User manual COBRA HGPI500

[. . . ] WARNING statements identify conditions that could result in personal injury or loss of life. Caution: Rechargeable Appliances Caution: Rechargeable Appliances Certain rechargers for small nickel cadmium batteries can be damaged if connected to the Cobra 500W inverter. Small battery-operated appliances such as flashlights, razors, and night lights that can be plugged directly into an AC receptacle to recharge. These charges have a WARNING label stating that dangerous voltages are present at the battery terminals. This problem does not occur with the vast majority of battery operated equipment. [. . . ] It will not work with a 6 volt battery, and will be damaged if it is connected to a 16 volt battery. WARNING: If you are making a permanent AC connection to the inverter, make sure that the AC wiring steps are performed before any DC wiring is done. (DC hook-up energizes internal components, regardless of the position of the ON/OFF switch). Working on AC connections in such a circumstance may result in an electric shock. Do not work on AC wiring when it is connected to the inverter (even if it is switched off) unless the DC power source is physically disconnected form the inverter. Also, do not work on AC wiring if it is connected to another AC power source such as a generator or the utility line. Cables (included) Power wire and wiring is very important to the performance of the inverter. Because the inverter has a low voltage, high current input, low resistance wiring is essential between the battery and inverter. Aluminum wire has about 1/3 more resistance than copper wire of the same size plus it is difficult to make good, lowresistance connections to aluminum wire. We recommend two #8 copper cables (90° C insulation rating) as the minimum size for connections between the battery and inverter. This will keep the voltage drop to a minimum. 8 9 Cables CAUTION: Electrical installations must meet local and national wiring codes, and should be performed by a qualified electrician. CAUTION: Do not connect the inverter and another AC source (such as a generator or utility power) to the AC wiring at the same time. CAUTION: Reverse polarity connections (positive to negative) will blow internal fuses in the inverter and may permanently damage the unit. CAUTION: We recommend a main fuse in the battery's positive cable to protect against DC wiring short circuits (external to the inverter). The specific fuse ampere rating should be sized to allow operation of all your DC powered equipment. DC Wiring DC Wiring 1. Be sure the ON/OFF switch on the inverter is in the OFF position. MODIFIED SINE WAVE VENTS: DO NOT BLOCK Chassis CAUTION: REVERSED INPUT WILL BLOW FUSES FAN DO NOT BLOCK 5 500 2. Connect the cables to the power input terminals on the rear panel of the inverter. The red terminals are positive(+) and the black terminals are negative (-). Insert the bare ends of the cables into the terminals and tighten the screws to clamp the wires securely. 5. Connect the cable from the positive terminal of the inverter to the positive terminal of the battery's main fuse, or to the battery selector switch, if you are using one. You might observe a spark when you make this connection since current can flow to charge capacitors in the inverter. WARNING: Do not make this connection in the presence of flammable fumes. Thoroughly ventilate the battery compartment before making this connection. Operation. Turn the inverter On by using the ON/OFF switch on the left side panel . VENTS: DO NOT BLOCK Chassis CAUTION: REVERSED INPUT WILL BLOW FUSES MODIFIED SINE WAVE FAN 3. Connect the cable from the negative terminal of the inverter to the negative terminal of the battery. [. . . ] A Consumer Service Representative can be reached through this same number 8:00 am - 6:00 pm, Monday through Friday, CST. Technical assistance is also available on-line in the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section at www. cobraelectronics. com or by e-mail to productinfo@cobraelectronics. com If you think you need service call 1. 773. 889. 3087 If your product should require factory service please call Cobra first before sending in your unit. It will be necessary to furnish the following in order to have the product serviced and returned. For Warranty Repair include some form of proof-of-purchase, such as a mechanical reproduction or carbon or a sales receipt. Include a typed or clearly print name and address of where the unit is to be returned. [. . . ]