CHEROKEE TITANIUM SERIES DC To AC POWER INVERTER USERS MANUAL MODEL P1-1000 Cherokee Power Inverters a Division of The Wireless Marketing Corporation 1212 Remington Rd. Schaumburg, IL. USA, 60173
HOW TO USE YOUR CHEROKEE TITANIUM SERIES DC To AC POWER INVERTER MODEL P1-1000 1) INTRODUCTION 2 2) HOWYOUR POWER INVERTER WORKS 2 3) SPECIFICATIONS 2 4) FEATURES 3 5) INSTALLATION 4 6) OPERATION 7 7) OPERATION LIMITS AND INFORMATION 7 8) BAITERY OPERATING INFORMATION 8 9) TROUBLE SHOOTING 9 10) WARRALNTYAND SERVICE 11 11) IF YOUNEED SER VICE 12 1
1) INTRODUCTION CONGRATULATIONS You have just purchased the world s most advanced DC to AC Power Inverter, the Cherokee Titanium Series P1-1000. This technological wonder combines superior product quality with innovative circuitry and advanced design that make it the premier power inverter available today!!! To maximize the life and use of your Cherokee inverter, proper installation of the unit is critical. Make sure that you or whoever does the actual installation reads this manual in its entirety before installation is attempted. Make sure that you pay additional attention to the CAUTION and WARNING statements. CAUTION statements are for those situations that could result in damage to your power inverter or other electrical equipment. WARNING statements identify those situations which could result in personal injury or loss of life. PLEASE READ THE MANUAL COMPLETELY BEFORE BEGINNING WITH INSTALLATION!!! 2) HOW YOUR CHEROKEE POWER INVERTER WORKS The Cherokee Power Inverter is an electronic product that has been designed and built to take low voltage DC (Direct Current) power from your automobile or other low voltage power supplies and CONVERT it to standard 110 Volt AC (Alternating Current) power., exactly like the current you have in your home. This conversion process thereby allows you to use many of your household appliances and electronic products in an area whereby you could not previously. These applications include automobiles, RV s, boat s, tractors, long haul trucks, and many, many others. 3) SPECIFICATIONS Maximum ContinuousPower 1000 Watts Surge Capability (Peak Power) 1800 Watts AC Receptacles Dual (NorthAmerican Standard) Optimum Efficiency Greater than 90% No Load Current Draw OSA Output Wave Form Modified Sine Wave DC Input Voltage Range 10-14V Frequency 60Hz Thermal Protection Shutdown Temperature Exceeding JS0~ F Low Battery Alarm @9.5 Volts Low Battery Shutdown @8.0 Volts Dimensions 17 L x 9.5 Wx 3.111 Weight 8.0 lbs. 2
4) DESCRIPTION OF FEATURES (Front Panel) a) On/Off power switch: This switch turns the power of the inverter switch on and off b) Power Indicator lamp: Indicates that the inverter has been turned on, and is ready to use. c) Dual AC Outlets: Designed to the North American Standard design, they provide the ability to connect up to two devices to the inverter Please note that the combined required wattage must not exceed the capacity of the inverter. (Back Panel) d) Battery Cable Connection Posts: Allows for hook-up of the cable harness that supplies the DC power to the inverter from the vehicle. e) Battery Polarity Protection. Allows complete protection of the internal circuitry in the event that the battery connections go to the wrong terminals. f) High Speed Cooling Fan: Allows for the cooling of the internal circuitry ofthe inverter g) Earth/Chassis Ground Terminal. This allows for complete grounding of the inverter forproper usage. When connecting, use a 8 AWG wire for best results. 3
h) Power Cables: Supplied cables for that connect to the Cable Connection Posts on the back of the inverter. i) Over and Under Voltage Protection: Automatically shuts off the inverter when the input voltage exceeds 14.7 volts or drops below 9.3 volts. j) Thermal Protection: Inverter automatically shuts off when temperature inside exceeds JSO 0F k) Overload Protection:Automatically shuts off when continuous draw exceeds wattage exceeds the capacity of the inverter 1) Short Circuit Protection:Automatically shuts offthe inverter until the short is moved 5) INSTALLATION A) Selecting the Power Source The input power source you are connecting the Cherokee inverter to must have a minimum voltage of 10 volts DC and a maximum of 14.5 volts DC. The power source will most likely be a 12 volt battery (automobile) or possibly a well regulated DC power supply. You can also determine if a power source is strong enough to supply the proper power by taking the power consumption in watts of the device you want to connect to the inverter and dividing it by 10 to obtain the current (in Amperes or Amps ) that the power source must provide. Example: Load is rated at 1000 Watts Power Source: Must be able to deliver 1000 divided by 10 = 100 amps CAUTION: The Cherokee Inverter must be connected ONLY to batteries or power sources that have a normal or average output voltage of 12 Volts. This product will not operate from a 6 volt or a 24 volt power source. For your protection, this product has unique circuitry that protects it from being damaged when connected to the wrong voltage supply. 4
