Chicago Electric Power Systems 96706 Installation manual

5000W CONTINUOUS/10,000W
SURGE POWER INVERTER
96706
SET UP AND OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
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©2007 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. Tools required for
assembly and service may not be included.
For technical questions or replacement parts, please call 1-800-444-3353.
Revised Manual 07i, 08f, 09d, 09l

Page 2SKU 96706 For technical questions, please call 1-800-444-3353.
SAVE THIS MANUAL
Keep this manual for the safety warn-
ings and precautions, assembly, operat-
ing, inspection, maintenance and cleaning
procedures. Write the product’s serial
number in the back of the manual near the
assembly diagram (or month and year of
purchase if product has no number). Keep
this manual and the receipt in a safe and
dry place for future reference.
IMPORTANT SAFETY
INFORMATION
In this manual, on the labeling,
and all other information provid-
ed with this product:
This is the safety alert
symbol. It is used to alert
you to potential personal
injury hazards. Obey all
safety messages that
follow this symbol to avoid
possible injury or death.
DANGER indicates
a hazardous
situation which, if not
avoided, will result in death or
serious injury.
WARNING
indicates a
hazardous situation which, if
not avoided, could result in
death or serious injury.
CAUTION, used
with the safety
alert symbol, indicates a
hazardous situation which, if
not avoided, could result in
minor or moderate injury.
NOTICE is used to
address practices
not related to personal injury.
CAUTION, without
the safety alert
symbol, is used to address
practices not related to
personal injury.
General Safety Warnings
WARNING Read all safety
warnings and instructions.
Failure to follow the warnings and
instructions may result in electric
shock, re and/or serious injury.
Save all warnings and
instructions for future reference.
SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS
Work area safety1.
Keep work area clean and well lit.a.
Cluttered or dark areas invite acci-
dents.
Do not operate the Inverter in ex-b.
plosive atmospheres, such as in
the presence of ammable liquids,
gases or dust.
Keep children and bystandersc.
away while operating the Inverter.
Distractions can cause you to
lose control.
Electrical safety2.
Inverter plugs must match the out-a.
let. Never modify the plug in any
way. Do not use any adapter plugs
with grounded products. Unmodi-
ed plugs and matching outlets will
reduce risk of electric shock.
Avoid body contact with earthed orb.
grounded surfaces such as pipes,
radiators, ranges and refrigerators.

Page 3SKU 96706 For technical questions, please call 1-800-444-3353.
There is an increased risk of electric
shock if your body is grounded.
Do not expose Inverters to rain orc.
wet conditions. Water entering a
this unit will increase the risk of
electric shock.
This product is intended for use in ad.
well-ventilated inside area only. Do
not use outdoors.
Personal safety3.
Stay alert, watch what you are do-a.
ing and use common sense when
operating a Inverter. Do not use a
Inverter while you are tired or under
the inuence of drugs, alcohol or
medication. A moment of inattention
while operating may result in serious
personal injury.
Wear splash-resistant ANSI-ap-b.
proved safety goggles and electri-
cally insulated gloves while as-
sembling battery bank or working
near batteries.
Inverter use and care4.
Do not force the Inverter. Use thea.
correct product for your application.
The correct product will do the job
better and safer at the rate for which
it was designed.
Do not use the Inverter if the switchb.
does not turn it on and off. Any In-
verter that cannot be controlled with
the switch is dangerous and must be
repaired.
Disconnect the plug from thec.
power source of the Inverter
before making any adjustments.
Such preventive safety measures
reduce the risk of starting the
Inverter accidentally.
Store idle Inverters out of thed.
reach of children and do not allow
persons unfamiliar with the Invert-
er or these instructions to operate
it. Inverters are dangerous in the
hands of untrained users.
Maintain the Inverter. Check fore.
breakage of parts and any other con-
dition that may affect the Inverter’s
operation. If damaged, have it re-
paired before use. Many accidents
are caused by poorly maintained
products.
Use the Inverter in accordance withf.
these instructions and in the man-
ner intended for the particular type
of product, taking into account the
working conditions and the work to
be performed. Use of the Inverter
for operations different from those
intended could result in a hazardous
situation.
Service5.
Have your Inverter serviced by a
qualied repair person using only
identical replacement parts. Never
open the metal cover of the Inverter.
This will ensure that the safety of the
Inverter is maintained.
SPECIFIC SAFETY RULES
Maintain labels and nameplates on1.
the Inverter. These carry important
safety information. If unreadable or
missing, contact Harbor Freight Tools
for a replacement.
Avoid unintentional starting. Prepare2.
to begin work before turning on the
Inverter.
Do not leave the Inverter unattended3.
when it is plugged into an electrical

