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OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
1. Connect the cigarette lighter plug from the Inverter ‘Power-Can’ to the 12V cigarette lighter
socket in the car or power pack.
2. Turn the car or power pack on. The alarm and Red LED will come on briefly prior to the
Green status LED illuminating.
3. Plug the 240V appliance or USB device into the Inverter ‘Power-Can’.
4. To turn the inverter off, turn the car ignition switch to the off position or disconnect the
cigarette lighter plug from the cigarette lighter socket.
DETERMINING SUITABLE LOAD/APPLIANCES:
All appliances have a rating plate that shows the amount of power (Watts) used or the current
(Amps) drawn under normal use. The Inverter ‘Power-Can’ is able to supply power to appliances
that have a continuous power draw of 120Watts or 0.5 Amp AC.
Some appliances that use an electric motor or transformer may draw 2 to 9 times their rating
when first turned on; this is called an inductive load and is the most difficult for the inverter to
run. For these appliances it is often a matter of trial and error to see what size inverter they will
run from; if in doubt always use a larger inverter. The following table lists typical appliances
suitable for use with this IM120 Inverter ‘Power-Can’ and their approximate power
rating (AC Watts).
TYPICAL APPLIANCE
Appliance
Watts
Mobile phone charger
5W–10W
Video game console
39W–100W
Camcorder charger
3W–20W
Portable work light
8W–60W
Portable stereo
10W–40W
Laptop computer
60W–95W
Digital camera charger
4W–19W
19” Television
100W–160W
Printer
100W–200W
12” Fan
80W–140W
This product is rated for use with items running up to 120W or less.
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SUITABLE POWER SUPPLY
In order to operate the inverter and supply power to an appliance, a suitable 12VDC power
supply is required. This can be a vehicle or caravan battery, portable power pack or an
independent 12V lead acid battery. For most applications, a deep cycle battery is recommended
for optimum performance. The size of the battery used will determine how long the inverter
will supply power to an appliance and how well the inverter will perform. Most batteries are
marked with their size in Amp hours (Ah) or Cold Cranking Amps (CCA).
Because 12V inverters are capable of drawing high currents the inverter should only be
connected to a suitable sized battery. Connection to an undersized battery could damage the
battery and will result in the inverter shutting down within a short period due to low battery
voltage. The amount of power drawn from the battery is proportional to the inverter load.
Minimum recommended battery size
17Ah (100CCA)
Run time with maximum load and
minimum battery size
40 min
Run time for a 100 Watt globe with
minimum battery size
80 min
Ideal battery size
50-70Ah
RESIDUAL CURRENT DEVICE (RCD)
For added safety it is recommended that a Type “A” Residual Current Device (RCD) be used for
any appliance that is being operated by the inverter. These are sometimes called “Safety Switches”
and are designed to be connected between and appliance and power source.
Connect the RCD to the inverter AC outlet socket
Connect the appliance to the other end of the RCD
Turn the power supply “ON”
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to turn the RCD “ON” and “TEST” that it is
functioning correctly.
Turn the appliance on.
NOTE: Some RCDs do not work properly with the inverter’s “Modified Wave” output. Check with
the RCD manufacturer and always follow the manufacturer’s “TEST” procedure to check that the
RCD is functioning correctly.
USING THE INVERTER IN VEHICLES
The Inverter Power-Can’ is best used whilst the engine is running. This will minimise the risk of
flattening the car’s starter battery even though the Inverter will shut down if the battery voltage
falls below 10V (Note: 10V is not sufficient voltage to start a car). To use the Inverter for an
extended period of time without the engine running, it is recommended to run it from a second
battery or a dual battery system to avoid flattening the car’s starting battery.
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