POWERDRIVE PWD120S 120W Strip Power Inverter Owner’s Manual
- June 5, 2024
- POWERDRIVE
Table of Contents
- GENERAL SAFETY RULES
- IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
- ADDITIONAL SAFETY GUIDELINES
- OPERATING TIPS
- HELPFUL FORMULAS:
- OPERATING THE INVERTER
- THE SELF-PROTECTION OF YOUR INVERTER
- BATTERY OPERATING TIME
- BUZZING IN AUDIO SYSTEMS AND RADIOS
- TELEVISION INTERFERENCE
- SPECIFICATIONS
- TROUBLESHOOTING
- Read User Manual Online (PDF format)
- Download This Manual (PDF format)
**POWERDRIVE PWD120S 120W Strip Power Inverter Owner’s Manual
**
GENERAL SAFETY RULES
WARNING: Failure to read all instructions may result in serious personal injury.
- Avoid dangerous environment. Don’t use appliances in damp or wet locations. Don’t use appliances in the rain.
- Store the inverter in a safe space 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.
- Use right appliance. Do not use the appliance for any job except that for which it is intended.
- 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 mom WATER, FIRE and SMOKE!
The inverter will shut off if overheated, overloaded, or short-circuited.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
For safe and optimum performance, the inverter must be installed and used properly. Follow these guidelines and pay special attention to caution and warning statements.
WARNING: Shock hazard! Keep away from children.
WARNING: The inverter produces the same potent ally lethal 110V/AC power as normal household outlets. It is suggested that you treat it as a normal 110V/AC outlet.
WARNING: The exterior of the unit may become very warm under high power operation, reach ng 140°F. Be sure that there is at least 2 inches of unobstructed air space around the perimeter of the inverter at all times. During use, do not place materials that could be damaged by heat near the unit.
WARNING: Do not operate the unit near flammable fumes or gases such as the cabin of a gasoline power boat or near propane tanks.
WARNING: Do not operate the unit in an enclosed area that contains lead- acid batteries for automotive use. This type of battery emits explosive hydrogen gas which can be ignited by sparks.
WARNING: Always make all AC connections before making DC connections or the components built into the inverter can become energized producing an electrical shock hazard. Never work on the AC wiring without first physically disconnecting the DC connections.
CAUTION: Do not connect the unit to live AC power circuits or there will be damage to the inverter. Do not connect any AC device, which has its neutral conductor connected to the ground, to the unit.
CAUTION: Do not use the unit on the following items:
- Small battery-operated appliances such as flashlights, razors and night lights that can be plugged directly into an AC outlet to recharge.
- Certain battery chargers for hand tool battery packs.
These chargers will have warning labels indicating dangerous voltages.
CAUTION: Make sure to connect the inverter to a 12V battery. The inverter will work properly under 11V to 15V inputs.
TOTAL WATT OUTPUT FROM ALL AC AND DC OUTLETS MUST BE LESS THAN THE TOTAL OUTPUT OF THE INVERTER
Only use power from one AC outlet at a time.
Both USB outlets can be used simultaneously.
DC passing through outlet, ( f equipped) cannot be greater than 10 Amps or 120
Watts.
ATTEITION: Maximum wattage available depends on vehicle power port
rating.
Amps X Volts = Watts
A 10 Amp outlet can supply 120 Watts.
A 15 Amp outlet can supply 180 Watts.
ADDITIONAL SAFETY GUIDELINES
- Do not put anything on the unit outlets, vents or fan openings.
- Do not connect the unit to any utility power distribution systems or branch circuits.
- Do not use the inverter in temperatures over 104°F or under 32°F.
- Failure to follow these safety guidelines will result in personal injury and/or damage to the unit. It may also void the warranty.
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 32°F to 104°F. Keep the inverter away from direct sunlight, when possible.
- Well-Ventilated: Keep the area surrounding the inverter clear to ensure Fee 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-restart after it cools down.
- Safe: Do not use the inverter near flammable materials or in any locations that may accumulate flammable fumes or gases. This is an electrical appliance that can briefly spark when electrical connections are made or broken.
Please find the continuous output power of your inverter below.
PWD120S: Continuous output 120W
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 us ng 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 8s 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.
Most often the start up load of the appliance or power tool determines whether your inverter has the capability to power it.
Your inverter should be connected directly to your vehicle’s 12’V cigarette or power socket. We recommend that the equipment or appliance switch be in the “OFF” position when you plug into the AC receptacle of the inverter.
- Place the inverter’s 12V plug into the vehicle’s 12V cigarette or power socket.
- Plug in the AC product you want to operate
- Disconnect the unit from the socket when not in use for safety
CAUTION: When short circuit occurs, the inverter shuts off automatically to protect the inverter from damage.