Page 4SKU 96706 For technical questions, please call 1-800-444-3353.
outlet. Turn it off and unplug it from
the electrical outlet before leaving.
4. The Inverter gets hot
during use. The heat can
build up to unsafe levels
and create a re hazard if
it does not receive adequate ventila-
tion, due to an electrical fault, or if it is
used in a hot environment.
Do not place the Inverter on a am-
mable surface, or near combustible
items. Do not obstruct any vents on
the Inverter. Especially avoid plac-
ing the Inverter on carpets and
rugs; they are not only ammable,
but they also obstruct vents under-
neath it.
Place the Inverter on a stable, solid,
nonammable surface (such as a
stable metal workbench or concrete
oor) at least 1 foot away from all
ammable objects, such as drapes or
walls. Keep a re extinguisher and a
smoke detector in the area. Avoid
touching the Inverter with an exposed
hand; always wear gloves.
This product is not a toy. Keep it out5.
of reach of children.
The Inverter must only be connected6.
to batteries with an output of 12 VDC.
Batteries with lower voltage will not
operate the Inverter correctly, and a
higher charge could damage the unit.
Do not use the Inverter with positive7.
ground electrical systems.
Some rechargeable tools and ap-8.
pliances can damage the Inverter.
Check the temperature of the device
several times when it is charging. If
the device becomes extremely hot;
turn the power off, remove the de-
vice, and do not use with the Inverter
again.
The positive (+) battery on the Invert-9.
er must be the last connection made,
and must be connected before the
Inverter is turned on.
Do not attempt to power a device, or10.
combination of devices, of over 5,000
Watts. This will damage the Inverter.
Do not use the Inverter to power such11.
sensitive devices such as computers
or hospital equipment.
People with pacemakers should12.
consult their physician(s) before use.
Electromagnetic elds in close prox-
imity to heart pacemaker could cause
pacemaker interference or pacemak-
er failure. In addition, people with
pacemakers should:
• Avoid operating alone.
• Do not use with power switch locked
on.
• Properly maintain and inspect to
avoid electrical shock.
WARNING: The brass components13.
of this product contain lead, a chemi-
cal known to the State of California
to cause birth defects (or other repro-
ductive harm). (California Health &
Safety code § 25249.5, et seq.)
The warnings, precautions, and in-14.
structions discussed in this instruction
manual cannot cover all possible con-
ditions 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.
SAVE THESE

