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5. OPERA
TING 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 shut-down of the equipment and will ensure that there is
always sufficient battery capacity to start the vehicle’s engine. The inverter
will sound it’s alarm when DC voltage drops to 10.6V.
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.