Inverter - Airstream A-Series 2006 Owner's Manual

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

INVERTER

Magnum Energy, Inc.
1111 80th Street SW
Suite 150, Everett, WA 98203
Phone: 425 353 8833
The inverter in your motorhome is located in a basement compartment.
How an Inverter/Charger Works
An inverter takes direct current (DC) from your batteries and turns it into alternat-
ing current (AC), exactly like you use at home. It also takes Alternating Current when
your motorhome is connected to shore power and transforms it into Direct Current to
recharge your batteries.
There are two modes of operation associated with an Inverter/Charger:
Inverter Mode:
Direct current (DC) from the vehicles batteries is transformed into alternating current
H
(AC) for use with your household appliances.
Charger Mode:
Alternating current (AC) is taken directly from shore power and passed directly to your
appliances. At the same time, the incoming AC is also converted to DC to recharge
your batteries.
There are three factors to consider when you select the appliances that you would
like to operate with the inverter. Those considerations are: battery reserve capacity,
maximum wattage and typical operating times of appliances. Good estimating of these
factors will assure you have plenty of resources to operator your appliances.
BATTERY RESERVE CAPACITY
Batteries store the energy necessary for the inverter to convert DC to AC power. Your
Airstream motorhome has two 4-D batteries dedicated to the inverter's use. Battery
performance is affected by temperature and age. Batteries operate best when the
temperature is about 77° F. If the batteries are hotter than, or colder than this tempera-
ture, performance is reduced. As batteries age, they lose some of their performance,
or ability to store energy.
Appliances and Run Time
The ME Series inverter/charger can power a wide range of household appliances
including small motors, hair dryers, clocks and other electrical devices. As with any
appliance using batteries for power, there is a certain length of time that it can run - this
is called "run time." Actual run time depends on several variables including the size
and the type of appliance, the type of batteries installed in your recreational vehicle,
as well as the battery's capacity and age. Other factors such as the battery's state of
charge and temperature can also affect the length of time your appliances can run.
Appliances such as TVs, VCRs, stereos, computers, coffee pots, incandescent lights
and toasters can all be successfully powered by your inverter. Larger electrical appli-
ances, however, such as stoves, water heaters, etc., can quickly drain your batteries
and are not recommended for this application.
All electrical appliances are rated by the amount of power they consume. The rating
is printed on the product's nameplate label, usually located on its chassis near the AC
power cord. Even though it is difficult to calculate exactly how long an inverter will run
a particular appliance, the best advice is trial and error. Your ME Series inverter has a
built-in safeguard that automatically protects your batteries from over discharge.
Please read and review the manufacturers owners/operators manual for specific in-
structions, warnings, and cautions on you inverter/charger.
H - 6