MEAN WELL TN-1500-212B is a 1500 W true sine wave inverter for a 12 VDC lead-acid battery, with a 230 VAC factory output, European receptacle, built-in AC and solar charging, utility bypass and RS-232 monitoring.
Product Datasheet
Download MEAN WELL TN-1500 Datasheet (PDF)
The TN-1500 section is on PDF pages 1, 2, 3, 4. Refer to the complete mechanical drawings and notes when planning installation.
Model and AC Output Ratings
| Continuous output power |
1500 W |
| Nominal DC input voltage |
12 VDC |
| Default AC output voltage |
230 VAC |
| Maximum output for 180 seconds |
1725 W |
| Maximum output for 10 seconds |
1875 W |
| Surge output for 30 AC cycles |
3000 W |
| Default output frequency |
50 Hz ±0.1 Hz |
| Output waveform |
True sine wave; THD <3% |
| Typical AC regulation |
±3.0% |
| Output connection |
European receptacle |
TN-1500-212B specifies AC voltage code 2, a 12 VDC battery input and socket type B. The 1725 W, 1875 W and 3000 W values are separate time-limited ratings; continuous output is 1500 W.
Output voltage is selectable by the setting button: 200 /220 /230 /240 VAC. Output frequency is selectable between 50 Hz and 60 Hz.
The European receptacle is the standard socket for its AC voltage code.
Battery Input, Efficiency and Power Saving
| Typical DC input range |
10.5–15 VDC |
| Typical DC input current |
150 A |
| Typical conversion efficiency |
88% |
| Battery compatibility |
Open and sealed lead-acid batteries |
| Standby-saving no-load dissipation |
≤18 W |
| OFF-mode current draw |
≤1 mA |
| Internal fuse arrangement |
40 A × 5 |
THD and efficiency are measured with a 1000 W linear load at 13 VDC input. The typical DC input current is measured with a 1500 W linear load at the same input voltage. These test conditions differ from the nominal battery voltage.
The catalogue input-voltage value tolerance for the 12 V version is ±0.5 V. The low-battery alarm and shutdown have their separately printed ±4% limits.
Standby saving is disabled by default. When enabled, load detection changes to standby at an AC load of 5 W or less. The ≤18 W no-load figure is specified at standby saving mode.
For a direct connection to a vehicle battery, start the engine before turning on the inverter. Match the battery and cabling to the specified input range and current.
AC Charging and Solar Charging
| Typical AC charging current |
5.5 A |
| AC charging voltage |
14.3 V ±4% |
| Maximum solar open-circuit voltage |
25 V |
| Maximum solar charging current |
30 A |
| Solar charging voltage |
14.3 V ±4% |
Built-in AC and solar charging are provided for compatible open or sealed lead-acid batteries. The nominal battery voltage identifies the model; it is different from the specified charging voltage. Match the PV open-circuit voltage to the limit for this exact battery-input version.
The monitoring software provides adjustment of equalization, floating, alarm and shutdown voltages to suit the battery. Use settings appropriate to the battery manufacturer’s requirements and the actual inverter version; do not use example-screen values as universal settings.
The AC and solar charger current ratings describe their respective circuits and do not establish an additive simultaneous charge-current rating.
UPS, Bypass and Front-Panel Operation
| Typical inverter/bypass transfer time |
10 ms |
| Selectable operating modes |
UPS mode / Energy saving mode |
| AC circuit breaker |
10 A |
The unit combines battery inverter operation with a utility bypass path. In bypass mode, the utility supplies the connected load directly. UPS mode and energy saving mode are selectable, and the typical 10 ms transfer time is not zero.
The front panel provides a power ON/OFF switch, setting button, battery-voltage and output-load level indicators, saving, fault and operating status. The mechanical drawing also identifies solar charging, AC charging, AC input and bypass indicators.
Use the voltage settings and AC connections for the ordered 100–120 VAC or 200–240 VAC output group. Check battery and AC input voltage before applying power.
Battery and Output Protection
| Low-battery alarm |
11.3 V ±4% |
| Low-battery shutdown |
10.5 V ±4% |
| Internal over-temperature trip |
68°C ±5°C |
Reverse battery polarity opens the internal fuse. The fuse arrangement above describes internal protection and is not a specification for an external battery-cable fuse.
The over-temperature value is measured by internal RTH3 on the power-transistor heatsink; it is not an ambient-temperature rating. Over-temperature and output short circuit shut down output voltage; re-power the unit to recover.
Typical overload protection permits 105–115% load for 180 seconds and 115–125% for 10 seconds, then shuts down output. Re-power to recover. Apply these protection timings together with the separately specified short-duration output ratings.
The catalogue also lists over-voltage protection. It does not provide a numeric over-voltage trip threshold. This socket version does not have the type F GFCI protection.
Temperature and DC Input Derating
For horizontal mounting, the ambient curve permits 100% load from 0 to 40°C, decreasing along the curve to 50% at 60°C. A built-in thermostatically controlled fan provides cooling; keep its airflow path clear.
