Xantrex Technology 450 User Manual

XPower™ Inverter 450

Owner’s Manual

by

TM

Trademarks

Xantrex and Xpower are registered trademarks of Schneider Electric Services International
sprl, registered in the United States and other countries.
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

XPower Inverter 450 Owner’s Guide Copyright © August 2010. Xantrex Technology USA Inc.
All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced in any form or disclosed to
third parties without the express written consent of: Xantrex Technology USA Inc., 541 Roske
Drive, Suite A. Elkhart, Indiana, USA 46516. Xantrex Technology USA Inc. reserves the right
to revise this document and to periodically make changes to the content hereof without
obligation or organization of such revisions or changes unless required to do so by prior
arrangement.

Disclaimer

UNLESS SPECIFICALLY AGREED TO IN WRITING, XANTREX TECHNOLOGY USA INC.:
(

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 LOSSES, DAMAGES, COSTS OR EXPENSES,
WHETHER SPECIAL, 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; AND

(

C) REMINDS YOU THAT IF THIS MANUAL IS IN ANY LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH, ALTHOUGH
STEPS HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO MAINTAIN THE ACCURACY OF THE TRANSLATION, THE ACCURACY
CANNOT BE GUARANTEED. APPROVED XANTREX CONTENT IS CONTAINED WITH THE ENGLISH
LANGUAGE VERSION WHICH IS POSTED AT WWW.XANTREX.COM.

Date and Revision

August 2010 Revision B

Product Number Part Number

851-0451 975-0129-01-01

Contact Information

Telephone: [phone] (toll free North America)

Fax: [phone] (toll free North America)

Email: [e-mail]

Web: www.xantrex.com

1 408 987 6030 (direct)

Table of Contents

1. Introduction

2. Important Safety Information

Warnings and cautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Safety features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

3. Features

AC panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

DC panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

4. Installation

Choosing a location . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Mounting the inverter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Using the DC cable with cigarette lighter plug . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Using the DC cable clips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Hardwiring the inverter to the battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Connecting the chassis ground . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Grounding locations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Chassis ground screw . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Testing the GFCI-protected AC outlet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

5. Operation

Operating statuses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Inverter operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Battery operating time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

6. Maintaining Battery Condition

Using vehicle batteries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Minimizing power draw . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

7. Troubleshooting

Common problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Buzz in audio systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Television interference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Troubleshooting reference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

8. Specifications

Electrical specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Physical specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

9. Limited Warranty

iv

1 Introduction

Thank you for purchasing the XPower Inverter 450 (PN: 851-0451). The

XPower 450 is part of a family of advanced high-performance power

inverters from Xantrex, the leader in high-frequency inverter design.
The XPower 450 efficiently powers a wide variety of AC loads, such as

compact TVs and VCRs, laptops, camcorder and cell phone chargers,
compact fluorescent lights, and soldering irons. Depending on the
model, the XPower 450 can connect to the 12-volt battery in your vehicle
to power your devices.

The XPower 450 uses solid state power electronics that includes
automatic safety monitoring circuitry to protect it, and your battery,
from inadvertent overload conditions.

Read this guide before connecting or using the XPower 450, and save it
for future reference. The main topics in the guide are:

• Safety information (page 2)

• XPower 450 features (page 7)

• Instructions for connecting the inverter (page 10)

• Operating guidelines (page 19)

• Troubleshooting information (page 24)

• Specifications (page 30)

• Warranty and service information (page 32)

1

2 Important Safety Information

Misusing or incorrectly connecting the XPower Inverter 450 may
damage the equipment or create hazardous conditions for users. Read
the following safety instructions and pay special attention to all Caution
and Warning statements in the guide.

Danger and Warnings identify conditions that may result in personal
injury or loss of life.

Cautions identify conditions or practices that may damage the unit or
other equipment.

Warnings and cautions

ELECTRICAL SHOCK HAZARD

• Keep children away from the XPower Inverter 450 inverter. The inverter
generates the same potentially lethal AC power as a normal household
wall outlet. Treat the outlet with respect!

