Cobra Electronics CPI M1500 User Manual
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Our Thanks To You
Introduction
Thank you for purchasing the CobraMarine™CPI M1500 Power Inverter.
Properly used, this product will give you many years of reliable service.
How Your CobraMarine™Power Inverter Works
The CobraMarine™Power Inverter is an electronic product that has been designed and
built to take low voltage DC (Direct Current) power from your boat, RV, automobile or
other low voltage power supplies and CONVERT it to standard 115 volt AC (Alternating
Current) power like the current you have in your home. This conversion process
thereby allows you to use many of your household appliances and electronic products
in automobiles, RVs, boats, tractors, trucks and virtually anywhere else.
Customer Assistance
Should you encounter any problems with this product, or not understand its many
features, please refer to this owner’s manual. If you require further assistance after
reading this manual, Cobra®Electronics offers the following customer assistance services:
For Assistance In the U.S.A.
Automated Help Desk English only.
24 hours a day, 7 days a week 773-889-3087 (phone).
Customer Assistance Operators English and Spanish.
8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. CT, Monday through Friday (except holidays)
773-889-3087 (phone).
Questions English and Spanish.
Faxes can be received at 773-622-2269 (fax).
Technical Assistance English only.
www.cobra.com (on-line: Frequently Asked Questions).
English and Spanish. productinfo@cobra.com (e-mail).
For Assistance Outside the U.S.A.
Contact Your Local Dealer
Operating Instructions
Nothing Comes Close To A Cobra
®
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1500 WATT MARINE POWER INVERTER
CPI M1500
Printed in China
Part No. 480-077-P
©2003 Cobra®Electronics Corporation
6500 West Cortland Street
Chicago, Illinois 60707 USA
www.cobra.com
Customer Assistance
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Introduction
Our Thanks to You . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A1
Customer Assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A1
Controls and Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A2
Product Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A2
Important Safety Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Quick Evaluation Before Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Installation
Installation Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Mounting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Connecting Cables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Power Consumption . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Ground Wiring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Remote On/Off Switch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Operation
Turning Your Inverter On or Off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Remote On/Off Switch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
GFCI Outlet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Power and Protection Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Operating Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Troubleshooting Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Warranty
Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Customer Assistance
Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
Product Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Accessories and Order Form . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Controls/Indicators and Product Features
Introduction
Table of Contents
Introduction
Features
• GFCI Outlet with
Two AC Receptacles
• Conformal Coating*
• Tinned Wiring*
• Volts and Amps Meters
• Remote On/Off Operation
• Automatic Thermal
Protection/Shutdown
• Reverse Polarity
Protection
• Low Battery Alarm
• Low Battery Shutdown
Positive Battery
Cable Terminal
(Red)
Cooling Fans
Negative Battery
Cable Terminal
(Black)
Ground Terminal
GFCI Outlet
Remote On/Off
Switch Jack
Overload & Over
Temp. Indicators
On/Off Power
Switch
Volts & Amps Meters
Reset Button (Red)
Status Indicator
Test Button (Black)
* To help resist corrosion
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Nothing comes close to a Cobra
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Important Safety Information
•
Before installing and using your CobraMarine™Power Inverter, please read
these general precautions and warnings.
Caution and Warning Statements
To make the most of this inverter, it must be installed and used properly.
Please read the installation and operating instructions carefully before
installing and using it. Special attention must be paid to the CAUTION and
WARNING statements in the manual.
CAUTION Statements specify conditions which could cause damage to the
unit or other equipment.
WARNING Statements identify conditions that could result in personal
injury or loss of life.
General Precautions
1. Never install the inverter in a boat’s engine compartment where gas and battery
fumes are present.
2. Do not operate the inverter if it has been dropped or damaged in any way.
3. Do not open the inverter; it contains no user-serviceable parts. Attempting to service
unit could cause electrical shock.
NOTE Internal components remain charged after all power is disconnected.
4. Do not expose the inverter to rain, snow, bilge water or spray.
5. Do not obstruct the ventilation openings.
6. Do not install the inverter in zero-clearance compartment.
CAUTION This inverter should be used in negative ground applications only.
