Schumacher PI-200 User Manual

Model/Modelo: PI-200

DO NOT RETURN THIS PRODUCT
TO THE STORE!

Contact Customer Service for assistance:
Phone: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Web: www.batterychargers.com

¡NO LO DEVUELVA ESTE PRODUCTO
A LA TIENDA!

Contacte Servicios al Cliente para asistencia:
Teléfono: 800-621-5485
Correo Electrónico: [e-mail]
Sitio Red: www.batterychargers.com

READ THE ENTIRE MANUAL BEFORE USING THIS
PRODUCT. FAILURE TO DO SO COULD RESULT IN
SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.

LEA EL MANUAL COMPLETO ANTES DE UTILIZAR
ESTE PRODUCTO. CUALQUIER FALLA PODRÍA
RESULTAR EN SERIAS LESIONES O PODRÍA
SER MORTAL.

OWNER’S MANUAL
MANUAL DEL USUARIO

Power Inverter

Converts 12V DC Battery Power
to 120V AC Household Power

Inversor de Energía

Convierte la Energía de Baterías
de 12V de CC a 120V de CA
de Energía Doméstica

0099001323-00

IMPORTANT: READ AND SAVE THIS SAFETY AND INSTRUCTION

MANUAL.

SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS – This manual will show you how

to use your inverter safely and effectively. Please read, understand
and follow these instructions and precautions carefully, as this
manual contains important safety and operating instructions. The
safety messages used throughout this manual contain a signal
word, a message and an icon.

The signal word indicates the level of the hazard in a situation.

Indicates an imminently hazardous situation which, if
not avoided, will result in death or serious injury to the
operator or bystanders.

Indicates a potentially hazardous situation which, if not
avoided, could result in death or serious injury to the
operator or bystanders.

Indicates a potentially hazardous situation which, if not
avoided, could result in moderate or minor injury to the
operator or bystanders.

Indicates a potentially hazardous situation which, if
not avoided, could result in damage to the equipment,
vehicle or property.

Pursuant to California Proposition 65, this product
contains chemicals known to the State of California to
cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive
harm. Wash hands after handling.

1. IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS –
SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS.

This manual contains important safety and operating instructions.

RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK OR FIRE.

1.1 Keep out of reach of children.

1.2 Keep the inverter well ventilated in order

to properly disperse heat generated while it
is in use. Make sure there are several inches
of clearance around the top and sides and do
not block the slots of the inverter.

• 2 •

1.3 Make sure the inverter is not close to any potential source of

ammable fumes or clothing.

1.4 Do not place the inverter in areas such as battery compartments

or engine compartments where fumes may accumulate.

1.5 Keep the inverter dry.

1.6 DO NOT allow the inverter to come into contact with rain or moisture.

1.7 DO NOT operate the inverter if you, the inverter, the device being

operated or any other surfaces that may come into contact with
any power source are wet. Water and many other liquids can
conduct electricity, which may lead to serious injury or death.

1.8 Do not place the inverter on or near heating vents, radiators or

other sources of heat or ammable materials.

1.9 Do not place the inverter in direct sunlight. The ideal air

temperature for operation is between 50° and 80°F.

1.10 Only connect the power inverter to a 12 volt accessory outlet. Do

not attempt to connect the inverter to any other power source,
including an AC power source. Connecting to a 6V or 16V battery
will cause damage to the inverter.

1.11 Make sure the AC plug connection is tight.

1.12 Do not modify the inverter in any way including cables, plugs or

switches as it may result in property damage or personal injury.

1.13 Incorrect operation of your inverter may result in

damage and personal injury. The inverter output is 120V AC and
can shock or electrocute the same as any ordinary household AC
wall outlet.

1.14 Do not open – no user serviceable parts inside.

1.15 This device does not include an internal Ground Fault Circuit

Interrupter (GFCI).

2. BEFORE USING YOUR POWER INVERTER
NOTE: This inverter is designed to be used with a single battery,

up to group 31 (130 Ah or smaller). The recommended source of
power is a 12 volt deep cycle battery, due to their high reserve
capacity. Automotive batteries are recommended for only a short
period of time of an hour or less.

• 3 •

NOTE: Do not use the inverter with a product that draws a higher
wattage than the inverter can provide, as this may cause damage to
the inverter and product.

When you turn on a device or a tool that runs on a motor, the device
basically goes through two stages:

1. Start Up – Requiring an initial surge of power (commonly

known as the “starting or peak load”).