B) Placement of the Inverter Placement of the inverter is critical to maximizing the usefulness and life of the product. For the best results, the inverter should be placed on a sturdy, flat surface. When selecting the placement location of the inverter, please use the following as your criteria for selection: Well Ventilated: Make sure you have at least one inch of clearance around the inverter for maximum airflow. This is especially important when permanent mounting is being considered. Do not place objects on or over the inverter during use. Air must be able to circulate around the inverter. The built-in cooling fan provides cooling, but must have sufficient open space to operate properly. In the event that the internal temperature exceeds l5o~ fahrenheit, the inverter will automatically shut off. Once it has cooled off, it will then be able to operate again. However, if it continues to turn off automatically, you probably need to find a different location for usage/mounting of the inverter to eliminate this situation. Dry: Keep liquids, water or any other type of wet substance away from the inverter. When permanent mounting is taking place, make sure that the location will not be in an area where a liquid could be spilled or leaked into the inverter. Cool: Best temperature range foroperation is between 450 and 85 0F. Do not place the inverter in a location where it will be next to an area which could be effected by a heating duct, warm air output device, or any other heat source that would increase the normal operating temperature of the inverter. Safe: Do not place the inverter anywhere near flammable substances!!! Fumes and/or gases that could come into contact with the inverter could cause an explosion and/or fire that would result in severe damage and possible death. C) Grounding the Cherokee Inverter The P1-1000 has a screw-on lug on the rear panel called Earth Ground This terminal allows the inverter to be connected to a proper grounding device to insure proper operation. The source for the grounding point will vary, depending on where the inverter will be installed. There are some examples of grounding locations that will work for selected applications: Installed Location Where to Ground Vehicle Directly to Chassis Boat Directly to the Boat s Grounding System Open or Fixed location Directly to the Earth 5
It is important to ground the inverter, as the Neutral (Common) Conductor of the power inverter sac output circuit is connected directly to the chassis ground. Once the inverter is properly grounded, then the AC output circuit is also properly grounded. This is required to conform with electrical code regulations. WARNINGS: 1) DO NOT INSTALL THE POWER INVERTER IN A POSITIVE GROUND DC SYSTEM. To identify a positive ground system, look for the positive (+) terminal of the battery connected to the chassis of the vehicle or to a central grounding point. 2) DO NOT OPERATE THE P1-1000 WITHOUT GROUNDING PROPERLY. SEVERE ELECTRICAL SHOCK MAY RESULT. D) Connection of the Inverter to the Power Source 1) Make sure the power switch is turned off and that there are no liquids of any kind close to the inverter. 2) Make sure that you have properly grounded the Inverter. See Grounding the Cherokee Inverter section on page 5 for detailed explanation. 3) Connect both ends of the supplied cable, and insert them into their respective terminals on the back of the inverter. Black cable goes into the (-) negative post, and the yellow cable goes into the (+) positive post. Tighten the screws securely to hold the cables in place. Make sure you do not overtighten to the point where you damage the wiring in the cable. 4) Connect the cable from the negative (-) terminal of the inverter to the negative terminal of the power source. A firm, secure connection here is very important, as loosely tightened connections will result in excessive voltage drop and may cause overheated wires and melted insulation? 5) Make sure at this point that you have connected the negative cable of the inverter to the negative terminal of the output power source. Warning: Reversing the polarity connection may blow the internal fuses in the inverter and cause permanent damage! 6) Connect the cable from the positive terminal of the inverter to the positive output terminal of the power source. It is important to make a secure connection. 6
Warning: You may observe a small spark when you make this connection since current may flow from the power source and charge the capacitors in the inverter. Make sure that no flammable liquids or fumes, as an explosion will potentially result. 7) Make sure that power is being delivered from the DC power source. Then, turn POWER switch to the ON position. The POWER light should come on, and you should hear the start up and running of the cooling fan on the back of the inverter. 8) Now turn the POWER switch to the OFF position. The POWER light may blink once after it has gone out, and the internal alarm may sound. THIS IS NORMAL. The internal circuitry is resetting itself for the next time it operates, and may give the noise alarm as a check situation. 6) OPERATION 1) Plug the AC power cord of the item you will power from the inverter into one of the two AC Outlets on the front panel. Make sure the power of the connected products is turned OFF. Important: If you plan on powering two products from the inverter, make sure that their combined watts requirement is not greater than the capacity of the inverter. 2) Turn ON the POWER switch of the inverter. It is now ready to provide power to your connected product. 3) Now turn on your connected product. In the event that you have two products connected, make sure that you turn them on separately. This will insure that the inverter does not have to deliver the Peak start up power to two units at the same time. 7
