Black+Decker PI120P - Controls and Functions Overview; How the Inverter Works; Cautionary Notes on Devices; Protective Features and Operation

4 5
WARNING: If the product does not operate normally, to reduce the risk of injury or property
damage, turn the product off immediately and unplug it from the inverter
PROTECTIVE FEATURES
Theinvertermonitorsthefollowingconditions:
Input Voltage Too Low: Thisconditionisnotharmfultotheinverter,butcoulddamagethepowersource,so
theinverterwillautomaticallyshutdownwheninputvoltagedropsbelow10.5±0.5voltsDC.
Input Voltage Too High: TheinverterwillautomaticallyshutdownwhenDCinputvoltageexceeds16±0.5
volts,asthiscanharmtheunit.
Thermal Shutdown Protection: Theinverterwillautomaticallyshutdownwhentheunitbecomesoverheated.
Overload/Short Circuit Protection: Theinverterwillautomaticallyshutdownwhenanoverloadorshortcircuit
occurs.
Note: The Power/Fault LED Indicator will light red to indicate a fault condition before automatic shutdown occurs.
RATED VERSUS ACTUAL CURRENT DRAW OF EQUIPMENT
Mostelectricaltools,appliances,electronicdevicesandaudio/visualequipmenthavelabelsthatindicatethe
powerconsumptioninampsorwatts.Besurethatthepowerconsumptionoftheitemtobeoperatedisbelow
120wattsfor30minutesand100wattscontinuousortheunitmayoverheatandshutdown.Ifthepower
consumptionisratedinampsAC,simplymultiplybytheACvolts(120)todeterminethewattage.
Resistiveloadsaretheeasiestfortheinvertertorun;however,itwillnotrunlargerresistiveloads(suchas
electricstovesandheaters),whichrequirefarmorewattagethantheinvertercandeliver.Inductiveloads(such
asTVsandstereos)requiremorecurrenttooperatethandoresistiveloadsofthesamewattagerating.
Forsafetyreasons,theinverterwillsimplyshutdownifitisoverloaded.Torestarttheunit,simplyunplugall
devicespluggedintotheinverter;disconnecttheinverterfromany12voltDCpowersource;thenreconnectthe
inverterBEFOREpluggingtheappliance(s)backin.
OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
Thebi-colorpower/faultLEDindicatorlightsbluewhentheInverterisproperlyconnectedtoafunctioningDC
powersource.TheACandUSBoutletsarereadytouse.(Ifthebi-colorpower/faultLEDindicatorlightsred,
refertotheTroubleshootingSectionofthisInstructionManual.)
Toturntheunitoff,disconnectitfromthe12voltDCpowersource.
Note: This inverter has a pivoting power plug that can be rotated forward and upward to maximum of 180 degrees to adjust the orientation.
Do not attempt to forcibly rotate the power plug beyond its maximum angle.
CAUTION – TO REDUCE THE RISK OF PROPERTY DAMAGE:
•ThePowerInvertermustbeconnectedonlytobatterieswithanominaloutputvoltageof12volts.Theunitwill
notoperatefroma6voltbatteryandwillsustainpermanentdamageifconnectedtoa24voltbattery.
•Alwaysconnecttheinvertertothe12voltDCpowersource before plugginganydevicesintotheunit.
•ThestandardNorthAmerican120voltACandUSBoutletsallowsimultaneousoperationofmultipledevices.
Ensure that the wattage of all equipment simultaneously plugged into the inverter does not
exceed 120 watts for 30 minutes or 100 watts continuous.
Operation of the 120 Volt AC Outlet and USB Charging Port
 1.Connecttheunittoavehicle’saccessoryoutletorother12voltDCpowersource.Makesurethereis
adequatespaceforproperventilationoftheinverter.
 2.Rotatetheunitslightlytomakesurethereisgoodcontact.
