Xantrex Powerpack 100 User manual

XPower Pocket Powerpack 100
Owner's Guide
by
975-0249-01-01 REV. A Printed in China
t 1-800-394-0440 (toll free in North America)
1-604-422-2777 (direct)
f 1-604-420-2145
e [email protected]
www.xantrex.com
ARTWORK NO. 975-0249-01-01 REV. A 2005-08-3

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 by Xantrex 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 Pocket Powerpack 100 Owner’s Guide
© August 2005 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
August 2005 Revision A
Part Number
975-0249-01-01
Contact Information
Telephone: [phone] (toll free North America)
1 360 925 5097 (direct)
Fax: [phone] (direct)
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.xantrex.com

Contents
iii
1. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
2. Important Safety Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Warnings and Cautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Additional Safety Guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
3. Safety Features. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
4. Features and Accessories. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
5. Using the Inverter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Using the Inverter Module with DC Input Cable . 14
Using the Vehicle Power Outlet Adapter. . . . . . . . 14
Using the Airplane Power Plug . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Using the Inverter with Powerpack . . . . . . . . . . . 18
6. Inverter Operation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Operation with the DC Input Cable . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Operating Guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Vehicle Battery Operating Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Operation with the Powerpack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Device Run Times . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Interference with Electronic Equipment . . . . . . . . 24
Buzzing Sound in Audio Systems and Radios. . . . 25
Television Interference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

iv
Recharging the Powerpack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
7. Troubleshooting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Inverter Powered by DC Input Cable . . . . . . . . . . 30
Inverter Powered by Powerpack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Replacing the Fuse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Battery Recycling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
8. Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Electrical Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Physical Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
9. Warranty and Return . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

1
1 Introduction
Thank you for purchasing the XPower Pocket
Powerpack 100. This product is part of a family of
advanced high-performance power inverters from
Xantrex, the leader in high-frequency inverter design.
The XPower Pocket Powerpack 100 has two separate
modules:
1. An inverter module
Connected to the 12 V DC outlet in your vehicle,
the XPower Inverter efficiently and reliably
powers a wide variety of loads through both the
AC outlet and USB port.
2. A Powerpack module
When 12 V DC power is not available, the
Powerpack module can provide power to the
inverter. The Powerpack has a nickel metal
hydride (NiMH) battery you can recharge using
household electricity or 12 V DC power from a
vehicle DC outlet.

2
The XPower Pocket Powerpack 100 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 operating or charging the
XPower Pocket Powerpack 100, and save it for future
reference. The main topics in the guide are:
• Safety information (page 3)
• XPower Inverter features (page 11)
• Instructions for connecting the inverter (page 13)
• Operating guidelines (page 20)
• Troubleshooting information (page 30)
• Specifications (page 36)
• Warranty and service information (page 39)

3
2 Important Safety Information
Misusing or incorrectly connecting the XPower
Pocket Powerpack 100 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
Keep the XPower Pocket Powerpack 100 out of
reach of children and pets. The inverter generates
the same potentially lethal AC power as a normal
household wall outlet. Treat the outlet with respect!

4
WARNING
The inverter housing may become uncomfortably
warm, reaching 140° F (60° C) under extended high
power operation. During operation, keep it away
from materials that may be affected by high
temperatures.
WARNING
Do not use the XPower Pocket Powerpack 100 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 XPower Pocket
Powerpack 100 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.

5
WARNING: Shock hazard
Use caution when inserting an AC plug into the
three-prong AC outlet. The prongs of an AC plug
can become bent from misuse. If an AC plug is
improperly inserted into the AC outlet, a bent prong
can slip outside the inverter and become a shock
hazard.
WARNING: Shock hazard
Grip the inverter carefully when inserting or
removing an AC plug. Keep your fingers clear of
the AC outlet. Ensure that your fingers do not
contact the prongs of an AC plug when the plug is
partially inside the inverter.

6
WARNING: Fire hazard
• Never charge the Powerpack unattended.
• Charge the Powerpack in an isolated area, away
from other flammable materials.
• Let the Powerpack cool down to ambient
temperature before charging.
• Storing the Powerpack at temperatures over
170 °F (77 °C) for over two hours may cause
damage to battery and possible fire.