• Do not use the XPower Inverter 450 in the presence of flammable fumes
or gases, such as in the bilge of a gasoline powered boat, or near propane
tanks. Do not use the XPower Inverter 450 in an enclosure containing
automotive-type, lead-acid batteries. These batteries, unlike sealed
batteries, vent explosive hydrogen gas, which can be ignited by sparks
from electrical connections.

Failure to follow these instructions will result in death or serious
injury.

2

HEATED SURFACE HAZARD

The XPower Inverter 450 housing may become uncomfortably warm,
reaching 140° F (60° C) under extended high power operation. Ensure that
at least 2 inches (5 cm) of air surround the inverter. During operation, keep

it away from materials that may be affected by high temperatures.

Failure to follow these instructions can result in death or serious
injury.

HEATED SURFACE HAZARD

1. Batteries generate explosive gases during normal operation. Read this
guide and follow the instructions exactly before installing or using
your inverter.

2. This equipment contains components that tend to produce arcs or
sparks. To prevent fire or explosion, do not install the inverter in
compartments containing batteries or flammable materials, or in
locations that require ignition-protected equipment. These locations
include any space containing gasoline-powered machinery, fuel tanks,
as well as joints, fittings, or other connections between components of
the fuel system.

Failure to follow these instructions can result in death or serious
injury.

3

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 near the engine or batteries.

4. Use caution to reduce the risk of dropping a metal tool on the battery,
which could spark or short circuit the battery or other electrical parts
and could cause an explosion.

5. Remove metal items like rings, bracelets, and watches when working
with lead-acid batteries. Lead-acid batteries produce a short-circuit
current high enough to weld a ring or the like to metal, and thus cause
a severe burn.

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

Failure to follow these instructions can result in death or serious
injury.

4

RISK OF DAMAGE TO EQUIPMENT: OUTPUT IS NON-SINUSOIDAL

Some chargers for small nickel-cadmium batteries can be damaged if
connected to the XPower Inverter 450. Do not use the inverter with the
following appliances:

• Small battery-operated appliances like rechargeable flashlights, some
rechargeable shavers, and night lights that are plugged directly into an
AC receptacle to recharge.

• Battery chargers used in hand power tools. These chargers display a
warning label stating that dangerous voltages are present at the charger
battery terminals.

• Do not connect any AC load, which has its neutral conductor connected
to ground, to the XPower 450.

Failure to follow these instructions can damage the unit and/or
damage other equipment.

RISK OF DAMAGE TO THE XPOWER 450 INVERTER

• Do not insert foreign objects in the XPower 450 outlets or openings.

• Never connect the inverter to power utility AC distribution wiring.

• Do not use the XPower 450 in temperatures over 100° F (40° C).

• Do not expose the XPower 450 to water, rain, snow, or spray.

• Do not connect live AC power to the XPower 450’s AC outlets. The
inverter will be damaged even if it is switched OFF.

Failure to follow these instructions can damage the unit and/or
damage other equipment.

5

Safety features

These advanced safety features are built into the XPower 450:

• Electronic overload protection with automatic shutdown

• Built-in internal backup DC fuse

• Low battery voltage warning followed by automatic shutdown

• High-input voltage protection with automatic shutdown

• Overheating protection with automatic shutdown

• Output short circuit protection

• GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) outlet

6

3 Features

AC panel

123

Number Feature

1 GFCI AC Outlet The XPower 450 has one dual GFCI AC outlet.

2 Power Light The green

It allows you to plug in any combination of 120 V AC products with a
total continuous power consumption of 360 W.

present at the GFCI outlet and the XPower 450 is operating
normally.

POWER light indicates that AC power is

7

Number Feature

3 Fault Light The red FAU LT light indicates that the inverter has shut

Not
shown

down because of low or high battery voltage, AC overload, or
excessively high temperatures.

Audible Alarm An audible alarm warns you of a high­temperature shutdown or of an impending low battery voltage
shutdown.

DC panel

1

2

3

Number Feature

1 On/Off Switch The two positions on the On/Off switch are

indicated as follows:

= Off (Standby) and = On.
When the inverter is connected to a DC power source and the switch
is on, AC power is available at the AC outlet.

8

5

4