QuietPower 1800 Inverter Owner’s Manual Rev 15 OCT 01 Page 21
Operation with Power Strips
We see an occasional compatibility issue with power strips having integral surge suppr essor components
(MOVs). The QuietPower 1800 provides surge suppression at the output and no additional suppressors
are typically needed. In fact, the use of additional surge suppressors is not recommended. We have
evaluated alternate power strips with this equipment and have not see n this issue recur. A separate, but
related issue, deals with the Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) disc ussed next.
Operation with Downstream EMC Components
The QuietPower 1800 is delivered with a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (G FCI) type duplex outlet.
Occasionally, when operated with certain types of electronics, the GFCI would trip for no apparent
reason. The following discussion provided a basic understanding of the operational issues.
Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs) are important for minimizing shock hazards in outdoor and
potentially wet areas. They are now generally required by the National Electronic Code (NEC) in these
locations. However, what the GFCI detects to protect people - an imbalance in the currents between the
Hot and Neutral wires caused, possibly, by someone touching a live conductor – may exist safely by
design in three (3) wire grounded electronic equipment and consequently result in th e false tripping of the
GFCI. The reason is that there are usually small filter capacitors between all three wir es (Hot, Neutral,
and Ground) in the EMC line filters of many computer and military electronic systems. At po wer-on and
often while operating there may be enough leakage current through the c apacitors, between Hot and
Ground especially, to falsely trip the GFCI. Even for ungrounded two (2) wire devices, t he power-on
surge into inductive or capacitive loads as presented by switching power supplies m ay falsely trip the
GFCI. This is more likely to happen with multiple devices plu gged into the same GFCI protected outlet
especially if they are controlled by a common power switch.
Ground fault currents can properly result from deteriorating wiring; con tact contamination due to moisture,
oil or dust; insulation breakdown; or other conditions which are in dicators that repairs need to be made.
We have verified the operation of the QuietPower 1800 for compatibility with th e PAC-216/U adapter for
SINCGARS, laptop and desktop computer systems (including monitors a nd laser printers), cellular
telephone rechargers, fluorescent lamps, and Uninterruptable Power Supplies m anufactured by APS.
This system is also compatible with personal electronics (radios ) and, importantly, most coffee makers.
Visit our Web Site for FAQs
We appreciate your input very much. You, best, know how this equipment is used operationall y and can
provide invaluable feedback. Please visit our web site at www.iristechnology.org for updates to the
Operator's Manual and Product Data Sheets. We will be establishing a Fr equently Asked Questions
(FAQs) section specific to our military inverter line. If you tak e a few moments to register online, we will
notify you of any relevant data releases.