Vector VEC023, Maxx SST VEC023 Owner's Manual & Warranty Information

NEW

SOFT START

TECHNOLOGY

350 W AT T

PEAK

175 WATT

POWER INVERTER

VEC023

OWNER’S MANUAL

& WARRANTY INFORMATION

THIS MANUAL CONTAINS IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING
SAFETY, OPERATION, MAINTENANCE AND STORAGE OF THIS
PRODUCT. BEFORE USE, READ AND UNDERSTAND ALL CAUTIONS,
WARNINGS, INSTRUCTIONS AND PRODUCT LABELS, PLUS YOUR
VEHICLE’S BA TTERY MANUFA CTURER GUIDELINES. FAILURE TO DO SO
COULD RESULT IN INJURY AND/OR PROPERTY DAMAGE.

4140 SW 28TH WAY, FT. LAUDERDALE, FL 33312

TEL [phone] • TOLL FREE: 866-584-5504 • FAX [phone]

CONTENTS

1. INTRODUCTION ...........................................................4

2. CONTROLS, INDICATORS AND CONNECTORS ..............4,5

3. HOW YOUR INVERTER WORKS.........................................5

3.1 Theory of Operation...............................................5

3.2 The MAXX SST™ 175 Output Waveform .............5, 6

4. CONNECTIONS/ENVIRONMENT..................................6

4.1 Power Source Requirements ....................................6

4.2 Connection to Power Source ...............................6, 7

4.3 Connection to Load ................................................7

4.4 Placement of Inverte r ..............................................8

5. OPERA TING TIPS ...........................................................8

5.1 Rated V ersus Actual Current Draw of Equipment.......8

5.2 Battery Operating Time...........................................9

6. PROTECTIVE FEATURES OF INVERTER ............................9

7. COMMON PROBLEMS ................................................10

8. TROUBLESHOOTING...................................................11

9. FUSE REPLACEMENT ...................................................12

10. SPECIFICATIONS.........................................................12

11. WARRANTY ...........................................................13,14

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

To ensure reliable service, your power inverter must be installed and used
properly. Please read the installation and operating instructions thoroughly
prior to installation and use. Pay particular attention to the WARNING and
CAUTION statements in this manual. The CAUTION statements advise against
certain conditions and practices that may result in damage to your inverter. The
WARNING statements identify conditions or practices that may result in
personal injur y.

Read All Instructions Before Using This Power Inverter!

W ARNINGS:

TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE, ELECTRIC SHOCK, EXPLOSION OR INJURY:

1. DO NOT connect to AC distribution wiring.

2. Remove appliance plug from outlet strip or turn off inverter before
working on the appliance. Multiple outlet power strips with switches
andcircuit breakers only interrupt power to the "hot" receptacle terminals.
The "neutral" terminals remain powered with respect to the "ground"
terminals.

3. DO NOT make any electrical connections or disconnections in areas
designated as IGNITION PROTECTED. This includes DC accessory outlet type
connections, and ring terminal connections.

4. This is not a toy -

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5. DO NOT install object into air vents.

CAUTIONS:

1.

DDDDOOOONNNNOOOOTTTTuse with positive ground electrical systems (the majority

of modern automobiles, RVs, trucks and boats are negative ground). Reverse
polari ty connection will result in a blown fuse and may cause
pe rmanent damage to the inverter and will void warranty.

2. This inverter will not operate high wattage appliances or equipment that
produce heat, such as hair dryers, microwave ovens and toasters.

3. Grounding the neutral will cause the inverter to shut down. DO NOT operate
this inverter if it is wet. DO NOT install in engine compartment - install in a
well ventilated area.

4. This inverter is not for use with medical devices.

IMPORTANT CABLE INFORMATION

Substantial power loss and reduced battery operating time results from
inverters installed with cables that are not able to supply full power. Symptoms of
low battery power can result from cables that are either excessively long or an
insufficient gauge. The installer/operator should be especially aware of the
requirements to maintain secure, tight, water-resistant electrical connections and to
provide for strain relief for DC cables and appliance wiring. Cable insulation must
be the appropriate type for the environment.