7) OPERATION LIMITS and INFORMATION The P1-1000 will operate most AC loads that fall within its power rating. In many cases, manufacturers of electrical and electronic equipment often overrate the current drawn by their products. For example, if a product is rated at 1000 watts or less, the P1-1000 will most likely operate it. In the event that you accidently connect a product whose power consumption is greater than the capacity of the inverter, the P1-1000 will automatically shut down, protected by the built-in overload circuit. Once you unplug the overloaded item, the inverter will resume normal operation. Most electronic products have a power consumption rating label that gives power consumption in either watts or amps. If the rating is given in amps, multiply the amps rating by 100 to get an equivalent rating in watts. Make sure in the event that two products will be powered by the inverter, you add up both consumption ratings to make sure the inverter has the need power to run them both. Connecting a Microwave Oven to the P1-1000 If you plan to use the P1-1000 to power a microwave oven, please remember that the power commonly advertised for microwave ovens is called the Cooking Power power delivered to the food), not the actual power consumed by the microwave oven. As a rule, the oven will consume between 50% to 100% more than the advertised cooking power. Make sure to check the rating sticker on the back of the oven to determine the actual power draw. Only the microwaves that draw less than 1000 watts will work with this inverter. (Most small microwaves draw around 600 watts. Some induction motors used in refrigerators, freezers, pumps and other motor operated equipment require very high surge currents to start. The P1-1000 may not be able to start some of these motors, even though their rated current draw is within the specification of the inverter If a motor refuses to start, observe the battery voltage indicator while trying to start the motor. If the battery voltage drops below 11 volts while the inverter is attempting to start the motor, this may be the cause for the motor not starting. Make sure the battery connections are good and that the battery is fully charged. If the voltage still drops below 11 volts, you may need to use a larger battery. 8
8) BATTERY OPERATING INFORMATION With a typical vehicle battery, a minimum operating time between thirty minutes and one hour can be expected. We recommend that if the vehicle is off when the attached inverter is being used, the operator start the vehicle at least every hour to recharge the system. This will present any unexpected shutdowns of the equipment and will ensure that there is always sufficient battery capacity to start the vehicle. Keep in mind that the inverter can be used either while the engine is running or turned off. However, the inverter may not operate while the engine is starting, since the battery voltage can drop substantially during start-up. Low Battery Alarm Built into the P1-1000 is an alarm that will sound when the voltage from the battery drops to 10.5 volts. Usage of the inverter should stop at this time, as the inverter will automatically shut down when the voltage drops to around 10 volts, preventing any potential damage to the battery. 9) TROUBLE SHOOTING A) Common Problems BUZZ IN AUDIO SYSTEMS Some inexpensive stereo systems and boom boxes will emit a buzzing sound from their loudspeakers when operated from an inverter. This is caused by the power supply in the stereo system not adequately filtering the modified sine wave signal produced by the inverter. The only solution is to use a sound system that incorporates a higher quality power supply. TELEVISION INTERFERENCE The P1-1000 is shielded and filtered to minimize with TV signals. In some cases, particularly with weak TV signals, some interference may still be visible. Try the following measures: a) Position the inverter as far away from the television, antenna, and the antenna cable as possible. b) Adjust the orientation of the inverter, television power cord, and the antenna cables to minimize interference. c) Make sure that the antenna feeding the television provides an adequate ( snow free ) signal and that high quality, shielded cable is being used. 9
B) Trouble Shooting Guide Possible Causes Poor contact with voltage terminals Battery voltage drops below 10 volts Equipment being operated draws too much power Inverter is hot, and in the thermal shutdown mode. Lack of A Power ~ Suggested Solutions Clean terminal thoroughly, and make sure there is a strong connection with the terminals Recharge or replace the battery Reduce the load that is drawing rrom the inverter to equal a maximum of 1000 watts Allow the inverter to cool down, make sure there is adequate ventilation around the unit. Also, make sure the load of the connected is not greater than 1000 watts for continuous operation. PROBLEM! Possible Causes Using average reading voltmeter Inverter is overheating Input voltage is below 10.5 volts Law l ~.4r..* Vnlta0P Suggested Solutions Use true RM5 reading meter that is properly calibrated Reduce load to maximum 1000 watts to maintain performance Keep input voltage above 10.5 volts. If current DC power source can not do this, then change power supplies. PROBLEM: Low Battery Alarm On All The Time Possible Causes Poor battery condition Inadequate power or excessive voltage drops Suggested Solutions Replace battery Check and repair connections. Possibly the wire quality is not good, or has been damaged. Contact us with any other questions or problems that you may have: Cherokee Customer Service: Ph: 1-800-259-0959 (M-F, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm CST) Fx: 1-847-839-0016 E-Mail: wrlmkt@sprynet.com Web: www.wirelessmarketing.com 10
