Schumacher PI-1000 User manual

OWNER’S MANUAL
Power Inverter Models
PI-1000 and PI-1500
Converts 12V DC Battery Power to
120V AC Household Power
CAUTION:
Before using your inverter, Read, Understand and Fol-
low all Safety and Operating Instructions. Save These
Instructions.
Schumacher Electric Corporation
Mount Prospect, Illinois 60056 U.S.A.
Send Warranty Product Repairs to:
Customer Service Returns
P.O. Box 280
1025 E. Thompson
Hoopeston, IL 60942-0280
Questions? Call Customer Service:
1-800-621-5485 (Hours: 7:00 am to 5:00 pm CST)
00-99-000901-0409

TRADEMARK ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Schumacher® is a registered trademark of Schumacher Electric
Corporation
Schumacher® Logo is a registered trademark of Schumacher
Electric Corporation
PI-1000 and PI-1500 ™ is a trademark of
Schumacher Electric Corporation
COPYRIGHT INFORMATION
PI-1000 and PI-1500 Owner’s Manual
© 2008 Schumacher Electric Corporation
The information, specications and illustrations in this manual are
based on the latest information available at the time of printing.
TRADEMARK ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS
SECTION PAGE
IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS 5
INVERTER FEATURES 6
FASTENING THE INVERTER TO A FLAT SURFACE 7
GROUNDING THE INVERTER 8
BEFORE USING YOUR POWER INVERTER 9
CONNECTING INVERTER CABLES 10
USING THE GFCI OUTLET (MODEL PI-1500 ONLY) 11
OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS 12
POWER SOURCE 14
HOW DO POWER INVERTERS WORK 15
LED INDICATORS AND SHUTDOWN PROTECTION 15
IF THE INVERTER FUSE BLOWS 16
TROUBLESHOOTING 17
SPECIFICATIONS 17
REPLACEMENT PARTS 18
LIMITED WARRANTY 18

• 5 •
IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS1.
SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS
Keep the inverter well ventilated in order to properly• disperse heat generated while it is in use. Make sure
there are several inches of clearance around the top
and sides and do not block the slots of the inverter.
Make sure the inverter is not close to any potential• source of ammable fumes, gases or clothing.
Do not place the inverter in areas such as battery• compartments or engine compartments where fumes
or gases may accumulate.
Keep the inverter dry.•
DO NOT allow the inverter to come into contact with• rain or moisture.
DO NOT operate the inverter if you, the inverter, the• device being operated or any other surfaces that may
come into contact with any power source are wet.
Water and many other liquids can conduct electricity,
which may lead to serious injury or death.
Do not place the inverter on or near heating vents,• radiators or other sources of heat or ammable
materials.
Do not place the inverter in direct sunlight. The ideal• air temperature for operation is between 50° and
80°F.
Only connect the power inverter to a 12-volt acces-• sory outlet or 12-volt airplane power outlet. Do not
attempt to connect the inverter to any other power
source, including an AC power source. Connecting
to a 6-volt or 16-volt battery will cause damage to the
inverter.
Make sure the AC plug is tight.•
Do not modify the AC receptacle in any way.•

• 6 •
Do not try extending or otherwise changing the 12-• volt power cord attached to your inverter.
Incorrect operation of your inverter may result in• damage and personal injury. WARNING: The inverter
output is 120V AC and can shock or electrocute the
same as any ordinary household AC wall outlet.
Do not open – No user serviceable parts inside.•
This device does not include an internal Ground• Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI). For GFCI protection,
use a Coleman Cable 02822 GFCI outlet (Model PI-
1000 only).
WARNING: Pursuant to California Proposition 65,
this product contains chemicals known to the State of
California to cause cancer and birth defects or other
reproductive harm.
INVERTER FEATURES2.
1. ON/OFF Rocker Switch – Turns the inverter ON
and OFF.
2. LED Indicator Light – (Green = power ON, Red =
Overload, interruption in power.
3. 12-Volt Power Cord – One pair
4. 120V AC Outlet – Two Standard (Model PI-1000)
Two GFCI (Model PI-1500)
5. High-Speed Cooling Fan(s) – Keeps the inverter
cool. The speed of the fan is faster as the load
increases. The fan does not run when the inverter is
turned OFF.

