Chicago Electric 92708 Installation manual

POWER INVERTER
400 WATT / 800 WATT PEAK
Model 92708
SET UP AND OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
Distributed exclusively by Harbor Freight Tools®.
3491 Mission Oaks Blvd., Camarillo, CA 93011
Visit our website at: http://www.harborfreight.com
Read this material before using this product.
Failure to do so can result in serious injury.
SAVE THIS MANUAL.
Copyright©2005 by Harbor Freight Tools®. All rights reserved. No portion of this manual or any artwork
contained herein may be reproduced in any shape or form without the express written consent of
Harbor Freight Tools. Diagrams within this manual may not be drawn proportionally. Due to continuing
improvements, actual product may differ slightly from the product described herein.
For technical questions or replacement parts, please call 1-800-444-3353.
Cover Revised 07k

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For technical questions, please call 1-800-444-3353.
SPECIFICATIONS
Continuous Power 400 Watts
Peak Power 800 Watts
Input Voltage 12 VDC Nominal (11-15 V possible)
Output Voltage 120 V~ / 60 Hz
AC Receptacles (2) Two 3-Prong, Polarized Outlets
Fuse 30 Amps x 2
Indicators Green LED = power on
Switch Rocker type, On / Off
Operating Temperature 14-113° F
Battery Cables 9 AWG, 2’ (approximately)
Features - Modied sine wave with overload protection - Low voltage alarm1and shutdown2
1at 11 V; 2at about 10 V
Note: Performance of this unit may vary depending on the available battery
power or appliance wattage.
Save This Manual
You will need the manual for the safety warnings and precautions, assem-
bly instructions, operating and maintenance procedures, parts list and diagram.
Keep your invoice with this manual. Write the invoice number on the inside of the
front cover. Keep the manual and invoice in a safe and dry place for future refer-
ence.
SAFETY WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS
WARNING: When using this device, basic safety precautions should always be
followed to reduce the risk of personal injury and damage to equipment.
Read all instructions before using this product!
Do not1. plug a battery charger into the inverter if the charger has a warning
that dangerous voltages are present at the battery terminals.
Keep work area clean.2. Cluttered areas invite injuries.
Keep inverter away from any direct heat source or combustible material.3.
Observe work area conditions4. . Do not use machines or powered products
in damp or wet locations. Don’t expose to rain. Keep work area well lit. Do
not use electrically powered products in the presence of ammable gases or
liquids.
Keep children away5. . Children must never be allowed in the work area. Do
not let them handle machines, equipment, or extension cords.
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Store idle equipment6. . When not in use, this product must be stored in a dry
location to inhibit rust.
Use the right inverter for the job7. . Do not attempt to force a small inverter
or attachment to do the work of a larger industrial inverter. There are certain
applications for which this inverter was designed. It will do the job better and
more safely at the rate for which it was intended. Do not modify this inverter
and do not use this inverter for a purpose for which it was not intended.
Dress properly8. . Do not wear loose clothing or jewelry as they can be caught
in moving parts. Protective, electrically nonconductive clothes and nonskid
footwear are recommended when working. Wear restrictive hair covering to
contain long hair.
Use eye protection9. . Always wear ANSI approved impact safety goggles
when using inverters.
Do not overreach10. . Keep proper footing and balance at all times. Do not
reach over or across running machines.
Maintain inverters with care11. . Keep inverters clean for better and safer per-
formance. Follow instructions for changing accessories. Inspect inverter cords
periodically and, if damaged, have them repaired by an authorized technician.
Disconnect power12. . Unplug inverter when not in use.
Avoid unintentional starting13. . Be sure the switch is in the Off position when
not in use and before plugging in any appliance.
Stay alert14. . Watch what you are doing, use common sense. Do not operate
any inverter when you are tired.
Check for damaged parts15. . Before using any inverter, any part that appears
damaged should be carefully checked to determine that it will operate prop-
erly and perform its intended function. Check for alignment and binding of
moving parts; any broken parts or mounting xtures; and any other condition
that may affect proper operation. Any part that is damaged should be properly
repaired or replaced by a qualied technician. Do not use the inverter if any
switch does not turn On and Off properly.
Servicing16. . This device should be serviced only by a qualied technician.
Aside from the fuse, this item does not have any user-replaceable parts.
Do not operate inverter if under the inuence of alcohol or drugs17. . Read
warning labels on prescriptions to determine if your judgment or reexes are
impaired while taking drugs. If there is any doubt, do not operate the inverter.

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18. Guard against electric shock.
Do not open the metal case; risk of electric shock.
Prevent body contact with grounded surfaces such as pipes,
radiators, ranges, and refrigerator enclosures during installa-
tion.
Connect all wires securely and cover the connections with insulating
rubber boots (not included).
Store inverters and metal objects away from the inverter.
People with pacemakers should consult their physician(s) before use.19.
Electromagnetic elds in close proximity to heart pacemaker could cause
pacemaker interference or pacemaker failure.
Keep the Inverter well-ventilated.20. Do not place any objects on top of or
next to the Inverter or allow anything to cover the cooling fans; doing so can
cause the Inverter to overheat, causing a potential re hazard and/or damage
to the Inverter. Leave adequate ventilation space underneath the Inverter
as well; thick carpets or rugs can obstruct air ow, causing the Inverter to
overheat.
Read and adhere to all warnings and safety precautions in the owner’s21. manual for the device that this inverter is used to power.
A vehicle’s engine must never be used in any sealed structure.22. Carbon
monoxide is produced during operation and is DEADLY in a closed en-
vironment. Early signs of carbon monoxide poisoning resemble the u, with
headaches, dizziness, or nausea. If you have any of these signs, get fresh air
immediately.
The warnings, cautions, and instructions discussed in this instruction23. manual cannot cover all possible conditions and situations that may
occur. It must be understood by the operator that common sense and caution
are factors which cannot be built into this product, but must be supplied by
the operator.
Unpacking
When unpacking, check to make sure that the Inverter is in good condi-
tion. If any parts are missing or broken, please call Harbor Freight Tools at the
number on the cover of this manual as soon as possible.