OPERATING THE INVERTER
- Plug the inverter into the cigarette lighter socket in your vehicle
- Check the connections
- The glowing LED of your inverter should light up
- Your inverter can power AC appliances now
CAUTION: Connect AC appliances one at a time.
Through its AC outlet, the inverter is capable of powering most 110V products
at their rated power. The unit will operate from input voltages ranging from
11V to 15V DC.
CAUTION: Most vehicle batteries are designed to provide a short period of very high current for start ng the engine. They are not designed for a constant “deep discharge”. Constantly operating the unit from a vehicle battery, until the low voltage shuts off, will affect the life of the battery. If you are going to operate electrical products for long periods of time, you should consider connecting the unit to a separate deep discharge battery.
CAUTION: Although the inverter incorporates protection against over- voltage, it may still be damaged if the input voltage exceeds 16V.
The unit will shut down automatically if the inverter exceeds a safe operating temperature due to insufficient ventilation or a high-temperature environment.
THE SELF-PROTECTION OF YOUR INVERTER
Type| Possible cause| How do you know if the protection is
activated?| Solution| Remarks
---|---|---|---|---
Current overload| If the output power exceeds the rated output power 10 to
15%.| Fault indicator LED will light up and the inverter will automatically
shut off.| Remove all appliances and unplug it. Use smaller power consumption
appliances.|
Input low voltage| Input voltage lower than 10.5V.| Remove all appliances and
unplug it. Recharge the battery.|
Input high voltage| Input voltage higher than 15V.| Remove all appliances and
unplug it. Check the battery voltage, make sure it is within 11-15V.| Although
the inverter has protection against overload, it may still damage the inverter
if the input voltage exceeds 16V.
Over-heating| The PCB temperature is around 230F.| Remove all appliances and
unplug it. Cool down for 15 minutes before turning on again.| Please ensure
there is ventilation in the surrounding environment.
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. W th a typical vehicle battery, an operating time of 4 – 5 hours or more can be expected.
When using a vehicle battery as a power source, it is strongly recommended to start the vehicle every hour or Mo 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 0.45A when its on with no AC product connected, it has minimal impact on battery operating times.
INTERFERENCE WITH ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
Generally, most AC products operate with the inverter just as they would with household 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, weak TV signal 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 y using a better antenna and use shielded antenna cable where possible.
SPECIFICATIONS
Model | PWD120S |
---|---|
Input | 11-15V DC |
Output | 120V AC |
Output Frequency | 58-62Hz |
Output Waveform | Modified Sine Wave (MSW) |
Continuous Power | 120W |
Surge Power | 240W for one minute |
Efficiency | 85% Max |
No Load Draw | <0.4A |
Low Battery Shutdown | 10.5*0.3V DC |
USB Output Port | 2.4A |
USB-C^ Output Port | 3.0A (15W) |
AC Output Sockets | 2 Standard North American sockets |
Internal Fuse/ Replacement Fuse | 1-12A fuse in the cigarette |
plug (replaceable)
Operating Temperature| Ideally 32F-104F
Battery Low Alarm| NA
Power Cable Length| 36″
Dimensions| 8.75“ x 2.625″ x 1.85″
Net Weight| 0.66 lbs.
TROUBLESHOOTING
Problem | Cause | Solution |
---|---|---|
No power, no indicator. | Battery is defective. | Replace battery. |
Blown fuse. | Check and replace fuse. | |
Loose connections. | Check connections, be sure the ports and plugs come into |
contact with each other.
The inverter will automatically shut off.| The actual output power is higher
than rated power of inverter, overload protection has occurred.| Reduce load
to have the actual output lower than rated power of inverter.
The actual output is less than rated power, but high start ng surge has caused
overload shutdown.| Use a product with starting surge power w thin the
inverter’s capability.
The voltage input is too low.| Charge the battery.
The inverter will automatically shut off.| Inverter is overheated due to poor
ventilation and has shut down.| Disconnect the inverter from battery or DC
socket and allow to be cooled for 15 minutes.
Please ensure removal of objects covering unit.
---|---|---
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 with liquid
ingress.
Measured inverter output is too low.| Standard “average- reading” AC voltmeter
used to measure output voltage, result ng 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 properly charged.| Some chargers are not able to fully
recharge a battery. Make sure you use a powerful charger.
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Brands, LLC and its affiliated companies. PowerDrive is a trademark of DAS
Brands, LLC and its affiliated companies. All other trademarks, registered
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©2021 DAS Companies, Inc. and/or its affiliates.
Distributed by RoadPro 48 Industrial Road, Elizabethtown, PA 17022 1-866-622-7979 roadprobrands.com
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