Xantrex XPower 150 User manual

Xantrex Inverter 150
Owner’s Guide
445-0138-01-01 Printed in China
Web: www.xantrex.com
Email: CustomerServic[email protected]
Phone: [phone]
Phone: [phone] (toll free in North America)
Fax: [phone]
Fax: [phone] (toll free in North America)

About Xantrex
Xantrex Technology Inc. is a world-leading supplier of advanced power
electronics and controls with products from 50 watt 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
Xantrex is a registered trademark of Xantrex Technology Inc.
© 2001 Xantrex International. All rights reserved.
Notice of Copyright
Xantrex Inverter 150 Owner’s Guide © September 2001 Xantrex
International.
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 beentirely
at the user’s risk.
Date and Revision
October 2001, Revision 3
Part Number
445-0138-01-01
Contact Information
Web: www.xantrex.com
Email: [e-mail]
Phone: [phone]
Phone: [phone] (toll free in North America)
Fax: [phone]
Fax: [phone] (toll free in North America)

Contents
i
1. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
2. Important Safety Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Warnings and Cautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
3. Xantrex 150 Inverter Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
AC Outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
4. Connecting the 150 Inverter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Choosing a Location . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Connecting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
5. Operating the 150 Inverter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Operating Statuses. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Interference With Electronic Equipment. . . . . . . . . 10
6. Battery Operating Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
7. Troubleshooting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
8. Warranty Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Returning a Product . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
To Place of Purchase . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
To Xantrex. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Out-of-Warranty Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
9. Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Electrical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Physical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Regulatory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

ii

1
1 Introduction
Thank you for purchasing the Xantrex 150 Inverter. The
150 Inverter 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 or boat, the
150 Inverter 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 150 Inverter 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 150 Inverter,
and save it for future reference. The main topics in the guide
are:
• Safety information (page 2)
• 150 Inverter features (page 5)
• Instructions for connecting the inverter (page 7)
• Operating guidelines (page 8)
• Troubleshooting information (page 12)
• Warranty and service information (page 15)
• Specifications (page 19)

2
2 Important Safety Information
If the 150 Inverter 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 150 Inverter or other
equipment.
Warnings and Cautions
Warning! Shock hazard.
The 150 Inverter 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 150 Inverter to water, rain,
snow, or spray.

3
Caution! Risk of damage to equipment.
The 150 Inverter 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 150 Inverter.
Reverse battery polarity (negative connected to
positive; positive connected to negative) will
damage the 150 Inverter, and it will require
servicing. Damage caused by reverse polarity is
not covered by your warranty.

4
Caution! Risk of damage to rechargeable
appliances.
The output of the 150 Inverter is non-sinusoidal.
Certain battery chargers can be damaged if they
are connected to the 150 Inverter. 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 150 Inverter with the types of
appliances just described.
Caution! Risk of damage due to high
temperatures.
Do not use the 150 Inverter in temperatures over
40°C (100°F). Overheating may result.

5
3 Xantrex 150 Inverter Features
This section describes the main features of the 150 Inverter.
Figure 1 shows the inverter’s AC panel.
Figure 1 AC Panel on the 150 Inverter (European Outlet)
① AC Outlet An AC outlet is located on one end of the
150 Inverter. 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
①②

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 150 Inverter
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 Outlet

7
4 Connecting the 150 Inverter
Choosing a Location
For best performance, choose a location that is:
•Dry Do not expose the inverter to water drip or spray.
•Cool Operate the inverter in ambient temperatures
between 0° C and 40° C (32° F and 100° F). Keep it
away from heating vents and direct sunlight.
•Well ventilated For proper cooling, allow at least 5 cm
(2 in.) of clearance around the inverter.
•Clean and free of dust and dirt Choose a location
that is free of any debris that could get into the inverter.
Connecting
To connect the inverter:
1. Place the inverter on a flat surface like the vehicle’s
dashboard. Use the floor only if it is dry and free of
debris that could get into the inverter.
2. Plug the inverter’s DC lighter plug into the vehicle’s
cigarette lighter socket or a 12 volt outlet.
3. Turn on the inverter’s On/Standby switch. The green
PWR light comes on, and AC power is available at the
outlet.
Note: You may need to turn the vehicle’s ignition key
to the accessory position.
4. Plug in the AC load you want to operate.

