Xantrex XPower 400 User manual

Owner’s Guide
XPower Inverter 400
975-0164-01-01 REV A Printed in China
ARTWORK NO. 975-0164-01-01 REV. A 2004-07-05
by
t 1-800-670-0707 (toll free in North America)
1-360-925-5097 (direct)
f 1-800-994-7828 (toll free in North America)
1-360-925-5143 (direct)
e [email protected]
www.xantrex.com

by
XPower Inverter 400
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 Inverter 400 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 400 Owner’s Guide © July 2004 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
July 2004 Revision A
Part Number
975-0164-01-01
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

1. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
About the Inverter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
About this Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
2. Important Safety Information. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Warnings and Cautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Additional safety guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
3. Inverter Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
AC (front) panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
DC (back) panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Digital display (top) panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Types of connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
4. Connecting the Inverter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Choosing a location . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Connecting for loads under 150 W . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Connecting for loads over 150 W . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Contents

5. Operating the Inverter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Operating conditions and guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Shutting the inverter off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Operating normal loads. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Operating loads with high surge requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
6. Maintaining Battery Condition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
7. Troubleshooting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
Common problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Buzz in audio systems. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Television interference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Troubleshooting reference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
8. Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28
9. Warranty and Return . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29

1
1 Introduction
About the Inverter
Connected to the 12 V outlet in your car, truck, boat, RV, or directly
from a dedicated 12 V battery, the XPower Inverter 400 efficiently and
reliably powers a wide variety of household AC products, such as
portable stereos, laptop computers, TVs, VCRs, and other similar
products.
The inverter uses reliable solid state power electronics for years of safe,
trouble-free operation and includes the following automatic features to
ensure safe and trouble-free operation:
• Low battery alarm
• Low voltage shutdown
• High voltage shutdown
• Overload shutdown
• Overheating shutdown
• Short-circuit protection

2
About this Guide
To get the best performance from your inverter, we recommend that you
read this guide before connecting and using the inverter, and then save it
for future reference.
This guide contains:
• Important safety information (page 3)
• Instructions for connecting the inverter (page 11)
• Operating guidelines (page 16)
• Troubleshooting guidelines (page 22)
• Specifications (page 28)

3
2 Important Safety Information
Misusing or incorrectly connecting the XPower Inverter 400 may
damage the equipment or create hazardous conditions for users. Read
the following safety instructions and pay special attention to all Caution
and Warning statements in the guide.
Warnings identify conditions that may result in personal injury or loss
of life.
Cautions identify conditions or practices that may damage the unit or
other equipment.
Warnings and Cautions
WARNING: Shock hazard
Keep children away from the inverter. The inverter generates the same
lethal AC power as a normal household wall outlet. Treat the outlet with
respect!
WARNING: Heated surface
The inverter housing may become uncomfortably warm, reaching 60°C
(140°F) under extended high power operation. Ensure that at least 2" (5
cm) of air surround the inverter. During operation, keep it away from
materials that may be affected by high temperatures.

4
WARNING: Explosion hazard
Do not use the inverter in the presence of flammable fumes or gases,
such as in the bilge of a gasoline-powered boat, or near propane tanks.
Do not use the inverter in an enclosure containing automotive-type,
lead-acid batteries. These batteries, unlike sealed batteries, vent
explosive hydrogen gas, which can be ignited by sparks from electrical
connections.
WARNING: Crash hazard
Vehicle drivers should not configure or troubleshoot the inverter while
they are driving the vehicle.
CAUTION: Output non-sinusoidal
Some chargers for small nickel-cadmium batteries can be damaged if
connected to the inverter. Do not use the inverter with the following
equipment:
• Small battery-operated appliances like rechargeable flashlights,
some rechargeable shavers, and night lights that are plugged directly
into an AC receptacle to recharge.
• Battery chargers used in power tools. These chargers display a
warning label stating that dangerous voltages are present at the
charger battery terminals.

5
Additional safety guidelines
• Do not insert foreign objects in the inverter outlets or ventilation
openings.
• Never connect the inverter to power utility AC distribution wiring.
• Do not use the inverter in temperatures over 104°F (40°C).
• Do not expose the inverter to water, rain, snow, or spray.
Failure to follow these safety guidelines may cause personal injury and/
or damage to the inverter. It may also void your product warranty.
CAUTION
Do not connect live AC power to the inverter’s AC outlets. The inverter
will be damaged even if it is turned off.
Do not connect any AC load that has its neutral conductor connected to
ground to the inverter.

6
3 Inverter Features
This section describes the main features of the XPower Inverter 400.
AC (front) panel
Figure 1 shows the AC panel of the inverter.
Figure 1 AC Panel
Two AC receptacles are located on one end of the inverter. You can plug
in 120 V appliances with a combined total continuous power
consumption of up to 400 W.
CAUTION
To prevent overheating, ensure that all the ventilation openings on the
unit are kept clear.

