5.OPERATING TIPS
5.1 RATED VERSUS ACTUAL CURRENT DRAW OF EQUIPMENT
Most electrical tools, appliances and audio/video equipment have labels that indicate the power consumption in amps or watts. Be sure that the power consumption of the item you wish to operate is rated at 750 watts or less (If the power consumption is rated in amps AC, simply multiply by the AC volts (110) to determine the wattage). The inverter has overload protection, so it is safe to try to operate equipment rated at 750 watts or less. The inverter will shut down if it is overloaded. The overload must be removed before the inverter will restart. Resistive loads are the easiest for the POWER INVERTER to run. However, larger resistive loads, such as electric stoves or heaters, usually require more wattage than the POWER INVERTER can deliver on a continuous basis. Inductive loads, such as TV’s and stereos, require more current to operate than do resistive loads of the same wattage rating. Induction motors, as well as some televisions, may require 2 to 6 times their wattage rating to start up. The most demanding in this category are those that start under load, such as compressors and pumps. Testing is the only definitive way to determine whether a specific load can be started and how long it can run. The unit will simply shut down if it is overloaded. To restart the unit after a shutdown due to overloading, remove the overload.
CAUTION: This inverter will not operate high wattage appliances or equipment that produce heat, such as hair dryers, microwave ovens, and toasters.
5.2 BATTERY OPERATING TIME
With a typical vehicle battery, a minimum operating time of 2 to 3 hours can be expected. In most instances, 5 to 10 hours of operating time is achievable. However, Husky recommends that the operator start the vehicle every 2 to 3 hours to recharge the battery system. This will guard against any unexpected
The inverter may be used whether or not the vehicle’s engine is running. However, the inverter may not operate while the engine is starting since the battery voltage can drop substantially during cranking. The inverter draws less than 0.3 ampere from the battery when it is not supplying power to a load. In most instances, the inverter can be left connected to the battery when not in use since it draws so little current. However, if the vehicle is to remain unused for several days, disconnect the inverter from the battery.
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