- What appliances can be connected to HUGO?
- Is HUGO portable and can it charge cellphones, tablets or laptops? How about for camp sites?
- Can I connect multiple tankless water heaters to one HUGO?
- What is the difference between a modified sine wave (MSW) and a pure sine wave (TSW)?
- Can I add additional batteries to my existing HUGO?
- My tankless water heater does not have a plug, can it be hardwired into HUGO?
- Do I need a flow sensor? What does it do?
- How do I connect the flow sensor?
- How do I check if the flow sensor is working or not?
- What is the orientation of the flow sensor?
- Can the flow sensor be installed outdoors?
- Can I bypass the flow sensor and still have the temperature sensor?
- Can HUGO be mounted outdoors under direct sunlight or near ocean fronts?
- How do I troubleshoot HUGO?
- What is the life expectancy of HUGO battery?
- Do I need a professional electrician or plumber to install HUGO?
- Does HUGO work with different brands of tankless water heater?
- Will solar panel work with HUGO?
- How long is the HUGO power cord?
- Does the chirping shut off?
Any gas-powered appliances that require ignition or electricity to function that is under 350W power output or 3A power draw, some examples as followed:
- Tankless water heaters
- Vent-free or direct vent room heaters
- Boilers
- Furnaces
Though HUGO is weighed at 45lbs, but it can be taken on the road to charge small electronics which include cellphones, tablets, laptops or even CPAP machines.
HUGO is equipped with only one output receptacle. However, if it is professionally determined that the total power output at any given time for both tankless water heaters will not exceed 350W, then HUGO will be able to power both tankless water heaters at the same time. Connect both tankless water heater’s power cord to an extension cord and plug the extension cord into HUGO. Should the power output ever exceed 350W, HUGO will go into overload protection mode and provide no output until load is removed and that power demand is less than 350W.
Pure sine wave is the cleanest possible electricity form that any battery backup can provide. It runs your downstream application more efficiently and also provides protection to motors and/or transformers. We highly recommend using a pure sine wave inverter for any expensive appliances. It is best to protect your investment rather than to take chances.
Yes, batteries can be wired in parallel for additional runtime.
Yes, HUGO provides a knock-out hold inside the side panel, through which can guide through hardwired power cord which can then be connected to our AC output terminal. Details of this instruction can be found on our website or in our Owner’s Manual.
The purpose of the flow sensor is to prolong the battery usage towards actual use of hot water. When flow sensor is detected, HUGO will be looking for a signal from the flow sensor before providing any output. This signal is triggered by any running water, either a faucet or shower head. Once the flow sensor senses a water flow, it will commend HUGO to turn on which will then power your tankless water heater. The rule of thumb is: if users expect power outages that are longer than 2 straight days, then a flow sensor install is recommended; otherwise the no-flow version will suffice.
We recommend to install the flow sensor horizontally whenever possible with the four screws of the flow sensor on top facing the ceiling. The flow sensor can also be installed vertically with sufficient cold water supply pressure.
The flow sensor has ¾” male garden hose thread on both ends. Please consult a professional or visit your local hardware store to find a suitable adapter for your install. When connecting the green connector to the side panel of HUGO, please note that there is no polarity on the flow sensor connector wire, simply ensure both wires are connected to the connector, tighten the screws on the connector, and pull the wires to ensure a tight connection.
Additionally, make sure the flow of water is the same as indicated on the flow sensor. In other words, the flow direction on the flow sensor should be pointed towards your tankless water heater.
With tankless connected to HUGO, unplug HUGO from city power. Turn on any faucet and verify that your tankless is running. If not, please follow the troubleshooting steps below:
- Unplug HUGO from all power sources.
- Open the HUGO front door to have access to the inverter inside.
- Turn the toggle switch OFF.
- Locate a green port in the middle of the upper tray that indicates “temp.flow”. Unplug this port to bypass flow sensing loop.
- Turn HUGO toggle switch ON to check if HUGO is providing power to your tankless water heater.
If HUGO functions properly without the flow sensor, please verify that the orientation of the flow sensor is correct that double check that the flow sensor wires are tightly fitted into the flow sensor connector.
The flow sensor can be installed either horizontally or vertically. But we highly recommend installing horizontally at any time possible to allow flow sensor accuracy. The four screws (flat part) of the flow sensor should be on the top pointing towards the ceiling. Please also be sure to follow the direction of water flow according to the arrow on the flow sensor.
Yes, it can certainly be installed outdoors. However, please properly jacket the flow sensor so it’s not under direct sunlight.
Though there are DIY tricks to make this possible, but there isn’t a reason to. Once flow sensor is bypassed, HUGO will constantly backup your tankless water heater regardless of outside temperature. Therefore, once “temp.flow” port is unplugged, tankless water heater’s anti-frost is always capable to working as long as the battery of HUGO is still sufficient.
HUGO is designed with a heavy gauge metal enclosure that passed IP54 grade requirement. It is all weather-proof which makes HUGO suitable for all outdoor installs.
Take note of the LED lights displayed in front of HUGO and count the number of chirps during battery mode. Refer to Owner’s Manual for each indication. With this information, please call our technical support to get further assistance.
HUGO battery’s shelf life is rated for 20 years. Depending on actual battery usage and atmosphere temperature, each battery may perform differently.
Everyone’s mechanical skillset is different. Though HUGO is very simple to install, but we advise to never take chances when in doubt, especially plumbing can be quite tricky at times and we wish our customers to never have to worry about leaks once install is complete. Please consult or acquire professional’s help whenever necessary.
HUGO is compatible with all gas-powered appliances that require electric ignition or electronics to run.
Yes, HUGO is configured to recognize and prioritize the use of solar panels. From the solar panel’s controller output, guide the wires through HUGO’s side panel and through the knock-out holes; connect the positive and negative wires to the “plus” and “minus” terminals next to the toggle switch.
5.5 feet
Yes. The chirping is an audio alert to let user know that the HUGO is operating in battery mode. It will chirp once every 30 seconds and will auto shut off after 5 minutes. Once the HUGO door is closed, the noise level is acceptable to most people.