Chicago Electric Power Systems 93761 User manual

POWER INVERTER
1,200 WATT / 3,200 WATT PEAK
ASSEMBLY AND OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
®
3491 Mission Oaks Blvd., Camarillo, CA 93011
Visit our Web site at http://www.harborfreight.com
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.
For technical questions and replacement parts, please call 1-800-444-3353
TO PREVENT SERIOUS INJURY,
READ AND UNDERSTAND ALL WARNINGS
AND INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE USE.
93761

SKU 93761 Page 2For technical questions, please call 1-800-444-3353.
Save This Manual
You will need the manual for the safety warnings and precautions, assembly
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 reference.
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 device!
1. Do not plug in a battery charger if the charger has a warning that dangerous
voltages are present at the battery terminals.
2. Keep work area clean. Cluttered areas invite injuries.
3. Keep inverter away from any direct heat source or combustible material.
4. Observe work area conditions. Do not use devices in damp or wet locations.
Don’t expose to rain. Keep work area well lighted. Do not use electrically pow-
ered devices in the presence of flammable gases or liquids.
Specifications
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SKU 93761 Page 3For technical questions, please call 1-800-444-3353.
5. Keep children away. Children must never be allowed in the work area. Do not
let them handle machines, devices, or extension cords.
6. Store idle equipment. When not in use, devices must be stored in a dry loca-
tion to inhibit rust. Always lock up devices and keep out of reach of children.
7. Use the right inverter for the job. Do not attempt to force a small inverter or
attachment to do the work of a larger industrial inverter.There are certain appli-
cations 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.
8. Dress properly. Do not wear loose clothing or jewelry as they can be caught in
moving parts. Protective, electrically nonconductive clothes and nonskid foot-
wear are recommended when working. Wear restrictive hair covering to contain
long hair.
9. Use eye protection. Always wear ANSI approved impact safety goggles when
using or connecting inverters.
10. Do not overreach. Keep proper footing and balance at all times. Do not reach
over or across running machines.
11. Maintain inverters with care. Keep inverters clean for better and safer perfor-
mance. Follow instructions for changing accessories. Inspect inverter cords
periodically and, if damaged, have them repaired by an authorized technician.
12. Disconnect power. Unplug inverter when not in use.
13. Avoid unintentional starting. Be sure the switch is in the Off position when
not in use and before plugging in any appliance.
14. Stay alert. Watch what you are doing, use common sense. Do not operate any
inverter when you are tired.
15. Check for damaged parts. Before using any inverter, any part that appears
damaged should be carefully checked to determine that it will operate properly
and perform its intended function. Check for alignment and binding of moving
parts; any broken parts or mounting fixtures; and any other condition that may
affect proper operation. Any part that is damaged should be properly repaired or
replaced by a qualified technician. Do not use the inverter if any switch does not
turn On and Off properly.
16. Servicing. This device should be serviced only by a qualified technician. Aside
from the fuses, this item does not have any user-replaceable parts.
17. Read and adhere to all warnings and safety precautions in the owner’s
manual for the device that this inverter is used to power.

SKU 93761 Page 4For technical questions, please call 1-800-444-3353.
18. Guard against electric shock.
Do not open the metal case with power connected or capacitors
charged; risk of electric shock.
Prevent body contact with grounded surfaces such as pipes, radia-
tors, ranges, and refrigerator enclosures during installation.
Connect all wires securely.
Store tools and metal objects away from the inverter.
19. Do not operate inverter if under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Read
warning labels on prescriptions to determine if your judgment or reflexes are
impaired while taking drugs. If there is any doubt, do not operate the inverter.
20. People with pacemakers should consult their physician(s) before using
this product. Electromagnetic fields in close proximity to a heart pacemaker
could cause interference to or failure of the pacemaker.
21. Keep the Inverter well-ventilated. 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 fire hazard and/or damage to the In-
verter. Leave adequate ventilation space underneath the Inverter as well; thick
carpets or rugs can obstruct air flow, causing the Inverter to overheat.
22. A vehicle’s engine must never be used in any sealed structure. Carbon
monoxide is produced during operation and is DEADLY in a closed envi-
ronment. Early signs of carbon monoxide poisoning resemble the flu, with
headaches, dizziness, or nausea. If you have these signs, get fresh air immedi-
ately.
Note: Performance of this unit may vary depending on the available battery power or
appliance wattage.
Warning:The warnings, cautions, and instructions discussed in this instruction
manual cannot cover all possible conditions and situations that may occur. It
must be understood by the operator that common sense and caution are fac-
tors 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 condition.
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.