• 7 •
6. Analog Output Power Display – Shows 120V AC
continuous power consumed. Five lights indicate half
of the continuous output power and ten lights indicate
full continuous power consumption. When the inverter
is OFF, no lights appear.
7. Positive Battery Cable Terminal (Red) – Accepts
Positive connector cable.
8. Negative Battery Cable Terminal (Black) – Accepts
Negative connector cable.
9. Ground Terminal – Grounds inverter to reduce
electrical shock.
10. Thermal Protection – When the inverter case be-
comes hot (exceeds 145° F) the inverter shuts down.
11. Surge Protection – When the power input from the
vehicle’s battery exceeds 15-volts the inverter shuts
down.
12. Low-Battery Protection – When the power input
from the vehicle’s battery drops to approximately
10-volts the inverter shuts down.
FASTENING THE INVERTER TO A FLAT3.
SURFACE
For convenience your inverter can be fastened to a at
surface, horizontally or vertically. The area where the
inverter is to be fastened must be dry, well ventilated and
away from any combustible material or fumes.
1. Turn off and disconnect the inverter.
2. Place the back of the inverter with the mounting
bracket against a secure and at surface.

• 8 •
3. Attach the inverter to the at surface using corro-
sion resistant screws.
GROUNDING THE INVERTER4.
To avoid electrical shock, it is necessary to ground the
inverter as well as the device powering it. The inverter
should be grounded using a #8 AWG copper wire (not
included).
NOTE: Do not turn on the inverter or the power source
until the inverter and the power source are grounded. To
ground the inverter:
1. Turn off and disconnect the inverter.
2. Locate the chassis ground screw below the nega-
tive terminal on the left side of the inverter, remove
the outer hex nut and loosen the second hex nut.
3. Strip the insulation of the #8 AWG copper wire back
1.5” and wrap the bare end of the wire around the
ground screw between the two washers.
4. While holding the wire in place, tighten the hex nut
you loosened securely. Then, replace the other hex
nut and tighten it securely.
5. Attach the other end of the wire to a properly
grounded location, as described next:
A. VEHICLE: Connect to the chassis, unpainted
frame part, or engine block of the vehicle.
B. BOAT: Connect to the boat grounding system.
C. FIXED LOCATION: Connect to a ground rod
or other appropriately rated ground.

• 9 •
BEFORE USING YOUR POWER INVERTER5.
When you turn on a device or a tool that runs on a mo-
tor, the device basically goes through two stages:
1. Start Up – Requiring an initial surge of power (com-
monly known as the “starting or peak load”).
2. Continuous Operation – Power consumption drops
(commonly known as the “continuous load”).
The wattage (WATTS) or amperes (AMPS) can normally
be found stamped or printed on most devices and equip-
ment, or in the user’s manual. Otherwise, contact the
manufacturer to nd out whether the device you want to
use is compatible with a modied sine wave.
To calculate the wattage: Wattage = AMPS x 120 (AC
Voltage).
To calculate the starting load: Starting Load = 2 x
WATTS. In general, the start up load of the device or
power tool determines whether your inverter has the
capability to power it.
To calculate the continuous load: Continuous Load =
AMPS x 120 (AC Voltage).
Attention: Always run a test to establish whether the
inverter will operate a particular piece of equipment or
device. In the event of a power overload, the inverter is
designed to automatically shut down. This safety feature
prevents damaging the inverter while testing devices and
equipment within the wattage range of the inverter.
If a device does not operate properly when rst con-
nected to the inverter, turn the inverter rocker switch ON
(I), OFF (O), and ON (I) again in quick succession. If this

• 10 •
procedure is not successful, it is likely that the inverter
does not have the required capacity to operate the de-
vice in question.
CONNECTING INVERTER CABLES6.
The inverter and power source must be in the OFF
mode.
IMPORTANT: Make sure you connect your inverter to a
12-volt power supply only.
1. Locate the Positive and Negative plastic terminals
located on the left side of the inverter. Using a stan-
dard (athead) screwdriver, unscrew the positive (red)
and negative (black) terminal screws just enough to
be able to insert the bare end of the connector cables.
2. Insert the bare end of the positive (red) cable into
the positive (red) terminal. Insert the bare end of the
negative (black) cable into the negative (black) ter-
minal. Tighten each terminal screw so that the cable
cannot come loose.
CONNECTING INVERTER CABLES TO 12V BATTERY
OR 12V POWER SOURCE:
1. Keep hands, hair, clothing and jewelry clear of bat-
tery terminals.
2. Wear eye protection and clothing protection.
3. Connect the negative (black) inverter terminal cable
to the power source negative (-) or battery terminal.
Make sure the connection is secure.
4. Connect the positive (red) inverter terminal cable
to the power source positive (+) or battery terminal.
Make sure the connection is secure.

