Important Information; Inverter Basics; Getting Started - Whistler PP200 Owner's Manual

200/400 Watt Series 3/6/02 3:05 PM Page 7

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Important Information About Your New WHISTLER
Inverter.
This manual will provide you with directions for the safe
and efficient operation of your WHISTLER inverter. Read
the manual carefully before using your new WHISTLER
inverter and keep the manual on file for future reference.
Notes:
Your WHISTLER inverter is designed to operate from a 12
volt power source only. Never attempt to connect your
Whistler inverter to any other power source, including any
AC power source.
• The length of the supplied cables is matched for the
current needed by the inverter. Making this cable longer
will make the inverter less efficient and may cause the
cables to heat up.
• Do not attempt to lengthen the supplied power cables.
• 110 volts of current can be lethal. Improper use of your
WHISTLER inverter may result in pro p e rty damage,
personal injury or loss of life.
• Check with the appliance manufacturer for compatibility
with modified sinewave inverters. Some appliances may
not work well, not at all or be damaged. This is especially
true for medical equipment. For more information on
compatibility issues, please visit our inverter FAQ page at
www.whistlergroup.com/faq-inverters.asp
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INVERTER BASICS

Getting Start e d
Power equipment and appliances which operate with motors
or tubes re q u i re an initial surge of power to get them up and
running. This power surge is re f e rred to as the "starting load"
or "peak load." (By comparison, electrical devices such as
s t a n d a rd light bulbs do not re q u i re a large starting load).
Once the equipment or appliance has been powered up, it
settles down to a slower pace and re q u i res far less electrical
power to operate. This lower power re q u i rement is re f e rre d
to as the "continuous load."
In order to ensure that the capacity of your WHISTLER invert-
er is sufficient to meet the re q u i red start up load, you must
first determine the power consumption of the equipment or
appliance you plan to operate.
Power consumption is rated either in wattage or in ampere s ,
and information re g a rding the re q u i red "watts" or "amps"
generally is stamped or printed on most appliances and
equipment. If this information is not indicated on the appli-
ance or equipment, check the owner's manual. Contact the
appliance or equipment manufacturer to determine if
the device you are using (TV's, battery re-charger, com-
puter, medical equipment, etc.) is compatible with a
modified sine wave.
If the power consumption is rated in amps, multiply the num-
ber of amps by 110 (AC voltage) to determine the compara-
ble wattage rating. As a general rule, you can determine the
re q u i red start up load by multiplying the wattage rating by 10.
For further information on the fundamental operating prin-
ciples of WHISTLER inverters and related technical data,
see "Technical Operating Principles"
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