Page 5SKU 96706 For technical questions, please call 1-800-444-3353.
INSTRUCTIONS.
GROUNDING
TO PREVENT
ELECTRIC SHOCK
AND DEATH FROM
INCORRECT GROUNDING
WIRE CONNECTION:
Check with a qualied
electrician if you are in doubt
as to whether the outlet is
properly grounded. Do not
modify the power cord plug
provided with the tool. Never
remove the grounding prong
from the plug. Do not use the
tool if the power cord or plug
is damaged. If damaged, have
it repaired by a service facility
before use. If the plug will not
t the outlet, have a proper
outlet installed by a qualied
electrician.
Grounded Tools: Tools with Three
Prong Plugs
3-Prong Plug and Outlet
Tools marked with “Grounding Re-1.
quired” have a three wire cord and
three prong grounding plug. The
plug must be connected to a properly
grounded outlet. If the tool should
electrically malfunction or break
down, grounding provides a low
resistance path to carry electricity
away from the user, reducing the risk
of electric shock. (See 3-Prong Plug
and Outlet.)
The grounding prong in the plug is2.
connected through the green wire in-
side the cord to the grounding system
in the tool. The green wire in the cord
must be the only wire connected to
the tool’s grounding system and must
never be attached to an electrically
“live” terminal. (See 3-Prong Plug
and Outlet.)
The tool must be plugged into an3.
appropriate outlet, properly installed
and grounded in accordance with all
codes and ordinances. The plug and
outlet should look like those in the
preceding illustration. (See 3-Prong
Plug and Outlet.)
Double Insulated Tools: Tools
with Two Prong Plugs
Outlets for 2-Prong Plug
Tools marked “Double Insulated” do1.
not require grounding. They have
a special double insulation system
which satises OSHA requirements
and complies with the applicable
standards of Underwriters Labora-
tories, Inc., the Canadian Standard
Association, and the National Electri-

Page 6SKU 96706 For technical questions, please call 1-800-444-3353.
cal Code. (See Outlets for 2-Prong
Plug.)
Double insulated tools may be used2.
in either of the 120 volt outlets shown
in the preceding illustration. (See
Outlets for 2-Prong Plug.)
Extension Cords
Grounded1. tools require a three wire
extension cord. Double Insulated
tools can use either a two or three
wire extension cord.
As the distance from the supply outlet2.
increases, you must use a heavier
gauge extension cord. Using exten-
sion cords with inadequately sized
wire causes a serious drop in voltage,
resulting in loss of power and pos-
sible tool damage.
(See Table A.)
The smaller the gauge number of the3.
wire, the greater the capacity of the
cord. For example, a 14 gauge cord
can carry a higher current than a 16
gauge cord. (See Table A.)
When using more than one exten-4.
sion cord to make up the total length,
make sure each cord contains at
least the minimum wire size required.
(See Table A.)
If you are using one extension cord5.
for more than one tool, add the
nameplate amperes and use the sum
to determine the required minimum
cord size. (See Table A.)
If you are using an extension cord6.
outdoors, make sure it is marked with
the sufx “W-A” (“W” in Canada) to
indicate it is acceptable for outdoor
use.
Make sure the extension cord is prop-7.
erly wired and in good electrical con-
dition. Always replace a damaged
extension cord or have it repaired by
a qualied electrician before using it.
Protect the extension cords from8.
sharp objects, excessive heat, and
damp or wet areas.
RECOMMENDED MINIMUM WIRE
GAUGE FOR EXTENSION CORDS*
(120/240 VOLT)
NAMEPLATE
AMPERES
(at full load)
EXTENSION CORD
LENGTH
25’ 50’ 75’
100’ 150’
0 – 2.0 18 18 18 18 16
2.1 – 3.4 18 18 18 16 14
3.5 – 5.0 18 18 16 14 12
5.1 – 7.0 18 16 14 12 12
7.1 – 12.0 18 14 12 10 -
12.1 – 16.0 14 12 10 - -
16.1 – 20.0 12 10 - - -
TABLE A
* Based on limiting the line
voltage drop to ve volts at
150% of the rated amperes.
Symbology
Double Insulated
Canadian Standards Association
Underwriters Laboratories, Inc.
V~ Volts Alternating Current
AAmperes
n0xxxx/min. No Load Revolutions per Minute
(RPM)

