Xantrex Portawattz 300 User manual

Owner’s Manual
300
POWER INVERTER
DC to AC
TM

PORTAWATTZ is a trademark and Statpower is a registered trademark of Xantrex International. Xantrex
is a registered trademark of Xantrex Technology Inc. © 2000 Xantrex International. All rights reserved.
Contents
1.0 Introduction ............................................................................. 1
2.0 Safety First  Before You Use the PORTAWATTZ 300 ....... 2
3.0 Quick Start Guide ................................................................... 4
4.0 Design Features ...................................................................... 6
5.0 Placement Guidelines ............................................................ 7
6.0 Operating 115 Volt AC Products and Equipment ................ 8
7.0 Using the PORTAWATTZ 300 ............................................... 13
8.0 Troubleshooting ................................................................... 17
9.0 Limited Warranty and Performance Guarantee ................. 20
10.0 Specifications ..................................................................... 25
11.0 Other Products from Xantrex ............................................ 26

1
1.0 Introduction
Thank you for purchasing the PORTAWATTZ 300 Power Inverter. The
PORTAWATTZ 300 is part of an advanced family of high performance
power inverters from Xantrex, the leader in the field of high frequency
inverter design. From the 12 Volt outlet in your vehicle or boat, or
directly from a 12 Volt battery, the PORTAWATTZ 300 will efficiently and
reliably power a wide variety of household AC products, such as most
TVs, computers, fluorescent lights, soldering irons, etc. The
PORTAWATTZ 300 employs reliable solid state power electronics for
years of safe, trouble free operation and includes a built-in cooling fan
and automatic safety monitoring circuitry to protect it, and your battery,
from inadvertent overload conditions.
Read this manual before installing or using the PORTAWATTZ 300
and save it for future reference.
The following main topics are covered in this manual:
·Important safety information
·Installation and operating instructions
·General principles of operation
·Warranty and service information

2
2.0 Safety First  Before You Use the
PORTAWATTZ 300
Incorrect installation or misuse of the PORTAWATTZ 300 may result in
danger to the user or hazardous conditions. We urge you to pay special
attention to all CAUTION and WARNING statements. CAUTION
statements identify conditions or practices that may result in damage to
the PORTAWATTZ 300 or to other equipment. WARNING statements
identify conditions that may result in personal injury or loss of life.
WARNING! Shock hazard. Keep away from children.
·The PORTAWATTZ 300 generates the same potentially lethal AC
power as a normal household wall outlet. Treat it with the same
respect that you would any AC outlet.
·Do not insert foreign objects into the PORTAWATTZ 300s AC
outlets.
·Do not expose the PORTAWATTZ 300 to water, rain, snow or
spray.
·Do not, under any circumstances, connect the PORTAWATTZ
300 to power utility AC distribution wiring.
·Failure to follow the above safety instructions may result in
personal injury and/or damage to the PORTAWATTZ 300.

3
WARNING! Heated surface.
·The PORTAWATTZ 300s housing may become uncomfortably
warm, reaching 140°F (60°C) under extended high power
operation. Ensure at least 2 in. (5 cm) air space is maintained on
all sides of the PORTAWATTZ 300. During operation, keep away
from materials that may be affected by high temperatures.
CAUTION!
·Do not connect any AC product to the PORTAWATTZ 300, whose
neutral conductor is connected to ground.
·Do not expose the PORTAWATTZ 300 to temperatures in excess
of 100°F (40°C).

4
3.0 Quick Start Guide
3.1 Overview
These basic instructions are intended to provide a brief overview of the
PORTAWATTZ 300s key features. For complete information about the
PORTAWATTZ 300, it is important to read this manual fully. The diagram
below shows the PORTAWATTZ 300s key features.
Figure 1. Key Features

5
3.2 Operating 115 V AC Products
1. For products rated at 150 Watts or less, plug the PORTAWATTZ
300 DC lighter plug into a vehicles cigarette lighter or 12 Volt
outlet. For products rated between 150 and 300 Watts, connect
directly to a 12 Volt battery (See section 6.2).
2. Turn the PORTAWATTZ 300 ON/OFF switch ON. The green
POWER light indicates AC power is available at the AC outlets.
3. Plug the AC products you wish to operate into the AC outlet(s)
and switch them on, one at a time.
4. In the event of an overload, low battery voltage or overheating,
the PORTAWATTZ 300 will automatically shut down. (See
section 7.0)

6
4.0 Design Features
4.1 Switchmode Power Conversion Technology
The PORTAWATTZ 300 employs advanced high frequency
switchmode power conversion circuitry. This results in a smaller,
lighter, more efficient and quieter inverter.
4.2 High Surge Power Capability
High performance Power FETs (Field Effect Transistors) are
employed for high surge power capability.
4.3 Safety Features
These advanced safety features are built into the PORTAWATTZ
300.
·Electronic overload protection with automatic shutdown.
·Built-in internal backup DC fuse provides added safety.
·Low battery voltage warning followed by automatic shutdown.
·Overheat shutdown protection.
·High input voltage protection.
·Manual reset eliminates unexpected restarting.

