samlexpower SAM Series Power Inverters Owner’s Manual

SAM Series Power Inverters

Owner’s Manual
SAM-250-12
SAM-450-12
SAM-800-12

Please read this manual BEFORE installing your inverter

SECTION 1 IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

This manual contains important information regarding safety, operation, maintenance and storage of this product. Before use, read and understand all cautions, warnings, instructions and product labels, plus your vehicle’s battery manufacturer’s guidelines. Failure to do so could result in injury and / or property damage. The following safety symbols will be used in this manual to highlight safety and information:

Warning!
Indicates possibility of physical harm to the user in case of non-compliance.
Caution!
Indicates possibility of damage to the equipment in case of non-compliance
Info
Indicates useful supplemental information.

Warning!
To reduce the risk of fire, electric shock, explosion or injury

1. Do not connect in parallel with another AC source e.g. Utility AC Distribution Wiring / generator. This is NOT a Grid Tied Inverter!

2. Disconnect appliance plug from outlet strip or turn off the inverter before working on the appliance. Multiple Outlet Power Strips with switches and circuit breakers only interrupt power to the “Hot” receptacle terminals.

3. Precautions when working with batteries
   • Batteries contain very corrosive diluted Sulphuric Acid as electrolyte. Precautions should be taken to prevent contact with skin, eyes or clothing.
   • Batteries generate Hydrogen and Oxygen during charging resulting in evolution of explosive gas mixture. Care should be taken to ventilate the battery area and follow the battery manufacturer’s recommendations.
   • Never smoke or allow a spark or flame near the batteries.
   • Use caution to reduce the risk of dropping a metal tool on the battery. It could spark or short circuit the battery or other electrical parts and could cause an explosion.
   • Remove metal items like rings, bracelets and watches when working with batteries and also use caution when working with metal tools. Batteries can produce a short circuit current high enough to melt / weld metals and thus, cause severe burn.
   • If you need to remove a battery, always remove the ground terminal from the battery first.
   Make sure that all the accessories are off so that you do not cause a spark.

4. Do not make any electrical connections or disconnections in areas designated as IGNITION PROTECTED. This includes 12 VDC Power Plug (Cigarette Plug) connections and terminal connections.

5. This is not a toy – keep away from children.

6. Do NOT insert object into the air vents.

Caution!

1. The metal chassis of the inverter and the Grounding Terminal of the NEMA5-15R outlet(s) are internally bonded (connected) to the Negative DC Input Terminal on the inverter. In a vehicle / boat, the Negative Terminal of the battery is bonded to vehicle chassis / boat’s hull. Hence, the metal chassis of the inverter and the AC loads will be automatically grounded (bonded to the vehicle chassis / boat’s hull).
2. Please ensure that the Negative DC Input Terminal on the inverter or the Battery Negative Terminal on the battery itself is bonded to Earth Ground WHEN THE INVERTER IS USED ON LAND.
3. The Line and Neutral Terminals of the NEMA5-15R AC outlets are isolated from its Grounding Terminal. Thus, the metal chassis of the AC loads and the metal chassis of the inverter will also be isolated from the Line and Neutral. The Grounding Terminal of the AC outlet is connected to the input section of the Electronic Ground Fault Protection Circuit on the Power Circuit Board. Due to the above implementation, the voltage on the Neutral and Line Terminals of the AC outlet with respect to the chassis of the inverter / chassis of the AC loads will be pulsing DC voltage with average DC value of up to 50V (will read 75 VAC on AC scale of the Voltmeter because of pulsing nature of DC voltage). DO NOT TOUCH THE NEUTRAL TERMINAL / NEUTRAL CONDUCTORS!
4. Do not connect to AC distribution wiring where the Neutral is bonded to Ground. The inverter will see this as abnormal condition of Ground Fault and will shut down.
5. Do not use with Positive Grounded Electrical Systems (the majority of modern automobiles, RVs, trucks and boats use Negative Grounded Electrical Systems).
6. Observe correct polarity when connecting the DC input terminals of the inverter to the battery. Connect Positive of the battery to the Positive input connector of the inverter and the Negative of the battery to the Negative input terminal of the inverter. Reverse  polarity connection will result in a blown fuse and may cause permanent damage to the inverter. Damage due to reverse polarity is not covered under warranty.
7. This inverter will not operate high wattage appliances that exceed the output power limit or the surge power limit.
8. Do not operate this inverter if it is wet.
9. Do not install in engine compartment – please install in a well-ventilated area.
10. This inverter is not tested for use with medical devices.

SECTION 2  Introduction

Description
The inverter converts 12 VDC voltage from battery or from other suitable 12 VDC source to 115 V, 60 Hz AC voltage. The waveform of the of the AC output voltage is Modified Sine Wave.

