Xantrex PROwatt 150 User manual

PROwatt 150
DC to AC Power Inverter
Owner’s Guide
™

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About Xantrex
Xantrex Technology Inc. is a world-leading supplier of advanced power electronics and
controls with products from 50 watts mobile units to 1 MW utility-scale systems for wind,
solar, batteries, fuel cells, microturbines and backup power applications in both grid-
connected and stand-alone systems. Xantrex products include inverters, battery chargers,
programmable power supplies, and variable speed drives that convert, supply, control,
clean and distribute electrical power.
Trademarks
PROwatt 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.
Notice of copyright
PROwatt 150 Owner’s Guide © January 2001 Xantrex International.
Disclaimer
While every precaution has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the contents of this guide,
Xantrex International assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions. Note as well that
specifications and product functionality may change without notice
Date and Revision
January 200, Revision 1
Part number
445-0113-01-01
Contact Information
Web: www.xantrex.com
Email: [e-mail]
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

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Contents
Introduction - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 4
Important safety information - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 5
Warnings and cautions - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 5
Additional guidelines - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 6
Connecting and Operating the PROwatt 150 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 7
PROwatt 150 Features- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 7
Connecting the PROwatt 150 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 8
Location - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 8
Connecting - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 8
Operating the PROwatt 150 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 9
Operating guidelines - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 9
Interference with Electronic Equipment - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 10
Battery Operating Time - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 12
Troubleshooting - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 13
Warranty Information - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 17
Returning a product - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 18
Out of warranty service - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 19
Specifications - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 21
Other Products from Xantrex - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 22

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1 Introduction
Thank you for purchasing the PROwatt 150 Power Inverter. The
PROwatt 150 is part of a family of advanced high-performance power
inverters from Xantrex, the leader in the field of high-frequency inverter
design. Connecting to the 12 volt outlet in your vehicle or boat, the
PROwatt 150 efficiently and reliably powers a wide variety of
household AC products, such as compact TVs and VCRs, laptops,
camcorder and cell phone chargers, compact fluorescent lights,
soldering irons, and other similar products. PROwatt 150 uses reliable
solid state power electronics for years of safe, trouble-free operation and
includes automatic safety monitoring circuitry to protect it, and your
battery, from inadvertent overload conditions. Read this guide before
connecting or using the PROwatt 150 and save it for future reference.
The main topics covered in this guide are:
• Important safety information
• Instructions for connecting and operating the inverter
• Warranty and service information

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2 Important safety information
Incorrect connection or misuse of the PROwatt 150 may result in danger
to or hazardous conditions for the user. Read these safety instructions
and pay special attention to all Caution and Warning statements
throughout the guide.
Warning statements are those which identify conditions that may result
in personal injury or loss of life.
Caution statements are those which identify conditions or practices that
may result in damage to the PROwatt 150 or to other equipment.
Warnings and cautions
Warning ! Shock hazard. Keep away from children.
The PROwatt 150 generates the same potentially lethal
AC power as a normal household wall outlet. Treat the
outlet with respect!
Warning ! Heated surface.
The PROwatt 150 housing may become uncomfortably
warm, reaching 140° F (60° C) under extended high
power operation. Ensure that at least two inches (5 cm) of
air surround the unit. During operation, keep it away from
materials that may be affected by high temperatures.

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:
Additional guidelines
• Do not insert foreign objects into the inverter’s outlet.
• Do not, under any circumstances, connect the PROwatt 150 to
power utility AC distribution wiring.
• Do not use the PROwatt 150 in temperatures over 100° F (40° C).
• Do not expose the PROwatt 150 to water, rain, snow or spray.
Failure to follow the above safety instructions may result in personal
injury and/or damage to the PROwatt 150 and other equipment. It may
also void the warranty.
Caution! Do not connect the PROwatt 150 to any AC
wiring or product in which the AC neutral is connected to
the AC ground.
Caution! Do not use the PROwatt 150 with the following
appliances:
• 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.

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3 Connecting and Operating the
PROwatt 150
This section describes the PROwatt 150 inverter and provides
procedures for connecting it and using it safely.
PROwatt 150 Features
Figure 1 shows the main features of the PROwatt 150 inverter.
.
Figure 1 PROwatt 150 AC panel
AC Outlet An AC outlet is provided on one end of the PROwatt 150. It
will accept a 115 volt AC product with a power consumption of 150
watts or less.
AC Outlet
On/Off switch
Fault light
Power light

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On/Off switch 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 over-temperature fault conditions. The inverter
can be reset by turning the switch off for five seconds, then on again.
Power light The green power light indicates AC power is present at the
outlet and the PROwatt 150 is operating normally.
Fault light The red fault light indicates the inverter has shutdown
because of low or high battery voltage, AC overload or excessively high
temperatures.
Connecting the PROwatt 150
Location
For the best performance results place the inverter in a location that is:
• Dry — do not expose the unit to water drip or spray.
• Cool — operate the unit in ambient temperatures between 32° F
(0° C) and 100° F (40° C). Keep it away from heating vents.
• Well ventilated — allow at least two inches (5 cm) of clearance
around the unit for proper cooling.
Connecting
Follow these steps to install the unit:
1. Place the unit in a flat dry location such as the dashboard of your
vehicle. Use the floor only if it is dry and free of any debris which
could get into the inverter.

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2. Plug the PROwatt 150 DC lighter plug into the vehicle cigarette
lighter socket or a 12 volt outlet.
3. Turn the PROwatt 150 On/Off switch on. The power light indicates
AC power is available at the outlet.
4. Plug in the AC product you wish to operate.
In the event of an overload, low battery voltage or overheating, the
PROwatt 150 automatically shuts down.
Operating the PROwatt 150
Operating guidelines
The following notes contain hints and describe conditions to be aware of
when you’re using the PROwatt 150.
1. When you connect the unit to the vehicle’s 12 volt outlet and turn
the On/Off switch on, the power light illuminates and AC power is
available at the outlets.
2. As the battery charge is discharged, battery voltage begins to
decrease.
When the PROwatt 150 senses the voltage at its DC input has
dropped to 10.0 volts, it automatically shuts down to prevent
battery damage. The power light goes out, and the fault light
illuminates.
3. If you connect an AC product that is rated higher than 150 watts,
1.25 amps or it draws excessive surge power, the PROwatt 150 will
shut down. The power light goes out and the fault light illuminates.

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4. If the PROwatt 150 exceeds its safe operating temperature, because
of insufficient ventilation or a high temperature environment, it
automatically shuts down. The power light goes out and the fault
light illuminates.
5. If a defective battery charging system causes the battery voltage to
rise to dangerously high levels, the PROwatt 150 automatically
shuts down. The power light goes out and the fault light
illuminates.
6. To reset the PROwatt 150 after an automatic shutdown, turn the
Off/On switch off for 5 seconds, then on again. This manual reset
feature prevents unexpected or hazardous restarting of connected
AC loads.
Surges The power, or “wattage” rating of AC products is the average
amount of power they use. When many AC products are first turned on,
they initially consume more power than their continuous power rating.
TVs, monitors, and electric motors are examples of products that have
high surge requirements at start up. Although the PROwatt 150 can
supply momentary surge power to 400 watts, some products rated less
than 150 watts may exceed its surge capabilities and trigger its safety
overload shutdown feature.