Whistler 200-400 WATT User Manual

THE WHISTLER GROUP, INC.
CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS

13016 N. Walton Blvd.
Bentonville, AR 72712
TEL [phone] FX [phone]
www.whistlergroup.com

CUSTOMER RETURN CENTER

1201 N. Dixieland Rd.
Rogers, AR 72756
Consumer Relations Tel [phone]
Email: [e-mail]

P/N 205563
© 2006 The Whistler Group, Inc.

OWNER’S MANUAL

200/400 WATT

POWER INVERTERS

If you have questions concerning the
operation of this Whistler product
please call customer service:

1-800-531-0004

Hours:

Monday - Friday

8:00 am - 5:00 pm CT

or visit www.whistlergroup.com

Please keep the receipt in a safe place.
You may register your product online at
www.whistlergroup.com. If the unit is
returned without a dated proof of pur­chase, an out of warranty service charge
applies. Note: Your warranty period
begins at the time of purchase. The war­ranty is validated
Now is the time to record the serial num­ber of the unit in the space provided in
the warranty section of the manual.

only by your receipt.

INTRODUCTION

Dear Whistler Owner,

For many of us, a vehicle is more than just transportation. It
can be a mobile office, communications or entertainment
center, or simply an expression of our personality. Whistler
products are designed to make the time you spend in your
vehicle more productive, more fulfilling, safer, or just simply
more fun. Our mission is to provide products that improve
your driving experience.

Whistler offers a complete line of DC to AC inverters
ranging in capacity from 100 Watts to 3000 Watts. These
inverters offer advanced technology, dependable operation
and will provide years of reliable service when used in accor­dance with our operating instructions.

Your new Whistler power inverter allows you to run most AC
appliances right from your car, boat or RV. They’re great for
weekend use and life on the road. They’re also great for
power outages!

To fully acquaint yourself with the operation of this inverter we
recommend reading this entire manual.

Sincerely,

THE WHISTLER GROUP, INC.

1

TABLE OF CONTENTS

WHISTLER FEATURES

Topic Page

Features Summary......................................................................3

Important Information................................................................4

Inverter Basics .......................................................................5 - 7

• Getting Started

• Don’t Push It

Operation ............................................................................8 - 12

• Making the Connection

• Tips

• Recharging Equipment

• Changing the Fuse

• Power Source

Additional Safety Features...............................................13 - 14

• Auto Shut Down

• Thermal Cut Off

• Low Battery Protection

Care & Maintenance ................................................................15

Technical Operating Principles........................................16 - 17

Operation Summary .........................................................18 - 19

Troubleshooting................................................................20 - 22

Specifications............................................................................23

Warranty Information........................................................24 - 26

2

A Word About WHISTLER Power Inverters.

WHISTLER inverters convert low voltage, direct current
(DC) to 110 volt alternating household current (AC). The
AC output is called “modified sine wave”. See “Technical
Operating Principles” section for more information.
Depending on the model and its rated capacity,
WHISTLER inverters draw power either from standard 12
volt automobile and marine batteries or from portable
high power 12 volt sources.

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IMPORTANT INFORMATION

INVERTER BASICS

Important Information About Your New WHISTLER
Inverter.

This manual will provide you with directions for the safe
and efficient operation of your WHISTLER inverter. Read
the manual carefully before using your new WHISTLER
inverter and keep the manual on file for future reference.

Notes:

Your WHISTLER inverter is designed to operate from a 12
volt power source only. Never attempt to connect your
Whistler inverter to any other power source, including any
AC power source.

• The length of the supplied cables is matched for the
current needed by the inverter. Making this cable longer
will make the inverter less efficient and may cause the
cables to heat up.

• Do not attempt to lengthen the supplied power cables.

• 110 volts can be lethal. Improper use of your WHISTLER
inverter may result in property damage, personal injury or
loss of life.

Not recommended for use with medical equipment.

•

Check with the appliance manufacturer for compatibility
with modified sine wave inverters.

not work well, not at all or be damaged. For more informa­tion on compatibility issues, please visit our inverter FAQ
page at

www.whistlergroup.com/faq-inverters.asp

Some appliances may

4

Getting Started

Power equipment and appliances which operate with motors
or tubes require an initial surge of power to get them up and
running. This power surge is referred to as the "starting load"
or "peak load." (By comparison, electrical devices such as
standard light bulbs do not require a large starting load).
Once the equipment or appliance has been powered up, it
settles down to a slower pace and requires far less electrical
power to operate. This lower power requirement is referred
to as the "continuous load."

In order to ensure that the capacity of your WHISTLER
inverter is sufficient to meet the required start up load, you
must first determine the power consumption of the equip­ment or appliance you plan to operate.

Power consumption is rated either in wattage or in amperes,
and information regarding the required "watts" or "amps"
generally is stamped or printed on most appliances and
equipment. If this information is not indicated on the
appliance or equipment, check the owner’s manual. Contact

the appliance or equipment manufacturer to determine
if the device you are using (TV’s, battery re-charger,
computer, medical equipment, etc.) is compatible with a
modified sine wave.

If the power consumption is rated in amps, multiply the
number of amps by 110 (AC voltage) to determine the
comparable wattage rating. Induction motors, as well as
some televisions, may require 2 to 6 times their wattage
rating for startup.

For further information on the fundamental operating
principles of WHISTLER inverters and related technical
data, see

"Technical Operating Principles."

5

INVERTER BASICS

INVERTER BASICS

Don’t Push It.

Although your WHISTLER inverter has the capacity to pro­vide power output (excess current) equal to approximately
two times its rated wattage capacity for a very brief period,
it is designed to operate equipment and appliances with
start up load wattage ratings no higher than its own maxi­mum continuous wattage rating.

For example, the 400 watt model has a maximum continu­ous rating of 400 watts. Although this model has the capac­ity to briefly provide higher watts of power (that is, excess
current), it is designed to operate equipment and appli­ances with start up load requirements of 400 watts or less.

Consequently, if the start up load rating of your equipment
or appliance is the same or approximately the same as the
maximum continuous rating of the inverter, the inverter will
attempt to start loads above the continuous rating for up to
10 seconds.

The inverter is designed to shut down automatically in the
event of a power overload. Testing appliances and equip­ment with start up load ratings comparable to your inverter
wattage rating will not damage it. However, make sure the
appliance you are testing is compatible with modified sine
wave inverters. See page 4 for more information.

If a piece of equipment or an appliance will not operate, first
confirm that the inverter has been properly connected to
the 12 volt power source (See "Making The Connection"). If
all connections have been properly made, turn the inverter
rocker switch ON (l), OFF (O) and ON (l) again in quick suc­cession. If this procedure is unsuccessful, it is likely that the
inverter does not have the required start up capacity to
operate the equipment or appliance in question.

Note:

• Most heat generating appliances require start up loads
in excess of 1000 watts and this inverter will not operate
such appliances as coffee makers, irons, hair dryers or
heaters.

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