Owner’s Manual & Safety Instructions

Save This Manual Keep this manual for the safety warnings and precautions, assembly,
operating, inspection, maintenance and cleaning procedures. Write the product’s serial number in the
back of the manual near the assembly diagram (or month and year of purchase if product has no number).
Keep this manual and the receipt in a safe and dry place for future reference.
REV 15g

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Email our technical support at: [email protected]

When unpacking, make sure that the product is intact

and undamaged. If any parts are missing or broken,
please call 1-888-866-5797 as soon as possible.
Copyright© 2009 by Harbor Freight Tools®. All rights reserved.
No portion of this manual or any artwork contained herein may be reproduced in Read this material before using this product.
any shape or form without the express written consent of Harbor Freight Tools. Failure to do so can result in serious injury.
Diagrams within this manual may not be drawn proportionally. Due to continuing SAVE THIS MANUAL.
improvements, actual product may differ slightly from the product described herein.
Tools required for assembly and service may not be included.

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 WARNING SYMBOLS AND DEFINITIONS
This is the safety alert symbol. It is used to alert you to
potential personal injury hazards. Obey all safety messages
that follow this symbol to avoid possible injury or death.
Indicates a hazardous situation which, if not avoided,
will result in death or serious injury.
Indicates a hazardous situation which, if not avoided,
could result in death or serious injury.
Indicates a hazardous situation which, if not avoided,
could result in minor or moderate injury.

Addresses practices not related to personal injury.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

Read all safety warnings and instructions.

Failure to follow the warnings and instructions may result in electric shock, fire and/
or serious injury. Save all warnings and instructions for future reference.

General Precautions
1. People with pacemakers should consult 4. WARNING: The cord of this product
their physician(s) before use. contains lead and/or di (2-ethylhexyl)
Electromagnetic fields in close phthalate (DEHP), chemicals known
proximity to heart pacemaker could to the State of California to cause
cause pacemaker interference cancer, and birth defects or other
or pacemaker failure. reproductive harm. Wash hands
after handling. (California Health &
2. WARNING: The brass components of
Safety Code § 25249.5, et seq.)
this product contain lead, a chemical
known to the State of California to 5. The warnings, precautions, and
cause cancer and birth defects or other instructions discussed in this instruction
reproductive harm. (California Health manual cannot cover all possible
& Safety Code § 25249.5, et seq.) conditions and situations that may
occur. It must be understood by the
3. WARNING: This product contains
or, when used, produces a chemical operator that common sense and
caution are factors which cannot
known to the State of California to
be built into this product, but must
cause cancer and birth defects or other
be supplied by the operator.
reproductive harm. (California Health
& Safety Code § 25249.5, et seq.)

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 Installation Precautions
1. DO NOT INSTALL THIS INVERTER 7. Keep inverter dry and clean.
INTO A BUILDING’S ELECTRICAL Do not expose to rain, snow,
SYSTEM. This inverter is a vehicular spray, bilge water or dust.
accessory. It is not designed to be 8. Install as close to DC source as
safely used in a building’s electrical
possible, but not in a closed area
system and has not been evaluated
with vented lead-acid batteries.
to meet building wiring codes.
Vented lead-acid batteries release
Improper application may create explosive hydrogen gas that can
a fire or electric shock hazard.
be ignited by the inverter.
2. To allow proper cooling, install in indoor 9. Mount inverter horizontally.
well-ventilated area and do not cover
ventilation openings or cooling fins. 10. Verify that installation surface
Do not install in engine compartment. has no hidden utility lines before
Especially avoid placing the Inverter drilling or driving screws.
on carpets and rugs; they are 11. This product is not a toy.
not only flammable, but they also Keep it away from children.
obstruct vents underneath it.
12. Do not use with positive
3. Keep combustible materials and ground electrical systems.
gasses away from the inverter. (Most automobiles, trucks, and RV’s
The inverter produces sparks and heat have negative ground systems.)
during operation and can start a fire.
13. The positive (+) battery on the Inverter
4. Connect to 12 VDC power supply only. must be the last connection made,
A power supply with lower voltage will and must be connected before the
not operate the Inverter correctly, and Inverter is turned on. There may
higher voltage could damage the unit. be a small spark during the final
5. Connect input polarity properly. connection. This is normal.
Incorrect connection will damage 14. Properly ground the inverter’s case
inverter and void warranty. as explained in this manual.
6. Do not use in a marine application.
This inverter is not intended to withstand
the highly corrosive conditions in
marine applications and would quickly
be rendered inoperable or unsafe.