The horizontal-mounting input curve permits approximately 80% load at 10.5 VDC, rising to 100% at 11.5 VDC and remaining at 100% through 15 VDC. Apply both input-voltage and ambient-temperature limits.
For operation above 2000 m, the catalogue calls for an additional ambient-temperature derating of 5°C per 1000 m for fan-cooled models. This condition does not specify an unrestricted maximum installation altitude.
RS-232 Cable and PC Monitoring
| Included communication cable |
RJ11-RS232 |
| Cable interface |
RJ11 to DB9 female RS-232 |
| RJ11 pin 2 |
DB9 pin 3 |
| RJ11 pin 3 |
DB9 pin 5 |
| RJ11 pin 4 |
DB9 pin 2 |
The RJ11-RS232 cable is enclosed for connecting the inverter to a computer for monitoring. It is the complete catalogue cable code; the unit’s communication interface is RS-232.
The monitoring display reports battery voltage, output voltage and frequency, internal temperature, utility voltage, solar and AC charging, bypass, output loading and operating status. Status signals include power on, remote off, battery low or used up, standby saving and abnormal shutdown.
The R.C. Power off software command turns inverter power ON or OFF remotely. The Pause command stops refreshing the monitoring page. These functions are through the PC communication interface.
The manufacturer’s monitoring software is available from its product software section. The catalogue lists Windows 7 and Windows 8, each in English or Traditional Chinese (Taiwan); confirm compatibility before use with another operating-system version.
Software Settings and Statistics
The setting page provides output-voltage and frequency selection, charging-related voltage adjustment, UPS/energy-saving mode selection and standby-saving selection. The Read command reads current settings; Write stores revised settings; Load restores factory defaults. Type F remains 60 Hz only.
The statistics page records inverter, bypass and shutdown time percentages; these three total 100%. It also reports solar charging time percentage and average loading. Start Date identifies software installation and is not changed by a statistics reset or switching the unit off; Reset Date records the statistics reset.
The illustrated setting screen is an example of one unit. Obtain the correct monitoring software and operating instructions for the supplied inverter before changing battery-related settings.
Mechanical Installation and Environment
| Catalogue enclosure dimensions (L × W × H) |
420 × 220 × 88 mm |
| Drawing tolerance |
±0.5 mm |
| Catalogue packing reference per unit |
6850 g |
| Working temperature |
0 to 40°C at 100% load; 60°C at 50% load |
| Working humidity |
20–90% RH, non-condensing |
| Storage temperature |
−30 to +70°C |
| Storage humidity |
10–95% RH, non-condensing |
| Vibration |
10–500 Hz, 3 G; 10 min/cycle; 60 min each along X, Y and Z |
The 6850 g value is the catalogue packing reference per unit, not a measured net weight or a shipping-parcel weight. The packing entry is 6.85 kg per unit; 2 units/15.7 kg/1.61 CUFT.
The mechanical drawing distinguishes 207 mm body width from 220 mm overall width and shows 108.4 mm and 203.2 mm longitudinal mounting references. Use the drawing’s actual slot positions and clearance dimensions for mounting. The drawing separately shows a 48 mm DC-terminal projection; allow connector and cable clearance.
The rear panel has battery DC INPUT positive and negative terminals, a separate Solar Input block marked 30 A maximum, the AC inlet and the chassis earth point. In the shown rear view, the solar block has three negative positions on the left and three positive positions on the right; these are polarity-labelled connections, not three independent PV charger channels.
Follow the marked battery, solar and AC polarities and the actual connector positions. The rear fan exhaust must remain clear. The AC-input drawings distinguish 100 V and 200 V groups; select wiring and connection hardware for the supplied version.
Safety, EMC and Reliability
| Withstand voltage, battery input to AC input |
3.0 kVAC |
| Withstand voltage, battery input to AC output |
3.0 kVAC |
| Withstand voltage, AC output to FG |
1.5 kVAC |
| Insulation resistance |
100 MΩ at 500 VDC / 25°C / 70% RH |
| MTBF, Telcordia SR-332 |
229.1 k hours minimum |
| MTBF, MIL-HDBK-217F at 25°C |
38.1 k hours minimum |
| Manufacturer catalogue warranty |
3 years |
The specification lists IEC62368-1 CB and EAC TP TC 004 approval, with design reference to BS EN/EN62368-1. The European, Australian and UK socket table lists E13 and CE for this output configuration.
EMC emissions: BS EN/EN55032 Class B, 72/245/CEE, 95/54/CE, E-Mark and EAC TP TC 020. Immunity: BS EN/EN61000-4-2, -3, -4, -5, -6, -8, -11, BS EN/EN55035 and EAC TP TC 020.
The insulation-resistance specification applies between battery input and AC output, battery input and FG, and AC output and FG. Safety and EMC statements are the manufacturer’s catalogue scope for the applicable model and socket version.
Unless separately stated, parameters are measured at rated load, 25°C ambient and factory settings. The efficiency/THD and DC-input-current tests use their respective 1000 W and 1500 W linear loads at 13 VDC.