10) WARRANTY AND SERVICE Three Year Limited Warranty with Plug In Protection WIRELESS MARKETING CORPORATION warrants that its CHEROKEE Power Inverters and the component parts thereof, will be free of defects in workmanship and materials for a period of three (3) years from the date of first consumer purchase. This warranty may be enforced by the first consumer purchaser, provided that the product was sold and utilized within the U.S.A. In addition, WIRELESS MARKETING CORPORATION protects the electrical equipment connected to the AC outputs of the power inverter against damage caused by a power surge coming from the inverter. The dollar amount of this protection for the P1-1000 is maximum $2,500.00. If it is found that a defect i ~ the Power Inverter has caused Power Surge damage to the connected product, WIRELESS MARKETING CORPORATION will repair or replace the product, up to a value of $2,500.00. This protection coincides with the term of the warranty on the power inverter. WIRELESS MARKETING CORPORATION will, without charge, repair or replace, at its option, defective power inverters and damaged connected equipment upon delivery to our Factory Service Department, accompanied by proof of the date of first consumer purchase, such as a duplicated copy of the sales receipt. The customer is responsible for the shipping charges to our Factory Service Department. The return shipping expenses will be at Cherokee s expense, if the warranty is repaired/replaced under the warranty or plug-in-protection period. For further details concerning procedures for obtaining service, see the If You Need Service section of the owners manual. Exclusion: This limited warranty does not apply to: 1) any product damaged by accident; 2) in the event of misuse or abuse of the product is a result of unauthorized alterations or repairs; 3) if the serial number has been altered, defaced, or removed; 4) if the owner of the product resides outside of the United States. All implied warranties, including warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose are limited in duration to the length of the warranty. Wireless Marketing Corporation shall not be liable for any incidental, consequential or other damages. This includes, without limitation, damages resulting from the loss of use or cost of installation. This warranty is limited to a maximum claim for the cost of repair or cost of replacement of product. This warranty does not cover the loss of software or data of any kind nor provides any provisions for loss of use., business interruption or downtime. 11
12) IF YOU NEED SERVICE The owner of the product must complete (in full) and mail the attached registration card within 30 days of the purchase of the product to validate the warranty. Some states do not allow limitations on how long an implied warranty lasts and or do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages, so the above limitations may not apply to you. IF YOU THINK YOU NEED SERVICE OR HAVE OPERATIONAL QUESTIONS, CALL US AT: 1-800-259-0959 Monday thru Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, CST Our customer service agents are available to help you with questions on How to Use. New product availability, dealer locations, and what to do if your need service. You may be asked to send your unit back to the Cherokee factory service department. It will be necessary to furnish the following information, in order to have the product serviced and returned. 1) For Warranty Repair, include some form of proof-of-purchase, such as a mechanical reproduction or carbon of sales receipt. If you send the original receipt, please be aware that it can not be returned. 2) Send us the entire product. You must include all the accessories that came standard with the product. 3) Enclose a description of what is happening with the unit. Include a typed or clearly printed name and address of where the unit is to be returned. 4) Pack the unit securely to prevent damage during shipping. If possible, use the original packing material. 5) Ship the unit prepaid and insured by way of a traceable carrier, such as United Parcel Service (UPS), Roadway Parcel Service (RPS), or First Class Mail to avoid loss in transit to: Cherokee Factory Service Wireless Marketing Corporation 1212 Remington Road Schaumburg, IL 60173 6) Upon receipt of the unit, you will be notified by telephone call that we have it. We will give you a repair number that you should keep for your records. We will also give you an estimate as to the time when we might have the unit repaired. 12
If you received the Cherokee product as a gift and you do not have the proof-ofpurchase paperwork, include the following information with the product: 1) your typed name and address; 2) date, month, and year you received the product, the model number, and if possible, where you think the purchase was purchased. 13