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 Battery Precautions
1. Wear splash-resistant 4. Only connect similar batteries together.
ANSI‑approved safety goggles Do not connect old and new batteries
and electrically insulated gloves together, wet and gel cells together, or
while working near batteries. batteries of different capacities together.
2. Charge, store, and maintain batteries 5. Use only 12 V batteries with this item.
according to supplier’s instructions.
6. Connect batteries in parallel ONLY
3. Locate batteries in a clean, (negative terminals together to
well‑ventilated area, away from ignition one cable; positive terminals
sources and flammable materials. together to the other cable).
Vented lead-acid batteries release
7. Install a properly rated fuse on the
explosive hydrogen gas while charging.
positive output of the battery bank.

Operation Precautions
1. Multiple outlet power strips with switches 6. Do not attempt to power a device,
and circuit breakers only interrupt or combination of devices, that will
power to the “hot” receptacle terminals. require more than the rated output of
The “neutral” terminals remain powered this inverter. This may damage the
with respect to the “ground” terminals. inverter or the attached devices.
So strip switch may be off, but part 7. Appliances such as microwave
of appliance may still be powered.
ovens will normally draw
2. Inspect supply connections before more than their rated current.
use to ensure they are tight and For example:  A typical
that insulation is not damaged. 600 watt microwave oven will draw
approximately 1,000 watts.
3. Do not use this inverter to power
sensitive devices such as medical 8. Do not attach a battery charger if
devices or computers. However, it may the charger carries a warning that
be used to charge a computer battery. dangerous voltages are present
Do not use in ignition protected areas. at the battery terminals.
4. Some rechargeable tools and 9. Some fluorescent lamps may not
appliances can damage the Inverter. operate properly with this type of
Check the temperature of the device inverter. If the bulb appears to be
several times when it is charging. too bright, or fails to light, do not
If the device becomes extremely hot; use the lamp with this inverter.
turn the power off, remove the device,
10. Some fans with synchronous motors
and do not use with the Inverter again.
may slightly increase in speed when
5. Check for breakage of parts and any powered by the inverter. This is not
other condition that may affect the harmful to the fan or to the inverter.
Inverter’s operation. If damaged,
11. Inverter will consume some power
have it repaired before use. while on, even without loads attached.
Turn inverter off after use.

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 Service Precautions
1. DO NOT OPEN HOUSING. 3. Have your Inverter serviced by
Contains no user‑serviceable a qualified repair person using
parts. Internal parts may be only identical replacement parts.
electrified, even with unit off and This will ensure that the safety
power disconnected. of the Inverter is maintained.
2. Maintain labels and nameplates 4. Fuses must be replaced with fuses
on the Inverter. These carry of the same type and rating only.
important safety information.
If unreadable or missing, contact
Harbor Freight Tools for a replacement.

SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS.

Symbology

Double Insulated Alternating Current Supply

Canadian Standards Association Direct Current Supply

Underwriters Laboratories, Inc.

A Amperes

Volts Alternating Current Equipment Grounding Conductor

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 Specifications
Input Voltage 12 VDC (nominal)
Output Voltage 115 VAC / 60 Hz
Continuous Power 200 W
Surge Power 400 W 3069523

Operating Conditions 32° - 104° F

Two 3-prong grounded polarized AC outlets
Receptacles
One 5 VDC 500mA USB outlet
Fuse Type 25 Amp Internal Blade-type Fuse (professional replacement only)
Cables 12 AWG x 23"

Output Waveform

2. Modified Sine Wave (MSW) power is

Modified suitable for most AC devices and power
Sine Wave
(MSW) supplies used in electronic equipment,
transformers, and motors. Do not use
Sine to power sensitive devices such as
Wave
medical equipment or computers. Some
audio equipment may perform poorly
if run on Modified Sine Wave power.

1. This inverter’s output is a 3. Sine Wave inverters provide power

Modified Sine Wave. Power from that is identical to, or even better than,
most electric utilities is a Sine Wave. the power supplied by your power
company. Motors start easier and
Note: Only multimeters identified run cooler under Sine Wave power.
as “TRUE RMS” will read Certain devices, such as laser printers,
Modified Sine Wave voltage accurately. variable speed motors and digital
clocks, require sine wave power to
operate properly. Sine wave inverters
are typically more expensive for
their capacity than other inverters.

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 Installation

Read the ENTIRE IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION section at the

beginning of this manual including all text under subheadings therein
before set up or use of this product.

CAUTION! This Inverter must only be connected to batteries with an output

voltage of 12 volts DC. Lower voltage will not operate the Inverter properly,
and more voltage could damage the Inverter or the device being powered.
Do not use this Inverter with positive ground electrical systems.

