Instagrid GO 36 - Instagrid

Can I charge and discharge at the same time?

No, it is not possible to charge and discharge Instagrid GO at the same time.

Is Instagrid GO intrinsically safe?

No, Instagrid GO is not intrinsically safe.

What can my Instagrid GO power?

Thanks to the continouse output power of 3,600 W Instagrid GO can power any 120 V AC device with a Nema 5-20, Nema 5-15 or Nema 5-30 (via adapter) plug and has even enough power to run two tools simultaneously.

Does the performance of Instagrid GO decrease as the state of charge declines?

Instagrid GO delivers the full performance even at low charge.

Will I get less runtime in cold weather?

No, the runtime is not not affected by using the unit in colder temperatures.

In what temperature range can I safely charge my unit?

You can charge your unit between 32 °F to 113 °F. If the internal temperature is slightly outside the allowed charging range of 32°F to 113°F, the charging process is automatically interrupted. Blinking yellow lights indicate that the internal temperature is slightly too low for charging. Charging continues automatically once the temperature returns to the allowed range. If the internal temperature significantly exceeds or drops below the allowed range of 32°F to 113°F, a red blinking light appears and charging stops. In this case, the device will not resume charging automatically — you will need to restart the charging process manually once the temperature has returned to the allowed range.

Can I use my unit in very hot or cold environments?

You can use your unit in ambient temperatures between -4°F and 140°F.

What happens at too high or too low temperatures with my Instagrid GO unit when I want to use it?

A blinking yellow light indicates that the internal temperature is approaching the maximum allowed limit. The device continues to operate normally, but you should take action to reduce the temperature.

If the internal temperature rises further, Instagrid GO will shut down and indicate with red blinking lights that the maximum temperature limit has been exceeded.

A red blinking light also appears, and the unit will not start if you try to turn on the device while its internal temperature is below -4°F.

You can reset both temperature alarms by bringing the internal temperature of Instagrid GO back within the allowed range of -4°F to 140°F by turning the unit off, reducing the load, or moving it to a suitable ambient temperature environment.

How long does it take a unit to warm up at room temperature to start the charging process when it was stored outside at - 4 °F?

It takes roughly 1 hour until the unit warmed up enough at room temperature to start the charging process.

What are the requirements for the power source I want to use to charge my Instagrid GO unit?

Instagrid GO needs a stable AC voltage source that delivers between 100 V and 136 V AC and minimum 6 A of current. This results in a power demand bewteen 600 W at 100 V and 820 W at 136 V. If your power source fulfils these requirements, you can use it to charge your Instagrid GO.

When should I recharge my unit?

Your Instagrid GO unit should be charged at the latest when only one LED segment is blinking, and all others are off. It’s recommended not to use the unit always until full depletion. This will not harm the battery, but it will help to prolong the lifetime of the individual battery cells.

Can I use my car or truck to charge my unit?

For charging from a car check the performance numbers of the receptacle you want to use. Normal cars often do not deliver the above-mentioned performance and therefore you cannot charge your Instagrid GO. The standard 12V cigarette lighter receptacle is an example of a source with not enough power. Even if your car has a standard Nema receptacle most of the car models do not deliver the performance that is needed. Some cars might have an inverter installed that delivers the required performance but does not provide a pure sine wave. This modified sine wave is also not sufficient for charging of your Instagrid GO unit.

Can I use solar power to charge my unit?

If you want to charge from a solar power source, a special setup is required. Therefore, you need to know the difference between a voltage source and a current source.

• A voltage source is characterized in that its voltage remains fairly stable regardless of whether a load draws or feeds back electrical current. In the first approximation, the AC mains is such a voltage source.

• A solar panel in combination with an inverter acts as an AC current source. This means that it can inject current into an already present AC voltage source. The current being injected directly depends on the radiation intensity (clouds, shadows, sun angle, etc...).

Instagrid GO is designed to be charged from an AC voltage source through its AC mains input. There are two ways to interface this with a solar inverter:

Option 1: Use a plug-in type inverter to connect your solar system in the same branch circuit to which your Instagrid GO is connected for charging in a 'normal' AC distribution gird. In this case the AC mains 'buffers' the fluctuating solar power. Any power of the solar setup is 'sufficient' in this case.

• WARNING: Make sure to follow national regulations that apply for the usage of such inverters (consult a trained electrician in case of uncertainty).

• WARNING: Make sure not to overload the distribution (consult a trained electrician in case of uncertainty).

