Clarke Power CI400B, Power CI600B, Power CI1600B, Power CI800B, Power CI000B Operating & Maintenance Instructions

12V DC to 230V AC POWER

INVERTERS

MODEL NOS: CI400B, CI600B, CI800B, CI000B, CI1200B, &

CI1600B

Part Nos: 6013040

OPERATING & MAINTENANCE

INSTRUCTIONS

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INTRODUCTION

Thank you for purchasing this CLARKE Power Inverter.

Before attempting to operate the product, it is essential that you read this
manual thoroughly and carefully follow all instructions given. In doing so you
will ensure the safety of yourself and that of others around you, and you can
also look forward to the product giving you long and satisfactory service.

GUARANTEE

This CLARKE product is guaranteed against faulty manufacture for a period of
12 months from the date of purchase. Please keep your receipt as proof of
purchase.

This guarantee is invalid if the product is found to have been abused or
tampered with in any way, or not used for the purpose for which it was
intended.

Faulty goods should be returned to their place of purchase, no product can
be returned to us without prior permission.

This guarantee does not effect your statutory rights.

CONTENTS

Introduction ............................................................................................ 2

Guarantee .............................................................................................. 2

General Safety Precautions .................................................................. 3

Equipment Components ....................................................................... 4

Suitable Power Sources ......................................................................... 5

Determining Suitable Loads .................................................................. 5

Connecting and Positioning ................................................................. 7

Operation ............................................................................................. 11

Troubleshooting.................................................................................... 13

Maintenance ........................................................................................ 14

Technical Specification....................................................................... 14

Declaration of Conformity .................................................................. 15

2

GENERAL SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

WARNING: TO ENSURE RELIABLE SERVICE FROM YOUR POWER INVERTER,
YOU MUST ENSURE IT IS INSTALLED AND USED ACCORDING TO THESE
OPERATOR INSTRUCTIONS, PLEASE READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS
THOROUGHLY BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO USE THE INVERTER.

PERSONAL SAFETY

1. ALWAYS stay alert, watch what you are doing and use common sense
when using this product. Do not use the product when you are tired or
under the influence of medication, drugs or alcohol. A moment of
inattention can result in personal injury.

2. ALWAYS thoroughly familiarise yourself with this product & its operation,
and always read and understand the instructions and warnings in this
manual before using the equipment.

3. NEVER dismantle the unit. Always return this product to the dealer if any
problem is found.

4. ALWAYS have the unit repaired by your local CLARKE dealer, using only
identical replacement parts. This will ensure the safety of the unit is
maintained. The use of non standard parts could be hazardous.

5. DO NOT use with positive earth systems (most modern vehicles, lorries,
boats etc, are negative earth). Reverse polarity connection will result in a
blown fuse and may cause permanent damage to the inverter.

6. DO NOT use in a wet environment.

7. DO NOT install inside an engine compartment - the inverter must always
be installed in a well ventilated area.

8. DO NOT use in potentially explosive atmospheres such as garage
forecourts etc.

9. NEVER connect to an AC supply.

10. ALWAYS disconnect the appliance from the inverter before making
adjustments to the appliance being run.

11. This inverter is not tested for use with medical devices.

This CLARKE product has been designed to give long and trouble free
service. If, however, having followed the instructions in this booklet carefully,
you encounter problems, take the unit to your local CLARKE dealer.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

Do not dispose of this product with general household waste. All tools,
accessories and packaging should be sorted, taken to a recycling
centre and disposed of appropriately.

3

EQUIPMENT COMPONENTS

INTRODUCTION

The inverter gives a continuous 230V, 50Hz power supply via a standard 3-pin
socket and is capable of running a range of household appliances, including
TVs, camcorders, laptops, lamps and power tool chargers etc., depending
upon the rating of the inverter.

Safety features include automatic shutdown and a low battery alarm - to
avoid the possibility of damaging your battery.

CONTROLS INDICATORS AND CONNECTORS

An ON/OFF rocker switch turns the inverter On and Off and will reset the
inverter circuits.