The Inverter is configured to have a number of shut-down points,

for the safety of the operator, the unit, and the devices being used with it.
• If the DC input voltage drops too low, • If the output load power rises higher
the alarm on the Inverter will sound. than the rating power of the Inverter;
Should the input voltage drop further, the unit may shut down automatically.
the Inverter will shut down automatically
• The Inverter may automatically
to prevent permanent battery damage.
shut down if its internal
Recharge the battery soon. temperature gets too high.
• If the DC input voltage exceeds 15.2V
the Inverter will shut down automatically.
Note: Even though this inverter has built-in mechanisms to minimize damage,
the above situations should be avoided because they can still
damage the inverter, battery, and/or attached device(s).

Functions
Fault LED Power LED Power Terminal
- 1 of 2
Power Button

Alligator
AC Outlets USB Outlet Clips

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 Operating Instructions

Read the ENTIRE IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION section at the

beginning of this manual including all text under subheadings therein
before set up or use of this product.
1. Place the Power Inverter on a flat 4. Attach the red Cable’s Alligator Clip
surface that has adequate ventilation to the Positive (red) terminal on the
and is not in direct sunlight. Locate battery, then attach the black Cable’s
the Inverter close enough to the car Alligator Clip to a clean unpainted metal
battery so that the Cables can easily part of the chassis. If connecting to
reach the Inverter and the car battery. a battery not installed in a vehicle,
Position the Inverter so that the Outlets connect to the Negative (black) terminal.
are easily and safely accessible.
5. The red Fault LED will light up
2. To connect the Cable Ring momentarily and the alarm will
Terminals to the (Positive) red and sound as the Inverter draws power.
(Negative) black Power Terminals Then the alarm and red LED will turn off.
on the back of the Inverter: Note: If the alarm continues and
a. Make sure the Inverter’s red Fault LED stays lit, check the
Power Button is in the OFF position. Troubleshooting Tips section near
the end of this manual to correct
b. Unthread the knobs covering
the issue before continuing.
the Power Terminals.
6. Press the Power Button to
c. Slide the red Cable’s Ring
turn on the inverter.
Terminal over the post of the red
Power Terminal and the black 7. To power each device or appliance:
Cable’s Ring Terminal over the
a. With the device or appliance
post of the black Power Terminal.
switched off, plug it into one of the
d. Replace the knobs and Power Outlets or the USB Outlet
tighten securely. on the Power Inverter.
WARNING! Use only the included cables b. Turn on the device and/or appliance.
or 4 AWG cables up to 10 feet long.
8. After use, turn all connected devices
Thinner/longer cables may cause
or appliances off, unplug them, then
overheating and damage the inverter
turn off the car engine if it is running.
and/or connected devices.
Keep the inverter turned on and remove
3. Apply the parking brake to the the alligator clips from the battery
vehicle connected to the battery. posts, removing the Negative (black)
Place the transmission in “Park” clip first, then the Positive (red) clip.
for an automatic transmission, The alarm and red LED light will turn
or in “Neutral” for a manual on as the Inverter powers down.
transmission. Start the car engine. Turn off the Inverter Power Button.

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 Operating Tips
The total wattage of all items plugged into WARNING! To prevent serious injury
the Power Inverter must not use more than and death from carbon monoxide
200 watts during continuous operation, inhalation, do not run the vehicle’s
otherwise the Inverter may overload. engine within an enclosed area.
If an alarm sound is heard, turn Do not use car battery to power the Inverter
off the appliances and check the for extended periods of time with appliances
Troubleshooting Tips section to correct requiring high continuous load levels.
the issue before continuing. The battery may become drained to the
point that it will not be able to start your car.
NOTICE: Some rechargeable appliances
may damage the Power Inverter or Deep cycle (marine and RV) batteries
the appliance. When first using a can be charged more times than
rechargeable device, check the inverter’s a car battery, and are a better choice for
temperature for the first 10 minutes. repeated use of the Power Inverter.
If it becomes abnormally hot, do not
Do not discharge your car battery more than
use this device with the Inverter.
10% of its total capacity, and deep cycle
NOTICE: It is recommended that the vehicle batteries more than a 50% discharged state.
be running when you first connect the
Power Inverter. Thereafter the engine can
be on or off. If using the Power Inverter with
the engine off start and run the engine every
hour for at least 10 minutes to recharge the
battery. Doing this will help prevent any
unexpected shutdown of the equipment.
This will also help ensure that there will be
enough battery power to start the vehicle.

Typical Appliance Power Consumption

Running Additional
Product
Watts Start-up Watts
Stereo 200 0
Table Fan 200 200
TV-VCR 250 0
Small Refrigerator 350 700
Hand Drill - 1/2" 600 600
Light Bulb - 100 W 100 0
Microwave - 1000 W 1500 200
AC (5,000 BTU) 700 700

Note: This chart is intended as a general guideline only,

actual appliance wattage requirements will vary.
Some appliances listed above may require a pure sine
wave inverter instead for proper operation.