Important Safety Information
Introduction
Continued...
Plug In Directly
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WARNING Power inverters contain components that may produce arcs
or sparks. To prevent fire or explosion, do not install the inverter in areas
or compartments containing batteries or flammable materials or in locations
that require ignition-protected equipment.
WARNING To reduce the risk of fire, do not cover or obstruct the ventilation
openings. Do not install inverter in zero-clearance compartment.
Caution: Rechargeable Appliances
Certain chargers for small nickel cadmium batteries can be damaged if connected to
the CobraMarine™M1500 Power Inverter. Two (2) particular types of equipment are
prone to this problem:
1. Small battery-operated appliances such as flashlights,
razors, and night lights that can be plugged directly into
an AC receptacle to recharge.
2. Certain battery chargers for battery packs used in hand
power tools. These chargers have a WARNING label stating
that dangerous voltages are present at the battery terminals.
This problem does not occur with the vast majority of battery-operated equipment.
Most use a separate charger or transformer that is plugged into the AC receptacle
and produces a low voltage output. If the label on the AC adapter or charger states
that it produces a low voltage AC or DC output (less than 30 volts), the inverter
will have no problem powering the adapter safely.
CobraMarine™M1500 Output Waveform
The output waveform is referred to as “square wave” or “modified sine wave.” It is a
stepped waveform designed to have characteristics similar to the sine wave shape of
utility power. A waveform of this nature is suitable for most AC loads (including linear
and switching power suppliers used in electronic equipment, transformers and motors).
Some very sensitive electronic equipment may not operate satisfactorily on “square
wave” or “modified sine wave.”
Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) Outlet
Test the GFCI periodically to make sure it is operating properly
(see page 16 for details).
Important Safety Information
Introduction
Important Safety Information
Introduction
Dangerous Voltages
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Quick Evaluation Before Installation
•
This section provides you with basic information about the inverter and how
to check its performance before installation.
Be Sure to Have on Hand:
A 12 volt DC power source (such as a vehicle battery).
The power source must provide between 11 and 15 volts
DC and be able to supply enough current to run the test
load. As a rough guide, divide the wattage of the test load
by 10 to get the current (in amperes) the power source
must deliver.
Cables to connect the power source to the inverter (not included).
The cables must be as short and thick as possible in order to reduce the voltage
drop between the power source and the inverter when drawing current from the
power source.
If the cable suffers an excessive voltage drop, the inverter may shut down when
drawing higher currents because the voltage at the inverter dropped below 10 volts.
#4 AWG stranded copper cable is recommended. It should be no longer than
1.5 meters (4 feet).
The end of the cable that connects to the inverter must have its insulation stripped
off for about
1
⁄2 inch (1.25 cm) back from the end, exposing the bare copper.
The other end of the cable, which connects to the power source, must be
terminated with a lug or other connector that provides a secure, low resistance
connection.
For example, if the power source is a battery, the cable must be terminated
with a battery terminal that clamps to the post on the battery.
A test load that can be plugged into the AC receptacle on the inverter for short
term testing at a low power level. The following cables are recommended for
testing low power level test loads only.
Test Load Power Minimum Cable Size
100w #16 AWG copper
250w #12 AWG copper
500w #8 AWG copper
Quick Evaluation Before Installation
Introduction
Quick Evaluation Before Installation
Introduction
To Check Your Inverter’s Performance Before Installation:
1. Turn the inverter Off (see page 15 for details).
If the power source is a DC power supply,
switch it Off as well.
2. Connect cables to Power Input Terminals
(see page 8 for details).
3. Connect cables to Power Source
(see page 8 for details).
4. Check to make sure all connections are secure.
5. Turn the inverter On. If the power source is
a DC power supply, switch it On first.
6. Plug in the test load.
The inverter should supply power to the load.
If the inverter is not working properly, refer to
the Troubleshooting Guide on page 21 or Power
and Protection Indicators section on page 18.
7. Test the GFCI Outlet (see page 16 for details).
Test Load
On/Off Switch to Off
Connect Terminals
Connect Power Source
On/Off Switch to On
Connect Test Load
Test GFCI Outlet
Power Supply
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