Xantrex XPower 300 User manual

XPower Powerpack
300 and 300 PLUS
Owners Guide

About Xantrex
Xantrex Technology Inc. develops, manufactures and markets leading advanced
power electronic and control products for the Distributed, Mobile, and
Programmable Power markets. The company’s enabling technology converts raw
electrical power from any central, distributed, or backup power source into high-
quality power required by electronic and electrical equipment. Its products are
sold under the Xantrex, Trace, Heart and Statpower brands.
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.
© May 2002 Xantrex International. All rights reserved.
Notice of Copyright
XPower™ Powerpack 300 and 300 Plus Owner’s Guide
© May 2002 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
May 2002, Revision 1
Part Number
445-0170-01-01
Contact I nformation
Phone [phone] (toll free in North America)
1-604-420-1585 (outside North America)
Fax: [phone] (toll free in North America)
1-604-420-1591 (outside North America)
Email: [e-mail]
Web: www.xantrex.com

About This Guide
Conventions Used
The following conventions are used in this guide.
WARNI NG
Warnings identify conditions that could result in
personal injury or loss of life.
CAUTI ON
Cautions identify conditions or practices that could
result in damage to the XPower™ Powerpack unit
or to other equipment.
Important: These notes describe an important action item
or an item that you must pay attention to.
Note:Notes describe additional information which may
add to your understanding of how to use the XPower
Powerpack.

About This Guide
iv
References to XPower Powerpack
In this guide, both the XPower Powerpack 300 and the
XPower Powerpack 300 Plus (with the air compressor) are
referred to as XPower Powerpack when the information
applies to both models. However, when the information is
specific to one model, then reference is made specifically to
the XPower Powerpack 300 or to the XPower Powerpack
300 Plus.
Related I nformation
You can find more information about Xantrex Technology
Inc. as well as its products and services at www.xantrex.com

v
I mportant Safety I nformation
The XPower Powerpack generates a similar type of AC
power as a normal household wall outlet. Operating the
XPower Powerpack incorrectly or misusing it may damage
the equipment or create hazardous conditions for the user.
Warnings and Cautions
Important: Before using your XPower Powerpack, be sure to
read and save these safety instructions.
WARNI NG: Shock hazard. Keep Away
from Children.
The XPower Powerpack generates the same potentially
lethal AC power as a normal household wall outlet. Do
not insert foreign objects into the AC Outlet, the DC
Power Socket, the Jumper Cable Port, or the ventilation
holes. Do not expose this product to water, rain, snow,
or spray.
Do not open the XPower Powerpack except to replace
the internal battery. Have a qualified technician
complete any service work.
CAUTI ON
Do not connect any AC appliance with the neutral
conductor connected to ground to the XPower Powerpack.

Warnings and Cautions
vi
CAUTI ON
Do not expose the XPower Powerpack to temperatures
over 104 °F (40 °C).
WARNI NG: Explosion hazard
Do not use this product where there are flammable fumes
or gases, such as in the bilge of a gasoline powered boat,
or near propane tanks. Do not use this product in an
enclosure containing automotive-type lead acid batteries.
These batteries, unlike the sealed AGM battery in
XPower Powerpack, vent explosive hydrogen gas which
can be ignited by sparks from electrical connections.
When working on electrical equipment, always ensure
someone is nearby to help you in an emergency.
WARNI NG: Heated surface
Ensure at least 2 inches (5 cm) air space is maintained on
all sides of the XPower Powerpack. During operation,
keep away from materials that may be affected by high
temperatures such as blankets, pillows and sleeping bags.
CAUTI ON
The jump-start feature is designed for short term operation
only—less than 4 seconds. Operating the jump-start
feature for more than 4 seconds may cause damage to the
unit. Allow the XPower Powerpack to cool down for 3–4
minutes after each jump start.
CAUTI ON: XPower Powerpack 300 Plus
The compressor is designed for short term operation only.
Operating the compressor over an extended period of time
will cause the compressor unit to overheat and may cause
damage. Allow the compressor to cool down for 10
minutes after each 10 minutes of continuous operation.