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 Troubleshooting Tips
• If the alarm sounds, this means that • This inverter is made to minimize the
the input voltage is at or below 10.9 V. interference with TV signals. However,
Stop using the Power Inverter especially with weak TV signals,
and recharge the battery. some interference may still be visible.
If this is not done, the Inverter will To correct this, place the inverter as far
shut off automatically at 10.5 V. away as possible from the television
antenna and it’s cables. Next, adjust
• If you are unsure if the inverter will
have the proper amount of current to the orientation of the inverter to
the antenna cables and TV power
run your devices, add up the total of
cord to minimize the interference.
the continuous wattage for the items.
Also use a shielded antenna cable.
If this figure is under 200 watts, then the
Inverter will be able to run the • If the low battery alarm is on all the
items at the same time. time, try these corrective measures:
• If your product, such as a television Recharge battery if in poor condition.
Next, check the battery connection.
will not start, it is important to keep in
You may need to clean the connectors.
mind that some appliances (including
many televisions) may require two to • If you are getting a low output voltage,
six times their wattage to start up. try reducing the load to minimize watts.
You may have overloaded the inverter.
• If your audio system buzzes while using
Reduce the number of watts you
this inverter, it is because some sound
are powering. Also, keep input
systems can not filter out the modified
sine wave produced by the inverter. voltage above 11 volts to maintain
a constant flow of power.
Use a sound system that incorporates
a higher quality power supply. • If you are not getting any power output,
turn the power switch Off and On again.
The devices may draw too much
power to operate them. The
inverter may be in thermal shutdown.
Let it cool down and make sure there is
adequate ventilation around the unit.

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 Maintenance and Servicing

Procedures not specifically explained in this manual

must be performed only by a qualified technician.

TO PREVENT SERIOUS INJURY FROM ACCIDENTAL OPERATION:

Make sure that all loads are disconnected from the Inverter, the Power Button
is in the off‑position and the cables are disconnected from power
source before performing any procedure in this section.
TO PREVENT SERIOUS INJURY FROM TOOL FAILURE:
Do not use damaged equipment. If abnormal noise or vibration
occurs, have the problem corrected before further use.
1. BEFORE EACH USE, inspect the 3. Maintain batteries according to
general condition of the tool. Check for: manufacturer’s instructions.
• loose hardware, Check electrolyte level on all batteries
after charging and refill as needed.
• misalignment or binding Charge batteries according to
of moving parts, manufacturer’s recommendations
• damaged cord/electrical wiring, ONLY; incorrect charging may cause
battery damage or explosion.
• cracked or broken parts, and
WARNING! TO PREVENT
• any other condition that may SERIOUS INJURY AND DEATH
affect its safe operation. FROM ELECTRIC SHOCK:
2. AFTER USE, wipe external surfaces DO NOT OPEN HOUSING!
of the tool with clean cloth. Contains no user-serviceable parts.
Internal parts may be electrified, even
with unit off and power disconnected.
4. Internal electronic components must
be disposed of properly or recycled.

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 Limited 90 Day Warranty

Harbor Freight Tools Co. makes every effort to assure that its products meet high quality
and durability standards, and warrants to the original purchaser that this product is free from
defects in materials and workmanship for the period of 90 days from the date of purchase.
This warranty does not apply to damage due directly or indirectly, to misuse, abuse, negligence
or accidents, repairs or alterations outside our facilities, criminal activity, improper installation,
normal wear and tear, or to lack of maintenance. We shall in no event be liable for death,
injuries to persons or property, or for incidental, contingent, special or consequential damages
arising from the use of our product. Some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of
incidental or consequential damages, so the above limitation of exclusion may not apply to you.
THIS WARRANTY IS EXPRESSLY IN LIEU OF ALL OTHER WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR
IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS.
To take advantage of this warranty, the product or part must be returned to us with transportation
charges prepaid. Proof of purchase date and an explanation of the complaint must accompany
the merchandise. If our inspection verifies the defect, we will either repair or replace
the product at our election or we may elect to refund the purchase price if we cannot readily
and quickly provide you with a replacement. We will return repaired products at our expense,
but if we determine there is no defect, or that the defect resulted from causes not within
the scope of our warranty, then you must bear the cost of returning the product.
This warranty gives you specific legal rights and you may also
have other rights which vary from state to state.

3491 Mission Oaks Blvd. • PO Box 6009 • Camarillo, CA 93011 • 1-888-866-5797

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