A Coleman Powermate With an Inverter Error

Coleman Powermate Inverter

• Essentially, an inverter takes DC power and converts the energy into AC power. For instance, the Coleman inverter might take 12-volt DC power and turn the power into approximately 120-volt AC power, which is the typical power rating of most household electrical outlets.

Power Flow

• When connected, the inverter can supply between 2,000 and 6,000 watts of power between the two power sources. The inverter can be connected to a vehicle battery and has built-in protection against short circuits, over and under voltage, and overload to help protect both sources against damage.

Power Error

• If the Coleman inverter is not working correctly, the error may be due to insufficient power supply or overheating. Select a Coleman inverter capable of supplying the desired voltage: 12- or 24-volt models are most commonly used with vehicles for 120 volts of power. Keep plenty of space around the inverter for proper airflow to help prevent overheating. In addition, keep the inverter dry and away from other sources of heat or power. Do not set the battery inside the car hood or near any other potentially flammable surfaces or fumes.

Connection Error

• Error may also result if the inverter is not connected correctly. Connect the inverter by taking the terminal screw caps, which are red and black, off the inverter terminal harness and connecting the ring harness to the posts on the inverter. Place the red wire on the red cap and the black wire to the black cap, and tighten the corresponding color caps over the harnesses. Set the other ring harnesses onto the posts of the other device and connect the red terminal to the red post and the black to the black post. Tighten the locknuts over the ring harnesses. Make sure each connection is firm, and turn off the inverter if the unit is not in use to avoid draining the car battery. Start the car engine at least once an hour, and allow the car to run for at least 10 minutes to recharge the car battery.

Cable Size

• The Coleman Inverter typically is not sold with connecting cables, which must be purchased separately. In general, use the shortest distance between the inverter and the other device as possible with the thickest cable possible. The maximum cable length recommended is 10 feet long, as longer cable may result in higher error rates.