POWERDRIVE PWD120 120 Watt Power Inverter Owner’s Manual
- June 3, 2024
- POWERDRIVE
Table of Contents
POWERDRIVE PWD120 120 Watt Power Inverter
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 the inverter’s capability will result in damage to the inverter.
- Disconnect appliances. Disconnect the appliance from the 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
For safe and optimum performance, the inverter must be installed and used properly. Carefully read and follow the guidelines in this guide and pay special attention to the Caution and Warning statements.
WARNING: Shock hazard! Keep away from children.
WARNING: The inverter produces the same potentially lethal 110V/AC power
as a typical household outlet. 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 reaching 140°F. Be sure that there is at least 2· 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 could be damage to the inverter.
CAUTION: Do not use the unit on the following items:
- Small battery-operated appliances such as flashlights, razors, and nightlights 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 11 V to 15V inputs.
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 may 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 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-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. PWD120: 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 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. Most often the start-up load of the
appliance or power tool determines whether your inverter has the capability to
power it.
Your inverter can be used to operate personal electronics as below. Below is a list of common items that may work with your new inverter. The wattages represented are average and may not reflect your particular item. Please look at the item’s owner’s manual or contact the manufacturer for power consumption needs.
Your inverter should be connected directly to your vehicle’s 12V DC port or DC socket. We recommend that the equipment or appliance switch be in the “OFF” position while you plug into the AC receptacle of the inverter.
- Place the inverter in the vehicle’s 12V cigarette or power outlet 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 12V DC port of your vehicle.
- Check the connections.
- The inverter’s LED lights should be on.
- 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 its 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 starting the engine. They are not designed for a
constant
“deep discharge.”
CAUTION: 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.
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, 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 two 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 it’s 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.