• 11 •
5.To disconnect the inverter, reverse the above steps.
NOTE: The internal speaker may make a brief “beep”
when the inverter is being connected to or disconnected
from the 12-volt power source.
ATTENTION: Failure to make the correct connections
will result in blown fuses and permanent damage to the
inverter.
USING THE GFCI OUTLET (MODEL PI-15007.
ONLY)
The PI-1500 inverter includes two “GFCI” (Ground Fault
Circuit Interrupter) outlets located on the right side of the
inverter. The purpose of a GFCI outlet is to quickly stop
the ow of electricity in the event a ground fault occurs
on the device plugged into the inverter’s GFCI outlet.
Use only 3-prong grounded plug when using the GFCI
outlet.
The GFCI outlets provide auxiliary power to 120V AC
devices that require less than 15-amps.
The GFCI outlets provide auxiliary power to 120V AC de-
vices that require less than 15 amp. If using both GFCI
outlets at the same time, the amperage cannot exceed a
total of 15 amps for both devices combined.
The GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) must be
tested before each use. To test:
1. Connect the inverter (see “CONNECTING INVERT-
ER CABLES” section).
2. Turn the inverter on.
3. Push the “Reset” button located on the GFCI recep-
tacle, rst to assure normal GFCI operation.

• 12 •
4. Plug a nightlight (with an ON/OFF switch) or other
device (such as a lamp) into the GFCI receptacle and
turn the device “ON”.
5. Push the “Test” button located on the GFCI recep-
tacle. The nightlight or other device should go “OFF”.
6. Push the “Reset” button and the light or other de-
vice should go ”ON” again.
NOTE: If the light or other device remains “ON” when the
“Test” button is pushed, the GFCI is not working properly
and should not be used. Call Customer Service.
OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS8.
1. Connect the inverter (see “CONNECTING INVERT-
ER CABLES” section.
2. Switch the inverter switch to the ON (I) position.
3. The LED indicator light should glow GREEN verify-
ing the inverter is receiving power.
4. Turn the inverter rocker switch to the OFF (O) posi-
tion. (The GREEN LED power indicator light may ash
briey and/or the internal speaker may make a brief
“beep”. This is normal.).
5. Make sure the device to be operated is turned OFF.
6. Plug the device into the inverter AC outlet.
7. Turn the inverter on.
8. Turn the device on.
9. To disconnect, reverse the above procedure.

• 13 •
NOTE: If more than one device is to be powered,
start one device at a time to avoid a power surge and
overloading the inverter. The surge load of each device
should not exceed the inverters Continuous Operation
wattage rate.
IMPORTANT: If you are using the power inverter to
operate a battery charger, monitor the temperature of
the battery charger for about 10 minutes. If the battery
charger becomes abnormally warm, disconnect it from
the inverter immediately.
NOTE: You can use an extension cord from the inverter
to the device without signicantly decreasing the power
being generated by the inverter. For best operating
results, the extension cord should be no longer than 50
feet.
Using the Inverter to Operate a TV or Audio Device:
The inverter is shielded and ltered to minimize signal
interference. Despite this, some interference may occur
with your television picture, especially with weak signals.
Below are some suggestions to try and improve recep-
tion.
1. Make sure the television antenna produces a clear
signal under normal operating conditions (i.e. at home
plugged into a standard 120-volt AC wall outlet). Also,
ensure that the antenna cable is adequately shielded
and of good quality.
2. Try altering the position of the inverter, antenna
cables, and television power cord. Add an exten-
sion cord from the inverter to the TV so as to isolate
its power cord and antenna cables from the 12-volt
power source.

