Tripp Lite PV 140, PV 300 User Manual

OWNER'S

c

MANUAL

-

-.-.

--

TRIPP

THE

POWER

p

500

N.

Orleans

IL

Chicago,
Customer Support:

Fax:

[phone]

E-mail:
PowerZonem

60610

info 8tripplite.com

Web

LITE

PEOPLE

USA

[phone]

Site:

www.tripplite.com

PowerVerteP

Ultra Compact

DC-to-A C Power Inverters

PV

140,

PV

300

Copyright

O

1998

Tripp Lite.

PV

300

All

rights reserved. PowerVerteP is a registered trademark of Tripp Lite

1) INTRODUCTION

1.1 Applications

1.2 Advanced Features

TABLE OF CONTENTS

.......................................................................................................

.............................................................................................

2
2

2) SAFETY 3

3) CONTROLS 4

4) OPERATION

5) TROUBLESHOOTING

6) WARRANTY

7) SPECIFICATIONS

Please save these instructions and thoroughly read the Safety (page
sections before operating your PowerVerter. Be sure to save the original carton and Styrofoam
inserts. If you require

Tripp Lite in improper packaging.

................................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................

4.1 Operation Overview 5

4.2 Step-By-Step Operation

4.3 Direct Connection Operation

5.1 Troubleshooting Guide

5.2 Maintenance

5.3 Service

..................................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................

....................................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................

semice, your warranty may be voided

..........................................................................................

...................................................................................

(PV 300 only)

.................................................

....................................................................................

3)

and Operation (page

if

the PowerVerter is sent back to

5
5

6
6
6

7

8

5)

1

.I

Congratulations! Your new Tripp Lite PowerVerter Ultra Compact DC-to-AC Inverter will give you
years of reliable, carefree service.

PowerVerter Inverters give you access to AC power wherever and whenever you need it. They
convert Direct Current (DC) electricity from a battery to Alternating Current (AC) electricity which

is the standard utility power you find at home. Your PowerVerter Inverter simply plugs into the
cigarette lighter socket of any vehicle to run a variety of office and household appliances:

1.2

Design

PowerVerter Ultra Compact's advanced design and production technology packs the power of
standard inverters into a lighter, low-profile, metal case. This design eliminates the need for bulky
internal transformers.

Applications

Laptop Computers TVs Game Systems

FaxMachines VCRs Kitchen Equipment

Lamps

Stereos Small Power Tools and More!

Advanced .Features

Low Battery Protection

You'll never run out of battery power with PowerVerter Ultra Compact Inverters. PowerVerter's Low
Battery

time to safely shut down your connected equipment and the inverter before restarting your vehicle's
engine to recharge your battery. If you're not present when the alarm sounds, PowerVerter will
automatically shut itself down, preserving your battery.

Alarm alerts you to low voltage in your vehicle's battery. The PowerVerter gives you adequate

Note:

turn

OFFconnected equipment before

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AWarning!

Do not operate your inverter near flammable materials, fumes or gases.

ACaution!

Proper cooling is essential when operating your PowerVerter. Provide adequate ventilation and

refrain from placing items on or around the PowerVerter during operation. Refrain from placing your

PowerVerter near your vehicle's heating vent or in direct sunlight. Keep the case dry at all times.

Disconnect the PowerVerter when not in use.

ACaution!

The PowerVerter case will get hot (130" - 140"

the PowerVerter near surfaces or materials that will be effected by this level of heat. Use care when

handling the case after extended use.

F)

after long periods of continuous use. Do not place

ACaution!

Turn

OFF connected equipment before starting your engine. DO NOT plug a surge suppressor, line

AC

conditioner or UPS system into the

to the PowerVerter, use grounded, 14-gauge, 3-wire cords, less than 100 feet long.

receptacles of the PowerVerter. If you attach extension cords

ACaution!

Check the warning labels on battery chargers or adapters before connecting them to your PowerVerter.

NOT

DO

chargers and adapters, however, are safe for connection, as long as their labels state that their
DC output voltage is low (30 volts or lower).

connect battery chargers or adapters with dangerous-voltage warnings. Most battery

AC-to-

1)

Illuminated

Move the switch to ON
illuminated while the PowerVerter is in operation. Move the switch to

ONIOFF

("0")

Switch:

to supply power to your connected equipment. This switch will remain

OFF

("I")

to stop power to your

connected equipment.

