Introduction Intro Our Thanks to You Operation Customer Warranty Thank you for purchasing Assistance the Cobra CPI 1550 inverter. Properly used, this Cobra product will give you many years of reliable service. Operating Instructions How Your Cobra Power Inverter Works Installation Notes The Cobra power inverter is an electronic product that has been Secondary Icons and built to take low voltage DC (Direct designed Current) power from your automobile or other low voltage power supplies and convert it to standard 115 volt AC (Alternating Current) power like the current you have in your home. This conversion process thereby allows you to use many of your householdCaution appliances Warningelectronic and Notice products in automobiles, RVs, boats, tractors, trucks and virtually anywhere else. Main Icons The Cobra line of quality products includes: Customer Assistance Intro CB Radios microTALK® Radios Radar/Laser Detectors Safety Alert® Traffic Warning Systems Handheld GPS Receivers Mobile GPS Navigation Systems HighGear® Accessories CobraMarineTM VHF Radios Power Inverters Accessories Secondary Icons Customer Assistance Assistance Should you encounter any problems with this product, or not understand its many features, please refer to this owner's manual. If you require further assistance after reading this manual, Cobra Electronics offers the Installation Notes following customer assistance services: For Assistance in the U.S.A. Automated Help Desk English only. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week 773-889-3087 (phone). Customer Assistance Operators English and Spanish. Notice Caution Warning 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. CT, Monday through Friday (except holidays) 773-889-3087 (phone). Questions English and Spanish. Faxes can be received at 773-622-2269 (fax). Technical Assistance English only. www.cobra.com (on-line: Frequently Asked Questions). English and Spanish. productinfo@cobra.com (e-mail). For Assistance Outside the U.S.A. Contact Your Local Dealer Operation Customer Warranty For more information or to order any of our products, please visit our website: www.cobra.com Nothing comes close to a Cobra® English 1500 WATT POWER INVERTER CPI 1550 Nothing Comes Close To A CobraTM Printed in China Part No. 480-199-P Version A A1 English © 2005 Cobra® Electronics Corporation 6500 West Cortland Street Chicago, Illinois 60707 USA www.cobra.com English Introduction Intro Product Features Operation Customer Assistance Warranty Main Icons Main Icons Introduction Intro Contents Operation Customer Assistance Warranty Features · Three AC Receptacles · Reverse Polarity Protection · Current Meter · Remote On/Off Capable · Low Battery Alarm · · Automatic Thermal InstallationLow Battery Shutdown Notes Protection/Shutdown Secondary Icons AC Outlets Current Meter Notice Power & Protection Indicators On/Off Power Switch Caution Warning Intro Introduction Our Thanks to You . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A1 Customer Assistance . . .Warranty . . . . . . . . . A1 .... Intro Operation Customer Assistance Product Installation Features . . . . . . . . . . Notes . . . . . . A2 ... Important Safety Information . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Secondary Icons Operation Quick Evaluation Before Installation . . . . . . .4 Customer Warranty Assistance Notes Installation Installation Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Caution Warning Notice Mounting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Notes Connecting Cables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Power Consumption . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Ground Wiring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Notice Caution Warning Installation Remote On/Off Switch Jack Main Icons Secondary Icons Secondary Icons Installation Notice Intro Operation Main Icons Operation Turning Your Inverter On or Off . . . . . . . . 14 Caution Warning Remote On/Off Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Switch Customer Assistance Power and Protection Indicators . . . . . . . 16 Operating Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Troubleshooting Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Notes Negative Battery Cable Terminal (Black) Cooling Fans Positive Battery Cable Terminal (Red) Intro Operation Main Icons Installation Secondary Icons Warranty Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Warranty Ground Terminal Customer Assistance Notice Intro Installation Operation Customer Assistance Notes Customer Assistance Maintenance . . Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 .... Caution Product Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Warranty Accessories and Order Form . . . . . . . . . . 22 Secondary Icons Installation Notes Secondary Icons Notice Caution Warning A2 English Notice A3 English Caution Warning Introduction Intro Important Safety Information Operation Customer Warranty Assistance Important Safety Information · Before installing and using your Cobra power inverter, please read these general precautions and warnings. er ce Warranty on Caution and Warning Statements Installation Notes To make the most of this inverter, it must be installed Secondary Icons and used properly. Please read the installation and Customer Warranty Assistance operating instructions carefully before installing and Notes using it. Special attention must be paid to the CAUTION and WARNING statements in the manual. Caution Warning Notice Notes CAUTION Statements specify conditions which could cause damage to the unit or other equipment. Warning ion ons n WARNING Statements identify conditions that could result in personal injury or loss of life. e Caution Warning Intro ary Icons er ce General Precautions 1. Operation install the inverter in a boat's engine compartment Never Customer Warranty Assistance where gas and battery fumes are present. 2. Do not operate the inverter if it has been dropped or damaged in any way. 3. Installation open the inverter; it contains no userDo not Notes serviceable parts. Attempting to service unit could cause electrical shock. NOTE Internal components remain Warranty charged after all power is disconnected. Notice Caution Warning 4. Do not expose the inverter to rain, snow, bilge water or spray. 