• 14 •
3. Try coiling the television power cord and the input
cables running from the 12-volt power source to the
inverter.
4. Afx one or several “Ferrite Data Line Filters” to the
television power cord. Ferrite Data Line Filters can be
purchased at most electronic supply stores.
5. Try grounding the inverter with an 18 AWG (mini-
mum) wire, using as short a length as possible.
NOTE: You may hear a “buzzing” sound being emitted
from inexpensive sound systems when operated with the
inverter. This is due to ineffective lters in the sound sys-
tem’s power supply. Unfortunately, this problem can only
be resolved by purchasing a sound system with a higher
quality power supply or higher quality lter.
POWER SOURCE9.
Your average automobile or marine battery at full charge
will provide an ample power supply to the inverter for
approximately 3 hours when the engine is off. The actual
length of time the inverter will function depends on the
age and condition of the battery and the power demand
being placed by the device being operated with the
inverter.
If you decide to use the inverter while the engine is off,
we recommend you turn OFF the device plugged into
the inverter and disconnect the inverter’s plug from
the 12-volt accessory outlet before starting the engine.
To maintain battery power, start the engine every 2 to
3 hours and let it run for approximately 10 minutes to
recharge the battery.

• 15 •
Although it is not necessary to disconnect the inverter
when turning over the engine, it may briey cease to
operate as the battery voltage decreases. While the
inverter draws very low amperage when not in use, it
should be unplugged to avoid battery drain.
HOW DO POWER INVERTERS WORK10.
There are two stages involved in transforming 12-volt
DC (battery) power into 120-volt AC (household voltage):
STAGE 1: The power inverter uses a DC to DC trans-
former to increase the 12-volt DC input voltage from the
power source to 145-volt DC.
STAGE 2: The inverter then converts the 145-volt DC
into 120-volts AC (household voltage) using advanced
MOSFET transistors in a full bridge conguration. A
“modied sine wave” waveform is generated by this
conversion.
LED INDICATORS AND SHUTDOWN11.
PROTECTION
The GREEN LED lights automatically when plugged into
a 12-volt DC source and turned on. The RED LED lights,
an audible alarm sounds, and the inverter automatically
turns itself off under the following conditions:
1. When the power input from the vehicle’s battery
drops to approximately 10-volts, low battery shutdown
occurs. (When the power input drops to 10.5-volts,
an alarm will sound for an extended period). Solution:
Recharge or Replace the battery.

• 16 •
2. When the power input from the vehicle’s battery
exceeds 15-volts, high voltage overload protection oc-
curs. Solution: Reduce the voltage range to between
12-volts and 14-volts.
3. The continuous load demand from the equipment
or device being operated exceeds the continuous
load rating of the inverter being used. Solution: Use a
higher capacity inverter or lower rated device.
4. The case temperature becomes hot (exceeds
145°F). Your inverter is tted with a cooling fan that
runs as needed while the inverter is operating. If the
cooling fan is unable to maintain a cool enough tem-
perature for safe operation, the inverter will automati-
cally shutdown. Solution: Allow the inverter to cool. Do
not block the cooling slots or air ow over and through
the inverter. Reduce the load on the inverter to the
continuous rated output.
RESET: To reset after shutdown occurs, turn the inverter
rocker switch to the OFF (O) position. Check the source
of the problem and correct. Turn the inverter switch to
the ON (I) position.
IF THE INVERTER FUSE BLOWS12.
Your power inverter is tted with a fuse, which should
not have to be replaced under normal operating condi-
tions. A blown fuse is usually caused by reverse polarity
or a short circuit within the device or equipment being
operated.
If the fuse does blow, take the inverter to a qualied
technician for repair.

