Magnum Energy MM612 Inverter - Manual (Page 8)

©
2010 Magnum Energy, Inc. 2
1.0 Introduction
How an Inverter/Charger Works
An inverter takes direct current (DC) from your batteries and turns it
into alternating current (AC), like you use at home. With MM Series
models that have the battery charger feature, it also takes alternating
current (when connected to a generator or to shore power) and trans-
forms it into direct current to recharge your batteries.
There are three modes of operation associated with this inverter:
Inverter Mode: DC from the batteries is transformed into AC for
powering your boat or RV accessories.
Transfer Mode: AC is taken directly from shore power (or other AC
sources) and passes through the inverter directly to your RV or boat
accessories.
Charger Mode (not available on all models): The incoming AC from
shore power (or other AC sources) is converted to DC to recharge the
batteries connected to the inverter.
What Appliances will run from a Modifi ed Sine Inverter
Today’s inverters come in two basic output waveforms: modifi ed sine
(which is actually a modifi ed square wave) and pure sine wave. Modi-
fi ed sine wave inverters approximate a pure sine waveform.
The output of a modifi ed sine wave inverter will run most electronic
and household items including but not limited to TV, VCR, satellite dish
receiver, computers, and printers. Some devices such as rechargeable
power supplies for phones, drills, and other like devices may not run
or be damaged by modifi ed sine wave inverters.
Appliances and Run Time
The MM Series inverter can power a wide range of household appliances
including small motors, clocks, and other electrical devices. As with any
appliance using batteries for power, there is a certain length of time that
it can run – this is called “run time”. Actual run time depends on several
variables including the size and the type of appliance, the type of bat-
teries installed in your application, as well as the battery’s capacity and
age. Other factors such as the battery’s state of charge and tempera-
ture can also affect the length of time your appliances can run.
Appliances such as TVs, VCRs, stereos, computers, and lights can all
be successfully powered by your inverter. Depending on your inverter
capacity, larger electrical appliances such as coffee pots and hair dry-
ers can be used for short durations. However, loads that are used for
longer periods such as stoves or water heaters can quickly drain your
batteries and are not recommended for inverter applications.
All electrical appliances are rated by the amount of power they con-
sume. The rating is printed on the product’s nameplate label, usually
located on its chassis near the AC power cord. Even though it is dif-
fi cult to calculate exactly how long an inverter will run a particular ap-
pliance, the best advice is trial and error. Your MM Series inverter has
a built-in safeguard that automatically protects your batteries from
being over-discharged.