2)

AC Outlet(sk

Connect equipment to the PowerVerter's receptacles that are designed to run on 120V AC electric

power (computers, fax machines, televisions, etc.). Be sure equipment that is plugged into the

PowerVerter has a wattage draw

equal to or less than

the maximum continuous output of the

PowerVerter (140 watts maximum for the PV 140 and 300 watts maximum for the PV 300).

3)

DC Fuse:
PV 140 and
overload. If too much current is drawn from the AC outlets, or

PV 300 models both feature one DC fuse. The fuse protects the PowerVerter against an

in

the event of a major electronic

failure, the fuse will blow to protect the PowerVerter's circuitry and your vehicle's battery. If the fuse

blows, unplug it and replace it with a standard automotive fuse of equal amperage.

Note: installing

non-ratedfuses could cause equipment damage or failure and could void your warranty.

4)

Cigarette Lighter Plug:
Connects directly into a standard automotive cigarette lighter receptacle. Simply plug the PowerVerter
in to operate.

5)

Cooling Fan:
PV 300 features a fan to maintain internal cooling.

PV 140

(Rear)

PV300

(Rear)

4.1 Operation Overview

The PowerVerter Ultra Compact Inverter can be used either with your vehicle's engine off or running.
Depending on the amount of equipment connected to the PowerVerter, a typical vehicle battery will
provide 2 to 3 hours of runtime on average (or as long as 10 hours under optimum conditions) before
needing to be recharged.

Since the PowerVerter merely converts electrical energy (and does not produce it), the voltage and
capacity it provides your equipment depends on the voltage and capacity provided by your vehicle's
battery.

The PowerVerter produces a Modified Sine Wave that closely matches the sine wave produced by the
utility company that serves your household, making it far superior to other inverters on the market.
This makes it ideal to power appliances and equipment you commonly use at home.

4.2 Step-By-Step Operation

Q

OBSERVE

on a convenient, flat surface
vehicle's cigarette lighter receptacle

the equipment is turned OFF. If connecting over 240 watts to model PV 300, see Direct Connection
Operation below.

ALL

PRECAUTIONS

0

Turn ON the PowerVerter

IN

THE SAFETYSECTlON

in

your vehicle 0 Plug the PowerVerter's cigarette lighter plug into your

0

Plug your equipment into the PowerVerter. Make sure that

8

Turn ON your equipment

ONPAGE3

0

Place the PowerVerter

4.3 Direct Connection Operation

Connecting the PV 300's cigarette lighter plug (as described above) will support most of your
equipment. However, if you plan on connecting more than 240 watts to the PV 300, you
connect the inverter directly to the battery. To connect the PV 300 directly to the battery, first
purchase a Battery Lead Adapter available

at most automotive stores. It consists of a
cigarette lighter receptacle (that you plug
the PV 300 into) and two battery leads
(which you connect directly to the battery
terminals) (See diagram at right).

TION: OBSERVE
TIMES. REVERSE POLARITY WILL
BLOW THE PV
DAMAG~E
CIRCUITRY.

During direct connection to the battery there is a risk of sparks from the terminal igniting explosive
battery gases that have built up.

POLARITY

300's FUSE AND MAY

INVERTER'S INTERNAL

CAU-

AT ALL

Battery

n

Warning!

Perform direct connection only in a well-ventilated area.

(PV

300 only)

Battery

Adapter Plug

MUST

PV

300

Lighter

aE3=

5.1 Troubleshooting Guide

Please check the following

before

sending the PowerVerter

in

for service:

S'

-

Invr~~rl

w

hen

lrned

tu

0

01

uucs

LIUL

LUUL

swi tc

PROB

-

Fuse i:

ylacc uluwll

for leinveri ter over1

D

~eck

oad

-

Inverter is not able to pc
devices plugged into it

Batter y runni ng low

r

Powel
too hi:

draw

gh for i

c

bf

equip

nverter

bment i!

output

-

charge vehicle battery by
ming engine. Low battery
ltage reduces inverter

vo
Po'

CUI

thc

-

wer out

rer draw leck rat'
uipmer tke sur
es not exceed me
atinuou

!

invert

maximum

v

of

e it

l.3

of

-

Inverter
mittent

onnecte

CI

ences

ri~

ture distortion.

