Xantrex XPower 300 User manual

by
XPower Inverter 300
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 300 Owner’s Guide © September 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
September 2003 Revision B
Part Number
975-0093-01-01
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 300 Inverter Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
AC Outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
4. Connecting the XPower 300 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Choosing a Location . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Fastening the Inverter to a Mounting Surface . . . . . . . 9
Connecting the XPower 300 to DC Power . . . . . . . . 10
Using the Cigarette Plug Wire Assembly . . . . . . . . 11
Using the Battery Clip Wire Assembly . . . . . . . . . . 12
Hardwiring the Inverter to the Battery . . . . . . . . . . 14
Disconnecting the Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Replacing the In-Line Fuse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
5. Operating the XPower 300 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Operating Statuses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Interference With Electronic Equipment. . . . . . . . . 21
6. Battery Operating Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
7. Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
8. Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Electrical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Physical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Regulatory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
9. Limited Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
10. Other Xantrex Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Table of Contents

iv

1
1 Introduction
Thank you for purchasing the XPower Inverter 300. The
XPower 300 is part of a family of advanced, high-
performance power inverters from Xantrex, the leader in the
field of high-frequency inverter design.
Connected to the 12 volt outlet in your vehicle or directly to
your battery for loads over 150 watts, the XPower 300
efficiently and reliably powers a wide variety of household
AC products, such as TVs and VCRs, laptop computers,
camcorder and cell phone chargers, compact fluorescent
lights, and soldering irons.
The XPower 300 uses reliable solid state power electronics
for years of safe, trouble-free operation and includes
automatic safety monitoring circuitry to protect it from
inadvertent overload conditions.
Read this guide before connecting or using the XPower 300,
and save it for future reference. The main topics in the guide
are:
• Safety information (page 2)
• XPower 300 features (page 6)
• Instructions for connecting the inverter (page 9)
• Operating guidelines (page 19)
• Troubleshooting information (page 23)
• Specifications (page 27)
• Warranty and service information (page 29)

2
2 Important Safety Information
If the XPower 300 is connected or used incorrectly,
hazardous conditions may be created. Read and save this
safety information, and pay special attention to all Caution
and Warning 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 300 or other
equipment.
Warnings and Cautions
6
WARNING: Shock hazard
The XPower 300 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 300 to water, rain, snow, or
spray.

3
WARNING: Risk of fire or explosion
The XPower 300 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 300 in a
zero-clearance compartment. Overheating may result.
WARNING: Shock and fire hazard
During installation route all cable/wiring away from sharp
edges and hot surfaces of the engine compartment or
vehicle.

4
CAUTION: Risk of damage to equipment
The XPower 300 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
300
Reverse battery polarity (negative connected to positive;
positive connected to negative) will damage the XPower
300, and it will require servicing. Damage caused by
reverse polarity is not covered by your warranty.

5
CAUTION: Risk of damage to rechargeable
appliances
The output of the XPower 300 is non-sinusoidal. Certain
battery chargers can be damaged if they are connected to
the XPower 300. Two particular types of equipment are
prone to this problem:
• Small battery-operated appliances such as
rechargeable 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 have a warning label
stating that dangerous voltages are present at the
charger battery terminals.
Do not use the XPower 300 with the type of appliances
just described.
CAUTION: Risk of damage due to high
temperatures
Do not use the XPower 300 in temperatures over 40° C
(105° F). Overheating may result.

6
3 XPower 300 Inverter Features
This section describes the main features of the XPower 300.
Figure 1 shows the inverter’s AC panel.
Figure 1 AC Panel on the XPower 300 (European AC Outlet)
➀ AC Outlet An AC outlet is located on one end of the
inverter. It allows you to plug in a 230 volt AC product with
a power consumption of 150 watts or less when the inverter
is operated from a vehicle lighter socket, or 300 watts or less
when it is connected directly to a battery.
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 8.
➁ On/Standby Switch The two positions on the On/
Standby switch are: = Standby and = On.
①
②③④
➄

7
When the inverter is connected to a DC power source and
the On/Standby switch is on, AC power is available at the
outlet.
➂ Power Light The green PWR light is on all the time
when the On/Standby switch is on.
➃ 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.
➄ Mounting Flanges Mounting flanges on the AC and
DC ends allow you to mount the inverter permanently. For
additional information, see “Fastening the Inverter to a
Mounting Surface” on page 9.
Audible Alarm An audible alarm warns you of a high
temperature shutdown or of an impending low voltage
shutdown.
Fan The fan (see Figure 5) turns on when an AC load of
100 watts or larger is plugged in.

8
AC Outlets
Depending on your geographic location, your XPower 300
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

9
4 Connecting the XPower 300
This section explains how to connect the XPower 300.
Choosing a Location
For the 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.
•Protected from battery gases Do not mount the
inverter where it will be exposed to battery gases. These
are very corrosive and will damage the inverter.
Fastening the Inverter to a Mounting
Surface
For temporary or portable use, place the inverter on a flat
surface like a table or the floor of your vehicle.
For a permanent installation, use four screws to attach the
inverter’s mounting flanges to an appropriate surface.
Note: Local and national electrical codes that apply to your
installation may require that you permanently mount the inverter if
you make permanent electrical connections and may disallow
permanent mounting if you make a temporary electrical
connection.

