Samlexpower SI-A1-VR1500 User manual

SAMLEX
20 Years focused on power inverters
VR Series
POWER INVERTER
OWNER’S MANUAL
For models (115V):
SI-A1-VR1500
SI-A1-VR2000
SI-A1-VR3000
With Advanced Technology!!!
THIS MANUAL CONTAINS IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING
SAFETY, OPERATION, MAINTENANCE AND STORAGE OF THIS
PRODUCT. BEFORE USE, READ AND UNDERSTAND ALL CAUTIONS,
WARNINGS, INSTRUCTIONS AND PRODUCT LABELS, PLUS YOUR
VEHICLE’S BATTERY MANUFACTURER GUIDELINES. FAILURE TO DO
SO COULD RESULT IN INJURYAND/OR PROPERTY DAMAGE.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
To ensure reliable service, your power inverter must be installed and used
properly. Please read the installation and operating instructions thoroughly prior
to installation and use. Pay particular attention to the WARNING and CAUTION
statements in this manual. The CAUTION statements advise against certain
conditions and practices that may result in damage to your inverter. The
WARNING statements identify conditions or practices that may result in personal
injury. Read All Instructions Before Using This Power Inverter!
WARNINGS:
TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE, ELECTRIC SHOCK, EXPLOSION OR INJURY:
1. Do not connect to AC distribution wiring.
2. Remove appliance plug from outlet strip or turn off inverter before working on
the appliance. Multiple outlet power strips with switches and circuit breakers
only interrupt power to the “hot” receptacle terminals. The “neutral” terminals
remain powered with respect to the “ground” terminals.
3. Do not make any electrical connections or disconnections in areas
designated as IGNITION PROTECTED. This includes 12 V DC cigarette plug
connections, and terminal connections.
4. This is not a toy - keep away from children.
5. DO NOT install object into air vents.
CAUTIONS:
1. Do not use with positive ground electrical systems (the majority of modern
automobiles, RVs, trucks and boats are negative ground). Reverse polarity
connection will result in a blown fuse and may cause permanent
damage to the inverter.
2. This inverter will not operate high wattage appliances over the output power
limit or surge power limit.
3. Grounding the neutral will cause the inverter to shut down. Do not operate
this inverter if it is wet. Do not install in engine compartment – please install in
a well ventilated area.
4. This inverter is not tested for use with medical devices.
IMPORTANT CABLE INFORMATION
Substantial power loss and reduced battery operating time results from inverters
installed with cables that are not able to supply full power. Symptoms of low
battery power can result from cables that are either excessively long or an
insufficient gauge. The installer/operator should be especially aware of the
requirements to maintain secure, tight, water-resistant electrical connections
and to provide for strain relief for DC cables and appliance wiring. Cable
insulation must be the appropriate type for the environment.
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1．INTRODUCTION
Your new SAMLEX VR-Series power inverter is one in a series of the most
advanced DC to AC inverters available today. With proper care and
appropriate usage, it will give you years of dependable service in your car,
truck, RV or boat.
VR series inverters designed with a universal protection circuit that provide
added safety features include automatic shutdown, earth fault protection and a
low battery alarm to prevent damage to your battery.
This power inverter is configured with the latest low interference technology
(L.I.T.), Universal Protection Circuit (UP-Circuit) and Soft
Start circuit
to improve inverter operation.
UP-Circuit provides full automatic inverter and battery protection. This
includes overheat protection, battery protection, overload protection, short
circuit protection and earth fault protection.
L.I.T. greatly improves the interference problems of common power inverter.
Before introduction of L.I.T., signal interference may occur on TV pictures,
audio system or radio equipments. Now you can enjoy a clean and powerful
AC source!
Soft Start Circuit provides three major features. First, gradual
voltage ramp-up during inverter start-up. This eliminates failed cold starts
under load. Second, output that momentarily dips in voltage and quickly
recovers. This eliminates most shutdowns from momentary overloads.
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2．HOW YOUR INVERTER WORKS
The inverter converts low voltage DC (Direct Current) from a battery or other
power source to 115 volt AC (Alternating Current) household power.
PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION
The inverter converts power in two stages. The first stage is a DC to DC
conversion process that raises the low voltage DC at the inverter input to
higher volts DC. The second stage is the actual inverter stage that converts the
high voltage DC into 115 volts, 60 Hz AC(rms). The DC-to-DC converter stage
uses modern high frequency power conversion techniques that have replaced
the bulky transformers found in less technologically-advanced models. The
inverter stage uses advanced power MOSFET transistors in a full bridge
configuration.
THE OUTPUT WAVEFORM
The AC output waveform of the VR-series inverter is known as “modified sine
wave”. It is a waveform that has characteristics similar to the sine wave shape
of utility power. This type of waveform is suitable for most AC loads, including
linear and switching power supplies used in electronic equipment,
transformers, and motors. (See Figure 4).
