Xantrex XPower 150 User manual

by
XPower Inverter 150
Owner’s Guide

About Xantrex
Xantrex Technology Inc. is a world-leading supplier of advanced power
electronics and controls with products from 50 watt mobile units to one 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
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
XPower Inverter 150 Owner’s Guide © Sept 2003 Xantrex International. All
rights reserved.
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 and Revision
Sept 2003 Revision B
Part Number
975-0089-01-01
Contact Information
Telephone: [phone] (toll free North America)
1 360 925 5097 (direct)
Fax: [phone] (toll free North America)
1 360 925 5143 (direct)
Email: [e-mail]
Web: www.xantrex.com

iii
1. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
2. Important Safety Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Warnings and Cautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
3. XPower 150 Inverter Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
AC Outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
4. Connecting the XPower 150 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Choosing a Location . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Connecting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
5. Operating the XPower 150 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Operating Statuses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Interference With Electronic Equipment. . . . . . . . . 10
6. Battery Operating Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
7. Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
8. Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Electrical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Physical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Regulatory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
9. Limited Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
10. Other Xantrex Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Table of Contents

iv

1
1 Introduction
Thank you for purchasing the XPower Inverter 150. The
XPower 150 is part of a family of advanced high-
performance power inverters from Xantrex, the leader in
high frequency inverter design.
Connected to the 12 volt outlet in your vehicle, the XPower
150 efficiently and reliably 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.
The XPower 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 XPower 150,
and save it for future reference. The main topics in the guide
are:
• Safety information (page 2)
• XPower 150 features (page 5)
• Instructions for connecting the inverter (page 7)
• Operating guidelines (page 8)
• Troubleshooting information (page 12)
• Specifications (page 15)
• Warranty and service information (page 17)

2
2 Important Safety Information
If the XPower 150 is connected or used incorrectly,
hazardous conditions may be created. Read and save this
safety information, and pay special attention to all Warning
and Caution statements in the guide and on the inverter
itself. Warnings and Cautions are indicated by this symbol:
•Warning statements identify conditions that could
result in personal injury or loss of life.
•Caution statements identify conditions or practices that
could result in damage to the XPower 150 or other
equipment.
Warnings and Cautions
WARNING: Shock hazard
The XPower 150 generates the same potentially lethal AC
power as a household wall outlet. Do not insert foreign
objects in the inverter’s AC outlet or any other openings in
the inverter. Do not open the inverter. Have a qualified
individual complete any service work.
WARNING: Shock hazard
Do not expose the XPower 150 to water, rain, snow, or
spray.

3
WARNING: Risk of fire or explosion
The XPower 150 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.
WARNING: Fire hazard
To reduce the risk of fire, do not cover or obstruct the
ventilation openings. Do not install the XPower 150 in a
zero-clearance compartment. Overheating may result.
CAUTION: Risk of damage to equipment
The XPower 150 is designed to be directly connected to
standard electrical and electronic equipment in the manner
described in this guide. Do not connect it to household or
RV AC distribution wiring. Do not connect it to any AC
load circuit in which the neutral conductor is connected to
ground (earth) or to the negative of the DC (battery)
source.
CAUTION: Risk of damage to the XPower
150
Reverse battery polarity (negative connected to positive;
positive connected to negative) will damage the XPower
150, and it will require servicing. Damage caused by
reverse polarity is not covered by your warranty.

4
CAUTION: Risk of damage due to high
temperatures
Do not use the XPower 150 in temperatures over 40°C
(100°F). Overheating may result.
CAUTION: Risk of damage to rechargeable
appliances
The output of the XPower 150 is non-sinusoidal. Certain
battery chargers can be damaged if they are connected to
the XPower 150. Two particular types of equipment are
prone to this problem:
• Small battery-operated appliances such as flashlights,
shavers, and night lights that can be plugged directly
into an AC receptacle to recharge.
• Certain battery chargers for battery packs used in hand
power tools. These chargers will have a warning label
stating that dangerous voltages are present at the
battery terminals.
Do not use the XPower 150 with the types of appliances
just described.

5
3 XPower 150 Inverter Features
This section describes the main features of the XPower 150.
Figure 1 shows the inverter’s AC panel.
Figure 1 AC Panel on the XPower 150 (European Outlet)
① AC Outlet An AC outlet is located on one end of the
XPower 150. It allows you to plug in a 230 volt AC load
with a power consumption of 150 watts or less.
The AC outlet on your inverter may be different from the
one shown here. For all available outlets, see Figure 2,
Figure 3, and Figure 4 on page 6.
② On/Standby Switch The two positions on the On/
Standby switch are indicated as follows: = 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.
③④
①
②

6
③ Power Light The green PWR light is on all the time
when the On/Standby switch is on.
④ Fault Light The red light indicates that the
inverter has shut down because of low or high battery
voltage, AC overload, or excessively high temperatures.
Audible Alarm An audible alarm warns you of a high-
temperature shutdown or of an impending low battery
voltage shutdown.
AC Outlets
Depending on your geographic location, your XPower 150
will have one of the following AC outlets.
Figure 2 European AC
Outlet
Figure 3 British AC
Outlet
Figure 4 Australian and New Zealand AC