Option 2: Use a solar inverter directly providing an AC voltage source output. These devices contain batteries to buffer the solar fluctuation and therefore ensure a constant output of power which needs to match the above-mentioned performance

• WARNING: Make sure not to overload the inverter.

• WARNING: never connect a plug-in type solar inverter to the output of Instagrid GO

How should I store my unit when I’m not using it?

Li-ion batteries should generally be stored well away from heat sources and not placed for example near a heater. They are best stored at room temperature, and lower temperatures are also beneficial for storage, since this slows down the electrochemical reactions and the battery retains its power for longer time. Instagrid recommends storage between 32 and 74 °F with a recommended air humidity of less than 80 %. Ensure Instagrid GO is placed on firm ground and it should be generally stored away from thermal loads e.g. not near packing materials.

You will find all relevant information about storage in the official storage document.

Can I leave my unit in storage for several months without using it? (What’s the maximum time I can leave it in storage)

If the switch position corresponds to TRANSPORT mode only minor self-discharge will occur, because our technology ensures that only minor leakage currents can occur. Even at a very low charge level, the unit can be stored for long periods of time and is ready for use immediately when you need it. Note: Li-ion batteries prefer to be stored at a medium charge level for long periods, because the cells are subjected to the least stress in this way, therefore resulting in the least amount of ageing. You can consider a medium charge level to be between three and six illuminated segments in the charge status indicator. All details can be found in our separate storage document that you can request through our Customer service team.

How can I safely transport my unit in a car or van?

Always fulfill all the fundamental requirements for safe transport (e.g. the load must be secured in such a way that it cannot, or can only slightly, change its position during transport) In general, Instagrid GO should be set to transport mode, which is done by moving the switch to the far-left position when viewing the front of the device.

You will find all relevant information about transport in the official transport document.

Can I use or charge the unit while driving?

The basic requirements for safe transport shouldbe adhered. The HMR does not deal with this case and rather focuses on packaging and protection against short circuits. Therefore, there is nothing in the regulation that prevents the batteries from being charged or discharged during transport.

Can I charge the unit in my car?

This depends on the power output of your cars receptacle. Please have a look at the question “What are the requirements for the power source I want to use to charge my Instagrid GO?” There you will find all the details.

Are there any restrictions for transporting my unit by air?

Air freight of Instagrid GO is only possible through Cargo transport. It is not possible to take Instagrid GO on a passenger flight.

My unit won’t turn on – what should I check first?

If the device was not used or charged in a long time it is possible that the support battery is empty. Plug the charging cable into the main grid and into the unit and keep the rotary switch at the lock position (transport mode). This will slowly charge the support battery. After 5 hours disconnect the charging cable and try again to turn the unit on. If the unit will still not turn on: Please contact Instagrid Support.

The LEDs are flashing in (yellow, red, white, blue) – what does this mean?

There are different possible LED patterns depending on the operation mode of the unit:

Charging mode:

• A pulsing green animation from left to right indicates charging.

• A solid green light indicates that charging was interrupted as the temperature is slightly above the allowed charging temperature of 113°F

• A blinking yellow light indicates that charging was interrupted as the temperature is slightly below the allowed charging temperature of 32 °F

• A blinking red light indicates that the temperature is significantly outside of the allowed range of -32°F to 113°F. In this case disconnect the cables and turn the unit off. Bring it to a place with suitable temperature and restart the charging process once the unit cooled down or heated up.

• A yellow light indicates bad power input quality. Check the used power source and make sure it fulfils the requirements.

Discharging mode:

• A solid green color shows the state of charge.

• During discharging, LED segments gradually turn off, showing a declining charge.

• A blinking yellow light indicates that the internal temperature is approaching the maximum allowed limit. The device continues to operate normally, but you should take action to reduce the temperature

• A red blinking light indicates that the maximum temperature limit has been exceeded ant the unit wil shut off.

• A red blinking light also appears, and the unit will not start if you try to turn on the device while its internal temperature is below -4°F. Turn the unit off and reduce the load or move the unit to a suitable temperature environment to reset the alarm.

• A solid red light indicates an output overload caused by the consumer. Unplug the consumer, turn the unit off for 60 seconds and turn it on again. If this scenario happens repeatedly, please reduce the load or check the consumer for damages.

If the unit shows yellow or red light repeatedly when you try to turn it on, or during use please contact Instagrid support.