7
DC (back) panel
Figure 2 shows the DC panel of the inverter. Use Table 1 to identify the
function of each item.
Figure 2 DC Panel
Table 1 DC Panel Functions
Item Function
1Fan and Ventilation Openings
The cooling fan on the unit is designed to operate only when output
power is greater than approximately 80 W. When the inverter is turned
on, the fan may operate momentarily. The ventilation openings should
not be covered at any time while the inverter is operating.
2A) Positive and B) Negative Cabling Terminals
Connect the ring terminals on the power cables to these terminals. To
ensure correct polarity, red must be connected to red and black must be
connected to black.
2A
1
2B

8
Digital display (top) panel
Figure 3 shows the digital display panel. Use Table 2 to identify the
function of items.
Figure 3 Digital Display Panel
2
1
3

9
Table 2 Digital Display Panel Functions
Item Function
1Press and hold to turn the unit on and off.
When the unit is on, press to toggle the display function to show input
voltage, output power or output voltage.
2Normal Operation
Digital display shows input voltage, output power or output voltage.
Error Mode
Digital display shows error codes and alarm sounds when unit has
shut down due to under-voltage, over-voltage, over-load, overheating
or high-surge.
3LEDs indicate the status of the digital display.
Audible Alarm
An audible alarm warns you if an under-voltage shutdown is about to
occur.

10
Types of connections
The inverter comes with accessories for making two types of
connections:
• For AC loads of 150 W or less: Lighter plug cable to connect the
inverter to a 12 V outlet in your vehicle. See Figure 4.
• For AC loads up to 400 W: Cable clamps to connect the inverter
directly to a dedicated 12 V battery. See Figure 5.
Accessories
Figure 4 Lighter Plug Cable
Figure 5 Cable for Direct Connection to 12 V Battery

11
4 Connecting the Inverter
Choosing a location
For best performance, place the inverter on a flat surface in a location
that is:
CAUTION
The inverter must only be connected to a battery that has a nominal
output of 12 V. It will not operate if connected to a 6 V battery and may
be damaged if connected to a battery with 16 V or more.
Dry Do not expose the inverter to water, rain, snow 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 2" (5 cm) 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.
Safe Do not install the inverter in a compartment with batteries
or flammable liquids, such as gasoline, or explosive vapors.

12
Connecting for loads under 150 W
For loads under 150 W, you can use the lighter plug cable.
Follow these steps to connect the unit with the lighter plug cable:
1. Place the inverter on a flat surface such as the floor of your vehicle.
2. Make sure that the unit is off by verifying the digital display is off.
3. Connect the ring terminals on the lighter plug cable to the cabling
terminals on the unit. (The cabling terminals are shown in Figure
2.) Fasten the positive (red) ring terminal to the positive cabling
terminal, and then fasten the negative (black) ring terminal to the
negative cabling terminal.
CAUTION: Reverse polarity
Power connections of the 12 V DC battery to the inverter must be
positive to positive and negative to negative.
A reverse polarity connection (positive to negative) will blow a fuse in
the inverter and may permanently damage the unit. Damage caused by a
reverse polarity connection is not covered by your warranty.
CAUTION
Make sure you connect red to red and black to black, and make sure you
screw the nuts on tightly.

13
4. Tighten the nut on each cabling terminal until it is snug. Do not
over-tighten.
5. Place the inverter’s lighter plug in the vehicle’s lighter socket or a
12 V outlet.
6. Turn on the unit by holding the switch located on top of the unit
until 888 is shown on the display.
The digital display will show the battery voltage, indicating that the
inverter is operating normally and AC power is available at the
outlet.
7. Plug in the AC product you want to operate.
8. When not in use, always turn the inverter off by holding the switch
until the digital display turns off.
Connecting for loads over 150 W
To operate loads greater than 150 W continuously, you must connect the
unit directly to a 12 V battery using the DC cable clamps. When the
inverter is connected this way, you can operate loads of up to 400 W.
WARNING: Shock hazard
Batteries contain corrosive materials and present an electrical shock
hazard. To prevent irritation and burns, wear protective eyewear and
clothing when you install the inverter or work with the batteries. Take
special care to ensure that metal tools and personal metal objects like
rings and bracelets do not contact the battery terminals.

14
Follow these steps to make a direct battery connection:
1. Place the inverter on a flat surface.
2. Make sure that the unit is off by verifying the digital display is off.
3. Connect the ring terminals on the DC cable clamps to the cabling
terminals on the unit. (The cabling terminals are shown in Figure
2.) Fasten the positive (red) ring terminal to the positive cabling
terminal, and then fasten the negative (black) ring terminal to the
negative cabling terminal.
4. Tighten the nut on each cabling terminal until it is snug. Do not
over-tighten.
CAUTION: Reverse polarity
Power connections of the 12 V DC battery to the inverter must be
positive to positive and negative to negative.
A reverse polarity connection (positive to negative) will blow a fuse in
the inverter and may permanently damage the unit. Damage caused by a
reverse polarity connection is not covered by your warranty.
CAUTION
Make sure you connect red to red and black to black, and make sure you
screw the nuts on tightly.

15
5. Fasten the positive (red) clamp to the positive battery post, and then
fasten the negative (black) clamp to the negative battery post.
6. Turn on the unit by holding the switch located on top of the unit
until 888 is shown on the display.
The digital display will show the battery voltage, indicating that the
inverter is operating normally and AC power is available at the
outlet.
7. Plug in the AC appliance you want to operate.
8. When not in use, always turn the inverter off by holding the switch
until the digital display turns off.