SKU 93761 Page 5For technical questions, please call 1-800-444-3353.
Connection
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., 46 amps to operate the load
of 560 Watts or under).
Caution:This inverter must only be connected to batteries with a nominal out-
put 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.
1. Place the Power Inverter on a flat surface. Make sure it has adequate ventila-
tion 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.
2. Connect the Battery Cable (not included; #3 AWG or larger cables recommended)
lugs to the (Positive) red and (Negative) black terminals on the back of the
Inverter, see BACK above. Connect the Ground Cable (not included; #6 AWG or
larger cable recommended) lug to the Ground terminal, see BACK above. Se-
curely tighten.
3. The Power Inverter can be used either while the engine is running or off. Con-
nect the Battery Cables (not included) to the Negative (black) and Positive (red)
terminals of the battery.
4. Connect the Ground Cable to the appropriate location below:
a. If this unit is mounted within a vehicle with a grounded metal chassis,
attach the Ground Cable to a nearby location on the chassis.
b. If this unit is mounted in a boat or vehicle with an ungrounded chassis,
attach the Ground Cable to the vehicle’s grounding system.
c. ONLY if this unit is being used outside a vehicle,
attach the Ground Cable to the Negative Terminal of the Inverter.
BACK
Negative GroundPositive
WARNING!
Risk of Fire!
The positive battery
terminal connection
must be the LAST
connection and must
be done with the
inverter’s switch off.
REV 06/06

SKU 93761 Page 6For technical questions, please call 1-800-444-3353.
Maintenance
1. Keep this unit clean and dry. Unplug the unit before cleaning. Clean only the
outside of this unit with a soft, dry cloth; never clean this unit with water or harsh
cleaners.
2. Aside from the fuses, this device does not contain any user replaceable parts.
If it needs service, take it to a qualified technician.
3. Fuse Replacement:
This unit must have all energy storing electronics discharged BEFORE
opening; test for voltage to verify that the unit is safe BEFORE opening.
Remove the screws holding on the front plate. Slide it up slightly to allow the
bottom plate to slide out. Using insulated pliers (sold separately), remove, check,
and replace* each fuse as needed. Reverse the earlier steps to reassemble.
*Replace each fuse ONLY with another 30 amp, blade-type fuse.
Operation
Warning: NEVER operate this inverter unless it is properly grounded.
1. Plug the 115 VAC device(s) you wish to power into the 3-prong AC Receptacles.
See FRONT above.The appliance(s) must not use more than 1,200 (total) watts
during continuous operation, otherwise it may overload the Inverter.
Caution: Some rechargeable appliances may damage the Power Inverter or the
appliance. When first using a rechargeable device, check the inverter’s tem-
perature for the first 10 minutes. If it becomes abnormally hot, do not use this
device with the Inverter.
2. Flip the Power Switch to the ON position to turn on. Do not use the appliance
until the power LED illuminates.
3. Turn on appliance. If an alarm sound is heard, turn off the appliance.
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 equip-
ment. 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 # 22 on
page 4), do not run the vehicle’s engine within an enclosed area.
4. After use, disconnect the appliances and flip the Switch to the OFF position.
FRONT
Outlets
Switch
Power LED

SKU 93761 Page 7For technical questions, please call 1-800-444-3353.
Troubleshooting Tips
1. If the low battery alarm sounds, this means that the input voltage is below the
necessary 10.5 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.
2. If you are unsure if the inverter will have the proper amount of current to run 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.
3. If your television will not start, it is important to keep in mind that some appli-
ances (including many televisions) may require two to six times their wattage to
start up.
4. If your audio system buzzes while using this inverter, it is because some sound
systems can not filter out the modified sine wave produced by the inverter. Use
a sound system that incorporates a higher quality power supply.
5. This inverter is made to minimize the interference with TV signals. However,
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 an-
tenna 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.
6. If the low battery alarm is on all the time, try these corrective measures: Re-
charge battery if in poor condition. Next, check the battery connection. You
may need to clean the connectors.
7. If you are getting a low output voltage, try reducing the load to minimize watts.
You may have overloaded the inverter. Reduce your load to 950 watts. Also,
keep input voltage above 10.5 volts to maintain a constant flow of power.
8. If you are not getting any power output, turn the power switch Off and On 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.
PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING CAREFULLY
THE MANUFACTURER AND/OR DISTRIBUTOR HAS PROVIDED THE ASSEM-
BLY DIAGRAM IN THIS MANUAL AS A REFERENCE TOOL ONLY. NEITHER THE MANU-
FACTURER NOR DISTRIBUTOR MAKES ANY REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY OF
ANY KIND TO THE BUYER THAT HE OR SHE IS QUALIFIED TO MAKE ANY REPAIRS TO
THE PRODUCT OR THAT HE OR SHE IS QUALIFIED TO REPLACE ANY PARTS OF THE
PRODUCT. IN FACT, THE MANUFACTURER AND/OR DISTRIBUTOR EXPRESSLY
STATES THAT ALL REPAIRS AND PARTS REPLACEMENTS SHOULD BE UNDERTAKEN
BY CERTIFIED AND LICENSED TECHNICIANS AND NOT BY THE BUYER. THE BUYER
ASSUMES ALL RISK AND LIABILITY ARISING OUT OF HIS OR HER REPAIRS TO THE
ORIGINAL PRODUCT OR REPLACEMENT PARTS THERETO, OR ARISING OUT OF HIS
OR HER INSTALLATION OF REPLACEMENT PARTS THERETO.

SKU 93761 Page 8For technical questions, please call 1-800-444-3353.
Assembly Diagram
NOTE: Parts are listed and shown for illustration purposes only and are not available
individually as replacement parts.