Whistler PP400, PP200 User Manual

200/400 Watt Series 3/6/02 3:05 PM Page 1

OWNER’S MANUAL

200/400 WATT
SERIES

THE WHISTLER GROUP
CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS

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

PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT CENTER

25 Industrial Ave.
Chelmsford, MA 01824
TEL [phone] FX [phone]

CUSTOMER RETURN CENTER

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

P/N 400WATTMAN
©WHISTLER 2002

HIGH SURGE POWER INVERTERS

200/400 Watt Series 3/6/02 3:05 PM Page 3

If you have questions concerning the
operation of this Whistler product
please call consumer relations:

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. If the unit is returned without a
dated proof of purchase, an out of
w a rranty service charge applies.
Note: Your warranty period begins at
the time of purchase. The warranty is
validated only by your receipt.
Now is the time to record the serial
number of the unit in the space pro­vided in the warranty section of the
manual.

INTRODUCTION

Dear Whistler Owner,
For many of us, a vehicle is more than just transportation. It

can be a mobile office, communications or entert a i n m e n t
c e n t e r, or simply an expression of our personality. Whistler
p roducts are designed to make the time you spend in your
vehicle more productive, more fulfilling, safer, or just simply
m o re fun. Our mission is to provide products that impro v e
your driving experience.

Whistler offers a complete line of DC to AC inverters
ranging in capacity from 140 Watts to 2750 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 GO AC power inverter allows you to ru n
most AC appliances right from your car, boat or RV. They’re
g reat for weekend use and life on the road. They’re also gre a t
for power outtages!

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

Sincerely,
THE WHISTLER GROUP

We’re Driving Technology

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200/400 Watt Series 3/6/02 3:05 PM Page 5

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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

WHISTLER FEATURES

A Word About WHISTLER GO AC™ 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 inform a t i o n .
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.

4a

4b

1
2

3

1. AC Output Sockets

2. On/Off Switch

3. Power/Overload LED

4. Power Cords (400 watt shown)
On 200 watt model 4a is attached and 4b is not included.

2

3

200/400 Watt Series 3/6/02 3:05 PM Page 7

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

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 of current can be lethal. Improper use of your
WHISTLER inverter may result in pro p e rty damage,
personal injury or loss of life.

• Check with the appliance manufacturer for compatibility
with modified sinewave inverters. Some appliances may
not work well, not at all or be damaged. This is especially
true for medical equipment. For more information on
compatibility issues, please visit our inverter FAQ page at

www.whistlergroup.com/faq-inverters.asp

4

INVERTER BASICS

Getting Start e d

Power equipment and appliances which operate with motors
or tubes re q u i re an initial surge of power to get them up and
running. This power surge is re f e rred to as the "starting load"
or "peak load." (By comparison, electrical devices such as
s t a n d a rd light bulbs do not re q u i re a large starting load).
Once the equipment or appliance has been powered up, it
settles down to a slower pace and re q u i res far less electrical
power to operate. This lower power re q u i rement is re f e rre d
to as the "continuous load."

In order to ensure that the capacity of your WHISTLER invert­er is sufficient to meet the re q u i red 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 ampere s ,
and information re g a rding the re q u i red "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. As a general rule, you can determine the
re q u i red start up load by multiplying the wattage rating by 10.

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

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INVERTER BASICS

Don’t Push It.

Although your WHISTLER GO AC inverter has the capacity
to provide power output (excess current) equal to appro x i­mately 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 up to 800 watts of power (that is, excess
c u rrent), it is designed to operate equipment and appli­ances with start up load re q u i rements of 400 watts or less.

C o n s e q u e n t l y, 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 invert e r, 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 invert e r
wattage rating will not damage it. However, make sure the
appliance your testing is compatible with modified
sinewave inverters. See page 4 for more inform a t i o n .

INVERTER BASICS

If a piece of equipment or an appliance will not operate, first
c o n f i rm 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 invert e r

rocker switch ON (l), OFF (O) and ON (l) again in quick suc-

cession. If this pro c e d u re is unsuccessful, it is likely that the
i n v e rter does not have the re q u i red start up capacity to
operate the equipment or appliance in question.

Note:

• Most heat generating appliances re q u i re start up loads
in excess of 1000 watts and this inverter will not operate
such appliances as coffee makers, irons, hair dryers or
h e a t e r s .

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