5. Do not obstruct the ventilation openings. Notes 6. Do not install the inverter in zero-clearance compartment. CAUTION This inverter should be used in negative ground applications only. n Warning Nothing comes close to a Cobra® 1 ion Notes Introduction Intro Important Safety Information Operation Customer Assistance Warranty Introduction Intro Important Safety Information Operation Customer Warranty e Caution WARNING Power inverters contain components that tend to produce arcs or sparks. To prevent fire Warning or explosion, do not install the inverter in areas or compartments containing batteries or Installation flammable materials or in locationsNotes require that ignition-protected equipment. Secondary Icons Assistance Cobra 1500 Watt Output Waveform WARNING To reduce the risk of fire, do not cover or obstruct the ventilation openings. Do not install inverter in zero-clearance compartment. Caution Notice Caution: Rechargeable Appliances Warning Some very sensitive electronic equipment may not operate satisfactory on "square wave" or "modified sine wave." The output waveform is referred to as Installation "square wave" or "modified sine wave." It is a stepped Notes waveform designed to have characteristics similar Secondary Icons to the sine wave shape of utility power. A waveform of this nature is suitable for most AC loads (including linear and switching power suppliers used in electronic equipment, transformers and motors). Notice Caution Warning Certain chargers for small nickel cadmium batteries can be damaged if connected to the Cobra 1500 watt inverter. Two particular types of equipment are prone to this problem: 1. Small battery-operated appliances Plug In Directly such as flashlights, razors, and night lights that can be plugged directly into an AC receptacle to recharge. 2. Certain battery chargers for Dangerous Voltages battery packs used in hand power tools. These chargers have a WARNING label stating that dangerous voltages are present at the battery terminals. This problem does not occur with the vast majority of battery operated equipment. Most use a separate charger or transformer that is plugged into the AC receptacle and produces a low voltage output. If the label on the AC adapter or charger states that it produces a low voltage AC or DC output (less than 30 volts), the inverter will have no problem powering the adapter safely. 2 English Nothing comes close to a Cobra® 3 Introduction Intro Quick Evaluation Before Installation Operation Customer Assistance Warranty Introduction Intro Quick Evaluation Before Installation Operation Customer Warranty Quick Evaluation Before Installation · This section provides you with basic information about the inverter and how to check its performance before installation. Be sure to have on hand: Installation Notes A 12 volt DC power source (such as a vehicle battery). Secondary Icons The power source must provide Power Supply between 11 and 15 volts DC and be able to supply enough current to run the test load. As a rough guide, divide the wattage of the test load by Caution Warning Notice 10 to get the current (in amperes) the power source must deliver. Cables to connect the power source to the inverter (not included). The cables must be as short and thick as possible in order to reduce the voltage drop between the power source and the inverter when it is drawing current from the power source. If the cable suffers an excessive voltage drop, the inverter may shut down when drawing higher currents because the voltage at the inverter dropped below 10 volts. #4 AWG stranded copper cable is recommended. It should be no longer than four feet (one and one-half meters). The end of the cable that connects to the inverter must have its insulation stripped off for about one-half inch (one and one-half cm) back from the end, exposing the bare copper. The other end of the cable, which connects to the power source, must be terminated with a lug or other connector that provides a secure, low resistance connection. For example, if the power source is a battery, the cable must be terminated with a battery terminal that clamps to the post on the battery. Assistance AMain Iconsload that can be plugged into the AC receptacle on test the inverter for short term testing at a low power level. The following cables are recommended for testing low power level test loads only. Installation Test Load Minimum Notes Test Load Power Cable Size Intro Operation Customer Warranty Assistance Secondary Icons 100W # 16 AWG copper 250W # 12 AWG copper 500W # 8 AWG copper Notes To check your inverter's performance before installation: Caution Warning Notice Secondary Icons 1. Turn the inverter off (see page 14 On/Off Switch to Off for details). If the power source is a DC power supply, switch it off Main Icons as well. Notice Caution Warning 2. Connect cables to power input Connect Terminals terminals (see page 8 for details). 3. Connect cables to power source (see page 8 for details). Intro Operation Customer Warranty Assistance 4. Check to make sure all Connect Power Source connections are secure. 5. Turn the inverter on. If the power source is a DC power supply, Installation Notes switch it on first. Secondary Icons On/Off Switch to On 6. Plug in the test load. Installation Notice Connect Test Load The inverter should supply power to the load. If the inverter is not working properly, refer to the Caution Warning troubleshooting guide on page 18 or power and protection indicators section on page 16. 4 English Nothing comes close to a Cobra® 5 Intro Operation Customer Assistance Warranty Intro Operation Customer Assistance Warranty Installation Installation Installation Requirements Installation Notes Secondary Icons Installation Installation Mounting Notes Notes Installation Requirements Secondary Icons · Secondary Icons Notice Caution er ce The inverter must be installed in an area that meets all of the following requirements: A. Dry Do not place in an area where water can drip or splash on the inverter. Warning Caution Notice B. Cool Ambient air temperature should be between 30°F and 105°F (0°C and 40°C). The cooler the better. C. Ventilate Allow at least one inch (three cm) of clearance around the inverter for proper airflow. Make sure that ventilation openings on the ends of the unit are not obstructed. D. Safe Do not install the inverter in the same compartment as a battery or in any compartment that contains flammable liquids such as gasoline. Warranty E. Close to Battery Install unit as close to battery as possible (without being in the same compartment) to minimize the l ...