Page 7SKU 96706 For technical questions, please call 1-800-444-3353.
UNPACKING
When unpacking, check to make sure
that the item is intact and undamaged. If
any parts are missing or broken, please
call Harbor Freight Tools at
1-800-444-3353 as soon as possible.
FUNCTIONS
The Inverter converts power from
a DC power source into AC power. The
resulting charge can then be used to
power AC devices, such as power tools
or appliances, up to a maximum of 5,000
Watts. Up to four devices can be powered
at once, provided the sum of the devices’
maximum wattage remains below 5,000
Watts.
INSTALLATION
Read the ENTIRE IMPORTANT
SAFETY INFORMATION
section at the beginning of this
manual including all text under
subheadings therein before set
up or use of this product.
CAUTION! This Inverter must only be
connected to batteries with a output
voltage of 12 volts DC. Lower volt-
age will not operate the Inverter prop-
erly, and more voltage could damage
the Inverter or the device being pow-
ered. Do not use this Inverter with
positive ground electrical systems.
The Inverter is congured to have a
number of shut-down points, for the
safety of the operator, the unit, and the
devices being used with it.
If the DC rating input voltage from•
the battery drops to 10.6V, the
alarm on the Inverter will sound.
Should the input voltage drop to
10V the Inverter will shut down
automatically. Recharge the bat-
tery soon.
If the DC rating input voltage•
from the battery exceeds 15V the
Inverter will shut down automati-
cally.
When the output load power rises•
higher than the rating power of the
Inverter; the unit will shut down
automatically.
The Inverter will automatically•
shut down when its internal tem-
perature reaches 149° F.
REV 09b
SPECIFICATIONS
Input Voltage 12-15 VDC
Output Voltage 120 V~, 60 Hz
Continuous Power 5,000 Watt
Surge Power 10,000 Watt
Operating Conditions 50° - 149° F (auto-shutdown @ 149° F)
AC Receptacles Four 3-prong grounded polarized outlets
Fuse Type Twenty 40 Amp Internal Fuses (professional replacement only)
Cable #00 AWG or Thicker Cable Required (not included).
Overall Dimensions 22-1/2” L x 8” W x 6-7/8” H

Page 8SKU 96706 For technical questions, please call 1-800-444-3353.
Place the Inverter on a dry, level,1.
non-ammable surface capable of
supporting the weight of the unit.
Make sure the Inverter has adequate
ventilation and is not in direct sun-
light.
Due to the large power drain of this2.
inverter, automotive installation is not
recommended.
Cooling Fan + Input
Terminal
– Input
Terminal
Ground Terminal
3. Connect one end of a ground wire
(not included, #00 AWG or thicker
cable recommended) to the wing
nut located on the back of the In-
verter. Then connect the other end
of the ground wire to a paint/rust free
grounded metal surface, such as a
water pipe.
Battery Type Selection:4.
Use only deep cycle lead-acid bat-•
teries with this inverter, such as 12
volt marine/RV deep-cycle batter-
ies. Do not use automotive, engine
starting (SLI), or maintenance-free
wet cell batteries with this inverter;
they are designed for repeated,
shallow discharge and will wear out
quickly.
Gel and AGM (Absorbed Glass•
Mat) batteries can be used with this
inverter, but they require special
charging procedures. Refer to bat-
tery supplier’s instructions.
Battery capacity selection:5.
Inverter
Output
about 1 hour
discharge time
(Minimum battery
capacity)
about 4 hour
discharge time
(Optimal battery
capacity)
500W 80 Ah 200 Ah
1000W 150 Ah 400 Ah
1500W 240 Ah 700 Ah
2000W 300 Ah 1000 Ah
3000W 450 Ah 1500 Ah
4000W 600 Ah 2000 Ah
5000W 750 Ah 2500 Ah
Consult the chart above for ap-
proximate run time at different battery
capacities. If the battery does not
have a capacity this large individually,
use a bank of batteries as explained
below.
Battery Bank assembly instructions:6.
Read the following safety rulesa.
before assembling the battery
bank:
Connect batteries in parallel•
(negative terminals together to
one cable; positive terminals
together to the other cable) as
shown in Battery Bank Example
illustration ONLY.
Do not connect 12V batteries•
in series (from negative of one
battery to the positive of the
next). This connection can result
in voltage high enough to cause
ELECTROCUTION.
Wear splash-resistant ANSI-•
approved safety goggles and
electrically insulated gloves
while assembling battery bank.
Only connect similar batteries•
together in a battery bank. Do
not connect old and new batteries
together, wet and gel cells together,
REV 09d