 3.Thebi-colorpower/faultLEDindicatorwilllightblue,indicatingaproperconnection.Ifthebi-colorpower/
faultLEDindicatorlightsred,afaultconditionexists.RefertotheTroubleshootingSectionofthisInstruction
Manual.
 4.Plugthe110/120voltACapplianceintotheinverter’sthree-prongACoutletand/orplugtheUSB-powered
deviceintotheinverter’sUSBchargingportandoperatenormally.
Notes: If the inverter does not work, make sure the ignition/accessory switch is actually powering the accessory outlet. Some vehicles require
the ignition switch to be turned on.
The inverter will not operate appliances and equipment that generate heat, such as hair dryers, electric blankets, microwave ovens and
toasters.
This inverter’s USB charging port does not support data communication. It only provides 5 volts/2,000 mA DC power to an external
USB-powered device.
Controls and Functions
USB CHARGING PORT
PIVOTING
12 VOLT DC VEHICLE
ADAPTER PLUG
POWER/FAULT LED
INDICATOR
THREE-PRONG 120
VOLT AC OUTLET
HOW THIS INVERTER WORKS
ThisinverterisanelectronicdevicethatconvertslowvoltageDC(directcurrent)electricityfromabatteryto120
voltsAC(alternatingcurrent)householdpower.Itconvertspowerintwostages.ThefirststageisaDC-to-DC
conversionprocessthatraisesthelowvoltageDCattheinverterinputto145voltsDC.Thesecondstageisa
MOSFETbridgestagethatconvertsthehighvoltageDCinto120volts,60HzAC.
Power Inverter Output Waveform
TheACoutputwaveformofthisinverterisknownasamodifiedsinewave.Itisasteppedwaveformthathas
characteristicssimilartothesinewaveshapeofutilitypower.ThistypeofwaveformissuitableformostAC
loads,includinglinearandswitchingpowersuppliesusedinelectronicequipment,transformers,andsmall
motors.
CAUTION – RECHARGEABLE DEVICES
•CertainrechargeabledevicesaredesignedtobechargedbypluggingthemdirectlyintoanAC
receptacle.Thesedevicesmaydamagetheinverterorthechargingcircuit.
•Whenusingarechargeabledevice,monitoritstemperaturefortheinitialtenminutesofuseto
determineifitproducesexcessiveheat.
•Ifexcessiveheatisproduced,thisindicatesthedeviceshouldnotbeusedwiththisinverter.
•Thisproblemdoesnotoccurwithmostbattery-operatedequipment.Mostofthesedevicesusea
separatechargerortransformerthatispluggedintoanACreceptacle.
•Theinverteriscapableofrunningmostchargersandtransformers.
CAUTION – INCOMPATIBLE PRODUCTS: Certainproductscontainpowersuppliesorcircuitsthatarenot
compatiblewithaninverterusingamodifiedsinewaveoutput(suchasthisinverter)andmaybedamagedby
usingthisinverter.
IfyourproductrequirespuresinewaveACinputpowertofunctionproperly,theinstructionmanualforyour
productcouldstatethis.Ifindoubt,youshouldcontactyourproductmanufacturerPRIORTOUSE.
Someproductsmustbepoweredfromapuresinewavepowersource,suchasstandardhouseholdpower,ora
“puresinewave”inverterinordertofunctionproperly.
Yourproductcouldbedamagedbythisinverterifitcontains:
•Microwaveovens;
•Transformerlessbatterychargers
•Capacitivecoupledpowersupplies
Ifanincompatibleproductisusedwiththisinverter:
•Theproductmightnotoperateatall,withnoindicationoffailure.Theproductfusemightopenasaresultof
tryingtouseitwiththeinverter.
•Theproductmightexhibitunusualoperation(suchas,intermittentoperation,buzzing,andthelike.)
Note: Somelaptopcomputersmaynotoperatewiththisinverter.
PI120P_ManualENSP_101816.indd 4-5 10/18/2016 10:44:24 AM