PROwatt TM 250 12V/24V
POWER INVERTER
OWNER’S MANUAL
STATPOWER TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
7725 Lougheed Highway
Burnaby, BC, Canada V5A 4V8
Tel: (604) 420-1585
Fax: (604) 420-1591
Internet: http://www.statpower.com
Table of Contents
1. |
Introduction...................................................................................... |
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2. How Your PROwatt 250 Works ..................................................... |
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2.1 |
Principle of operation ............................................................. |
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2.2 |
PROwatt 250 output waveform .............................................. |
2 |
3. |
Installation....................................................................................... |
4 |
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3.1 |
Power source .......................................................................... |
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3.2 |
Connecting to power source ................................................... |
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3.3 |
Connection to load................................................................ |
10 |
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3.4 |
Placement of inverter............................................................ |
11 |
4. |
Operating Tips ............................................................................... |
12 |
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4.1 |
Rated versus actual current draw of equipment.................... |
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4.2 |
Battery operating time ......................................................... |
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5. |
Troubleshooting ............................................................................. |
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5.1 Common problems ............................................................... |
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5.2 |
Troubleshooting guide.......................................................... |
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6. |
Warranty ........................................................................................ |
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6.1 |
Warranty terms ..................................................................... |
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6.2 |
To obtain warranty service ................................................... |
19 |
7. |
Other Products From Statpower Technologies ........................... |
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8. |
Product Specifications ................................................................... |
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PROwatt is a trademark of Statpower Technologies Corporation. Copyright © 1996, 1997 Statpower Technologies Corporation. All rights reserved.
1. Introduction
Your new PROwatt 250 power inverter is a member of the most advanced line of DC to AC inverters available today. It will give you years of dependable service in your vehicle, boat, RV, or remote home.
To get the most out of your PROwatt 250, it must be installed and used properly. Please read the installation and operating instructions in this manual carefully before installing and using your PROwatt 250. Pay special attention to the CAUTION and WARNING statements in this manual and on the PROwatt 250. CAUTION statements identify conditions or practices which could result in damage to your PROwatt 250 or to other equipment. WARNING statements identify conditions or practices that could result in personal injury or loss of life.
2. How Your PROwatt 250 Works
An inverter is an electronic device that converts low voltage DC (direct current) electricity from a battery or other power source to standard 115 volts AC (alternating current) household power. In designing the PROwatt 250, Statpower has used design techniques previously employed in computer power supplies to give you an inverter that is smaller, lighter, and easier to use than any other inverter with a similar power rating.
2.1 Principle of operation
The PROwatt 250 converts power in two stages. The first stage is a DC-to-DC converter that raises the low voltage DC at the inverter input to 145 volts DC. The second stage is the actual in-
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verter stage. It converts the high voltage DC into 115 volts, 60 Hz or 50 Hz AC.
The DC-to-DC converter stage uses modern high frequency power conversion techniques that eliminate the bulky transformers found in inverters based on older technology. The inverter stage uses advanced power MOSFET transistors in a full bridge configuration. This gives you excellent overload capability and the ability to operate tough reactive loads like lamp ballasts and small induction motors.
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INVERTER SECTION |
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145 VDC |
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DC |
DC-DC CONVERTER |
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POWER |
INPUT |
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MOSFET |
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- |
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115 VAC |
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CHASSIS GND |
GND |
NEUT |
LINE |
AC OUTPUT
Figure 1. PROwatt 250 - Principle of Operation
2.2 PROwatt 250 output waveform
The AC output waveform of the PROwatt 250 is called a “quasi-sine wave” or a “modified sine wave.” It is a stepped waveform that is designed to have characteristics similar to the
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sine wave shape of utility power. A waveform of this type is suitable for most AC loads, including linear and switching power supplies used in electronic equipment, transformers, and motors. This waveform is much superior to the square wave produced by many other DC to AC inverters.
The modified sine wave produced by the PROwatt 250 is designed to have a RMS (root mean square) voltage of 115 volts, 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 2 to 20 volts low (i.e. about 100V) when measuring the output of the PROwatt 250. For accurate measurement of the output voltage of the PROwatt 250, a true RMS reading voltmeter such as a Fluke 87, Fluke 8060A, Beckman 4410, or Triplett 4200 must be used.
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145 Volts peak |
115 Volts RMS |
8.3 milliseconds |
Figure 2. PROwatt 250 Modified Sine Wave
3. Installation
3.1 Power source
For optimum performance, the power source must provide between 11 and 14.5 volts (22-30 volts for PROwatt 250/24V) and must be able to supply sufficient current to operate the load. The power source may be a battery or a well-regulated DC power supply. As a rough guideline, divide the power consumption of the load (in watts) by 10 (by 20 for PROwatt 250/24V) to obtain the current (in amperes) the power source must deliver.
Example: Load is rated at 120 watts. Power source must be able to deliver:
120 ÷ 10 = 12 amps (or 6 amps for PROwatt 250/24V)
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CAUTION: The PROwatt 250 must be connected only to batteries with a nominal output voltage of 12 volts (24 volts for PROwatt 250/24V). The PROwatt 250 will not operate from a 6 volt battery (12 volt for PROwatt 250/24V) and will be damaged if connected to a voltage source above 16 volts (32 volts for PROwatt 250/24V).
3.2 Connecting to power source
The PROwatt 250 is equipped with a cigarette lighter plug for connection to the power source. The tip of the plug is positive and the side contact is negative. Connect the plug to the cigarette lighter socket in a vehicle or to the cigarette lighter socket on a battery pack.
CAUTION: CONNECT THE 12V PROwatt 250 DIRECTLY TO POWER SOURCE WHEN OPERATING ABOVE 150 WATTS
The cigarette lighter plug is suitable for operating the 12V inverter at power outputs of up to 150 watts. If the PROwatt 250/12V power inverter is to be used for extended periods at power levels above 150 watts, direct connection to the power source is recommended. Removal of the lighter plug is not necessary for the PROwatt 250/24V.
To make a direct connection, follow these steps:
1)Cut the cigarette lighter plug from the PROwatt 250 cord. One conductor on the PROwatt cord is marked with a red or white stripe. This is the positive conductor.
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2)Connect additional wire to the cord if required to reach the
power source. Use wire with a conductor area of at least 12 AWG (3.3mm2 ), solder the connections to the PROwatt 250 cord and insulate them with good quality electrical tape or shrink wrap tubing. Total length of cable to the power source should be limited to a maximum of 2 meters (6 feet).
3)Make a good connection to the power source terminals. For temporary use, heavy duty battery clips such as Radio Shack part #270-341 are suitable. For permanent installation, use heavy-duty ring tongue or locking fork/spade terminals.
4)Power to the PROwatt 250 can be controlled by a switch inserted in the circuit between the power source and the PROwatt 250. Use a switch rated at a minimum of 12V/25A continuous current, such as Radio Shack #275-704 for the 12V PROwatt 250. Use a switch rated at a minimum of 24V/15A continuous current, such as Radio Shack #275-701 for the 24V PROwatt 250. Alternatively, you can use a lighting relay in the power circuit and control the relay with a low current switch.
CAUTION: If the power source is not overload protected, use a fuse (30A for PROwatt 250/12V or 15A for the PROwatt 250/24V) to protect the wiring between the PROwatt and the power source.
CAUTION: REVERSE POLARITY CONNECTION WILL DAMAGE THE INVERTER
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