The back panel provides DC connections for battery clamps (or cigar lighter
connector on the CI400B model).

Two LEDs are provided on the front panel.

• The GREEN LED illuminates when the inverter is connected, switched
ON, and working correctly.

• The RED LED, when illuminated, indicates that the inverter is in a
fault condition and has shutdown from overload, excess voltage or
overheating.

GREEN

RED

4

SUITABLE POWER SOURCES

In order to operate the inverter and supply power to an appliance, a suitable
DC power supply is required. This can be a vehicle or caravan battery,
portable power pack, or an independent 12 Volt battery. For most
applications, a ‘deep cycle’ battery is recommended for best performance.

The size of the battery used will determine how long the inverter will supply
power to an appliance and how well the inverter will perform. Most batteries
are marked with their size in Amp Hours (AH).

Because 12 Volt inverters are capable of drawing high currents, the inverter
should only be connected to a suitable size battery. Connection to an
undersized battery could damage the battery and will result in the inverter
shutting down within a short period due to low battery voltage. The amount
of power drawn from the battery is proportional to the inverter load.

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DETERMINING SUITABLE LOADS

All appliances have a rating plate that shows the amount of power (Watts)
used, or the current (Amps) drawn during normal use. The following table
shows the load that can be run by the inverter.

Some appliances that use an electric motor or transformer may draw
considerably more than their rating when first turned on. These are known as
inductive loads and are the most difficult for the inverter to run.

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Resistive loads are the easiest for the inverter to run. However, larger resistive
loads, such as heaters, usually require more power than the inverter can
deliver on a continuous basis. Inductive loads, such as TVs 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.

Testing is the only definitive way to determine whether a specific load can be
started and how long it can run. The unit will simply shut down if it is
overloaded. To restart the unit after a shutdown due to overloading,
disconnect the load and if necessary turn the power switch OFF then ON.

The following table is a guide to the approximate AC power drawn by various
appliances. The DC Amps column shows the approximate power drawn from
the 12 Volt supply.

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CONNECTION AND POSITIONING

POSITIONING OF THE INVERTER

The inverter should always be placed on a flat, level surface and should only
be used in locations that meet the following criteria:

DRY - Do not allow water/other liquids to come into contact with the inverter.

COOL - Do not place the inverter on or near a heating vent or any piece of

equipment which is generating heat. Keep the inverter away from direct
sunlight.

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. A fan is helpful if the inverter is operating at maximum power for
extended periods. The unit will shut down if the internal temperature exceeds

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C. The unit will restart after it cools.

65

SAFE - Do not use the inverter near flammable materials or in locations that
may accumulate flammable vapours.

CAUTION: THE INVERTER MUST BE CONNECTED ONLY TO BATTERIES WITH
A NOMINAL OUTPUT VOLTAGE OF 12 VOLTS. THE UNIT WILL NOT
OPERATE FROM A 6-VOLT BATTERY AND WILL SUSTAIN PERMANENT
DAMAGE IF CONNECTED TO A 24-VOLT BATTERY.

CAUTION: DO NOT USE WITH POSITIVE EARTH ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS (THE
MAJORITY OF MODERN VEHICLES AND LORRIES ARE NEGATIVE EARTH).

The inverter is provided with battery cables with clamps for connection to a
suitable battery (or a fused cigarette lighter plug - CI400B model only).

EXTENSION CABLES

Avoid using an extension cable between the DC power source and the
inverter DC input. Using an extension this way will create a voltage drop
causing reduced efficiency and output. Any extension cable should be used
between the inverter AC output and the AC appliance. An extension cable
up to 30m may be used but greater lengths will result in a noticeable drop in
power.

Any cable used between the appliance and the inverter must be of the
correct diameter and length, otherwise power loss or reduced operating time
may occur.

Marine installations are also subjected to vibration and stresses that exceed
those of other mobile installations. Therefore ensure all connections are tight,
water resistant and have suitable strain relief for DC cables etc.

7

Cable installation must be the correct type for the environment.

• Position the inverter as far away as possible from the television, the
antenna, and the antenna cable. Use an extension cable if
necessary.