The modified sine wave produced by the VR-series inverter has an RMS (root
mean square) voltage of 115 volts, which is the same as standard household
power. Most AC voltmeters (both digital and analog) are sensitive to the
average value of the waveform rather than the RMS value. They are calibrated
for RMS voltage under the assumption that the waveform measured will be a
pure sine wave. These meters will not read the RMS voltage of a modified sine
wave correctly. They will read about 20 to 30 volts low when measuring the
output of the inverter. For accurate measurement of the output voltage of this
unit, use a true RMS reading voltmeter such as a Fluke 87III, Fluke 8060A,
Fluke 77/99 series or Beckman 4410.
FIGURE 4 : Modified Sine Wave and Sine Wave Comparison
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3．INSTALLATION / ENVIRONMENTS
POWER SOURCE REQUIREMENTS
The power source must provide between 10.5 and 14.5 volts DC and must be
able to supply the necessary current to operate the load. The power source
may be a battery or a well-regulated DC power supply. To obtain a rough
estimate of the current (in amperes) the power source must deliver, simply
divide the power consumption of the load (in watts AC) by 10.
Example: lf a load is rated at 100 watts AC, the power source must be able to deliver: 100 /
10=10A
The inverter will provide you with up to 1.5/2.0/3.0 KVA of continuous, electrical
power (3.0/4.0/6.0 KVA peak) at 115 VAC when powered by a 12.5 VDC source
such as is found in a vehicle or multiple battery configurations as shown in
FIGURE 5. This manual does not describe all of the possible types of battery
configurations, battery charging configurations and battery isolation
configurations.
To properly operate the inverter the DC power source must provide between
11.0 and 14.5 VDC and nominally at 300 Amps. This DC power source must be
a well-regulated DC power supply as typically found in vehicular and deep-cycle
marine batteries. The DC power source may also be two 12 volt batteries
connected in parallel. On larger applications the power source may be several
batteries connected in parallel as shown on FIGURE 5.
FIGURE 5
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INSTALLATION NOTES:
WARNING: Keeping ventilation when using batteries. Batteries may generate
flammable gas during charging or discharging.
The inverter has four slots in its mounting bracket that allow the unit to be
fastened against a bulkhead, floor, wall or other flat surface. Ideally, the
mounting surface should be cool to the touch.
It is more electrically efficient to use longer AC wiring than DC wiring, so
install the inverter as close as possible to the 12 VDC power source.
The inverter can be operated in any position, however, if it is to be mounted on a
wall, mount it horizontally so that indicators, switches, outlets and terminal
blocks located on the front panel are visible and accessible. If inverter is to be
installed in a moving vehicle, we strongly recommends that the inverter be
shock-mounted either on the floor (in a clear, safe area) or on a secure flat
surface.
CAUTION: The inverter must be connected only to batteries with a nominal
output voltage of 12volts. The unit will not operate from a 6 volt battery, and will
sustain permanent damage if connected to a 24 volt battery.
CAUTION: Loose connectors may cause overheated wires and melted
insulation. Check to make sure you have not reversed the polarity.
Reverse polarity connection will result in a blown fuse and may cause
permanent damage to the inverter.
CONNECTING TO A POWER SOURCE
Use ( #2 AWG for VR1500; 2x #2 AWG for VR2000/3000) wire for if the
inverter to power source connection is 1.5 meters or less. For longer cable
lengths, consult technician for appropriate cable size. In either case,
protect the positive (+) wire from shorts by installing a fuse or circuit
breaker close to the DC power source (battery) terminal. The fuse should
choose 200A for VR1500, 300A for VR2000, 400A for VR3000.
1. Check to be sure the inverter’s power switch is turned off and that no
flammable fumes are present.
2. Identify the positive (+) and negative (-) DC power source (battery)
terminals.
3. Install a fuse holder or breaker close to the positive (+) terminal of the
DC source (battery).
4. Connect a length of wire on one side of the fuse holder or circuit
breaker. Connect the other end if the wire to the positive (+) terminal of
the inverter. 6

5. Connect a length of wire between the inverter’s negative (-) terminal
and the DC power source negative (-) terminal.
6. Connect a short length of wire to the other terminal of the fuse holder
or circuit breaker. Mark it “POSITIVE” or “+”.
7. Connect the free end of the fuse or breaker wire to the positive terminal
of the DC power source (battery).
8. Insert a suitable fuse in the fuse holder.
9. Check to be sure that all connections between battery clips, terminals
and fuse are secure and tight.
10. Test the inverter by turning it on and plugging in a 100 watt lamp or
equipment.