2. Continuous Operation – Power consumption drops (commonly

known as the “continuous load”).

The wattage (WATTS) or amperes (AMPS) can normally be found
stamped or printed on most devices and equipment, or in the

user’s manual. Otherwise, contact the manufacturer to nd out
whether the device you want to use is compatible with a modied

sine wave.
To calculate the wattage: Wattage = AMPS x 120 (AC Voltage).
To calculate the starting load: Starting Load = 2 x WATTS. In

general, the start up load of the device or power tool determines
whether your inverter has the capability to power it.

To calculate the continuous load: Continuous Load = AMPS x 120
(AC Voltage).

Always run a test to establish whether the inverter will
operate a particular piece of equipment or device. In the event of a
power overload, the inverter is designed to automatically shut down.
This safety feature prevents damaging the inverter while testing
devices and equipment within the wattage range of the inverter.

When using the vehicle’s 12 volt accessory port, this
inverter is designed to supply 60 to 70 watts when the vehicle is
not running. With the vehicle’s engine running, it can supply up to
100 watts. To use the full output, you must connect the inverter
directly to your battery.

NOTE: The 100 watt limit is to accommodate the fuse ratings
for all vehicles. Some vehicles may allow the full output. If the
fuse blows when you switch on the device you are trying to use,
you have to either use a smaller device or you must connect the
inverter directly to the battery.

• 4 •

we do not recommend you use it to power the following devices:

This inverter uses a nonsinusoidal waveform. Therefore,

1. Switch mode power supplies

2. Linear power supplies

3. Class 2 transformers

4. Line lter capacitors

5. Shaded pole motors

6. Fan motors

7. Microwave ovens

8. Fluorescent and high intensity lamps (with a ballast)

9. Transformerless battery chargers

Doing so may cause the device to run warmer or overheat.

3. FASTENING THE INVERTER TO A FLAT SURFACE

For convenience, your inverter can be fastened to a at surface,

horizontally or vertically. The area where the inverter is to
be fastened must be dry, well ventilated and away from any
combustible material or fumes.

1. Turn off and disconnect the inverter.

2. Place the back of the inverter with the mounting bracket

against a secure and at surface.

3. Attach the inverter to the at surface, using corrosion-resistant

screws.

4. CONNECTING INVERTER CABLES

The inverter and power source must be in the OFF mode.

Make sure you connect your inverter to a 12V
power supply only.

Connecting inverter cable to a vehicle (100 watts maximum)

1. Remove the cigarette lighter from its outlet.

2. Push the 12V power plug rmly into the outlet.

Failure to make the correct connections will result in
blown fuses and permanent damage to the inverter.

• 5 •

5. OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS

1. Connect the inverter (see “CONNECTING INVERTER

CABLES” section).

2. Make sure the device to be operated is turned OFF.

3. Plug the device into the inverter AC outlet.

4. Switch the inverter’s ON/OFF switch to the ON position.

5. Turn the device on.

6. To disconnect, reverse the above procedure.

NOTE: If more than one device is to be powered, start one device

at a time to avoid a power surge and overloading the inverter.
The surge load of each device should not exceed the inverter’s
Continuous Operation wattage rate.

If you are using the power inverter to operate a
battery charger, monitor the temperature of the battery charger for
about 10 minutes. If the battery charger becomes abnormally
warm, disconnect it from the inverter immediately.

NOTE: You can use an extension cord from the inverter to the

device without signicantly decreasing the power being generated

by the inverter. For best operating results, the extension cord
should be no longer than 50 feet.

Using the USB Port

The USB port provides 5V DC.

1. Plug the device into the USB port.

2. Press and hold the ON/OFF switch to turn the inverter on. (The

internal speaker will make a brief “beep”. This is normal.)

3. Turn the USB device on.

4. Reverse these steps when nished using the USB port.

Using the inverter to operate a TV or audio device:

The inverter is shielded and ltered to minimize signal

interference. Despite this, some interference may occur with your
television picture, especially with weak signals. Below are some
suggestions to try and improve reception.

1. Make sure the television antenna produces a clear signal

under normal operating conditions (i.e. at home plugged into a
standard 120V AC wall outlet). Also, ensure that the antenna
cable is adequately shielded and of good quality.

• 6 •

2. Try altering the position of the inverter, antenna cables, and

television power cord. Add an extension cord from the inverter
to the TV so as to isolate its power cord and antenna cables
from the 12V power source.