Features

• High peak efficiency of 90%
• Very high power to weight ratio – compact and light weight
• Soft Start Technology for better surge performance
• Latest high power USB Charging Port, USB 3.0, Type A: 5 VDC, 2.1A
• Load controlled cooling fan for better efficiency
• Cool Surface Technology for cooler and safer touch temperature
• Universal Protection circuit for low / high DC input voltage, overload / short circuit, over temperature and Ground Fault
• Low Interference Technology for controlled RF noise
• Detachable DC input cables with 12V Power Plug (Cigar Plug) – not for SAM-800-12 model / Battery Clamps

Soft Start Technology
This feature offers the following advantages:

• When the inverter is switched ON, the voltage ramps up to 115 VAC in around 2 sec.
  If the load was already ON at the time of switching ON of the inverter, starting surge current demanded by certain reactive devices like motors etc. will be reduced and there will be less likelihood of the inverter shutting down due to overload.

• If the inverter is switched ON first and then a load with higher starting / inrush current like SMPS / motor is switched ON, the voltage will dip momentarily and will ramp up and reduce inrush / starting surge current in the load as above.

• Similar overload reduction will be initiated during any other momentary overload condition.

Low Interference Technology
Innovative circuit design and noise filtration circuitry reduces RF interference in TV picture, audio and radio equipment
Cool Surface Technology
Normally, heat dissipating components are mounted directly on internal metal chassis surface of the inverter and hence, the chassis surface may rise to unsafe touch-temperature. In this inverter, heat-dissipating components are not mounted directly on the  chassis of the unit but on PCB (Printed Circuit Board) mounted heat sink and, there is air gap between the heat sink and the chassis surface. The heat sink is cooled by load-controlled fan. As there is no direct contact between the heat sink and the chassis, the chassis surface remains much cooler and is safer to touch.

Load Controlled Cooling Fan
Cooling is carried out by convection and by forced air circulation by load- controlled fan.
The fan will normally be OFF and will be switched ON automatically at the following loads:

• SAM-250-12 and SAM-450-12: At load of 8W to 12W
• SAM-800-12: At load of 35W to 45W

This will reduce energy consumption by the fan and will increase overall efficiency

Principle of Operation
Conversion of 12 VDC from the battery / other DC source to 115 VAC takes place in 2 stages. In the first stage, the 12 VDC is converted to high voltage DC (around 160 VDC) using high frequency switching and Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) technique. In the
2nd stage, the 160V high voltage DC is converted to 115V, 60 Hz Modified Sine Wave AC.
(Note: 115V is the RMS value of the Modified Sine Wave AC voltage. The peak value of the Modified Sine Wave AC voltage will be equal to the value of the above high voltage of around 160V. See the Fig 2.1 below)
Modified Sine Waveform –
Characteristics & Comparison with Pure Sine Waveform
Please refer to Fig 2.1 below which shows one cycle of Modified Sine Wave and Pure Sine Wave for comparison.

The output waveform of the inverter is a Modified Sine Wave. In a Modified Sine Wave, the voltage waveform consists of rectangular pulses that approximate sine wave pulses of a Pure Sine Wave. The voltage rises and falls abruptly at a particular phase angle and sits at 0 Volts for some time before changing its polarity. In a Pure Sine Wave, the voltage rises and falls smoothly with respect to phase angle and the voltage changes its polarity instantly when it crosses 0 Volts.

Caution!

Certain devices (few examples given below) may malfunction when powered from Modified Sine Wave.
Check with the manufacturer of the device for suitability of powering with Modified Sine Wave:

• Devices utilizing zero voltage crossing for timing control: Some clocks used in consumer electronic items (will not keep accurate time)
• Devices using modulation of RF signals on AC lines during zero crossing e.g. X-10 System for Home Automation
• Devices utilizing Triac based phase control for transformer less voltage step down e.g.:
• Small battery chargers for hand tools, flashlights, night-lights, shavers etc.
• Variable motor speed control in hand tools
• Light dimmers
• Temperature controllers e.g. Temperature Controlled Electric Blankets
• Devices using high capacitance based voltage multipliers for generating high voltage (will create very high surge currents) e.g.:
• Photographic Strobe Lights
• Laser Printers

Measuring Modified Sine-Wave Voltage with a “True Rms” Voltmeter
As mentioned above, Modified Sine Wave voltage is a type of square wave that has an RMS (Root Mean Square) value of 115 VAC in this inverter. A general- purpose AC voltmeter is calibrated to accurately measure the RMS value of a Pure Sine Wave and NOT of a Modified Sine Wave. If this general-purpose voltmeter is used to measure Modified Sine Wave voltage, it will indicate a lower value (96 VAC to 104 VAC).
For accurately measuring the voltage of a Modified Sine Wave, use a voltmeter which is designed to measure “True RMS Values” like Fluke 87, Fluke 8060A, Fluke 77 / 99, Beckman 4410 etc.

