Installation Manual

Page 8
© 2015 Sensata Technologies
Installation
2.1.3 Locating the Inverter
Only install the inverter in a location that meets the following requirements:
Clean and Dry – The inverter should not be installed in an area that allows dust, fumes, insects or
rodents to enter or block the inverter’s ventilation openings. This area also must be free from any
risk of condensation, water, or any other liquid that can enter or fall on the inverter. The inverter
uses stainless steel fasteners, plated copper busbars, a power-coated aluminum base, and the
internal circuit boards are conformal coated—all done to help fi ght the harmful effects of corrosive
environments. However, the life of the inverter is uncertain if used in these type of environments,
and inverter failure under these conditions is not covered under warranty.
Info: If the inverter is installed in an area where moisture may occur, we recommend
putting silicone dielectric grease compound into the RJ45/RJ11 electrical ports (Figure
1-1, Items 3-6). Before installing the accessory cables or if leaving any ports open,
squirt a liberal amount into each port. Silicone dielectric compound makes an effective
moisture barrier to help prevent corrosion.
Cool – The inverter should be protected from direct sun exposure or equipment that produces
extreme heat.
Info: The ambient temperature around the inverter must not exceed 77°F (25°C) to
meet power specifi cations.
Ventilation – In order for the inverter to provide full output power and avoid over-temperature
fault conditions, do not cover or block the inverter’s ventilation openings or install this inverter
in an area with limited airfl ow. The inverter uses two internal fans to provide forced air cooling,
these fans pull in air through the intake vents (Figure 1-2, Item 9) and blow out air through the
exhaust vents (Figure 1-3, Item 13). Allow at the minimum an airspace clearance of 6” (15.2 cm)
at the intake and exhaust vents, and 3” (7.6 cm) everywhere else to provide adequate ventilation.
If the inverter is installed in an enclosure, a fresh air intake opening must be provided directly to the
front side (intake vents) of the inverter and an exhaust opening on the back side (exhaust vents)
of the inverter. This will allow cool air from the outside to fl ow into the inverter and heated air to
exit from the inverter and out of the enclosure. When mounted in an enclosed compartment, airfl ow
must be at least 100 cfm in order to maintain no more than a 68°F (20°C) rise in compartment
temperature.
CAUTION: Do not install this inverter in a zero clearance compartment. Do not cover
or obstruct the ventilation openings—overheating may result.
Safe – Keep any fl ammable/combustible material (i.e., paper, cloth, plastic, etc.) that may be
ignited by heat, sparks, or fl ames at a minimum distance of 2 feet (61 cm) away from the inverter.
Do not install this inverter in any area that contains extremely fl ammable liquids like gasoline or
propane, or in locations that require ignition-protected devices.
Close to the battery bank – As with any inverter, it should be located as close to the batteries
as possible. Long DC wires tend to lose effi ciency and reduce the overall performance of an
inverter. However, the unit should not be installed in the same compartment as the batteries or
mounted where it will be exposed to gases produced by the batteries. These gases are corrosive
and will damage the inverter; also, if these gases are not ventilated and allowed to collect, they
could ignite and cause an explosion. The absolute maximum recommended battery cable length is
15 feet (4.6 m).
Accessible – Do not block access to the inverter’s RJ45/RJ11 electrical ports, ON/OFF switch, and
status indicator. Also, allow enough room to access the AC and DC wiring terminals and connections,
as they will need to be checked and tightened periodically. See Figure 2-3 for the MS-PAE Series
inverter/charger’s dimensions.
Away from sensitive electronic equipment – High powered inverters can generate levels of RFI
(Radio Frequency Interference). Locate any electronic equipment susceptible to radio frequency
and electromagnetic interference as far away from the inverter as possible.