1. INTRODUCTION

Your new Vector MAXX SST™ 175 inverter is one in a series of the most
advanced DC to AC inverters available today. With proper care and
appropriate usage, it will give you years of dependable service in your car ,
truck, RV or boat.

The inverter supplies 175 watts of continuous power, with a 350 watt peak,
in the form of one household-type receptacle that is ready to deliver
110/120VAC power whenever and wherever you need it! The heavy-duty
inverter has enough power to run almost any household or electronic
appliance, including color TVs (up to 20"), TV/VCR combinations, laptop
computers, camcorders, cellular phones, camcorders, power tool chargers,
lamps and many more. Added safety features include automatic shutdown
and a low battery alarm to prevent damage to your battery .

This power inverter is configured with the latest soft start technology (SST™)
to improve inverter operation. Before introduction of soft-start, high start-up
currents from large inductive loads could shut down the inverter. Three
major features are incorporated in SST™. First, gradual voltage ramp-up
during inverter start-up. This eliminates failed cold starts under load.
Second, output that momentarily dips in voltage and quickly recovers to allow
large motorized loads to start. This eliminates most shutdowns from momentary
overloads. Last, the inverter automatically re-starts when an overload that
caused inverter shutdown is removed. Previously, manual reset was required.

2. CONTROLS, INDICATORS AND CONNECTORS

FIGURE 1 details the front panel of the inverte r. The front panel provides
two LED indicators. A green LED shows proper operation when lit. The red
LED shows inverter shutdown from overload, over voltage or over
temperature. Power is supplied through one grounded standard North
American outlet. The outlet accommodates either two or three pin AC
plugs. An ON/OFF switch turns the inverter circuitry ON and OFF.
The switch is used to force reset of inverter circuits if it is switched OFF,
then ON.

FIGURE 1

The backpanel (not shown) provides the DC power cord equipped with a
fused 12VDC plug.

1. RED SHUT DOWN LED

2. GREEN OPERATING LED

3. ONE 110/120VAC RECEPTA CLE

4. ON/OFF SWITCH

3. HOW YOUR VECTOR INVERTER WORKS

The inverter converts low voltage DC (direct current) from a battery or other
power source to standard 110/120VAC (alternating current) household
power.

3.1 THEORY OF OPERATION

The inverter converts power in two stages. The first stage is a DC-to-DC
conversion process that raises the low voltage DC at the inverter input to
145VDC. The second stage, the actual inverter stage converts the high
voltage DC into 110/120VAC, 60 Hz AC. (See FIGURE 2).

The DC-to-DC converter stage uses modern high frequency power
conversion techniques that have replaced the bulky transformers found in
less technologically-advanced models. The inverter stage uses advanced
power MOSFET transistors in a full bridge configuration.

FIGURE 2 -

Theory of Operation

3.2 THE MAXX SST™ 175 OUTPUT WAVEFORM

The AC output waveform of the inverter is known as “modified sine wave”.
It is a waveform that has characteristics similar to the sine wave shape. This
type of waveform is suitable for most AC loads, including linear and
switching power supplies used in electronic equipment, transformers, and
motors. (See FIGURE 3).

The modified sine wave produced by the MAXX 175 inverter has an RMS
(root mean square) voltage of 110/120VAC, which is the same as
standard household power. Most AC voltmeters (both digital and analog)
are sensitive to the average value of the waveform rather than the RMS
value. They are calibrated for RMS voltage under the assumption that the
waveform measured will be a pure sine wave. These meters will not read
the RMS voltage of a modified sine wave correctly. They will read about 20
to 30 volts low when measuring the output of the inverter. For accurate
measurement of the output voltage of this unit, use a true RMS reading
voltmeter such as a Fluke 87, Fluke 8060A, Fluke 77/99 series, Beckman
4410, or Triplett 4200.

12VDC TO

145VDC

CONVERSION

145VDC TO

110/120VAC

CONVERSION

Internal

Fuses

ONE AC

Outlet

12VDC

Input

110/120VAC, 60Hz
To AC Appliances

3

21

4