8
5 Operating the 150 Inverter
Operating Statuses
This section describes normal operation as well as problems
that could occur when you use the inverter. If you have a
problem, see “Troubleshooting” on page 12.
•Normal Operation When you connect the inverter to
your vehicle’s 12 volt outlet and turnon the On/Standby
switch, the green PWR light comes on and AC power is
available at the outlet.
The inverter shuts down automatically in response to
low battery voltage, high battery voltage, AC overload,
overheating, or a short in the AC output.
•Low Battery Voltage Alarm and Shutdown As the
battery discharges, its voltage decreases.
When the inverter senses that the voltage at its DC input
has dropped to 10.7 volts, it sounds an alarm. This gives
you time to shut down computers or other sensitive
devices. If you ignore the alarm and the DC input drops
to 10.0 volts, the inverter shuts down the AC load being
operated. The PWR light stays on, the alarm stays on, and
the light comes on. The low battery voltage
shutdown feature saves the battery from excessive
discharge, which can prevent you from starting your
vehicle, or more seriously, damage the battery.
•Possible shutdown when the vehicle’s engine is
started The 150 Inverter will operate while your
vehicle’s engine is running, but the normal voltage drop
that occurs when the engine starts may trigger a low
voltage shutdown.

9
•AC Overload Shutdown If you connect an AC load
that is rated higher than 150 watts or 0.65 amps or that
draws excessive surge power, the 150 Inverter shuts
down. The PWR light stays on, and the light
comes on to indicate that the inverter is overloaded.
Note: High startup surge requirements The power,
or “wattage” rating of an AC load is the average amount
of power it uses. When they are first turned on, many
AC loads consume more power than their continuous
power rating. TVs, monitors, and electric motors are
examples of loads that have high surge requirements at
start up. Although the 150 Inverter can supply
momentary surge power to 300 watts, some loads rated
less than 150 watts can exceed its surge capabilities and
trigger the AC overload shutdown feature. (See page 12
for troubleshooting procedures.)
•High Battery Voltage Shutdown If a defective battery
charging system causes the battery voltage to rise to
dangerously high levels, the inverter shuts down
automatically. The PWR light stays on, and the
light comes on.
•High Temperature Shutdown If the inverter exceeds
its safe operating temperature because of insufficient
ventilation or a high-temperature environment, it
sounds an alarm and shuts down automatically. The PWR
light stays on, and the light comes on. When the
inverter has cooled sufficiently, it restarts automatically.

10
Interference With Electronic Equipment
Most AC loads operate with the 150 Inverter as they would
with household AC power with the following exceptions.
Buzzing Sound Some inexpensive stereo systems and
“boom boxes” have inadequate internal power supply
filtering and buzz slightly when powered by the
150 Inverter. The best solution is to have an audio system
with a good quality filter.
Television Interference The 150 Inverter is shielded to
minimize its interference with TV signals. If TV signals are
weak, you may see the interference in the form of lines
scrolling across the screen. Try one of these suggestions to
minimize or eliminate the problem:
• Use an extension cord to increase the distance between
the inverter and the TV, antenna, and cables.
• Adjust the orientation of the inverter, TV, 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 vary considerably
in their susceptibility to interference.

11
6 Battery Operating Time
The operating time of the 150 Inverter depends on the
charge level of the battery, the battery capacity, and the
amount of power drawn by the particular AC load being
used. With a typical vehicle battery and a 150 watt AC load
(like a small TV), you can expect two to three hours of
operating time.
To preserve the battery:
• Do not allow your vehicle battery to become deeply
discharged. A vehicle battery (starting battery) is not
designed to be deeply discharged, and repeated deep
discharge/charge cycles will shorten its life.
When you use a vehicle battery as a power source, start
the vehicle every hour or two and run it until you have
partially recharged the battery.
• Do not leave the 150 Inverter on for extended periods if
an AC load is not connected.
The inverter draws less than 0.18 amps with the On/
Standby switch on and no AC load connected, but that
will eventually discharge the battery.