7
WARNING: Personal Injury
• The cells inside the Powerpack contain toxic
substances. Do not use the Powerpack if the
casing is broken or if it emits an unusual odor,
produces excessive heat, or leaks. Avoid contact
with any substance that leaks from the
Powerpack.
• Do not attempt to open the Powerpack. Do not
insert any object into the Powerpack or use any
device to pry at the casing.
WARNING: Fire and shock hazard
Do not insert any object into the Powerpack’s ports
or openings.

8
CAUTION: AC output non-sinusoidal
Some chargers for small nickel-cadmium batteries
can be damaged if connected to the XPower Pocket
Powerpack 100. Do not use the XPower Pocket
Powerpack 100 with the following appliances:
• 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 hand power tools.
These chargers display a warning label stating
that dangerous voltages are present at the
charger battery terminals.
CAUTION
Do not connect live AC power to the XPower
Pocket Powerpack 100’s AC outlets. This will
damage the inverter, and the damage is not covered
by warranty.
Do not connect any AC load that has its neutral
conductor connected to ground to the XPower
Inverter.

9
Additional Safety Guidelines
• Do not insert foreign objects in the AC outlet or
other openings.
• Never connect the XPower Pocket Powerpack
100 to power utility AC distribution wiring.
• Do not use the XPower Pocket Powerpack 100 in
temperatures over 100° F (40° C).
• Do not expose the XPower Pocket Powerpack
100 to water, rain, snow, or spray.
Failure to follow these safety guidelines may cause
personal injury and/or damage to the XPower Pocket
Powerpack 100. It may also void your product
warranty.

10
3 Safety Features
These advanced safety features are built into the
XPower Pocket Powerpack 100:
• Electronic overload protection
• User-replaceable 10 A fuse
• Low battery voltage shutdown
• High-input voltage protection
• Over-temperature protection
• Output short circuit protection.

11
4 Features and Accessories
Figure 1 XPower Inverter Module Features
AC outlet
Power/Fault light
Fuse
USB power port
DC input port
Ventilation
openings
Mounting slot

12
Figure 2 Powerpack Module Features
Figure 3 Inverter Accessories
Power/Fault light ON/OFF switch
Mounting tab
AC charger input
DC output plug
Airplane
power plug
Vehicle power
outlet adapter
DC Input Cable AC Charger

13
5 Using the Inverter
Through its AC outlet, the XPower Pocket Powerpack
100 is capable of powering most 120 V AC products
that use 100 W or less. The XPower Pocket
Powerpack 100 can also power or charge most
consumer electronics that have USB power ports.
The XPower Pocket Powerpack 100’s AC output
waveform, called “modified sine wave,” is designed
to function similarly to the sine wave shape of utility
power.
You can operate the inverter module in two
configurations:
• By itself, connected to 12 V DC power with the
DC input cable.
• Connected to the Powerpack module, making it a
fully portable unit.

14
Using the Inverter Module with
DC Input Cable
Using the Vehicle Power Outlet Adapter
Due to the limitations of 12 V outlets in automobiles
or boats, the inverter module should only be used to
supply AC power to products that require 100 W
(about 0.8 A) or less.
1. Attach the power outlet adapter to the DC input
cable. See Figure 4 on page 15.
2. Plug the DC input cable into the DC input port on
the inverter module. Align the plug and port
correctly. See Figure 4.
3. Insert the power outlet adapter into the vehicle’s
12 V outlet.
CAUTION: Reverse polarity damage
When plugging in the DC cable, ensure that the plug
aligns with the DC cable port. Failure to do so will
result in reverse polarity and a blown fuse.

15
4. Plug the device you want to operate into the
inverter module. See “Inverter Operation” on
page 20.
5. When the inverter module is not in use, unplug it
from the 12 V outlet to prevent slight discharge of
the battery.
Figure 4 Connecting the Adapter and DC Cable
Press latch
to remove
adapter.
Align plug
correctly
(green line to
green line).