7
5.0 Placement Guidelines
For optimum operation, the PORTAWATTZ 300 should be placed on a
flat surface such as the floor or seat of a vehicle. The location should
be
·dry. Do not expose to water drip or spray.
·cool. Operate only in ambient temperatures between 32°F
(0°C) and 100°F (40°C). Keep away from heating vents.
·well ventilated. Allow at least 2 inches (5 cm) clearance above
and on all sides of the PORTAWATTZ 300 for proper cooling.

8
6.0 Operating 115 Volt AC Products and
Equipment
6.1 General Information
The PORTAWATTZ 300 is capable of powering most 115 Volt AC
products that use 300 Watts or less. Its AC output waveform,
called modified-sine wave is designed to function similarly to the
sine wave shape of utility power. Most AC products rated for 300
Watts or less will operate normally with the PORTAWATTZ 300.
The power, or wattage, rating of AC products is the average
power they use. When many AC products are first switched on,
they initially consume more power than their power rating. TVs,
monitors, and electric motors are examples of products that have
CAUTION: Do not use the PORTAWATTZ 300 with the following:
·Small battery operated appliances such as rechargeable
flashlights, some rechargeable shavers and night lights that are
plugged directly into an AC receptacle to recharge.
·Battery chargers used with certain power tool battery packs.
These chargers will have a warning label stating that dangerous
voltages are present at the chargers battery terminals.

9
high surge requirements at start up. Although the
PORTAWATTZ 300 can supply momentary surge power as high
as 500 Watts, occasionally some products rated less than 300
Watts may exceed its surge capabilities and trigger its safety
overload shutdown feature. If this problem occurs when
attempting to operate several AC products at the same time, try
first switching on the inverter with all AC products switched off,
then one by one switch each on, starting with the high surge
product first.
6.2 Powering AC Products Rated above 150 Watts
Cigarette lighter or 12 Volt outlets are limited in the power they
can safely deliver. When continuously powering loads rated
higher than 150 Watts, connect the PORTAWATTZ 300 directly to
a 12 Volt battery.
CAUTION: Connect the PORTAWATTZ 300 directly to a 12 Volt
battery when powering loads above 150 Watts. Connect only to a 12
Volt battery; do not connect to a battery of any other voltage.
WARNING: Batteries contain corrosive materials and present an
Energy Hazard. To prevent irritation and burns, wear protective
eyewear and clothing, and take special care to ensure no metal tools
or personal objects contact the battery terminals.

10
To make a direct battery connection, carefully follow these steps:
1. Cut the lighter plug off the PORTAWATTZ 300 power cord.
2. IMPORTANT! One of the two wires in the power cord is
identified with a red or white stripe. Note that this is the
positive wire.
3. The power cord may be extended if required, to a maximum
total length of 6 feet (2 meters) including the existing
PORTAWATTZ 300 power cord length. Insulated 12 AWG
wire or heavier must be used, and all connections must be
soldered and properly insulated using electrical tape or heat
shrinkable tubing.
4. Install a 30 Amp fuse, and a switch rated at 25 Amps in line
with the positive wire, as close as possible to the end that
attaches to the battery. The switch is a necessary
requirement to ensure no sparking occurs when connections
are made to the battery. Solder and insulate the connection
as detailed in step 3 above. Set the switch to the OFF
position. See Figure 2 for full details.
5. Solder heavy duty ring tongue terminals to the end of the
positive and negative wires. Select these terminals to mate
properly with the battery terminals or existing battery cable
clamps.
6. Fasten the positive ring tongue terminal to the positive
battery post, then fasten the negative ring tongue terminal to
the negative battery post.

11
7. Double check wiring polarity, then turn the in-line switch ON. The
PORTAWATTZ 300 is now ready for operation.
8. When disconnecting the battery, first turn the in-line switch OFF.
WARNING: Risk of explosive gases. Failure to turn the in-line switch
OFF before connecting or disconnecting the battery, may result in a
spark and ignition of explosive battery gasses.
CAUTION: Reverse polarity will damage inverter. Do not proceed
until you are sure wire polarity (identified in step 2) is correct. Damage
to the inverter caused by reverse polarity is not covered under the
PORTAWATTZ 300 warranty.
Figure 2. Direct Connection to Battery
Portawattz 300
FUSE SWITCH
12V/25A
#12AWG WIRE
Red or white stripe
indicates positive conductor
BATTERY

12
6.3 Interference with Electronic Equipment
Generally, most AC products operate with the PORTAWATTZ 300
just as they would with household AC power. Below is information
concerning two possible exceptions.
6.3.1 Buzzing Sound in Audio Systems.
Some inexpensive stereo systems and boom boxes have
inadequate internal power supply filtering and buzz slightly
when powered by the PORTAWATTZ 300. Generally, the only
solution is an audio system with a higher quality filter.
6.3.2 Television Interference.
The PORTAWATTZ 300 is shielded to minimize interference with
TV signals. However, with weak TV signals interference may be
visible in the form of lines scrolling across the screen. The
following should minimize or eliminate the problem:
·Use an extension cord to increase the distance between the
PORTAWATTZ 300 and the TV, antenna and cables.
·Adjust the orientation of the PORTAWATTZ 300, television,
antenna and cables.
·Maximize TV signal strength by using a better antenna and
use shielded antenna cable where possible.
·Try a different TV. Different models of televisions vary
considerably in their susceptibility to interference.