3. Try coiling the television power cord and the input cables

running from the 12V power source to the inverter.

4. Afx one or several “Ferrite Data Line Filters” to the television

power cord. Ferrite Data Line Filters can be purchased at
most electronic supply stores.

NOTE: You may hear a “buzzing” sound being emitted from
inexpensive sound systems when operated with the inverter. This

is due to ineffective lters in the sound system’s power supply.

Unfortunately, this problem can only be resolved by purchasing a

sound system with a higher quality power supply or higher quality lter.

Using the USB Port:

1. Plug the device into the USB port.

2. Turn the USB device on.

3. Reverse these steps when nished using the USB port.

The inverter draws power, even when the switch is
OFF. To avoid battery drain, disconnect the inverter when not in use.

6. POWER SOURCE

To get the best performance out of your inverter, we recommend that
you use it with the vehicle’s engine running.

Your average automobile or marine battery at full charge will provide
an ample power supply to the inverter for approximately 3 hours when
the engine is off. The actual length of time the inverter will function
depends on the age and condition of the battery and the power
demand being placed by the device being operated with the inverter.

If you decide to use the inverter while the engine is off, we
recommend you turn OFF the device plugged into the inverter
before starting the engine. To maintain battery power, start the
engine every 2 to 3 hours and let it run for approximately 10
minutes to recharge the battery.

Although it is not necessary to disconnect the inverter when turning

over the engine, it may briey cease to operate as the battery

voltage decreases. While the inverter draws very low amperage
when not in use, it should be unplugged to avoid battery drain.

• 7 •

7. LED INDICATOR AND SHUTDOWN PROTECTION

The LED glows GREEN automatically when plugged into a 12V
DC source, but will not glow under the following conditions:

1. When the power input from the vehicle’s battery drops to

approximately 10 volts, low battery shutdown occurs and
inverter shuts off. Solution: Recharge or Replace the battery.

2. When the power input from the vehicle’s battery exceeds

15 volts, high voltage overload protection occurs. Solution:
Reduce the voltage range to between 12 volts and 14 volts.

3. The continuous load demand from the equipment or device

being operated exceeds the continuous load rating of the
inverter being used. Solution: Use a higher capacity inverter
or lower rated device.

4. The case temperature becomes hot (exceeds 145°F).

Solution: Allow the inverter to cool. Do not block the cooling

slots or air ow over and through the inverter. Reduce the

load on the inverter to the continuous rated output.

RESET: To reset after shutdown occurs:

1. Disconnect the inverter from the 12V power source.

2. Check the source of the problem and correct.

3. Reconnect the inverter to the 12V power source.

NOTE: If the red LED is lit and the green LED is not, see the
Troubleshooting section.

8. IF THE INVERTER FUSE BLOWS

Your power inverter is tted with a fuse, which should not have

to be replaced under normal operating conditions. A blown fuse
is usually caused by reverse polarity or a short circuit within the
device or equipment being operated.

If the fuse does blow:

1. Disconnect the device or equipment immediately.

2. Find the source of the problem and repair it.

3. Install a new fuse (25A). The fuse can be found on the right

side of the inverter. NOTE: If you are using the 12V accessory
plug to power the inverter, there is also a 15A fuse in the end
of the plug.

• 8 •

the original fuse, as this may damage the inverter and any product

Do not install a fuse with a higher amp rating than

you use with the inverter. Make sure to correct the cause of the
blown fuse before using the inverter again.

9. TROUBLESHOOTING
PROBLEM REASON SOLUTION

Red LED is on,
audible alarm
is on, and/or
inverter does not

Poor contact at
terminals.

Unplug and reinsert
the 12V plug or check
connections at power
supply.

function.

Fuse blown.

See “IF THE INVERTER
FUSE BLOWS” section.

The red LED is
lit and the green
LED is not.

Inverter shutdown.

Inverter may not be
working properly.

12V Accessory
plug or clips are
not making a good
connection to the
battery.

Connections are
reversed.

Inverter may not be
working properly.

• 9 •

See “LED INDICATOR
AND SHUTDOWN
PROTECTION” section.

See Warranty and call
Customer Service.

Check for poor connection
to battery and frame.
Make sure connection
points are clean. Rock
clips back and forth for a
better connection.

Unplug the charger and
reverse the clips.

See Warranty and call
Customer Service.