SECTION 3  Layout

LEGEND

1. ON/OFF Switch
2. NEMA5-15R Outlet
3. USB Port 3.0, Type “A”, 2.1A
4. RED LED “Fault”
5. GREEN LED “Power”
6. YELLOW LED “Input Fault”
7.  (+) Positive DC Input Terminal (M4 Thumb Screw)
8. (-) Negative DC Input Terminal (M4 Thumb Screw)
9. Opening for fan ventilation
10. Battery Cable with 12V Power Plug
11. Battery Cable with Battery Clamps
    – 11(a) For SAM-250-12 (AWG#14)
    – 11(b) For SAM-450-12 (AWG#12)
    – 11(C) For SAM-800-12 (AWG#8)

SECTION 4 Installation

Safety of Installation
Please read safety instructions on pages 1-2 before commencing installation.
Installation Environment
For best operating results, the inverter should be placed on flat surface, such as the ground, car floor, or other solid surface. The power cord allows easy positioning of the inverter. The inverter should only be used in locations that meet the following criteria:
Dry- Do not allow water and/or other liquids to come into contact with the power inverter. In all marine applications, do not install the inverter below or near the waterline and keep the inverter away from moisture or water.
If Flooded / Wet Cell Type of battery is being used, ensure that it is not installed very close to the battery to avoid contact with acid / acid vapors
Cool – Ambient air temperature should be between 0°C (32°F) to 25°C (77°F) for full rated power.
At higher temperature of 26°C (79°F) to 35°C (95°F), the output power should be de-rated to 80%.
Do not place the inverter on or near a heating vent or any piece of equipment, which is generating heat above room temperature. Keep the inverter away from direct sunlight.
Ventilated – The unit is cooled by load-controlled fan. The fan will be off up to certain threshold of power and automatically switch on thereafter.
The fan sucks cool air in from the ventilation slots on the AC outlet side and discharges hot air out of the fan opening (9) on the DC Input Terminal side. Keep the areas surrounding the inverter clear by at least 10 cm to ensure free air circulation around the unit. Ensure that the ventilation slots and fan opening on the sides are not blocked. Do not place items on or over the inverter during operation.

Mounting Orientation
SAM-250-12 Model (Fig 3.1) is not provided with mounting arrangement. SAM-450-12 (Fig 3.2) and SAM-800-12 (Fig 3.3) Models are provided with 2 flanges on the bottom with 2 mounting slots each.
If the inverter is required to be mounted on a vertical surface like a wall, please ensure that the fan axis is horizontal as shown in Fig 4.1(a).
The DC input side has larger ventilation openings for fan airflow. Mounting with the fan side facing up or down as shown in Figs 4.1(b) or 4.1(c) is NOT permitted due to safety considerations.
If mounted as in Fig 4.1(b), metallic or other conductive object(s) may accidentally fall inside the unit and create hazardous condition resulting from short circuit of internal high voltage section(s). If mounted as in Fig 4.1(c), hot / molten material from damaged internal portion of the unit due to malfunction may fall on combustible material on the floor and may create fire hazard.

DC Side Connections
General Information

1. The metal chassis of the inverter and the Grounding Terminal of the NEMA5-15R outlet(s) are internally bonded (connected) to the Negative DC Input Terminal on the inverter. In a vehicle / boat, the Negative Terminal of the battery is bonded to vehicle chassis / boat’s hull. Hence, the metal chassis of the inverter and the AC loads will be automatically grounded (bonded to the vehicle chassis / boat’s hull).
2. Please ensure that the Negative DC Input Terminal on the inverter or the Battery Negative Terminal on the battery itself is bonded to Earth Ground WHEN THE INVERTER IS USED ON LAND.
3. Do not use with Positive Grounded Electrical Systems (the majority of modern automobiles, RVs, trucks and boats use Negative Grounded Electrical Systems).
4. Observe correct polarity when connecting the DC input terminals of the inverter to the battery. Connect Positive of the battery to the Positive input connector of the inverter and the Negative of the battery to the Negative input terminal of the inverter. Reverse polarity connection will result in a blown fuse and may cause permanent damage to the inverter. Damage due to reverse polarity is not covered under warranty.

Requirements of DC Input Power Source
Approx. DC Input Current required by Inverter = Power consumed by the AC Load in Watts ÷ 10.

DC input currents at Continuous Rated Power Output will be:

• SAM-250-12 25A
• SAM-450-12 45A
• SAM-800-12 80A

12 VDC input to the inverter should be fed from a 12V Battery System or from a 12.5 VDC to 15 VDC Regulated DC Power Supply. If a DC Power Supply is used, its output current capacity should be more than 2 times the maximum DC input current drawn by the
inverter. Further explanation of operation is based on DC input power from a 12V battery. It is recommended that Deep Cycle Type Batteries are used. For detailed technical information on types, construction, specifications, sizing, connections and charging / discharging of Lead Acid Batteries, please read online White Paper titled “Batteries, Chargers and Alternators” at www.samlexamerica.com under Support/White Papers.

DC Input Power Terminals
Custom made DC input terminals using M4 Nut / Thumb Screw arrangement have been provided for connecting DC input cables (7, 8 in Fig 3.1 to 3.3).

Important Wiring Information
Inadequately sized DC input wiring of inverters produces higher voltage drop resulting in higher power loss and reduced battery-operating time. Voltage Drop = Current x Resistance. Wires should be sized based on (a) maximum allowable current (Ampacity)
and (b) allowable voltage drop in the wiring resistance (Wiring resistance is the sum of resistance of Positive and Negative cables = 2 times the distance between the inverter and the battery). Up to 5% voltage drop has been considered.

