Tripp Lite Tripp Lite DC-to-AC Inverters Owner's manual

1

Owner’s Manual

Tripp Lite

DC-to-AC Inverters

Models: PINV2000, PINV2000HS, PINV3000

(AG-87A0) (AG-87A1) (AG-87A2)

Español 25 • Français 49

1111 W. 35th Street, Chicago, IL 60609 USA • www.tripplite.com/support

WARRANTY REGISTRATION

Register your product today and be

automatically entered to win an ISOBAR

surge protector in our monthly drawing!

www.tripplite.com/warranty

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Congratulations! You’ve purchased a high-quality inverter designed to

function as a mobile energy source powered by your automotive bat-

tery. Tripp Lite inverters convert 12V DC (battery) power into 120V AC

(household) power, allowing you to use equipment you commonly use

at home—computers, appliances, electronics, power tools and more—

while traveling by automobile or working at remote locations that lack

AC power. Tripp Lite inverters include advanced features that protect

your equipment, lengthen the service life of your battery and ensure

you’ll always have battery power to start your vehicle:

• Automatic Overload Protection

• Automatic Low-Battery Protection

• High-Performance DC-to-AC Inversion

• Frequency-Controlled Output Power

• Simple, Maintenance-Free Operation

• GFCI Protected AC Outlets

• USB 5V 2.0A Charging Port(s)

Important Safety Instructions 3

Feature Identiﬁcation 6

Battery Selection 9

Mounting 10

Battery Connection 14

Operation 18

Troubleshooting/Maintenance 20

Service 23

Warranty & Product Registration 24

Reliable AC Power Wherever You Need It

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Important Safety Instructions

SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS!

This manual contains important instructions and warnings

that should be followed during the installation, operation and

storage of all Tripp Lite Inverters.

Location Warnings

• Install your Inverter (whether for a mobile or stationary application)

in a location or compartment that minimizes exposure to heat, dust,

direct sunlight and moisture.

• Although your Inverter is moisture resistant, it is NOT waterproof.

Flooding the unit with water will cause it to short circuit and could

cause personal injury due to electric shock. Never immerse the

unit, and avoid any area where standing water might accumulate.

Mounting should be in the driest location available.

• Leave a minimum of 2 inches (5 cm) clearance at front and back of

the Inverter for proper ventilation. The heavier the load of connected

equipment, the more heat will be generated by the unit. Any

compartment that contains the Inverter must be properly ventilated

with adequate outside airﬂow to avoid overheating the Inverter.

• Do not install the Inverter directly near magnetic storage media, as

this may result in data corruption.

• Do not install near ﬂammable materials, fuel or chemicals.

• Do not mount unit with its front or rear panel facing down (at any

angle). Mounting in this manner will seriously inhibit the unit’s

internal cooling, eventually causing product damage not covered

under warranty.

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Important Safety Instructions

Battery Connection Warnings

• Multiple battery systems must be comprised of batteries of identical

voltage, age, amp-hour capacity and type.

• Because explosive hydrogen gas can accumulate near batteries

if they are not kept well ventilated, your batteries should not be

installed (whether for a mobile or stationary application) in a “dead

air” compartment. Ideally, any compartment would have some

ventilation to outside air.

• Sparks may result during ﬁnal battery connection. Always observe

proper polarity as batteries are connected.

• Do not allow objects to contact the two DC input terminals. Do not

short or bridge these terminals together. Serious personal injury or

property damage could result.

• Connect the Inverter to the battery with recommended DC fusing

(see Battery Connection) along with properly sized battery cabling

Ground Connection Warnings

• Safe operation requires connecting the Inverter’s main grounding

screw directly to the frame of the vehicle or earth ground.

Equipment Connection Warnings

Use of this equipment in life support applications where failure of this

equipment can reasonably be expected to cause the failure of the life

support equipment or to signiﬁcantly affect its safety or effectiveness is

not recommended.