?

5.2

The PowerVerter requires no maintenance and contains no user-serviceable or replaceable parts
(except for replaceable DC fuse)

(

bi

-

-

nter- Loose nec-

!xpe-

r

pic-

.

Audic Re an-

interfer

ieck anc
ns

positio

ter

mas ant

i

secure 8 all con]

n equi

3

Powei

pment

rVerter

Maintenance

5.3

If you require service beyond Ghat is explained in the Troubleshooting Guide, do the following:
Call Tripp Lite Customer Support at [phone]. [Outside the U.S., call [phone]]. Explain

your problem and a technical support person will either remedy the problem over the phone or give
you instructions about return, repair or exchange.

If returning your PowerVerter to Tripp Lite, please follow this procedure:

STEP

with the unit. Adequate packing is essential to ensure the inverter is not damaged in transit.

Service

1:

Carefully pack the PowerVerter using the

ORIG

INAL PACKING

MATERIAL

that came

-

T.

7.

--

7

STEP

2:

Enclose a letter describing the symptoms of the problem. This will help speed

turn-

around time.

STEP

3:

If the PowerVerter is within the 1-year domestic (120-days export) warranty period,

enclose a copy of your sales receipt

STEP

TRIPP LITE;

4:

Send the PowerVerter to:

418

W.

ILLINOIS; CHICAGO, IL 60610 USA; ATTN: REPAIR DEPARTMENT

1-YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY

Seller warrants this product, if used in accordance with all applicable instructions, to be free from

1

original defects in material and workmanship for a period of
If the product should prove defective inmaterial or

workmanship within that period, Seller will repair
or replace the product, in its sole discretion. Service under this Warranty can only be obtained by your
delivering or shipping the product (with all shipping or delivery charges prepaid) to: Tripp Lite, 418
W.

Illinois, Chicago,

IL

60610. Seller will pay return shipping charges. Call Tripp Lite Customer Service

at [phone] before sending any equipment back for repair.

year from the date of initial purchase.

THIS WARRANTY DOES NOT APPLY TO NORMAL WEAR OR TO DAMAGE RESULTING FROM
ACCIDENT, MISUSE, ABUSE ORNEGLECT. SELLERMAKES NO EXPRESS WARRANTIES OTHER
THAN THE WARRANTY EXPRESSLY SET FORTH HEREIN. EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT PROHIB­ITED

BY

APPLICABLE LAW, ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING ALL WARRANTIES OF

IN

MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS, ARE LIMITED

DURATION TO THE WARRANTY PERIOD

SET FORTH ABOVE; AND THIS WARRANTY EXPRESSLY EXCLUDES ALL INCIDENTAL AND
CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES. (Some states do not allow limitations on how long an implied
warranty lasts, and some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential

damages, so the above limitations or exclusions may not apply to you. This Warranty gives you specific

legal rights, and you may have other rights which vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction).

WARNING:

TRIPP

The individual user should take care to determine prior to use whether this device is

LITE;

500 N. ORLEANS; CHICAGO, IL 60610

suitable, adequate or safe for the use intended. Since individual applications are subject to great

variation, the manufacturer makes no representation or warranty as to the suitability or fitness of

these devices for any specific application.

Policy of Tripp Lite is one of continuous improvement. Specifications are su bject to change
withoutnotice.

1

-

Output Power (Maxim ntinuous Watts):

I

140 300

-

Power (Peak

-

Nominal ~n~ut voltaae (DC):

Matts):

\i

-

-

I

Vomina

Output Waveform: 'ied Sine Wave Modified Sine Wave

11

Outpr

~t

Volta ge (AC

I

oltage

1

Volts):

-

._

Low manery-volrage snuraown (volts):

I..

-

1

9C

Outl lets

Circuit Protect

-

Dimensions (HxWxD)

-

We~gnt:

(NE

IMA

ion

-

5-1

(DC

oad):

-

-

I-lit

1

amp f 'use

r

5.2

54

U

Ill.

~g.)

cm.

11

-

9.

2

~p

415 x 4-115

z

IDS.

(.YI

fuse

x

6

~g.)

in.

cm.

@

Printed on

Recycled

93-1 21 2 (971 0081) 198

Paper