Application Guide

Match Battery Amp-Hour Capacity to Your Application

Select a battery or system of batteries that will provide your Inverter with proper DC voltage and an adequate amp-hour capacity to power your application. Even though Tripp Lite Inverters are highly efficient at DC-to-AC inversion, their rated output capacities are limited by the total amp-hour capacity of connected batteries and the support of your vehicle’s alternator if the engine is kept running.

STEP 1: Determine Total Wattage Required

Add the wattage ratings of all equipment you will connect to your Inverter. Wattage ratings are usually listed in equipment manuals or on nameplates. If your equipment is rated in amps, multiply that number times AC utility voltage to determine watts. (Example: a ¼ in. drill

requires 2½ amps. 2½ amps × 120 volts = 300 watts.)

Note: Your Inverter will operate at higher efficiencies at about 75% - 80% of nameplate rating.

Example

Tools

¼" Drill

Orbital Sander

Cordless Tool Charger

300W

+

220W

+

20W

=

540W

• STEP 2: Determine DC Battery Amps Required

Divide the total wattage required (from step 1, above) by the battery

 

 

 

 

 

540 watts ÷ 12V =

45 DC Amps

 

voltage (12) to determine the DC amps required.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• STEP 3: Estimate Battery Amp-Hours Required

 

 

 

 

 

(for operation unsupported by the alternator)

 

 

 

 

 

Multiply the DC amps required (from step 2, above) by the number of

 

 

 

 

 

hours you estimate you will operate your equipment exclusively from

 

 

 

 

 

battery power before you have to recharge your batteries. Compensate

45 DC Amps × 5 Hrs. Runtime

for inefficiency and wiring losses by multiplying this number by 1.2.

This will give you a rough estimate of how many amp-hours of battery

× 1.2 =

270 Amp-Hours

 

power (from one or several batteries) you should connect to your

 

 

 

 

 

Inverter.

 

 

 

 

 

NOTE: Battery amp-hour ratings are usually given for a 20-hour discharge rate. Actual amp-

 

 

 

 

 

hour capacities are less when batteries are discharged at faster rates. For example, batteries

 

 

 

 

 

discharged in 55 minutes provide only 50% of their listed amp-hour ratings, while batteries

 

 

 

 

 

discharged in 9 minutes provide as little as 30% of their amp-hour ratings.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You must allow your batteries to recharge long enough to replace the

 

 

 

 

 

charge lost during Inverter operation or else you will eventually run

 

 

 

 

 

down your batteries.

 

 

 

 

 

NOTE: For Tripp Lite Inverters over 1000 watts used in mobile applications, Tripp Lite

 

 

 

 

 

recommends you use at least two batteries, if possible, fed by a heavy-duty alternator

 

 

 

 

 

anytime the vehicle is running. Tripp Lite Inverters will provide adequate power for ordinary

 

 

 

 

 

usage within limited times without the assistance of your vehicle’s alternator. However, when

 

 

 

 

 

operating extremely heavy electrical loads at their peak, you may wish to “assist your

 

 

 

 

 

batteries” by running your vehicle engine faster than normal idling.

 

 

 

 

 

Mounting Optional

WARNING! If you choose to mount your Inverter, mount it and wire its DC input BEFORE DC battery connection. Failure to follow these instructions may lead to personal injury and/or damage to the Inverter and connected systems.

Tripp Lite Inverters are designed for flat-surface mounting in a variety of vehicular or non-vehicular applications. User must supply mounting hardware and is responsible for determining if the hardware and mounting surface are suitable to support the weight of the Inverter. Contact Tripp Lite if you require further assistance in mounting your Inverter.

Vehicular and Non-Vehicular Flat-Surface Mount

Install and tighten four user-supplied fasteners through Inverter mounting slots and into a rigid flat surface. Install fasteners as far back in the mounting slots as possible, otherwise the Inverter may slide back and forth if fasteners loosen.

Note: Do not mount unit with its front or rear panel facing down (at any angle). Mounting in this manner will block the cooling fans and seriously inhibit the unit’s internal cooling, eventually causing product damage not covered under warranty.

FLAT SURFACE

FLAT SURFACE

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Tripp Lite PV3000GFCI, PV1800GFCI owner manual Application Guide, Mounting Optional, Example