Effects of low voltage on common electrical loads are given below:
Lighting Circuits – Incandescent and Quartz/Halogen: Loss in light output because the bulb not only receives less power, but the cooler filament drops from white-hot towards red-hot, emitting much less visible light.
Lighting Circuits – Fluorescent: Voltage drop causes an early proportional drop in light output.
AC Induction Motors: These are commonly found in power tools, appliances, etc.
They exhibit very high surge demands when starting. Significant voltage drop in these circuits may cause failure to start and possible motor damage.

Requirement of Fuse in Battery Connection
A battery is a very large source of current. If there is a short circuit along the length of the cables that connect the battery to the inverter, thousands of Amperes of current can flow from the battery to the point of shorting and that section of the cable will overheat,  the insulation will melt and is likely to cause fire. To prevent occurrence of hazardous conditions under short circuit, fuse with Ampere rating ≥ the maximum continuous current drawn by the inverter but ≤ the Ampacity of the connecting cable should be used in the battery connection. The fuse should be fast acting e.g. Blade Types AGC / ATO / MAXI or Marine Rated Battery Fuse Type MRBF.
Rating of fuse is shown in Table 4.1 below. The fuse should be installed as close to the Battery Positive terminal as possible, preferably within 7”. Please note that this fuse is required to protect the cable run from the battery to the inverter against short circuit. The inverter has its own internal DC side fuse(s) for internal DC side protection.

Detachable Cables Provided for Battery Connection
Table 4.1 below provides information on battery cables that have been provided for making temporary / detachable connection to the 12V battery. The Table also provides rating of external fuses (fuses not provided) to be used when using cables with battery clamp.
The cables are terminated with customized 12.5 mm x 8.5 mm lugs for connection to the inverter with the help of customized terminal using M4 Nut / Thumb Screw arrangement (7, 8 in Fig 3.1 to 3.3). The other end for battery side has either 12V Power Plug (with 8A fuse) or battery clamps.

Table 4.1 Cables Supplied with the Inverter

Model No.| 3 ft. Cable with 12V Power Plug /Cigarette Plug (with 8A Fuse protection)| 3 ft. Cable with Battery Clamps
---|---|---
SAM-250-12| Fig 3.1 (10)| Fig 3.1 (11a)| Recommended Fuse: 30A (Not supplied)
SAM-450-12| Fig 3.2 (10)| Fig 3.2 (11b)| Recommended Fuse: 60A (Not supplied)
SAM-800-12| –| Fig 3.3 (11c)| Recommended Fuse: 100A (Not supplied)

Making DC Side Connections using Detachable Cable with 12V Power Plug (Cigarette Plug)
Table 4.1 above gives details of cable with 12V Power Plug (Cigarette Plug) that has been provided for making detachable, temporary connection to the vehicle battery through the 12V Power Outlet (Cigarette Receptacle). With this arrangement, AC power draw is
limited to maximum of 80W.
Please ensure that the 12V Power Plug is fully and firmly inserted in the receptacle.

Caution!
12V Power Outlet (Cigarette Receptacle) in vehicles and the mating 12V Power Plug (Cigarette Plug) create electrical connection by spring-loaded contacts. This type of electrical connection is not very firm. In addition to issues with incompatible sizes of outlets, the plug can vibrate out of the socket under normal driving conditions owing to inadequate retention.
Loose electrical contact, especially at the Positive contact at the tip of the plug, causes sparking and excessive heating at higher currents. Hence, for safety against risk of fire, current supplied by 12V Power Outlet circuit in the vehicle is limited and is normally fused at 12A to 15A depending upon the type / model of the vehicle. The supplied cable with 12V Power Plug is protected by replaceable 250V, 8A, Fast Blow Fuse (Bussmann Type AGC-8, installed under the tip of the plug) and will allow maximum continuous power draw of 80W.
If device > 80W is used, 8A fuse in the tip of the Power Plug will blow to prevent blowing of vehicle fuse. Replace the fuse with the rated fuse only (Fuse is accessed by unscrewing the top portion).
Making DC Side Connections using Cable with Battery Clamps Table 4.1 above gives details of DC input cables with battery clamps that have been provided for making temporary, detachable connection to a 12V battery.

Caution!

• Please ensure that the recommended external fuse specified in Table 4.1 above (Fuse is not supplied) is installed in series with the Positive cable and is as close to the Battery (+) terminal as possible (preferably within 7”) .
• Please ensure that all the connections are tight. Loose connections may cause overheated wires and melted insulation.