• You may experience uneven performance results if you connect a

surge protector, line conditioner or UPS system to the modiﬁed sine

wave output of the inverter.

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Important Safety Instructions

Operation Warnings

• Your inverter produces a modiﬁed sine wave, not a pure sine

wave. Inductive loads like a refrigerator or drill are not suitable for

long-term use with a modiﬁed sine wave inverter. Otherwise, it may

damage or shorten the working life of the inverter or associated

devices.

• Your inverter does not require routine maintenance. Do not open the

device for any reason. There are no user-serviceable parts inside.

• Potentially lethal voltages exist within the inverter as long as the

battery is connected. During any service work, the battery should

therefore be disconnected.

• Do not connect or disconnect batteries while the inverter is

operating. Dangerous arcing may result.

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Feature Identiﬁcation

PINV2000

PINV2000HS/PINV3000

A

GFCI Protected AC Outlets: NEMA 5-15/20R outlets allow you

to connect equipment that normally plugs into an AC utility outlet.

Enhancing safety, the ground fault circuit interrupter switch trips if

there is excessive current on the ground safety wire.

B

USB Charging: 2.0A USB-A charging port(s) support charging of

mobile phones, tablets and other personal electronic devices.

A C

D G

BH E

E

F

A A GC D

B H

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Feature Identiﬁcation

C

ON/OFF/REMOTE Switch: When you set the switch to the ON

(I) position, the Inverter provides AC power by converting DC

power from the connected 12V battery system. Set the switch to

the OFF (O) position to shut down the Inverter and conserve the

battery’s charge when you are not using connected equipment.

Also set the switch to the OFF position to reset the Inverter if

it has shut down due to overload or other critical events. Both

inverters are equipped with the capability to extend its ON/OFF

control to a remote location with the included PINVRM remote

panel. The remote provides ON/OFF operation and a status LED

to let you know the inverter is ON. See the Operation section for

more information.

D

LED Status Indicators: When the switch is set to the ON

position, the LED system will illuminate green during normal, low

voltage alarm and output short circuit conditions. If there is an

overload, over-temperature, or if a high/low DC voltage shutdown

condition occurs, the LED system will illuminate red.

LED

Operation

Status

Normal

Voltage

(12V)

Low

Voltage

Alarm

Low

Voltage

Shutdown

High

Voltage

Shutdown

Over-

Temperature

Output

Overload

Output

Short

Circuit

Green LED

Status

ON ON OFF OFF OFF OFF ON

Red LED

Status

OFF OFF ON ON ON ON OFF

Alarm OFF ON ON ON OFF OFF OFF

E

Temperature/Load-Controlled Cooling Fan: This fan regulates

the internal temperature of the inverter and prolongs service

life. It will only come on if the temperature or load demand goes

beyond the set thresholds.

F

DC Power Terminals: These positive and negative terminals

connect to the battery via the included or user-supplied cabling.

See Battery Connection for instructions.

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G

Main Ground Screw: Connect to an earth ground or a vehicle

grounding system in order to properly ground the inverter. See

Battery Connection for instructions.

H

Remote Control Module Connector: All models feature a

6-conductor telephone style jack on the front panel for use with

an optional remote control module (Tripp Lite model PINVRM,

included with all models). The remote module allows the Inverter

to be mounted out of sight in a compartment or cabinet, while

operated conveniently from your vehicle’s dashboard. See

Mounting and Operation sections instructions for use of the

remote control module.

Not Shown:

Audible Alarm: The internal audible alarm activates when either a low

or high DC voltage condition exists.

Feature Identiﬁcation

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Battery Selection

Match Battery Amp-Hour Capacity to Your

Application

Select a battery or system of batteries that will provide your Inverter

with proper DC voltage and an adequate amp-hour capacity to power

your application. Even though Tripp Lite Inverters are highly efﬁcient

at DC-to-AC inversion, their rated output capacities are limited by the

total amp-hour capacity of connected batteries, plus the output of an

alternator (when one is used).

