Do pos and neg matter on an inverter?

[Naio]

So I got this old actual-metal tripplite inverter at a garage sale, with a broken 12v plug. I was gonna patch on a plug to it to test it out (or I could just pin the wire ends to terminals) but the input wires are both black.

Does it natter which is which? IOW, how hard should I try to ID these wires?

[Naio]

Thanks, guys. I don't want to let the smoke out :B

It's definitely an inverter. It says inverter on it, and has a couple ac outlets.

I can't find a manual online (tripp lite pv0536) but I can see red and black wires thru the vents, do I think if I get it open I will be able to ID which is which. And label them!

[rbrand]

Yes!!
I fried a 2000 watt inverter in an instant when I mixed up the leads.

[Old-Biscuit]

pianotuna wrote:
YES it matters. Get the polarity wrong and you will let out the magic blue smoke.

And there is no way to re-inject that magic smoke

[pianotuna]

YES it matters. Get the polarity wrong and you will let out the magic blue smoke.

[MudChucker]

Yes it matters...sounds more like a UPS, but thats just a guess. Post a couple photos...