• 17 •
TROUBLESHOOTING13.
PROBLEM REASON SOLUTION
Red LED is on, audible
alarm is on, and/or in-
verter does not function.
Poor contact at terminals.
Fuse Blown.
Inverter shutdown.
Inverter may not be work-
ing properly.
Check the connections at
power supply.
See “IF THE INVERTER
FUSE BLOWS” section.
See “LED INDICATOR
AND SHUTDOWN PRO-
TECTION” section.
See Warranty and call
Customer Service 1-800-
621-5485 (Hours: 7:00
am – 5:00 pm CST).
SPECIFICATIONS14.
Model: PI-1000
Maximum Continuous Power 1000 Watts
Surge Capability (Peak Power) 2000 Watts
No Load Current Draw <0.25A
Wave Form Modied Sine Wave
Input Voltage Range 10.5V – 15.5V DC
Output Voltage Range 120V ± 5% AC
Low Battery Alarm Audible, 10.3V – 10.6V DC
Low Battery Shutdown 10.5V ± .5V DC
High Battery Shutdown 15.0V – 16.0V DC
Optimum Efciency >80%
AC Outlet Two, 120V AC 3-Prong
Dimensions 10.5” L x 9” W x 3.75” H
Weight approximately 7.25 lbs.

• 18 •
Model: PI-1500
Maximum Continuous Power 1500 Watts
Surge Capability (Peak Power) 3000 Watts
No Load Current Draw <0.3A
Wave Form Modied Sine Wave
Input Voltage Range 10.5V – 15.5V DC
Output Voltage Range 120V ± 5% AC
Low Battery Alarm Audible, 10.3V – 10.6V DC
Low Battery Shutdown 10.5V ± .5V DC
High Battery Shutdown 15.0V – 16.0V DC
Optimum Efciency >80%
AC Outlet Two, 120V AC 3-Prong GFCI
Dimensions 11” L x 9.5” W x 3.75” H
Weight approximately 7.9 lbs.
REPLACEMENT PARTS15.
Fuses – Replacement fuses can be purchased at most
electronic component retailers.
Battery Cable with Clamp – Positive (Red)
38-99-002012
Battery Cable with Clamp – Negative (Black)
38-99-002013
LIMITED WARRANTY16.
SCHUMACHER ELECTRIC CORPORATION, 801 BUSI-
NESS CENTER DRIVE, MOUNT PROSPECT, IL 60056-
2179, MAKES THIS LIMITED WARRANTY TO THE
ORIGINAL RETAIL PURCHASER OF THIS PRODUCT.
THIS LIMITED WARRANTY IS NOT TRANSFERABLE
OR ASSIGNABLE.

• 19 •
Schumacher Electric Corporation (the “Manufacturer”)
warrants this inverter for two years from the date of
purchase at retail against defective material or workman-
ship that may occur under normal use and care. If your
unit is not free from defective material or workmanship,
Manufacturers obligation under this warranty is solely
to repair or replace your product, with a new or recon-
ditioned unit, at the option of the Manufacturer. It is the
obligation of the purchaser to forward the unit, along
with mailing charges prepaid to the Manufacturer or its
authorized representatives in order for repair or replace-
ment to occur.
Manufacturer does not provide any warranty for any
accessories used with this product that are not manufac-
tured by Schumacher Electric Corporation and approved
for use with this product. This Limited Warranty is void if
the product is misused, subjected to careless handling,
repaired, or modied by anyone other than Manufacturer
or if this unit is resold through an unauthorized retailer.
Manufacturer makes no other warranties, including,
but not limited to, express, implied or statutory warran-
ties, including without limitation, any implied warranty
of merchantability or implied warranty of tness for a
particular purpose. Further, Manufacturer shall not be li-
able for any incidental, special or consequential damage
claims incurred by purchasers, users or others associ-
ated with this product, including, but not limited to, lost
prots, revenues, anticipated sales, business opportuni-
ties, goodwill, business interruption and any other injury
or damage. Any and all such warranties, other than the
limited warranty included herein, are hereby expressly
disclaimed and excluded. Some states do not allow the
exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential
damages or length of implied warranty, so the above

• 20 •
limitations or exclusions may not apply to you. This war-
ranty gives you specic legal rights and it is possible you
may have other rights which vary from this warranty.
THIS LIMITED WARRANTY IS THE ONLY EXPRESS
LIMITED WARRANTY AND THE MANUFACTURER
NEITHER ASSUMES OR AUTHORIZES ANYONE
TO ASSUME OR MAKE ANY OTHER OBLIGATION
TOWARDS THE PRODUCT OTHER THAN THIS WAR-
RANTY.
Schumacher Electric Corporation Customer Service
1-800-621-5485
Monday – Friday 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. CST