Operating Tips; Rated Versus Actual Current Draw Of Equipment; Battery Operating Time; Protective Features Of Inverter - Vector VEC043 Owner's Manual

5. OPERATING TIPS

5.1 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 750 watts or less
(If the power consumption is rated in amps AC, simply multiply by the AC volts
(110) to determine the wattage). The inverter has overload protection, so it is safe
to try to operate equipment rated at 750 watts or less. The inverter will shut down
if it is overloaded. The overload must be removed before the inverter will restart.
Resistive loads are the easiest for the MAXX 750 SST to run. However, larger
resistive loads, such as electric stoves or heaters, usually require more wattage
than the MAXX 750 SST can deliver on a continuous basis. 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. Testing is the only
definitive way to determine whether a specific load can be started and how long
it can run. The unit will simply shut down if it is overloaded. To restart the unit after
a shutdown due to overloading, remove the overload.
CAUTION: This inverter will not operate high wattage appliances or equipment that
produce heat, such as hair dryers, microwave ovens, and toasters.

5.2 BATTERY OPERATING TIME

With a typical vehicle battery, a minimum operating time of 1 to 2 hours can be
expected. In most instances, 5 to 10 hours of operating time is achievable. However,
Vector recommends that the operator start the vehicle every hour to recharge the
battery system. This will guard against any unexpected shut-down of the equipment
and will ensure that there is always sufficient battery capacity to start the vehicle's
engine. The inverter will sound it's alarm when DC voltage drops to 10.6 volt.
The inverter may be used whether or not the vehicle's engine is running. However,
the inverter may not operate while the engine is starting since the battery voltage
can drop substantially during cranking. The inverter draws less than 0.4 ampere
from the battery when it is not supplying power to a load and switch is in the ON
position. In most instances, the inverter can be left connected to the battery when
not in use since it draws so little current. However, if the vehicle is to remain
unused for several days, disconnect the inverter from the battery.
6. PROTECTIVE FEATURES OF THE INVERTER
Your MAXX 750 SST monitors the following potentially hazardous conditions:
LOW BATTERY VOLTAGE - This condition is not harmful to the inverter but could
damage the power source. An audible alarm will sound when input voltage drops
to 10.6. The MAXX 750 SST automatically shuts down when input voltage drops
to 10.0 volts. When the condition is corrected, the unit may be restarted.
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