GROUNDING CONNECTION

WARNING: Before using this inverter you must provide a ground
connection.

On the rear panel of the inverter is a terminal fitted with a screw. This terminal
is connected to the case of the inverter and also to the earth terminal of the
AC output socket. The use of this terminal will depend on your particular
installation. In any installation, heavy duty insulated wire should be used for
this connection.

In a stationary, land based installation, the earth terminal should be
connected to a metal earthing stake driven into the ground. If the battery
system powering the inverter does not have a connection to ground, one of
the battery terminals (commonly the negative terminal), should also be
connected to the earthing stake.

In a vehicle where the inverter is wired directly to the battery, the earth
terminal is simply connected to the vehicle chassis. If the inverter is to be used
in a vehicle on a temporary basis, and will be powered via the cigarette
lighter socket in the vehicle, the earth terminal should be connected via a
short link to either the negative or positive DC input terminal of the inverter,
depending on whether the vehicle has a negative or positive chassis
connection. Most modern vehicles have a negative chassis connection.
However when using the inverter to power equipment used outside the
vehicle, an earthing stake should be used, as described above.

In a boat, the grounding terminal should be connected to the existing
grounding system, which may be the hull of the craft, or a network of ground
wires.

8

NOTE: The grounding terminal of the AC outlet is connected to the

neutral terminal. This is the same as a standard household power
point where the neutral line is bonded to grounding and there is
normally no voltage between them.

CONNECTING TO POWER SOURCE VIA CIGARETTE LIGHTER PLUG

(CI400B ONLY)

The cigarette lighter plug is suitable for operating the inverter at power
outputs up to 200 Watts. The tip of the plug is positive and the side contact is
negative. Connect the inverter to the power source by inserting the cigarette
lighter plug firmly into the cigarette lighter socket of a vehicle or other DC
power source.

Connect directly to the car battery when operating appliances above 200
Watts.

NOTE: Most vehicle cigarette lighter circuits use fuses rated at 15 to 20

Amps or greater. To operate at full power, either use the battery
clamp cable (supplied) or directly wire to the power source with
suitable wire and fuse (not supplied).

CAUTION: REVERSE POLARITY CONNECTION WILL RESULT IN A BLOWN
FUSE AND MAY CAUSE PERMANENT DAMAGE TO THE INVERTER.
(ALWAYS ENSURE THE LEADS ARE CONNECTED AS BELOW).

CONNECTING TO A POWER SOURCE VIA CABLES

Use the cables provided to connect the inverter directly to the 12 volt power
source using the following guidelines:

1. Check that the inverter power switch is turned OFF and that no flammable
fumes are present.

2. Connect the black cable to the black terminal marked “(-)” on the back
of the inverter. Connect the black battery clip to the negative terminal of
the battery.

3. Connect the red cable to the red terminal marked “(+)”on the back of
the inverter. Connect the red battery clip to the positive terminal of the
battery.

4. Check to ensure that all connections between battery clips and terminals
are clean and secure.

CONNECTING THE LOAD

With the inverter connected to the power source, but switched OFF, ensure
the appliance is also switched off before plugging the cable from the
appliance, into the AC socket on the inverter.

Switch ON the inverter and the green LED will illuminate to indicate that the

9

inverter is functioning. Make sure the load of your appliance does not exceed
the rated output of the inverter (in Watts) before switching on the appliance.

Always unplug the inverter when not in use.

Always unplug the inverter when starting the engine of the vehicle.

WARNING: Do not UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES connect the inverter
to household AC circuits.

RECHARGABLE DEVICES

CAUTION: SHOULD YOU ENCOUNTER ANY RECHARGEABLE DEVICE
DESIGNED TO BE RECHARGED BY PLUGGING DIRECTLY INTO AN AC
SOCKET, DO NOT USE THE INVERTER TO RECHARGE SUCH DEVICES AS
THEY COULD DAMAGE THE INVERTER.

This problem does not occur with the majority of battery operated equipment.
Most of these devices use a separate charger or transformer that is plugged
into an AC socket. The inverter is capable of running most chargers and
transformers.

