OPERATION
1. Ensure the ON / OFF switch is in the OFF position.
2. Connect the DC power cables to the input terminals on the rear panel, observing the correct polarity. Check the
connections are secure.
3. Ground the inverter.
4. Connect the DC cables to the battery again observing the right polarity.
5. PIug appliance into the AC outlet socket on the front panel. The appliance should be in the OFF mode.
6. Turn on the inverter.
7. Switch ON the appliance to be operated. NOTE: If you are operating more than one device then turn them ON
separately so that the inverter does not have to deliver start up loads all at the same time. Some appliances
such as refrigerators, motors, pumps etc require very high start up currents to operate, therefore before
attempting to power up this type of equipment make sure all connections have properly been made and the
battery is fully charged.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Measuring AC voltages:
The output wave of the AC inverter is a MODIFIED SINEWAVE. If you choose to measure the AC output voltage,
you must use an AUTHENTIC RMS VOLT METER. Using any other type of voltage measuring device will result in
an AC voltage reading that’s up to 20 to 30 volts lower than the rated value. The reading will only be accurate when
using an authentic RMS voltmeter.
Can I operate a microwave with a power inverter?
The power rating used with microwave ovens is the "cooking power" which refers to the power being "delivered" to
the food being cooked. The actual operating power requirement rating is higher than the cooking power rating (for
example, a microwave with "advertised" rating of 600 watts usually corresponds to almost 1100 watts of power
consumption). The actual power consumption is usually stated on the back of the microwave. If the operating
power requirement cannot be found on the back of the microwave, check the owner's manual or contact the
manufacturer.
What battery do I need to run my inverter ?
Batteries are the heart of an inverter-powered electrical system, storing power for use on demand. The most basic
way to draw electrical power from a battery is direct current (DC) at the nominal voltage of the battery. Your car
radio, for example, uses 12 volts DC (12Vdc), the same voltage as your car battery. Many off-grid electrical
systems (those not powered by electricity from a utility company) use 12-volt DC power to run simple loads such as
lights. (Any consumption of electrical power is called a load.) Such systems are commonly referred to as low-
voltage DC systems. Powered by a 12-volt DC system, you can enjoy the benefits of electric lights, entertainment
systems, laptop computers, and other devices that can be operated off a car battery. However, you can't run power
tools, kitchen appliances, or office machines, without the help of some device that generates "household"
electricity. An ideal way to run these devices is from a DC power sources such as vehicle batteries using an
inverter. An inverter is a device that converts battery power (DC) into alternating current (AC) of a higher voltage.
DC-to-AC inverters have been around for a long time. Energy loss in this conversion process at first was very high:
the average efficiency of early inverters hovered around 60%. In other words, you would have to draw 100 watts of
battery power to run a 60-watt bulb. A new way to build inverters was introduced in the early 1980s. These fully
solid state inverters boosted efficiency to >85%.
The key to SkyTronic reliability is the elegance of our design. We use a sophisticated Field Effect Transistor (FET)
circuitry to convert the batteries' DC voltage (usually 12 or 24 Vdc) into AC. The resulting low voltage AC is then
transformed into a higher voltage, usually 230Vac. All of the power shaping - conversion to AC - and waveform
shaping takes place on the low voltage side of the transformer.
One note of caution: Batteries only have a limited power storage capacity. To avoid draining a battery and thus
avoid the possibility of damaging it, you need to calculate and monitor the electrical consumption or your device.
For larger SkyTronic Inverters >600W, we recommend a deep cycle lead/acid battery as the need for recharging is
more important and prolongs the battery's life. This type of battery is commonly found in caravans, motor homes,
Recreational Vehicles and boats.
How much power does the Inverter take from the battery ?
This obviously depends on the load connected to the inverter and the following is a basic calculation only.
Divide the load of the device connected to the SkyTronic Inverter by 10 (12V) or by 20 (24V).
For example: For a 600W appliance connected to a 12V inverter/battery, the power used would be 600 divided by
10 = 60A.