12
7 Troubleshooting
This section describes problems you could encounter as well
as possible causes and various remedies.
The AC load will not operate; the light is on.
Symptom An AC load is plugged in or turned on, operates
for one to ten seconds, and then shuts down.
Symptom The AC load will not operate. The light
comes on when the inverter is turned on or when the AC
load is turned on or plugged in. The alarm may sound.
Warning! Shock Hazard.
Do not open the inverter or attempt to service it
yourself. Refer all service to qualified personnel.
Possible cause Suggested remedy
The AC load is rated at more
than 150 watts; an overload
shutdown has occurred.
Use a load with a power rating
less than 150 watts (0.65 amps).
The AC loadis rated at less than
150 watts, but a high starting
surge has caused an overload
shutdown.
The AC load exceeds the
inverter’s surge capability. Use
a load with a starting surge
power within its capability.
Possible cause Suggested remedy
The battery is discharged. Recharge the battery.
The battery voltage is
excessive. Check the charging system.

13
Symptom The AC load runs for more than one minute, the
alarm sounds, and the light comes on. The inverter is
warm or hot to touch.
The AC load will not operate; no inverter lights are
on.
Symptom The cigarette lighter works in the lighter socket,
but the inverter does not.
Symptom The cigarette lighter does not work in the lighter
socket.
Possible cause Suggested remedy
Poor ventilation or a high-
temperature environment has
caused the inverter to overheat.
Ensure that ventilation is not
restricted around the inverter.
Possible cause Suggested remedy
The contact between the plug
and the lighter socket or the 12
volt outlet is poor.
Press the plug firmly into the
socket. Clean the plug or the
socket if necessary.
The inverter has been connected
with reverse DC input polarity. The inverter has probably been damaged. Have it repaired.
Instructions for returning the
inverter are on page 18.
Damage caused by reverse
polarity is not covered by the
warranty.

14
Measured inverter output voltage is too low.
Symptom The AC voltmeter reading is 5 to 15 volts too low.
Battery operating time is less than expected.
Symptom The inverter runs for a while, and then the
light comes on. The inverter is cool or warm to touch.
Possible cause Suggested remedy
The lighter socket or the 12 volt
outlet may require that the
ignition be switched on.
Turn the key to the accessory
position.
The cigarette lighter fuse or the
12 volt outlet fuse is blown. Check the vehicle fuses, and replace the blown fuse with the
correct type and size.
Possible cause Suggested remedy
A standard “average reading”
AC voltmeter has been used to
measure the output voltage.
For accuracy, the 150 Inverter
modified sine wave output
needs to be measured with a
“true RMS” voltmeter, like a
Fluke 87 series multimeter.
The battery voltage is too low. Recharge the battery.
Possible cause Suggested remedy
The battery is old or defective. Replace the battery.
The battery is not being charged
properly. Have a qualified technician check the vehicle’s electrical
system.

15
8 Warranty Information
What Does This Warranty Cover? Xantrex manufactures its
products from parts and components that are new or
equivalent to new, in accordance with industry standard
practices. This warranty covers any defects in workmanship
or materials.
How Long Does The Coverage Last? This warranty lasts for
two (2) years from the date of purchase. Implied warranties
of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose are
limited to two (2) years from date of purchase. Some
jurisdictions do not allow limitations on how long an
implied warranty lasts, so the above limitation may not
apply to you.
What Does This Warranty Not Cover? This warranty will
not apply where the product has been misused, neglected,
improperly installed, physically damaged or altered, either
internally or externally, or damaged from improper use or
use in an unsuitable environment. Xantrex does not warrant
uninterrupted operations of its products. Xantrex shall not
be liable for damages, whether direct, incidental, special, or
consequential, or economic loss even though caused by the
negligence or fault of Xantrex. Some jurisdictions do not
allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or
consequential damages, so the above limitation or exclusion
may not apply to you.
What Will Xantrex Do? At its option, Xantrex will repair or
replace the defective product free of charge. Xantrex will,
also at its option, use new and/or reconditioned parts made
by various manufacturers in performing warranty repair and

16
building replacement products. If Xantrex repairs or
replaces a product, its warranty term is not extended.
Xantrex owns all parts removed from repaired products.
Service During Warranty In order to qualify for the
warranty, dated proof of purchase must be provided, and the
product must not be disassembled or modified without prior
authorization by Xantrex. If your product requires warranty
service, please return it to the place of purchase along with a
copy of your dated proof of purchase. If you are unable to
contact your merchant, or the merchant is unable to provide
service, contact Xantrex directly:
Phone: [phone]
Phone: [phone] (toll free in North America)
Fax: [phone]
Fax: [phone] (toll free in North America)
Email: [e-mail]