Xantrex XPower Powerpack 300 PLUS User Guide

Owners Guide

XPower Powerpack

300 and 300 PLUS

About Xantrex

Xantrex Technology Inc. develops, manufactures and markets leading advanced power electronic and control products for the Distributed, Mobile, and Programmable Power markets. The company’s enabling technology converts raw electrical power from any central, distributed, or backup power source into highquality power required by electronic and electrical equipment. Its products are sold under the Xantrex, Trace, Heart and Statpower brands.

Trademarks

XPower is a trademark of Xantrex International. Xantrex is a registered trademark of Xantrex International.

Other trademarks, registered trademarks, and product names are the property of their respective owners and are used herein for identification purposes only.

Notice of Copyright

Disclaimer

UNLESS SPECIFICALLY AGREED TO IN WRITING, XANTREX TECHNOLOGY INC. (“XANTREX”)

(a) MAKES NO WARRANTY AS TO THE ACCURACY, SUFFICIENCY OR SUITABILITY OF ANY TECHNICAL OR OTHER INFORMATION PROVIDED IN ITS MANUALS OR OTHER DOCUMENTATION.

(b) ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBILITY OR LIABILITY FOR LOSS OR DAMAGE, WHETHER DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL, WHICH MIGHT ARISE OUT OF THE USE OF SUCH INFORMATION. THE USE OF ANY SUCH INFORMATION WILL BE ENTIRELY AT THE USER’S RISK.

Date an d Re vision

May 2002, Revision 1

Part Number

445-0170-01-01

Contact I nformation

Phone 1-800-670-0707 (toll free in North America)

1-604-420-1585 (outside North America)

Fax: 1-800-994-7828 (toll free in North America)

1-604-420-1591 (outside North America)

Email: CustomerService@Xantrex.com

Web: www.xantrex.com

About This Guide

Conventions Used

The following conventions are used in this guide.

WARNI NG

Warnings identify conditions that could result in personal injury or loss of life.

CAUTI ON

Cautions identify conditions or practices that could result in damage to the XPower™ Powerpack unit or to other equipment.

Important: These notes describe an important action item

or an item that you must pay attention to.

Note: Notes describe additional information which may

add to your understanding of how to use the XPower Powerpack.

Abo ut This Guide

Re ferences to XPower Powerpack

In this guide, both the XPower Powerpack 300 and the XPower Powerpack 300 Plus (with the air compressor) are referred to as XPower Powerpack when the information applies to both models. However, when the information is specific to one model, then reference is made specifically to the XPower Powerpack 300 or to the XPower Powerpack 300 Plus.

Re lated I nformation

You can find more information about Xantrex Technology Inc. as well as its products and services at www.xantrex.com

I mportant Sa fety I nformation

The XPower Powerpack generates a similar type of AC power as a normal household wall outlet. Operating the XPower Powerpack incorrectly or misusing it may damage the equipment or create hazardous conditions for the user.

Important: Before using your XPower Powerpack, be sure to read and save these safety instructions.

Warnings and Ca utions

WARNI N G: Shock hazard . Keep Away from Children.

The XPower Powerpack generates the same potentially lethal AC power as a normal household wall outlet. Do not insert foreign objects into the AC Outlet, the DC Power Socket, the Jumper Cable Port, or the ventilation holes. Do not expose this product to water, rain, snow, or spray.

Do not open the XPower Powerpack except to replace the internal battery. Have a qualified technician complete any service work.

CAUTI ON

Do not connect any AC appliance with the neutral conductor connected to ground to the XPower Powerpack.

Warnings and Cautions

CAUTI ON

Do not expose the XPower Powerpack to temperatures over 104 °F (40 °C).

WARNI N G: Explosion haz ard

Do not use this product where there are flammable fumes or gases, such as in the bilge of a gasoline powered boat, or near propane tanks. Do not use this product in an enclosure containing automotive-type lead acid batteries. These batteries, unlike the sealed AGM battery in XPower Powerpack, vent explosive hydrogen gas which can be ignited by sparks from electrical connections.

When working on electrical equipment, always ensure someone is nearby to help you in an emergency.

WARNI N G: Heated surface

Ensure at least 2 inches (5 cm) air space is maintained on all sides of the XPower Powerpack. During operation, keep away from materials that may be affected by high temperatures such as blankets, pillows and sleeping bags.

CAUTI ON

The jump-start feature is designed for short term operation only—less than 4 seconds. Operating the jump-start feature for more than 4 seconds may cause damage to the unit. Allow the XPower Powerpack to cool down for 3–4 minutes after each jump start.

CAUTI ON: XPower Powerpack 300 Plus

The compressor is designed for short term operation only. Operating the compressor over an extended period of time will cause the compressor unit to overheat and may cause damage. Allow the compressor to cool down for 10 minutes after each 10 minutes of continuous operation.