Page 9SKU 96706 For technical questions, please call 1-800-444-3353.
or batteries of different capacities
together.
Connect all batteries in the battery•
bank together using #00 AWG or
thicker cables. Since amp draw on
this low-voltage circuit will be very
high, thinner cables would present
a re hazard.
Locate battery bank in a clean, well-•
ventilated area, away from ignition
sources and ammable materials.
Batteries release explosive hydro-
gen gas while charging.
Charge, store, and maintain batter-•
ies according to supplier’s instruc-
tions.
–+
–+
–+
OUTPUT
(To Positive
Inverter Terminal)
To Increase
Capacity, Connect
Additional
12 V / 200* Ah
Lead-Acid
Batteries Here
(To Negative
Inverter Terminal)
OUTPUT
12 V /
200* Ah
Lead- Acid
Battery
12 V /
200* Ah
Lead- Acid
Battery
12 V / 400^ Ah Battery Bank Example
* 200 Ah batteries shown for illustration.
^ Bank Capacity = (single battery capacity) x (# of batteries)
400 Ah capacity is for two, 200 Ah batteries.
b. Connect the batteries in parallel as
shown above. Connect all of the
positive terminals to one another.
Then connect all the negative termi-c.
nals to one another.
Connect the negative and positived.
output cables to opposite ends of
the bank. Do not allow the output
cables to touch one another.
Test the voltages at the output ca-e.
bles to help ensure that the battery
bank is properly wired. If the voltage
is higher than 13 volts, then part of
the battery bank is likely connected
in series (a negative terminal of one
battery attached to a positive termi-
nal of another) instead of in parallel.
Carefully examine the diagram and
correct the wiring before attaching to
the inverter.
Turn the Power Switch on the front of7.
the inverter off.
Connect the output cables from the8.
battery bank to the inverter.
REV 09d

Page 10SKU 96706 For technical questions, please call 1-800-444-3353.
OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
120 V~ Receptacles
Power
Switch
1. Plug 120 V~ device(s) into the Re-
ceptacles. The devices must not use
more than 5,000 (total) Watts during
continuous operation, otherwise they
may overload the Inverter.
Turn the Power Switch to the “ON”2.
position.
Turn the tool or appliance on. If the3.
alarm sounds, turn off the device(s).
Unplug the device(s) from the Invert-
er. Check the wattage of the devices,
if there were multiple devices plugged
in, discontinue use of one or more.
If a single device set the alarm off,
it is not appropriate for use with the
Inverter.
The “SELECT” button allows the4.
operator to view the level of DC input
voltage versus the level of AC output
wattage.
To prevent accidents, turn off the tool5.
and disconnect the power supply
after use. Clean, then store the tool
indoors out of children’s reach.
NOTE: Some rechargeable tools/appli-
ances may damage the Inverter
or the device(s). When rst using
a rechargeable device, check the
Inverter’s temperature for the rst ten
minutes. If it becomes abnormally
hot, do not use the device with the
Inverter.
REV 09d

Page 11SKU 96706 For technical questions, please call 1-800-444-3353.
REV 07k
MAINTENANCE AND
SERVICING
Risk of serious
personal injury
from accidental starting or
electric shock. Turn the
inverter off and disconnect
the battery bank before
performing any inspection,
maintenance, or cleaning
procedures.
Damaged equipment can fail,
causing serious personal
injury. Do not use damaged
equipment. If abnormal noise
or vibration occurs, have the
problem corrected before
further use.
Wear splash-resistant ANSI-
approved safety goggles and
electrically insulated gloves
while working near batteries.
Cleaning and Maintenance
BEFORE EACH USE,1. inspect the
general condition of the tool. Check
for loose screws, misalignment or
binding of moving parts, cracked or
broken parts, damaged electrical wir-
ing, and any other condition that may
affect its safe operation.
AFTER USE,2. clean external surfaces
of the tool with clean, moist cloth.
Maintain batteries according to manu-3.
facturer’s instructions. Check electro-
lyte level on all batteries after charg-
ing and rell as needed. Charge bat-
teries according to manufacturer’s
recommendations ONLY; incorrect
charging may cause battery damage
or explosion.
This Inverter does not contain any4.
replaceable parts. It the unit needs
service, take it to a qualied service
technician. Only a qualied techni-
cian may open the case.
Store the Inverter in a clean, dry, safe5.
location out of reach of children and
other unauthorized people.
WARNING