STEP 1) Determine Total Wattage Required

Add the wattage ratings of all equipment you will connect to your

Inverter. Wattage ratings are typically listed in equipment manuals

or on nameplates. If your equipment is rated in amps, multiply that

number times AC utility voltage to estimate watts. (Example: a drill

requires 2.5 amps. 2.5 amps × 120 volts = 300 watts.)

Note: Your Inverter will operate at higher efﬁciencies around 75% - 80% of

nameplate rating.

Step 2) Determine DC Battery Amps Required

Divide the total wattage required (from Step 1, above) by the battery

voltage to determine the DC amps required, then multiply by 1.2 to

account for conversion losses.

Step 3) Estimate Battery Amp-Hours Required

Multiply the DC amps required (from Step 2, above) by the number of

hours you estimate the equipment will operate exclusively from battery

power before recharging the batteries. This will provide an estimate of

how many battery power amp-hours (from one or several batteries) you

should connect to your Inverter.

Note: Battery amp-hour ratings are usually given for a 20-hour discharge rate.

Actual amp-hour capacities are less when batteries are discharged at faster

rates. For example, batteries discharged in 55 minutes provide only 50% of their

listed amp-hour ratings, while batteries discharged in 9 minutes provide as little

as 30% of their amp-hour ratings.

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Mounting

WARNING!

Mount your Inverter BEFORE DC battery connection. Failure

to follow these instructions may lead to personal injury and/

or damage to the Inverter and connected systems. Ensure the

inverter never is mounted in a vertical position (fan or outlet side

facing up or down). Mounting an inverter in a vertical position

allows debris to enter the unit and inhibit proper operation of its

cooling system, which can void the inverter’s warranty.

Tripp Lite recommends permanently mounting the Inverter in the

conﬁgurations illustrated below. The Inverter features integral mounting

brackets on the left and right sides of the unit. The user must supply

mounting hardware and is responsible for determining whether

hardware and mounting surfaces adequately support the weight of the

unit.

Use the measurements as shown in the following diagram to install two

user-supplied fasteners to the right or bottom (wall-mount) mounting

slots of the unit, leaving the heads slightly raised. Slide the unit over

the fasteners to engage the mounting slots. Tighten fasteners. Install

and tighten two additional fasteners to the remaining mounting slots

for proper securement.

Flat Surface

Mount

Wall Mount

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Mounting

PINV2000 Mounting Dimensions*

9.17 in. (233 mm)

5.73 in. (145.5 mm)

0.22 in. (5.6 mm)

0.36 in. (9.1 mm)

9.65 in. (245 mm)

9.17 in. (233 mm)

0.63 in.

(16 mm)

0.63 in.

(16 mm)

*All mounting dimensions are accurate to +/- 0.1 inch (2.5 mm).

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PINV2000HS/PINV3000 Mounting Dimensions*

0.221.65

Mounting

9.90 in. (251.5 mm)

12.87 in. (327 mm)

9.35 in. (237.5 mm)

1.65 in.

(42 mm)

0.22 in.

(5.6 mm)

PINVRM Remote Control Mounting Instructions

1

To mount the remote to a permanent location, ensure the 20 ft.

(6 m) remote cable can reach the inverter’s RJ11 remote port.

*All mounting dimensions are accurate to +/- 0.1 inch (2.5 mm).

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Mounting

3

Using the center-to-center spacing of the mounting holes, mark

the locations for installation.

4

Secure the remote to its permanent location with user-supplied

hardware. Tighten by hand to reduce the possibility of cracking

the remote module at its mounting points.

5

Connect the remote’s wired connector to the inverter’s RJ11 port

labeled “REMOTE”.

6

Set the inverter’s main power switch to the REMOTE (||) position.

7

Test the connection and operation by pressing ON/OFF until the

green status LED shows on the remote module.