Precautions When Working Wit h Batteries

Precautions When Work ing With Batteries

WARNI NG: Explosion and Fire Hazard

1. Follow all instructions published by the battery manufacturer and the manufacturer of the equipment in which the battery is installed.

2. Make sure the area around the battery is well ventilated.

3. Never smoke or allow a spark or flame in vicinity of the engine or batteries.

4. Be careful not to drop a metal object on the battery or allow a metal tool to simultaneously touch the positive and negative cable ends or battery terminals. It might spark or short-circuit the battery or other electrical parts and cause an explosion.

5. Remove personal metal items such as rings, bracelets, necklaces, and watches when working with a lead-acid battery. A lead-acid battery produces a short circuit current high enough to weld a ring or other similar objects to metal, causing a severe burn.

6. If you need to remove a battery, always remove the positive terminal from the battery first. Make sure all accessories are off so you don’t cause an arc.

7. Someone should be within range of your voice, or close enough to come to your aid when you work near a leadacid battery.

8. Have plenty of fresh water and soap nearby in case battery acid contacts skin, clothing, and eyes.

9. Wear complete eye protection and clothing protection. Avoid touching your eyes while working near batteries.

vii

Precautions for Using Rechargeable Appliances

10. If battery acid contacts skin or clothing, wash immediately with soap and water. If acid enters your eye, immediately flood it with running cold water for at least twenty minutes and get medical attention immediately.

11. Keep a supply of baking soda on hand in the area of the batteries. Baking soda neutralizes lead-acid battery electrolyte.

Precautions for Using Rechar ge able Appliances

Most rechargeable battery-operated equipment uses a separate charger or transformer that is plugged into an AC receptacle and produces a low voltage charging output.

Some chargers for rechargeable batteries can be damaged if connected to the XPower Powerpack.

Do not use the following with the XPower Powerpack:

• Small battery-operated appliances like flashlights, razors, and night lights that can be plugged directly into an AC receptacle to recharge.

• Some chargers for battery packs used in hand power tools. These affected chargers display a warning label stating that dangerous voltages are present at the battery terminals.

viii

Note: If you are unsure about using your rechargeable appliance

with the XPower Powerpack, contact the equipment manufacturer to determine the rechargeable appliance’s compatibility with the modified sinewave AC waveform of the XPower Powerpack.

Contents

I mportant Saf ety I nformation

Warnings and Cautions- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - v

Precautions When Working With Batteries - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - vii

Precautions for Using Rechargeable Appliances - - - - - - - - - - - viii

1Introduction

About the XPower Powerpack - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1

Comprehensive Protection - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2

2Features

Materials List - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 3

XPower Powerpack Features - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 4

Front Panel Detail - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 4

Air Compressor (XPower Powerpack 300 Plus only)- - - - - - - - - - 6

Right Side View - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 7

Left Side View - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 8

Accessories- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 9

3Operation

Operating Conditions and Guidelines - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 11

Choosing a Location - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 12

Using XPower Powerpack for the First Time - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 13

Recharging with the AC Charger - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 13

Operating AC Appliances - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 14

Understanding AC Appliances - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 14

Contents

Operating an AC Appliance - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 16

Operating 12 Volt DC Appliances - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 17

Jump-starting a Vehicle Engine - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 19

Using the Air Compressor: XPower Powerpack 300 Plus- - - - - - 21

Inflating Tires- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 21 Inflating Small Sports Equipment - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 22

Connecting to an External Battery - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 23

4Maintenance

Battery Maintenance - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 25

Recharging the XPower Powerpack Battery - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 26

Recharging with the AC Charger - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 27 Recharging with the DC Charging Cable - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 28 Recharging with a Generator’s Regulated 12 Volt DC Outlet - - 29 Recharging From a Solar Panel - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 30

Replacing the Internal Battery - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 30

Battery Life - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 30 Obtaining a Replacement Battery - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 31 Replacing the Battery - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 32

Replacing the Fluorescent Tubes - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 34

Replacing the External Fuse - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 34

5 Troubleshooting

Common Problems - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 36

Buzz in Audio Equipment - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 36 Television Interference - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 36

Troubleshooting Reference - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 36

6 Specifications

Electrical Specifications - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 41

Physical Specifications - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 43

7 Warranty and Product I nformation

Warranty Information- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 45

Returning a Product - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 47

Out of Warranty Service - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 48

Contacting Xantrex Customer Service- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 49

Contents

xii

I ntroduction

About the XPower Powerp ack

Thank you for purchasing the XPower™ Powerpack.

Easy to use and designed for years of reliable service, the XPower Powerpack can run many AC appliances and 12 volt DC appliances whenever you need power for work or play, at home or on the road.

XPower Powerpack:

• Powers 115 volt AC appliances

• Powers 12 volt DC appliances

• Jump-starts vehicle engines

• Provides fluorescent lighting for emergency use

In addition, the XPower Powerpack 300 Plus with air compressor inflates tires and small sports equipment.