Making Hardwired, Permanent DC Side Connections
For hard wiring / permanent connection to the battery, recommended cable and fuse sizes are given in Table 4.2.
The maximum current for cable sizing / fuse rating has been considered at 1.25 times the maximum continuous current draw at the rated output power (Approximately = AC load in Watts “10):

• 30A for SAM-250-12 Inverter
• 60A for SAM-450-12 Inverter
• 100A for SAM-800-12 Inverter

The thickness of the cables is required to be determined appropriately. The recommended cable sizes are based on the following 2 considerations (thicker of the two cable sizes has been recommended):

• Excessive heating may lead to risk of insulation melt down and fire. Size is based on the maximum current carrying capacity (Ampacity) for conductor temperatures of 105°C in free air at 30°C ambient.
• Excessive voltage drop will alarm and then shut down the inverter prematurely due to low DC input voltage protection of the inverter (10.5V ± 0.3V). Size is based on 5% voltage drop from the battery to the inverter at 1.25 times the maximum continuous current draw at the rated output power.

Table 4.2 Recommended Cable and Fuse Sizes for Hard Wiring

Inverter Wattage| Cable Size for 5% Voltage Drop for Distance Between Battery and Inverter =| Recommended Fuse (Not Supplied)
---|---|---
3 ft. (Wire length = 6 ft.)| 6 ft. (Wire length = 12 ft.)| 10 ft. (Wire length = 20 ft.)
SAM-250-12| AWG #14| AWG #12| AWG #10| 30A
SAM-450-12| AWG #10| AWG #8| AWG #6| 60A
SAM-800-12| AWG #6| AWG #6| AWG #4| 100A

As stated above, the 3 ft. battery cables provided with the unit are terminated with customized 12.5 mm x 8.5 mm lugs for connection to the inverter with the help of customized terminal using M4 Nut /Thumb Screw arrangement (7,8 in Fig 3.1 to 3.3). For connecting the longer / thicker cables to the inverter, use the customized 12.5 mm x 8.5 mm tab with 4.5 mm hole provided with the set of cable with battery clamps. Cut the cable a few inches from the Tab Terminal and splice it with the thicker / longer cable. As the length of the thinner end piece will be only a few inches, there will be no appreciable drop of voltage along the short end section.

Caution!

• Please ensure that the recommended external fuse specified in Table 4.2 above (Fuse is not supplied) is installed in series with the Positive cable and is as close to the Battery (+) terminal as possible (preferably within 7”).
• Please ensure that all the connections are tight. Loose connections may cause overheated wires and melted insulation.

AC Side Connections
General Information

1. The metal chassis of the inverter and the Grounding Terminal of the NEMA5-15R outlet(s) are internally bonded (connected) to the Negative DC Input Terminal on the inverter. In a vehicle / boat, the Negative Terminal of the battery is bonded to vehicl- chassis / boat’s hull. Hence, the metal chassis of the inverter and the AC loads will be automatically grounded (bonded to the vehicle chassis / boat’s hull).
2. The Line and Neutral Terminals of the NEMA5-15R AC outlets are isolated from its Grounding Terminal. Thus, the metal chassis of the AC loads and the metal chassis of the inverter will also be isolated from the Line and Neutral. The Grounding Terminal of the AC outlet is connected to the input section of the Electronic Ground Fault Protection Circuit on the Power Circuit Board. Due to the above implementation, the voltage on the Neutral and Line Terminals of the AC outlet with respect to the chassis of the inverter / chassis of the AC loads will be pulsing DC voltage with average DC value of up to 50V (will read 75 VAC on AC scale of the Voltmeter because of pulsing nature of DC voltage). DO NOT TOUCH THE NEUTRAL TERMINAL / NEUTRAL CONDUCTORS!
3. Do not connect to AC distribution wiring where the Neutral is bonded to Ground. The inverter will see this as abnormal condition of Ground Fault and will shut down.

Connecting AC Loads
Connect the AC loads to the NEMA5-5R outlet(s) (2, Fig 3.1, 3,2, 3.3)
Caution!
Do not connect to AC distribution wiring where the Neutral is bonded to Ground. The inverter will see this as abnormal condition of Ground Fault and will shut down.

SECTION 5  Operation

Connecting Loads, Switching ON & Switching OFF
Connecting Loads

1. Make sure that single load or the combined load requirement of your equipment does not exceed the inverter’s output rating.
2. Switch OFF the inverter.
3. Switch OFF the load.
4. Plug the cord(s) from the load(s) into the AC receptacle(s) of the inverter
5. Switch ON the inverter. Wait for a few seconds.
6. The GREEN LED indicator “Power” (5, Fig 3.1 to 3.3) will be lit to indicate that the inverter is operating normally.
7. Switch ON the load(s).

Switching ON

1. Switch OFF the load connected to the inverter. Avoid switching ON the inverter with load in ON condition.
2.  Switch ON the inverter, wait for a few seconds and then switch ON the load.
3. When using high capacitive loads with inadequate inrush current limiting like cheaper quality of Compact Flourescent Lamps (CFL) etc., wait for 10 seconds before switching ON such loads. If the inverter is switched ON with these types of loads in ON condition, the inverter may shut down or the loads may not switch ON. Sometimes, adding a small resisitive load (like incandescent lamp) in parallel with such devices may prevent such shut down.