10
Connecting the XPower 300 to DC Power
You can connect the inverter to a 12 volt DC power source
using:
• The cigarette plug wire assembly (page 11)
• The battery clip wire assembly (page 12)
• A hardwired connection to the battery (page 14)
Your method will depend on the size of the AC loads you
want to power. When you connect the inverter, refer to
Figure 5 and Figure 6.
Figure 5 DC Panel on the XPower 300
CAUTION: Risk of damage to the XPower
300
The XPower 300 must only be operated with a nominal 12
volt battery. The inverter will not operate with a lower
voltage battery. A higher voltage battery will damage the
inverter.
③
②
①
①Fan ②Red (positive +) terminal ③ Black (negative –)
terminal

11
Using the Cigarette Plug Wire Assembly
Loads under 150 watts When you are going to power
loads under 150 watts, use the cigarette plug wire assembly.
To connect the inverter:
1. Remove the nuts from the DC terminals on the inverter.
2. Place the red ring connector on the inverter’s red
(positive +) DC terminal, and then screw the red nut on
until it is snug. Do not over tighten.
3. Place the black ring connector on the inverter’s black
(negative –) DC terminal, and then screw the black nut
on until it is snug. Do not over tighten.
4. Place the lighter plug in the vehicle’s cigarette lighter
socket or a 12 volt outlet.
WARNING: Fire hazard
The wires in most 12 volt sockets or power outlets are not
large enough for loads greater than 150 watts: they will
overheat and present a fire hazard.
Do not use loads greater than 150 watts with the cigarette
plug wire assembly.
CAUTION: Damage to the XPower 300
Reversing the positive and negative battery cables will
damage the inverter and will void your warranty.
Double check the wiring connections: the red connector
must be connected to the red terminal, and the black
connector must be connected to the black terminal.

12
5. Turn on the inverter’s On/Standby switch. The 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.
6. Plug in the AC load you want to operate.
Using the Battery Clip Wire Assembly
Loads greater than 150 watts When you are going to
power loads that are greater than 150 watts (up to 300 watts
continuous power), connect the inverter to a 12 volt battery
using the battery clip wire assembly.
WARNING: Corrosive materials and energy
hazard
To reduce the risk of irritation and burns, wear protective
eyewear and clothing when you work with batteries.
Take special care to ensure that metal tools or personal
objects like rings or watches do not contact the battery
terminals.
WARNING: Fire hazard
The wires in most 12 volt sockets or power outlets are not
large enough for loads greater than 150 watts: they will
overheat and present a fire hazard.
For loads greater than 150 watts, connect the inverter
directly to the battery and use appropriately sized wires
like those in the battery clip wire assembly provided with
the inverter.

13
To connect the inverter:
1. Remove the nuts from the DC terminals on the inverter.
2. Place the red ring connector on the red (positive +) DC
terminal, and then screw the red nut on until it is snug.
Do not over tighten.
3. Attach the red clip to the red (positive +) battery
terminal.
4. Attach the black clip to the black (negative –) battery
terminal.
5. Place the black ring connector on the black (negative –)
DC terminal, and then screw the black nut on until it is
snug. Do not over tighten.
Note: A spark may occur when you make this
connection. This is normal.
6. Check that both clips are securely connected to the
battery terminals. A loose connection will cause
excessive voltage drop and may cause the cables to
overheat. This could result in equipment damage or fire.
CAUTION: Risk of damage to the XPower
300
Reversing the positive and negative battery cables will
damage the inverter and void your warranty.
When you connect the inverter to the battery, double check
the connections. The red wire must be connected to the red
(+) terminal on the inverter and the positive (+) terminal
on the battery. The black wire must be connected to the
black (–) terminal on the inverter and the negative (–)
terminal on the battery.

14
7. Turn on the On/Standby switch. The green PWR light
comes on, and AC power is available at the outlet.
Hardwiring the Inverter to the Battery
Loads of any size (up to 300 watts continuous power)
For a permanent electrical connection, or when you need to
power some loads that are greater than 150 watts and some
that are less than 150 watts, you can hardwire the inverter to
the battery. This eliminates the need to switch between the
battery clip wire assembly and the cigarette plug wire
assembly. A hardwired installation is illustrated in Figure 6.
Figure 6 Hardwiring the XPower 300 to a 12 Volt Battery
WARNING: Shock and fire hazard
Use a qualified installer to perform a hardwired
connection.
➂
②
①
④
➄
⑥
–
+

15
WARNING: Fire hazard
The wires in most 12 volt sockets or power outlets are not
large enough for loads greater than 150 watts: they will
overheat and present a fire hazard.
For loads greater than 150 watts, connect the inverter
directly to the battery and use appropriately sized wires
like those in the battery clip wire assembly provided with
the inverter.
①XPower 300 ②3.3mm2(12 AWG) red wire from the
positive inverter terminal to the positive battery terminal
(via the fuse and the switch) ➂40 amp automotive
fuse ④12 volt, 40 amp disconnect switch ➄12 volt
battery ⑥3.3mm2(12 AWG) black wire from the negative
inverter terminal to the negative battery terminal

16
To hardwire the inverter to the battery:
1. Cut the clips off the cable clip wire assembly. (The
wires in this assembly are appropriate for loads over
150 watts. The wires in the cigarette plug wire assembly
are too small: do not use them.)
2. Using 3.3mm2(12 AWG) wire or heavier, extend the
power cord if you need to, to a maximum total length of
2 meters (6.5 feet) including the existing XPower 300
power cord length. Solder all connections and make
sure they are properly insulated by using electrical tape
or heat shrinkable tubing.
3. Install a 40 amp automotive fuse and a switch rated at
40 amps in the positive (red) wire, close to the end that
will attach to the battery. See Figure 6. The switch lets
you disconnect the DC power if you need to replace the
in-line fuse. Solder and insulate the connections as
detailed in Step 2 above.
4. Turn off the in-line switch.
5. Solder or crimp heavy-duty terminals to the battery end
of the positive and negative wires. Use terminals that
mate properly with the battery terminals or battery
cable clamps.