Comprehensive Protection

Aut o matic overload

The XPower Powerpack has built-in protection against output overload. If you connect an appliance to the AC Outlet that draws more than 250 watts, or one which draws excessive surge power, the power to the AC Outlet automatically shuts off.

Overheating

The XPower Powerpack is protected from overheating. If the inverter exceeds a safe temperature, power to the AC Outlet automatically shuts off.

Low Battery Protection

Low battery protection protects the internal battery from excessive discharge and possible damage. When the AC Outlet On/Off switch is turned on, an audible alarm alerts you when the internal battery is nearly discharged (10.7 volts DC) and the unit turns off at 10.0 volts DC.

J ump-start Cables Safety Feature and Reverse Polarity Detection

The XPower Powerpack has a special jump-start safety feature that eliminates the sparking that sometimes occurs when the jump-start cables are connected to a battery. The XPower Powerpack can also detect a reverse polarity connection and notifies you with an audible alarm and a Battery Clips Connected Improperly (red light).

The battery to be jump-started must have a terminal voltage of at least 4 volts in order to work with the XPower Powerpack.

Features

Materials List

Your XPower Powerpack package includes these items:

❐ XPower Powerpack 300 or XPower Powerpack 300 Plus ❐ Owner’s Guide ❐ AC Charger ❐ DC Charging Cable ❐ Jump-start Cables ❐ Accessory bag

The XPower Powerpack 300 Plus also includes:

❐ Two nozzle adaptors for the compressor ❐ One sports needle adaptor for the compressor

If any of these materials are missing or are unsatisfactory in any way, please contact Customer Service. See “Contacting Xantrex Customer Service” on page 49 of this guide.

Chapter 2 describes the main features of the XPower Powerpack. Xantrex recommends that you familiarize yourself with these features before operating the unit.

XPower Powerpack Features

Front Panel Detail

①①①①

②②②②

④④④④

③③③③

Feature Description Note

①①①①

Battery Level indicators illuminate when you press the Battery Status button.

• 4 lights indicates full charge

• 3 lights indicates 3/4 charge

• 2 lights indicates 1/2 charge

• 1 light (red light): the battery is discharged (empty) and must be recharged promptly.

Battery Level indicators are accurate only when the XPower Powerpack has been disconnected from all appliances and all charging sources for fifteen minutes.

Feature Description Note

Front Panel Detail

②②②②

Battery Status Button indicates the charge state of the battery.

③③③③ Recharge Indicator illuminates

only when the battery is being recharged through the Charger Input Socket and not through the DC Charging Cable. The light is amber when charging, and green when the battery is fully charged.

④④④④ Vehicle Jump-Start Features

• Reverse Polarity Alarm sounds and the Battery Clips Connected Improperly (red light) illuminates when the jump-start cables are incorrectly connected to the battery terminals.

• Battery Clips Connected Properly (green light)

illuminates if jump-start cables are correctly connected to the positive and negative terminals of the vehicle battery being boosted.

Battery Level indicators are inaccurate if you press the Battery Status Button while the XPower Powerpack is running an appliance or is being recharged.

Recharging with the AC Charger is a true “plug-in-andforget” charging method. Xantrex recommends leaving the AC Charger connected when the XPower Powerpack is stored.

XPower Powerpack can detect a reverse polarity condition (caused by incorrectly connecting the jump-start cables to a battery) and automatically stops the flow of current.

The jump-start safety feature prevents sparking at the battery terminals and prevents potential damage to your vehicle’s electrical system. The battery to be jump-started must have a terminal voltage of at least 4 volts in order to work with the XPower Powerpack.

Not shown

Audible alarm (inside the unit) sounds in the event of overheating, low battery protection, and reverse polarity jump-start connection.

Air Compressor (XPower Powerpack 300 Plus only)

Air C ompress or (XPower Powerpack 300 Plus only)

OFF

②②②②

③③③③

④④④④

Feature Description

①①①①

On/Off switch turns the compressor unit on and off.

②②②② Pressure gauge shows the PSI (lb/in ③③③③ Nozzle Adaptor Compartment ④④④④ Valve connector with connector cord

①①①①

)

Right Side View

①①①① ②②②②

③③③③

④④④④

⑤⑤⑤⑤

Feature Description

Right Side View

①①①① DC Power Socket can:

• Power 12 volt DC auto, RV or marine appliances

• Recharge XPower Powerpack from a 12 volt outlet in a vehicle using the DC Charging Cable

②②②② AC Outlet On/Off switch illuminates when

switch is turned On.

③③③③ AC Outlet is a standard 3-prong outlet supplying

115 volts AC power for running an AC appliance.

④④④④ Charger Input Socket for use with the AC

Charger supplied.

⑤⑤⑤⑤

External replaceable fuse is a 40 amp 32 VDC automotive blade-type fuse which is available at many automotive parts stores.

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