Page 12SKU 96706 For technical questions, please call 1-800-444-3353.
Troubleshooting
Problem Possible Causes Probable Solutions
LO Low input voltage Recharge or Replace Battery
HI High input voltage Battery voltage is too high. Remove charging
source and make sure correct battery is being
used.
OL Overload Excessive load at AC output. Reduce load to
less than rated power.
OH Overheat Internal temperature is too high. Let the
Inverter cool down for at least 30 minutes.
Make sure that the fan is not blocked and that
the Inverter has sufcient ventilation.
No output voltage. Cords not connected properly Check connections and secure
Output voltage is
incorrect
Input voltage is too high or too
low
Check all devices and maintain voltage at
required level
Could not drive load Load power is too large1.
Load is actually larger than2.
rated
The AWG of the wire is too3.
low
Start power of an appliance4.
is up to twice the rated
power.
Lower load level1.
Lower load level2.
Use 00 AWG wire connections3.
Reduce load, or change appliances4.
Picture is full of static
or speakers make a
buzz
Television or radio
interference
Move Inverter away from antenna and/or use a
shielded antenna cable.
PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING CAREFULLY
THE MANUFACTURER AND/OR DISTRIBUTOR HAS PROVIDED AN ASSEMBLY DIAGRAM IN THIS
MANUAL AS A REFERENCE TOOL ONLY. NEITHER THE MANUFACTURER OR 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.

Page 13SKU 96706 For technical questions, please call 1-800-444-3353.
ASSEMBLY DIAGRAM
Record Product’s Serial Number Here:
Note: If product has no serial number, record month and year of purchase instead.
Note: Replacement parts are not available for this product.

Page 14SKU 96706 For technical questions, please call 1-800-444-3353.
LIMITED 1 YEAR / 90 DAY WARRANTY
Harbor Freight Tools Co. makes every effort to assure that its products meet high
quality and durability standards, and warrants to the original purchaser that for a period
of one year from date of purchase that the tank is free of defects in materials and work-
manship (90 days if used by a professional contractor or if used as rental equipment).
Harbor Freight Tools also warrants to the original purchaser, for a period of ninety days
from date of purchase, that all other parts and components of the product are free from
defects in materials and workmanship. This warranty does not apply to damage due di-
rectly or indirectly to misuse, abuse, negligence or accidents, repairs or alterations out-
side our facilities, normal wear and tear, or to lack of maintenance. We shall in no event
be liable for death, injuries to persons or property, or for incidental, contingent, special
or consequential damages arising from the use of our product. Some states do not allow
the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages, so the above limita-
tion of exclusion may not apply to you. THIS WARRANTY IS EXPRESSLY IN LIEU OF
ALL OTHER WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES
OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS.
To take advantage of this warranty, the product or part must be returned to us with
transportation charges prepaid. Proof of purchase date and an explanation of the com-
plaint must accompany the merchandise. If our inspection veries the defect, we will ei-
ther repair or replace the product at our election or we may elect to refund the purchase
price if we cannot readily and quickly provide you with a replacement. We will return re-
paired products at our expense, but if we determine there is no defect, or that the defect
resulted from causes not within the scope of our warranty, then you must bear the cost
of returning the product.
This warranty gives you specic legal rights and you may also have other rights
which vary from state to state.
3491 Mission Oaks Blvd. • PO Box 6009 • Camarillo, CA 93011 • [phone]