Trace Engineering DR Series User Manual

Trace Engineering DR Series Owner’s Manual - Version 3.2 - 9/7/98 - Page 38
If a 220/240 vac motor is required, you must either use two 120 vac inverters in a stacked
configuration or include a step-up transformer in the system. When used with a well pump, connect
the step-up transformer after the pressure switch in order to reduce the load the transformer itself puts
on the inverter. This requires that 120 vac instead of 240 vac be connected to the pressure switch.
As a last resort, consider powering the well pump directly from the generator instead of the inverter.
Many systems do not have enough battery capacity or excess power to handle a load as heavy as a
well pump. Using the generator with a storage tank with several days capacity may be more
economical than oversizing the inverter, battery and solar array just to power the well pump.
Problem Loads
Trace Engineering inverters can drive nearly every type of load. However, there are special situations
in which inverters may behave differently than public power. Keep in mind that any loads that Trace
has tested and noted as working well, have been noted from our own experience or customer reports.
Due to the wide variety of load types Trace cannot be responsible for any loads that fail in your
application, including those loads Trace has had success with. We provide this list of experiences
simply as a reference and not as a guarantee of a particular products performance.
Very small loads: - If the power consumed by a device is less than the threshold of the search mode
circuitry, it will not run. See the section on search mode operation for ways to solve this problem.
Fluorescent lights & power supplies- Some devices when scanned by the load sensor cannot be
detected. Small fluorescent lights are the most common example. (Try altering the plug polarity-turn
the plug over). Some computers and sophisticated electronics have power supplies that do not present
a load until line voltage is available. When this occurs, each unit waits for the other to begin. To drive
these loads either a small companion load must be used to bring the inverter out of its search mode, or
the inverter may be programmed to remain at full output voltage. See the section search mode
operation.
Microwave ovens- Microwave ovens are sensitive to peak output voltage. The higher the voltage, the
faster they cook. Inverter peak output voltage is dependent on battery voltage and load size. The high
power demanded by a full sized microwave will drop the peak voltage several volts due to internal
losses. Therefore, the time needed to cook food will be increased if battery voltage is low.
Clocks- The inverter’s crystal controlled oscillator keeps the frequency accurate to within a few
seconds a day. However, external loads in the system may alter the inverter’s output waveform
causing clocks to run at different speeds. This may result in periods during which clocks keep time and
then mysteriously do not. Most clocks do not draw enough power to trigger the load sensing circuit. In
order to operate without other loads present, the load sensing will have to be defeated. (See section
on Search Mode Control.)
Searching- If the amount of power a load draws decreases after it turns on, and if this “on” load is less
than the load sensing threshold, it will be turned alternately on and off by the inverter.
Ceiling Fans- Most large diameter, slow turning fans run correctly, but generate more noise than they
would connected to public power. The high speed type fans operate normally.
Dimmer Switches- Most dimmer switches lose their ability to dim the lights and operate either fully on
or off. Trace has had success with dimmer switches from Leviton as some of these newer switches are
microprocessor controlled and do not utilize switching methods incompatible with modified sinewave
output inverters.
Rechargeable Devices- Sears “First Alert” flashlights fail when charged by the inverter. “Skil”
rechargeable products are questionable. Makita products work well. A new (as of January 1997)
Black and Decker Dustbuster and Spotlighter tested OK. When first using a rechargeable device,
monitor its temperature for 10 minutes to ensure that it does not become abnormally hot. Excessive
heat will be your indicator that it should not be used with the inverter.

Trace Engineering DR Series Specifications

General

Brand	Trace Engineering
Model	DR Series
Category	Inverter
Language	English