Switching OFF

1. Switch OFF the load connected to the inverter
2. Switch OFF the inverter.

Rated Versus Actual Current Draw of Equipment
Most electrical tools, appliances and audio/video equipment have labels that indicate the power consumption in Amps or Watts. Be sure that the power consumption of the item you wish to operate is less than inverter’s power (if the power consumption is rated in Amps AC, simply multiply by the AC Volts (115) to determine the approximate wattage).
The inverter will shut down if it is overloaded. The overload must be removed before the inverter will restart. Resistive loads are the easiest for the inverter to run. However, larger resistive loads, such as electric stoves or heaters, usually require more wattage than the inverter can deliver. Inductive loads, such as TV’s and stereos, require more current to operate than do resistive loads of the same wattage rating. Induction motors, as well as some televisions, may require 2 to 6 times their wattage rating to start up. The most  demanding in this category are those that start under load, such as compressors and pumps. To restart the unit after a shutdown due to overloading, remove the cause of overload, turn the power switch OFF, wait for at least 3 minutes and then switch ON again.

SECTION 6  Protections Monitoring & Troubleshooting

NOTE: Please refer to Table 6.1 for status of monitoring LEDs and Buzzer for various protections / operational conditions explained below.
Over Temperature Protection
The unit is cooled by load-controlled fan. In case the fan fails or if the cooling is inadequate due to higher ambient temperature or restricted airflow, the temperature inside the inverter will exceed the safe temperature threshold and the unit will  automatically shut down. The unit will reset automatically on cooling down.
Low Battery Voltage Protection
This condition is not harmful to the inverter but could damage the 12V battery. The inverter automatically shuts down when input voltage drops to 10.5 ± 0.3V.
Over Voltage Protection
The inverter will automatically shut down when the input voltage exceeds 15.5 V± 0.3V.
Input voltage exceeding 16 volts could damage the inverter.
Overload / Short Circuit Protection
The inverter will automatically shut down under short circuit conditions and when the continuous / surge power exceeds rated watts. The unit will latch in shut down condition.
To reset, switch OFF the ON/OFF switch, wait for 3 minutes and switch ON again.
Info
Some high capacitive loads like compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) or Switched Mode Power Supply (SMPS) will draw very high inrush current due to very fast voltage rise of the square wave nature of the Modified Sine Wave and shut down the inverter.
Try using a small resistive load in parallel to reduce high inrush current and prevent overloading.
Low Input Voltage Alarm
An alarm will sound when the voltage at the input terminals of the inverter drops to 10.8V ± 0.3V. This is an indication that either the battery terminal voltage has dropped due to its discharged condition and needs to be re-charged or there is an excessive voltage drop across the wires connecting the inverter to the battery (due to use of thinner and longer length of wires that will produce higher voltage drop at higher loads or due to loose connections). The user should stop operation of the electronic device at this time since the inverter will shut down automatically shortly thereafter, when the input voltage at the inverter further drops to 10.5V ± 0.3V. In case the alarm is due to the discharged condition of the battery, start your engine to recharge the battery / use an appropriate battery charger.
Info
It is normal for the alarm to sound while the unit is being connected to or disconnected from the power source.
This is not indicative of a problem.
Ground Fault Protection – General
Due to loss of insulation as a result of aging of insulating materials, accident or malfunction, voltage source inside an electrical device can get connected to its metal chassis. If the energized metal chassis is touched by a person standing on Earth Ground (considered to be at 0V), they will get a shock due to current leaked through the body to Earth Ground (called Leakage Current). Such condition is called “Ground Fault”. As this Leakage Current is diverted to Earth Ground, it does not return to the electrical power source supplying the AC device. Severity of electrical shock will depend upon the value of the fault voltage on the metal chassis and the impedance in the current path to Earth Ground, primarily the impedance of the human body (100 kΩ when dry and 1 kΩ when wet). Human body can tolerate leakage current of up to 5ma for 15 to 30 msec.
Ground fault protection in this inverter is provided as follows:

• The Line and Neutral terminals of the AC outlet are isolated from its grounding terminal. Thus, the metal chassis of the AC loads will also be isolated from the Line and Neutral.
• The grounding terminal of the AC outlet is connected to the input section of the Electronic Ground Fault Protection Circuit on the power circuit board.
• Due to the above implementation, the Neutral voltage will be pulsing DC voltage with average DC value of up to 50 VDC with respect to the metal chassis of the AC loads / metal chassis of the inverter (will read 75 VAC on the AC scale of the Voltmeter because of pulsing nature of DC Voltage). Similarly, the Line voltage will also be up to 75V with respect to the metal chassis of the AC loads / metal chassis of the inverter. Do not touch the Line / Neutral!
• If the metal chassis of the load develops a Ground Fault condition, up to 75V will be fed to the Electronic Ground Fault Protection Circuit and the AC output of the inverter will shut down.
• Ground Fault protection will also operate if the Neutral and ground of the AC output of the inverter are connected (bonded) intentionally like in Service Entrance / Load Center for AC distribution wiring.