11. If the inverter is not properly operating, then refer to the
troubleshooting sections of this manual.
CAUTION: Loose connectors may cause overheated wires and
melted insulation.
CONNECTION TO LOAD
The inverter is equipped with two universal AC power receptacles. Plug the
cord from the equipment you wish to operate into the AC receptacle. The
green LED indicator lights to indicate that the inverter is functioning. Make sure
the combined load requirement of your equipment does not exceed inverter’s
output rating.
The inverter is engineered to be connected directly to standard electrical and
electronic equipment in the manner described above. Do not connect the
power inverter to household or RV AC distribution wiring. Do not connect the
power inverter to any AC load circuit in which the neutral conductor is
connected to ground (earth) or to the negative of the DC (battery) source.
WARNING: Do not connect to AC distribution wiring.
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OPERATING ENVIRONMENT
For best operating results, the inverter should be placed on flat surface, such
as the ground, car floor, or other solid surface. The power cord allows easy
positioning of the inverter. The inverter should only be used in locations that
meet the following criteria:
DRY- Do not allow water and/or other liquids to come into contact with the
power inverter. In all marine applications, do not install the inverter below or
near the waterline and keep the inverter away from moisture or water.
COOL – Ambient air temperature should be between 30 degrees F (-1 degree
C) non-condensing, and 105 degrees F (40 degrees C). Do not place the
inverter on or near a heating vent or any piece of equipment which is
generating heat above room temperature. Keep the inverter away from direct
sunlight, if at all possible.
VENTILATED – Keep the area surrounding the inverter clear to ensure free air
circulation around the unit. Do not place items on or over the inverter during
operation. A fan is helpful if the inverter is operating at maximum power
outputs for extended periods of time. The unit will shut down if the internal
temperature exceeds operating temperatures. The unit will restart after it
cools.
SAFE – Do not use the inverter near flammable materials or in any locations
that may accumulate flammable fumes of gases.
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4 . OPERATING TIPS
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 1500/2000/3000 watts
or less. (If the power consumption is rated in amps AC, simply multiply by the
AC volts (115) to determine the wattage). Resistive loads are the easiest for
the inverter to run. However, larger resistive loads, such as electric stoves or
heaters, usually require more wattage than the inverter can deliver. 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.
DETERMINING BATTERY SIZE
To determine the minimum battery size that you will need to operate appliances
from the power inverters, follow these steps:
1. Determine the wattage of each appliance and/or tool you will need to
simultaneously operate from the inverter. To do this, read the labels on the
equipment to be operated. Usually, power consumption is shown in watts.
If it is shown in amps, multiply by 115 to determine the wattage.
2. Estimate the number of hours the equipment will be in use between
battery recharges.
3. Determine the total watt-hours of energy use, the total running time and
the average power consumption.
To get an estimate of the current (in amps) that the battery must be capable of
delivering, divide the load consumption power (in watts) by (10).
Keep in mind that most appliances are not operating for long periods of time. For
example, a typical home-use coffee maker draws 500 watts during its brew time
of 5 minutes, but it maintains the temperature of the pot at about 100 watts.
Typical use of a microwave is only for a few minutes, sometimes at low power.
Some exceptions to brief operating times are lamps, TVs and computers.
In most instances, the inverter can be left connected to the battery when not in
use, make sure power switch is in the OFF position.
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5. PROTECTIVE FEATURES OF THE INVERTER
Your inverter monitors the following potentially hazardous conditions:
OVER TEMPERATURE PROTECTION – If the temperature inside the inverter
is too high, the unit will automatically shut down. Allow the unit to cool for at
least 15 minutes before restarting after a heat-related shutdown. Unplug unit
while cooling.
LOW BATTERY VOLTAGE PROTECTION - This condition is not harmful to the
inverter but could damage the power source. The inverter automatically shuts
down when input voltage drops to 10.5 volts. When the condition is corrected,
the unit may be restarted.
OVER VOLTAGE PROTECTION – The inverter will automatically shut down
when the input voltage exceeds 15 volts DC. Input voltage exceeds 16 volts
could damage the inverter.
OVERLOAD PROTECTION – The inverter will automatically shut down when
the continuous draw exceeds rated watts.
SHORT CIRCUIT PROTECTION – The inverter will shut down.
EARTH FAULT PROTECTION – This inverter comply with the standard current
leakage allowance. When large current leakage to earth terminal occurs, the
protection circuit activated and shut down the inverter, which prevent electric
shock to human. Turn OFF the inverter, unplug the fault AC appliance and then
turn ON is the only way to restart it.
LOW BATTERY ALARM – An alarm will sound when the voltage from the
battery drops to 10.9 volts. This is an indication that the battery needs to be
recharged. The user should stop operation of the electronic device at this time
since the inverter will shut down automatically shortly thereafter. Start your
engine to recharge the battery.