CAUTION: MAKE SURE THAT THE BATTERY'S VOLTAGE NEVER EXCEEDS
15VDC. CONNECTING THE INVERTER TO A DC POWER SOURCE
GREATER THAN 15VDC WILL INVALIDATE THE WARRANTY AND MAY
DAMAGE THE INVERTER.

10

OPERATION

WARNING: If you connect the wires to the incorrect terminals, the
polarity will be reversed and the inverter will be damaged. Reversing
the polarity will invalidate your manufacturer’s warranty.

When connecting to an appliance incorporating an electric motor such as a
compressor, drill or fan, always ensure that the power rating of the inverter is
adequate for the power rating of the appliance.

If the inverter makes a beeping sound, switch off the appliance, unplug the
inverter and restart the vehicle engine. The beeping sound is simply the low­battery warning which indicates that the voltage of your battery is getting
low. The inverter will shut down automatically if you do not restart the engine
and continue the use of the inverter. This will leave the vehicle battery at
about 10.5 VDC, enabling you to start your engine and resume operation of
the inverter.

To avoid excessively discharging the vehicle battery, it is advisable to let your
engine run for a while after a period of using the inverter. This allows the
vehicle battery to recharge. Refer to the chart on page 5 (Suitable Power
Sources), as an indication of run-times based on the worst case situation.

Always remember to disconnect the AC inverter before using a battery
charger to recharge your battery. Failure to disconnect the inverter prior to
connecting a charger may result in an input spike which will damage the
inverter. CONNECTING THE INVERTERS INPUT TO A BATTERY CHARGER WILL
VOID THE WARRANTY.

11

SYSTEM PROTECTION

The inverter will switch off automatically if the total wattage of the
appliance(s) exceeds the inverter output capacity. This will also happen if the
temperature of the inverter exceeds 65OC due to prolonged use.

The protection circuit will also switch off the output in the case of short-circuit
or overload. If this should happen:

1. Switch off the inverter.

2. Disconnect any appliances.

3. Check all connections.

The inverter can be used again when any faults have been rectified.

When the unit is in continuous operation, the AC output may suddenly stop
although there remains a good supply from the battery. This may be caused
by overheating and the inverter should be switched off until it cools down.

WARNING; Never connect the inverter to the battery with the wrong
polarity. This will damage the unit and invalidate the warranty.

MEASURING AC VOLTAGE

The output wave of the AC inverter is a modified sine-wave. If you choose to
measure the AC output voltage, you must use an authentic RMS volt meter.
Using any other type of voltage measuring device will result in an AC voltage
reading that is up to 20 to 30 volts lower than the rated value. The reading will
only be accurate when using an authentic RMS voltmeter.

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FUSE REPLACEMENT

If an external fuse on the rear of the unit blows, there is most likely a short
circuit or overload in the DC wiring, or the polarity has been reversed. Find
and correct the problem before replacing the fuses. The quantity and rating

12

of fuses for each model are stated in the Technical Specification on page 14,
where multiple fuses may be used, relative to the total amperage of the load
current for that inverter.

Fuses can be replaced individually or they may all fail together dependant
upon the nature of the fault condition. After fuse replacement, reconnect
the inverter and if a fuse continues to blow, contact your Clarke dealer or
telephone Clarke International on 020 8998 7400. DO NOT open the unit as
there are no user serviceable parts inside.

TROUBLESHOOTING

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If you are still having difficulties with this product, contact your CLARKE
International Service Department on 020-8988-7400.

13

MAINTENANCE

No routine maintenance is required but you can clean the exterior of the unit
periodically with a damp cloth to prevent accumulation of dust and dirt. At
the same time check that the screws on the DC terminals are tight.

Never attempt to dismantle the unit due to hazardous voltages. Please return
to the dealer if any problem is found with this unit.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION

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Please note that the details and specifications contained herein, are correct at the
time of going to print. However, CLARKE International reserve the right to change
specifications at any time without prior notice.

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14

DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY

15