Caution!
Connecting to utility AC distribution wiring with Neutral to Ground connection (bond) is not permitted. In AC utility distribution wiring, the Neutral conductor is connected (bonded) to the Equipment Grounding Conductor at the Load Center / Service  Entrance.
Both these conductors are then bonded to the Earth Ground (Ground Rod). Thus, if the output of the inverter is connected to the utility AC distribution wiring, it will see a Neutral to Ground connection and the inverter will trip due to activation of the Ground Fault Protection Circuit as explained above.

Failure to Start Some Devices on Load
Some high capacitance loads like Compact Fluorescent Lamp (CFL) or Switched Mode Power Supply (SMPS) will shut down the inverter under overload condition if the inverter is switched ON with these loads in ON condition. However, if these loads are switched OFF first and switched ON only after around 10 sec after the inverter is switched ON (as already recommended under switching ON procedure), the inverter may not shut down. Hence, do not switch ON the inverter with such loads in ON condition.
Monitoring of Operational Status & Protections
Normal / abnormal behavior can be monitored by observing Green LED (5, Power), Yellow LED (6, Input Fault), Red LED (4, Fault) and Buzzer. Details are given in Table 6.1 below:
Table 6.1 Protections and Monitoring

Operating Condition/ Protection| Threshold/ Reason| GREEN LED (5, Power)| YELLOW LED (6, Input Fault)| RED LED (4, Fault)| Buzzer| Remedy/Reset
---|---|---|---|---|---|---
Normal| –| ON| OFF| OFF| OFF| –
Low DC Input Alarm| 10.8V ± 0.3V| ON| OFF| OFF| ON| Check battery voltage and input voltage drop. Auto reset when voltage > 10.5 V ± 0.3V.
No Output due to Low DC Input Voltage shutdown| 10.5V ± 0.3V| OFF| ON| OFF| OFF| Check battery voltage and input voltage drop. Auto reset when voltage rises to >11.5V.
No output due to High DC Input Voltage Shut Down| 15.5 ± 0.2V| OFF| ON| OFF| OFF| Check charger voltage. Auto reset when voltage < 15.5V.
No Output due to High Temperature Shut Down| Internal hot spot > 88°C to 115°C| OFF| ON| OFF| OFF| Check ambient temperature, fan and loss of cool replacement air.Auto reset when hot spot cools down 10°C to 15°C below the threshold.
No output due to Over Load Shut Down| Output power is > Continuous / Surge Rating| ON| OFF| ON| OFF| Check starting surge rating of load. If happens with low power CFL or SMPS, try adding small resistive load.
If happens when inverter is switched ON with high capacitance load already in ON condition, try switching ON the load 10 sec after the inverter has been switched ON.
Manual Reset. Unit will latch in shut down condition. To reset, switch OFF the ON/OFF Switch, wait for 3 minutes and switch ON again.
---|---|---|---|---|---|---
No output due to Ground Fault Shut Down| Neutral or Line con- nected to Ground| ON| OFF| ON| OFF| Check if there is Neutral to Ground bond or Ground Fault.
Manual Reset. Unit will latch in shut down condition. To reset, switch OFF the ON/OFF Switch, wait for 3 minutes and switch ON again.
No output| No DC Input Voltage due to Blown DC Input Fuse| OFF| OFF| OFF| OFF| Check 8A fuse in the 12V Power Plug or in the battery input line.