STATUS

ON/OFF

PINVRM

2.539 in. (65 mm)

Ø0.157 in. (4 mm)

3.818 in. (97 mm)

4.284 in. (109 mm)

0.104 in. (3 mm)

Ø1.269 in. (32 mm) 0.492 in. (13 mm)

*All mounting dimensions are accurate to +/- 0.1 inch (2.5 mm).

2

The following mounting dimensions* should be used when

installing the remote to a permanent mounting location:

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Battery Connection

WARNING!

Make sure the inverter power switch is in the OFF position,

connect with included DC Wiring to the positive and negative

terminals. Though your Inverter is a high-efﬁciency converter

of electricity, its rated output capacity is limited by the length

and gauge of the cabling running from the battery to the unit.

Use the included cabling or the shortest length and largest

diameter cabling (see the Recommended Cabling and Fusing

Chart below) with ring terminals to ﬁt your Inverter’s DC Input

terminals. Shorter and heavier gauge cabling reduces DC voltage

drop and allows for maximum transfer of current. Your Inverter

is capable of delivering peak wattage at up to 200% of its rated

continuous wattage output for brief periods of time. Heavier

gauge cabling should be used when continuously operating heavy

draw equipment under these conditions. To protect the battery

system, it is also recommended to install a user-supplied UL-

rated ANL fuse and fuse block 7 inches from the battery bank’s

positive terminal connection. The inverter has its own internal DC

fusing to protect against short circuits at the inverter’s output.

Recommended Cabling and Fusing

Model

Included Wire

Gauge and Quantity

(2x Red / 2x Black)

Included

Cabling

Length

Recommended

DC Fuse Size

(User-Supplied)

Ground

Wire Size

and Length

(Included)

PINV2000 4x 6 AWG 3 ft.

(1m)

300A ANL Fuse 16 AWG

(3 ft.)

PINV2000HS 4x 5 AWG 3 ft.

(1m)

440A ANL Fuse 16 AWG

(3 ft.)

PINV3000 4x 5 AWG 3 ft.

(1m)

440A ANL Fuse 16 AWG

(3 ft.)

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Battery Connection

To Connect the Inverter to Batteries:

1. Locate the positive (+) red and negative (-) black terminals on the

left side of the inverter.

2. From the positive and the negative terminals, remove the hex nut,

split lock, and ﬂat washer.

3. Place the positive ring connector onto the positive inverter

terminal. Place the negative ring connector onto the negative DC

input terminal.

4. Place a ﬂat washer and split lock on top of each ring connector.

Put the positive and negative hex nuts over these and tighten to

create a secure connection and prevent excessive heating at this

connection. Insufﬁcient tightening of the terminals could void your

warranty. See Speciﬁcations for recommended cable sizing.

5. Connect the red positive (+) wire to the positive (+) connector on

your battery system and connect the black negative (-) wire to the

negative (-) connector on your battery system. It is recommended

that the positive connection should have a UL-rated ANL fuse and

fuse block (see Recommend Cabling and Fusing table) installed

a minimum of 7 inches or maximum of 18 inches from the battery

system’s positive connector for battery system protection.

6. Connect Ground: Using the ground wire, directly connect the

Main Ground Screw to the vehicle’s chassis or earth ground.

See Feature Identiﬁcation to locate the Main Ground Screw.

All installations must comply with national and local codes and

ordinances.

FUSE

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Battery Connection

WARNING!

• Failure to properly ground your Inverter to a vehicle’s chassis

or earth ground may result in a lethal electrical shock hazard.

• Never attempt to operate your Inverter by connecting it

directly to output from an alternator rather than a battery or

battery bank.

• Observe proper polarity with all DC connections.

Vehicular Applications

Your Inverter’s nominal DC input voltage must match the voltage

of your battery or batteries. 12V DC is used in most vehicular

applications. It is possible to connect your Inverter to the main battery

within your vehicle’s electrical system. In many vehicular contexts, the

Inverter will be connected to one or more dedicated auxiliary (house)

batteries, which are isolated from the drive system to prevent possible

draining of the main battery.