If the low voltage alarm sounds when the battery is fully charged, follow the
steps for solving lack of output power in the Troubleshooting guide. The alarm
may sound when the inverter is overloaded, in thermal shutdown, or if there is
an excessive voltage drop between the battery and inverter.
NOTE: It is normal for the alarm to sound while the unit is being connected to,
or disconnected from, the power source. This is not indicative of a problem.
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6 COMMON PROBLEMS
POWER TOOLS AND MICROWAVE OVENS WON’T START
Read the information panel on each power tool carefully to accurately determine
the tool’s input wattage. The wattage output is sufficient to operate most power
tools and microwave ovens but remember that the power needed to start the
power tool may be as much as 2 to 6 times its continuous wattage requirements.
“BUZZING” SOUND IN AUDIO SYSTEMS:
Some inexpensive stereo systems and “boom boxes” emit a buzzing sound
from their speakers when operated from the power inverter. This occurs
because the power supply in the electronic device does not adequately filter
the modified sine wave produced by the inverter. The only solution to this
problem is to use a higher quality sound system that incorporates a higher
quality power amplified supply.
TELEVISION INTERFERENCE:
The inverter is designed to minimize interference with TV signals. The problem
may not be with the inverter. However, in some instances, some interference
may still be visible, particularly with weak TV signals. Try the following
corrective measures:
- Position the inverter as far as possible from the television, the antenna and
the antenna cables. Use an extension cable, if necessary.
- Adjust the orientation of the inverter, the antenna cables and the TV power
cord to minimize interference.
- Make sure that the antenna feeding the television provides an adequate
(“snow free”) signal and that high quality, shielded antenna cable is used.
- Do not operate high-power appliances or tools when you are watching TV.
By the advanced technology of SAMLEX, L.I.T greatly reduces the
possibility of interference with TV signals and audios.
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7 . TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE -TABLE 1
TROUBLE/ INDICATION POSSIBLE CAUSE SUGGESTED REMEDY
No AC output;
Yellow LED lit
Green LED not lit
DC input below 10.5 volts Recharge or replace
battery
Inverter overheat Remove or reduce load,
wait for inverter to cool.
No AC output;
Red & Green LED not lit Inverter fuses open Contact technical support
No AC output (loading);
Red LED lit on
Green LED lit
Inverter output power
limited by overload / short
circuit protection circuit
Reduce load or remove
short circuit.
No AC output (no load);
Red LED lit
Green LED lit
Earth fault protection is
activated by excessive
current leakage from the
load.
Unplug the faulted load.
Low battery alarm sounds
abnormal Bad connection or wiring Tighten all DC connections
Low battery alarm sounds Low battery voltage Recharge or replace
battery
Motorized power tool won’t
start Excessive start-up load If appliance does not start,
then appliance is drawing
excessive wattage and will
not work with inverter
Motorized power tool does
not operate at correct speed Purely inductive load Make the load not purely
inductive. Operate an
incandescent lamp at same
time as motor
TV/ Radio interference;
Snow in picture, buzz in
speaker
Appliance too close to
inverter Keep inverter and antenna
distant from each other.
Use shielded antenna
cable. Connect antenna
with amplifier.
Yellow LED lit on when
power on Battery too weak / Cable too long or wrong gauge Check battery & cable. Reset inverter (I/O).
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8. FUSE REPLACEMENT
This inverter is protected by our integral electronic circuit and will automatically
reset.
More than that, this inverter is equipped with a fuse that is located inside the
inverter. Normally, this fuse will not blow unless there is a serious problem
occurs. Please DO NOT replace the fuse yourself, we recommend you
contact technician to find and fix the problems. High voltage and high
temperature inside!
CAUTION: NO USER-SERVICEABLE COMPONENTS INSIDE. DO NOT
ATTEMPT TO OPEN THE INVERTER.
9. SPECIFICATIONS
Output Connection………………..……………..… Dual AC Receptacles
Output Voltage………………………………….. Approx 115 volt AC RMS 60 Hz
Output Waveform…………………………………….Modified Sine Wave (filtered)
Max. Efficiency……………………………………………………Approximately 90%
Normal Input Voltage Range……………….….…………………11 to 14 volt DC
Low Voltage Alarm……………………………….……………….……..10.8 volt DC
Low Voltage Shutdown …………………….………………..…10.2 volt DC
Low Voltage auto-restart…………………………………………….12.2 volt DC
Fan…………………………………………………………Electronic controlled fan
Input Fuse……………………………………………………………………..Internal
** Specifications are subject to change without notice. **
Thank you for using SAMLEX power inverter!
© 2009 SAMLEX ELECTRIC COMPANY LIMITED
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