceeds 16V.
If the actual output is higher than the rated power of inverter, the inverter will shut down. The red LED light will turn on.
The unit will shut down automatically if the inverter exceeds a safe operating temperature due to insufficient ventilation or a high-temperature environment; and the red LED indicator lights will turn on.
The cooling fan is designed to operate automatically when the inverter is turned on.

TOTAL WATT OUTPUT FROM ALL AC AND DC OUTLETS MUST BE LESS THAN THE TOTAL OUTPUT OF THE INVERTER

• Only use power from one of the AC outlets at a time.

• Can use both USB outlets simultaneously.

• DC pass through outlet, (if equipped) cannot be greater than 1 O Amps or 120 Watts.
  ATTENTION: Maximum wattage available depends on vehicle power port rating.

• Amps X Volts = Watts

• A 1 O Amp outlet can supply 120 Watts.

• A 15 Amp outlet can supply 180 Watts.
  ATTENTION: Your inverter may have come with two different power cords depending on its watt rating.

• The 12V power port cord can supply 120 Watts.

• The battery clip cord can supply the full inverter rating power.

BATTERY OPERATING TIME

Operating time will vary depending on the charge level of the battery, its capacity and the power level drawn by the particular AC load. With a typical vehicle battery load, an operating time of 1 hour or more can be expected.
When using a vehicle battery as a power source, it is strongly recommended to start the vehicle every hour to recharge the battery before its capacity drops too low. The inverter can operate while the engine is running, but the normal voltage drop that occurs during starting of the engine may trigger the inverter’s low voltage shutdown feature.
Because the power inverter draws less than 0.5A with it turned on and no AC product connected, it has minimal impact on battery operating times.
INTERFERENCE WITH ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
Generally, AC products operate with the inverter just as they would with household 110V/AC power. Below is the information concerning two possible exceptions.
BUZZING IN AUDIO SYSTEMS AND RADIOS
Some stereo systems and AM/FM radios have inadequate internal power supply filtering and “buzz” slightly when powered by the inverter. Generally, the only solution is an audio product with a higher quality filter.
TELEVISION INTERFERENCE
The inverter is shielded to minimize its interference with TV signals. However, with weak TV signals interference may be visible in the form of lines scrolling across the screen.

The following should minimize or eliminate the problem:

• Increase the distance between the inverter and the TV, antenna and cables.
• Adjust the orientation of the inverter, TV, antenna and cables.
• Maximize TV signal strength by using a better antenna and use shielded antenna cable where possible.

SPECIFICATIONS

Internal Fuse/

Replacement Fuse

| 1-1SA fuse in the cigarette plug (replaceable) and 2-35A n end cap (replaceable)
Operating Temp| Ideally 32°F-104°F
Battery Low Alarm| NA
Power Cable Length| 36″
Dimensions| 7.25″x 5.75″x 2.75″
Net Weight| 1.65 lbs.

TROUBLESHOOTING

No power, no indicator

| | Battery is defective.| Replace battery.
Blown fuse.| Check and replace fuse.
| ****

Loose cable connections

| Check the connection to the battery. Tighten as required.
| | The actual output| Reduce load to have the actual output lower than rated power of inverter.
| is higher than rated
| power of inverter,
| overload protection
| has occurred.
| The actual output is|
| less than rated| Use a product with
| power, but high| starting surge power
| starting surge has| within the inverter’s
The red LED

indicator illuminates

| caused overload shutdown.| capability.
The voltage input is too low.| Charge the battery.
| | Disconnect the

inverter from

battery or DC socket and allow to

cool for 15 minutes. Please ensure removal of

objects covering the unit.

when unit|
is shut off.|
| Inverter is
| overheated due to
| poor ventilation and
| has shut down.
Problem| Cause| Solution
---|---|---
Inverter runs small loads but not large loads.|

Low voltage battery.

|

Charge the battery.

Water entered

|

Water entered the unit.

| Disconnect the inverter and wipe immediately with a dry cloth, or permanent damage can occur from the liquid.