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For technical questions, please call 1-800-444-3353.
CONNECTION
WARNING!
Risk of Fire!
The positive battery
terminal connection
must be the LAST
connection and must
be done with the
inverter’s switch off.
For the power inverter to work properly, your power source must provide
12 volts DC, and the power source must provide enough current (i.e., 32 amps to
operate the load of 384 Watts or under).
Caution: This inverter must only be connected to batteries with a nominal output
voltage of 12 volts. Lower voltage will not operate the inverter properly, and
more voltage could damage the inverter or the device being powered. If more
than one 12 volt battery is to be used, the batteries must be connected in a
parallel circuit; batteries connected in a series circuit will produce too much
voltage.
Place the Power Inverter on a at surface. Make sure it has adequate venti-1. lation and is not in direct sunlight. Fasten the inverter securely to the surface,
using screws or some other means. If holes are to be drilled, follow safe,
proper installation techniques.
Connect the Battery Cable lugs to the (Positive) red and (Negative) black2. terminals on the back of the Inverter. Securely tighten.
The Power Inverter can be used either while the engine is running or off.3. Connect the Battery Cables to the Negative (black) and Positive (red) termi-
nals of the battery.
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OPERATION
Plug the 120 V~ device(s) you1. wish to power into the 3-prong AC
Receptacles. See FRONT above.
The appliance(s) must not use
more than 400 (total) watts during
continuous operation, otherwise it
may overload the Inverter.
Caution: Some rechargeable appli-
ances may damage the Power
Inverter or the appliance. When rst using a rechargeable device, check the
inverter’s temperature for the rst 10 minutes. If it becomes abnormally hot,
do not use this device with the Inverter.
Flip the Power Switch to the On (I) position to turn on. Do not use the appli-2. ance until the green power LED indicator is on.
Turn on appliance. If an alarm sound is heard, turn off the appliance.3.
Caution: It is recommended that the vehicle be started every hour to recharge
the battery. Doing this will help prevent any unexpected shutdown of the
equipment. This will also help ensure that there will be enough battery power
to start the vehicle. Due to the risk of carbon monoxide inhalation (see
Warning # 23 on page 4), do not run the vehicle’s engine within an en-
closed area.
After use, disconnect the appliances, ip the Power Switch to the Off (O) 4. position.
MAINTENANCE
Keep this unit clean and dry. Unplug the unit before cleaning. Clean only the1. outside of this unit with a soft, dry cloth; never clean this unit with water or
harsh cleaners.
Aside from the fuses, this device does not contain any user replaceable parts.2.
If it needs service, take it to a qualied technician.
If the fuses need replacement, simply disconnect the inverter, remove the3. fuse cover on the back panel (see Back, page 5), remove the old fuses, and
replace them with another 30 Amp fuses of the same type. Replace the fuse
covers and reconnect the inverter before use.
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For technical questions, please call 1-800-444-3353.
TROUBLESHOOTING TIPS
If the low battery alarm sounds, this means that the input voltage is below the1. necessary 11 V. The battery needs recharging. You should stop using the
appliance and then recharge the battery. If this is not done, the Inverter will
shut off automatically at around 10 V.
If you are unsure if the inverter will have the proper amount of current to run2. the device, use this rough guideline: Take the power consumption of the load
in watts and divide it by 12 (input voltage). The result will be the approximate
number of amps needed to power your device.
Example: Load is rated at 312 watts. 312 watts / 12 V = 26 amps needed.
You could use this device with the inverter.
If your television will not start, it is important to keep in mind that some appli-3. ances (including many televisions) may require two to six times their wattage
to start up.
If your audio system buzzes while using this inverter, it is because some4.
sound systems can not lter out the modied sine wave produced by the
inverter. Use a sound system that incorporates a higher quality power supply.
This inverter is made to minimize the interference with TV signals. However,5. especially with weak TV signals, some interference may still be visible. To
correct this, place the inverter as far away as possible from the television
antenna and it’s cables. Next, adjust the orientation of the inverter to the
antenna cables and TV power cord to minimize the interference. Also use a
shielded antenna cable.
If the low battery alarm is on all the time, try these corrective measures: Re-6. charge battery if in poor condition. Next, check the battery connection. You
may need to clean the connectors.
If you are getting a low output voltage, try reducing the load to minimize7. watts. You may have overloaded the inverter. Reduce your load to 390
watts. Also, keep input voltage above 11 volts to maintain a constant ow of
power.
If you are not getting any power output, turn the power switch Off and On8. again, until the green power light comes on. Your devices may draw too
much power to operate them. The inverter may be in thermal shutdown. Let
it cool down and make sure there is adequate ventilation around the unit.