SECTION 7  Specifications

INVERTER PARAMETER

| SAM-250-12| SAM-450-12|

SAM-800-12

---|---|---|---
INPUT
BATTERY SYSTEM VOLTAGE| 12 VDC
NOMINAL INPUT VOLTAGE| 12.5 VDC
INPUT VOLTAGE RANGE| > 10.8 VDC to < 15.4 VDC
INPUT CURRENT AT CONTINUOUS POWER| 25A| 45A| 80A
INPUT CURRENT AT NO LOAD| 0.2A to 0.3A| 0.25A to 0.35A| 0.25A to 0.35A
OUTPUT
OUTPUT VOLTAGE WAVE FORM| Modified Sine Wave
OUTPUT VOLTAGE| 115 VAC +10% / -2%
OUTPUT FREQUENCY| 60 Hz ± 5%
OUTPUT POWER, CONTINUOUS (RESISTIVE LOAD)| 250W| 450W| 800W
OUTPUT POWER, SURGE (<1 SEC., RESISTIVE LOAD)| 500W| 900W| 1600W
PEAK EFFICIENCY (AT 50% OF CONTINUOUS POWER)| 90%
USB CHARGING PORT| USB 3.0, Connector Type “A”: 5 VDC, 2.1A
PROTECTIONS
LOW INPUT VOLTAGE ALARM| 10.8 VDC. ± 0.3VDC
LOW INPUT VOLTAGE SHUTDOW| 10.5 VDC.± 0.3VDC
HIGH INPUT VOLTAGE SHUTDOWN| 15.4 VDC.± 0.2VDC
OVERLOAD AND GROUND FAULT SHUT DOWN| Yes. Latches in shutdown condition. Manual reset: Switch OFF the ON/OFF Switch, wait 3 mins & Switch ON again.
OVER TEMPERATURE SHUTDOWN| Yes. Auto reset on cooling down.
** COOLING FAN| Load controlled: Switches ON at 8W to 12W| Load controlled: Switches ON at 35W to 45W
INPUT FUSE:  32V, AUTOMOTIVE TYPE ATC (INSIDE THE UNIT – NOT USER ACCESSIBLE)| 30A| 70A (2 x 35A in parallel)| 105A (3 x 35A in parallel)
CONNECTIONS
DC INPUT| M4 Thumb Screw
AC OUTPUT – NO. OF NEMA5-15R| One NEMA5-15R
Outlet| Two NEMA5-15R
Outlets| Two NEMA5-15R
Outlets
GENERAL
OPERATING TEMPERATURE RANGE| 0°C to 25°C / 32°F to 77°F at 100% loading; 26°C to 35°C / 78.8°F to 95°F at 80% loading
OPERATING HUMIDITY| < 80%; Non-condensing
NEUTRAL TO CHASSIS BONDING| No. Neutral of the NEMA5-15R AC Outlet is isolated from the chassis
DIMENSIONS (W x D x H) mmDIMENSIO
NS (W x D x H) inches| 114.4 x 150 x 46
4.5 x 5.9 x 1.8| 154 x 151 x 56.5
6.1 x 6.0 x 2.2| 180 x 218 x 59
7 x 8.6 x 2.4
WEIGHT| 0.42 kg
0.92 lb.| 0.6 kg
1.3 lb.| 1.32 kg
2.91 lb.
INVERTER PARAMETER| SAM-250-12| SAM-450-12| SAM-800-12
---|---|---|---
DC INPUT CABLES INCLUDED
AWG#16 CABLE WITH 12V POWER PLUG (12V POWER PLUG CONTAINS REPLACEABLE 250V, 8A FUSE – BUSSMANN TYPE AGC-8)| ** YES| YES| –
AWG#14 CABLE WITH BATTERY CLAMPS| YES| –| –
AWG#12 CABLE WITH BATTERY CLAMPS| –| YES| –
AWG#8 CABLE WITH BATTERY CLAMPS| –| –| YES
COMPLIANCE
SAFETY| Conforms to UL STD 458 3189401

NOTE: Specifications are subject to change without notice

SECTION 8 Warranty

2 YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY

SAM-250-12, SAM-450-12 & SAM-800-12 manufactured by Samlex America, Inc. (the “Warrantor“) is warranted to be free from defects in workmanship and materials under normal use and service. The warranty period is 2 years for the United States and Canada, and is in effect from the date of purchase by the user (the “Purchaser“).
Warranty outside of the United States and Canada is limited to 6 months. For a warranty claim, the Purchaser should contact the place of purchase to obtain a Return Authorization Number.
The defective part or unit should be returned at the Purchaser’s expense to the authorized location. A written statement describing the nature of the defect, the date of purchase, the place of purchase, and the Purchaser’s name, address and telephone number should also be included.
If upon the Warrantor’s examination, the defect proves to be the result of defective material or workmanship, the equipment will be repaired or replaced at the Warrantor’s option without charge, and returned to the Purchaser at the Warrantor’s expense. (Contiguous US and Canada only)
No refund of the purchase price will be granted to the Purchaser, unless the Warrantor is unable to remedy the defect after having a reasonable number of opportunities to do so. Warranty service shall be performed only by the Warrantor. Any attempt to remedy the defect by anyone other than the Warrantor shall render this warranty void. There shall be no warranty for defects or damages caused by faulty installation or hook-up, abuse or misuse of the equipment including exposure to excessive heat, salt or fresh water spray, or water immersion.
No other express warranty is hereby given and there are no warranties which extend beyond those described herein. This warranty is expressly in lieu of any other expressed or implied warranties, including any implied warranty of merchantability, fitness for the
ordinary purposes for which such goods are used, or fitness for a particular purpose, or any other obligations on the part of the Warrantor or its employees and representatives. There shall be no responsibility or liability whatsoever on the part of the Warrantor or its employees and representatives for injury to any persons, or damage to person or persons, or damage to property, or loss of income or profit, or any other consequential or resulting damage which may be claimed to have been incurred through the use or sale of the equipment, including any possible failure of malfunction of the equipment, or part thereof.
The Warrantor assumes no liability for incidental or consequential damages of any kind.

Samlex America Inc. (the “Warrantor”)
www.samlexamerica.com
SAMLEX AMERICA INC.
Contact Information
Toll Free Numbers
Ph: 800 561 5885
Fax: 888 814 5210
Local Numbers
Ph: 604 525 3836
Fax: 604 525 5221
www.samlexamerica.com
USA Shipping Warehouse Plymouth, MI
Canadian Shipping Warehouse Richmond BC
Email purchase orders to
orders@samlexamerica.com

References

• Samlex America | Power Inverters, Battery Chargers, Solar Panel Kits

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