Measured inverter output is too low.

| Standard “average-reading” ACvoltmeter used to measure output voltage, resulting in an apparent

reading 5 to 15V too low

|

Inverter’s “modified sine wave” output requires “true RMS” voltmeter for accurate measurements.

Battery voltage is too low.| Recharge battery.

Battery run time is less than expected

| AC product power

consumption is higher than rated.

| Use a larger battery to

make up for increased power requirement.

Battery is old or defective.| Replace battery.

Battery is not being charged.

| Some chargers are not able to fully recharge a battery. Make sure you use a powerfuI charger.
Power dissipation in DC cables.| Use shorter/heavier DC cables.

PowerDrive and RoadPro designs and RoadPro are registered trademarks of DAS Brands, LLC and its affiliated companies. PowerDrive is a trademark of DAS Brands, LLC and its affiliated companies. All other trademarks, registered trademarks, copyrights and logos are the property of their respective owners. ©2021 DAS Companies, Inc. and/or its affiliates.

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1-866-622-7979
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WARRANTY

DAS COMPANIES, INC. POWERDRIVE™ ONE YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY
This Limited Warranty covers this PowerDrive™ product. This product is warranted against defects in materials and workmanship for a period of ONE (1) YEAR from the date of original retail purchase (“Warranty Period”). This warranty extends only to the original purchaser and will end when the product is transferred to a subsequent owner. If a defect arises during the Warranty Period, DAS (PowerDrive), at its option and to the extent permitted by law will (1) replace the product with a new product as the same purchased or (2) exchange the product with a functionally equivalent product that is new. This warranty excludes damage resulting from misuse or abuse, accident, operation of the product not in accordance with the manuals or other included written instructions, modification of the product, attempted repair of the product, or as a result of an act of God or as a result of war or terrorist attack or other causes that are not defects in materials and workmanship.
Non-PowerDrive branded products/Third Party Products. This warranty does not apply to products that are not PowerDrive branded even if packaged or sold with PowerDrive products, nor does it apply to batteries or similar expendable parts or accessories.
TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW DAS (POWERDRIVE) IS NOT LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF THE USE OR SERVICE OF THE PRODUCT. THE WARRANTY AND REMEDIES DESCRIBED ABOVE ARE EXCLUSIVE AND IN LIEU OF ALL OTHER WARRANTIES, REMEDIES, AND CONDITIONS, WHETHER ORAL, WRITTEN, EXPRESS, STATUTORY OR IMPLIED. TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW DAS (POWERDRIVE) DISCLAIMS ALL IMPLIED AND STATUTORY WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IF, AT ANY TIME, US FEDERAL LAW DOES NOT PERMIT IMPLIED WARRANTIES TO BE DISCLAIMED AND TO THE EXTENT SUCH IMPLIED WARRANTIES CANNOT BE DISCLAIMED, THEN SUCH WARRANTIES ARE LIMITED IN DURATION TO THE DURATION OF THIS WARRANTY. Any recovery is limited to the value of the original purchase price. No other person is authorized to modify this limited warranty, and your seller is solely responsible for any other warranties.
Some states and countries do not allow limitations on how long an implied warranty lasts, or allow exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages, so the above limitations or exclusions may not apply to you. This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may also have other rights, which vary from state to state. For consumers, who are covered by consumer protection laws or regulations in their state or country of purchase or, if different, their state or country of residence, the benefits conferred by DAS’s One Year Limited Warranty are in addition to all rights and remedies conveyed by such consumer protection laws and regulations.
How to obtain Warranty Service? Within the first thirty (30) days after the original purchase, products must be returned to the dealer. After thirty (30) days and for up to one (1) year PowerDrive covers the product. Please fill in all areas of the Warranty Claim Form and submit. Replacement product for approved warranty claims will be shipped to the address you provide at no cost to you.
For customer support call 1-866-622-7979 Monday through Friday 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Eastern Time or send an email to support@roadprobrands.com.

References

• RoadPro Family of Brands

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