13
7.0 Using the PORTAWATTZ 300
Refer to Figure 1 in section 3.1 for location of the items identified below.
7.1 Indicators, Controls and Connectors
·Two AC outlets are provided on one end of the PORTAWATTZ
300. Any combination of 115 Volt AC products with a total power
consumption of 150 Watts or less, when operated from a vehicle
cigarette lighter or 12 Volt outlet, or 300 Watts or less when wired
directly to a battery, may be plugged in.
·The PORTAWATTZ 300 is equipped with a heavy duty DC lighter
plug that fits standard vehicle cigarette lighter and DC power
outlets. With this lighter plug, the PORTAWATTZ 300 can power
loads up to 150 Watts. See section 6.2 for important instructions
on powering higher loads.
·The ON/OFF switch enables output AC power at the AC outlets
when switched ON. It also acts as a manual reset for overload,
low battery voltage and overheat fault conditions. Reset occurs
by switching OFF for 5 seconds, then back ON again.
·The green POWER light indicates AC power is present at the two
AC outlets and the PORTAWATTZ 300 is operating normally.
·The red FAULT light indicates inverter shutdown caused by low
voltage, overload or excessive temperature.

14
·An internal audible alarm sounds when low battery voltage is
approaching, prior to low voltage shutdown.
7.2 Inverter Operation
1. When connected to a 12 Volt battery, turning the ON/OFF switch
ON, will illuminate the green POWER light, activate the cooling
fan, and AC power will be delivered to the two AC outlets.
2. As the battery charge is used up, battery voltage begins to fall.
When the PORTAWATTZ 300 senses the voltage at its DC input
has dropped to 10.7 Volts, an audible alarm sounds. This allows
time for computers or other sensitive devices to be shut down.
3. If the audible alarm is ignored, the PORTAWATTZ 300 will shut
down a short time later when the battery voltage drops to 10.0
Volts, to prevent battery damage. The green POWER light is
switched off, and the red FAULT light illuminates.
4. If an AC product rated higher than 300 Watts (or which draws
excessive surge power) is connected, the PORTAWATTZ 300
will shut down. The green POWER light will turn off and the red
FAULT light will turn on.
5. If the PORTAWATTZ 300 exceeds a safe operating temperature,
due to insufficient ventilation or a high temperature environment,
it will automatically shut down. The green POWER light will turn
off and the red FAULT light will turn on.

15
6. To reset the PORTAWATTZ 300 after automatic shutdown, the
OFF/ON switch must be switched OFF for 5 seconds, then ON
again. This manual reset feature prevents unexpected or
hazardous restarting of connected AC loads.
7. Should a defective battery charging system cause the battery
voltage to rise to dangerously high levels, the PORTAWATTZ
300 automatically shuts down. Reset occurs once battery
voltage falls to normal levels.
8. The cooling fan is designed to operate continuously to ensure
optimal internal temperature control of the PORTAWATTZ 300.
7.3 Battery Operating Time
When using the PORTAWATTZ 300, operating time will vary
depending on the charge level of the battery, its capacity and the
power level drawn by the particular AC load. With a typical
vehicle battery and a 300 Watt load, an operating time of 1 hour
or more can be expected. With a 100 to 150 Watt load (such as a
typical 19 inch color TV), two to three hours can be expected.
Vehicle batteries are designed to provide brief periods of very
high current needed for engine starting. They are not intended for
constant deep discharge. Regularly operating the PORTAWATTZ
300 from a vehicle battery until the low voltage alarm sounds will
shorten the batterys life. When using a vehicle battery as a
power source, it is strongly recommended to start the vehicle

16
every hour or two to recharge the battery before its capacity
drops too low. The PORTAWATTZ 300 can operate while the
engine is running, but the normal voltage drop that occurs during
starting may trigger the PORTAWATTZ 300s low voltage
shutdown feature.
For longer operating times, the use of a deep discharge battery is
strongly advised. Its capacity should be selected based on the
desired operating time. As a guide for deep discharge batteries,
the battery operating time can be roughly estimated as follows:
For maximum battery life, do not regularly discharge deep
discharge batteries below 50% capacity. Because the
PORTAWATTZ 300 draws less than 0.2 Amps with the ON/OFF
switch in the ON position and with no AC products connected,
operating with no AC loads connected has minimal impact on
battery run time.
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