PINV2000 12V Battery Connection

12V

FUSE

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Battery Connection

PINV2000HS/PINV3000 12V Battery Connection

12V

FUSE

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Operation

Operating Modes

After mounting and connecting your Inverter according to the

instructions in this manual, use the ON/OFF/REMOTE switch to choose

the Inverter’s operating mode.

ON: When you set the switch to the ON (I) position, the Inverter

provides AC power to connected equipment by converting DC power

from your vehicle’s battery. The green LED will illuminate to indicate it

is working.

OFF: Set the switch to the OFF (O) position to shut down the Inverter

completely. Doing this will prevent it from drawing power from your

vehicle’s battery. Also set the switch to the OFF position to reset the

Inverter if it has shut down due to low battery, overload or other critical

condition.

REMOTE: When you set the switch to the REMOTE (II) position, the

Inverter provides AC power to connected equipment by converting

DC power from your vehicle’s battery. The green LED will illuminate to

indicate it is working. You can then power the inverter ON/OFF from a

remote location via the included PINVRM remote. This remote switch

can be mounted in the vehicle or a permanent mount application (see

Mounting section for more information). The green LED on the remote

will illuminate to indicate the inverter is in the ON operating mode.

1. Connect the Inverter (see Battery Connection section).

STATUS

ON/OFF

PINVRM

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Operation

2. Switch the Inverter’s ON/OFF switch to the ON (I) position. If you

are using the included PINVRM remote panel, set the switch to

the REMOTE (II) position and press the ON button on the remote

panel.

3. The green LED indicator will illuminate on the unit or remote panel

(If installed), indicating the Inverter is receiving power.

4. Switch the Inverter’s ON/OFF/REMOTE switch to the OFF (O)

position. The green LED may ﬂash brieﬂy and/or the internal

speaker may beep brieﬂy. This is normal.

5. Make sure the device(s) to be operated is turned OFF.

6. Plug the device(s) into the Inverter’s AC outlet(s).

7. Switch the inverter’s ON/OFF/REMOTE switch to the ON (I) or

REMOTE (II) positions. If using the remote position, connect the

PINVRM cable connector to the RJ11 jack on the unit labeled

REMOTE and press the ON/OFF momentary switch to power the

inverter.

8. Turn the device(s) on.

9. To disconnect, reverse the above procedure.

USB Charging Operation

The USB charging port is ON when the Inverter is connected to a 12V

DC power source. Connect your device(s) to this port for USB charging

up to 2.0A. Remove your device(s) from the USB port when it has

ﬁnished charging to reduce battery drain or start vehicle.

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Troubleshooting/Maintenance

Troubleshooting Protection Modes

The Inverter may shut down and cease supplying AC power under

certain conditions in order to protect the unit, the battery and

connected equipment.

The LED automatically illuminates green when the Inverter is plugged

into a 12V DC power source and turned on. If conditions cause the

Inverter’s LED to illuminate red, its alarm to sound or the inverter

automatically turns itself off, follow these instructions to restore the

unit to normal operation:

Condition Explanation Solution

Low-Voltage

Alarm and

Low-Voltage

Cutoff

When the power input

from the vehicle’s battery

drops to approximately

10.5V DC, the low-

voltage alarm will sound.

When the voltage goes

down below 10V DC, the

inverter shuts off.

Start the vehicle to

recharge the battery. See

Resetting the Inverter for

more information.

Overvoltage

Alarm and

Shutdown

When the power input

from the vehicle’s

battery exceeds 16V DC,

high voltage overload

protection occurs and

shuts down the inverter.

Overload

The continuous load

demand from the

equipment or device

being operated exceeds

the continuous load

rating of the inverter.

Use a higher capacity

inverter or lower rated

device.

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Tripp Lite Tripp Lite DC-to-AC Inverters Owner's manual

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