Precautions When Working With Batteries
vii
Precautions When Working With
Batteries
1. Follow all instructions published by the battery
manufacturer and the manufacturer of the equipment in
which the battery is installed.
2. Make sure the area around the battery is well ventilated.
3. Never smoke or allow a spark or flame in vicinity of the
engine or batteries.
4. Be careful not to drop a metal object on the battery or
allow a metal tool to simultaneously touch the positive
and negative cable ends or battery terminals. It might
spark or short-circuit the battery or other electrical parts
and cause an explosion.
5. Remove personal metal items such as rings, bracelets,
necklaces, and watches when working with a lead-acid
battery. A lead-acid battery produces a short circuit
current high enough to weld a ring or other similar
objects to metal, causing a severe burn.
6. If you need to remove a battery, always remove the
positive terminal from the battery first. Make sure all
accessories are off so you don’t cause an arc.
7. Someone should be within range of your voice, or close
enough to come to your aid when you work near a lead-
acid battery.
8. Have plenty of fresh water and soap nearby in case
battery acid contacts skin, clothing, and eyes.
9. Wear complete eye protection and clothing protection.
Avoid touching your eyes while working near batteries.
WARNI NG: Explosion and Fire Hazard

Precautions for Using Rechargeable Appliances
viii
10. If battery acid contacts skin or clothing, wash
immediately with soap and water. If acid enters your eye,
immediately flood it with running cold water for at least
twenty minutes and get medical attention immediately.
11. Keep a supply of baking soda on hand in the area of the
batteries. Baking soda neutralizes lead-acid battery
electrolyte.
Precautions for Using Rechargeable
Appliances
Most rechargeable battery-operated equipment uses a
separate charger or transformer that is plugged into an AC
receptacle and produces a low voltage charging output.
Some chargers for rechargeable batteries can be damaged if
connected to the XPower Powerpack.
Do not use the following with the XPower Powerpack:
• Small battery-operated appliances like flashlights, razors,
and night lights that can be plugged directly into an AC
receptacle to recharge.
• Some chargers for battery packs used in hand power
tools. These affected chargers display a warning label
stating that dangerous voltages are present at the battery
terminals.
Note:If you are unsure about using your rechargeable appliance
with the XPower Powerpack, contact the equipment manufacturer
to determine the rechargeable appliance’s compatibility with the
modified sinewave AC waveform of the XPower Powerpack.

ix
I mportant Safety I nformation
Warnings and Cautions- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - v
Precautions When Working With Batteries - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - vii
Precautions for Using Rechargeable Appliances - - - - - - - - - - - viii
1Introduction
About the XPower Powerpack - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1
Comprehensive Protection - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2
2Features
Materials List - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 3
XPower Powerpack Features - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 4
Front Panel Detail - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 4
Air Compressor (XPower Powerpack 300 Plus only)- - - - - - - - - - 6
Right Side View - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 7
Left Side View - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 8
Accessories- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 9
3Operation
Operating Conditions and Guidelines - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 11
Choosing a Location - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 12
Using XPower Powerpack for the First Time - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 13
Recharging with the AC Charger - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 13
Operating AC Appliances - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 14
Understanding AC Appliances - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 14
Contents

Contents
x
Operating an AC Appliance - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 16
Operating 12 Volt DC Appliances - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 17
Jump-starting a Vehicle Engine - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 19
Using the Air Compressor: XPower Powerpack 300 Plus - - - - - - 21
Inflating Tires- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 21
Inflating Small Sports Equipment - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 22
Connecting to an External Battery - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 23
4Maintenance
Battery Maintenance - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 25
Recharging the XPower Powerpack Battery - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 26
Recharging with the AC Charger- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 27
Recharging with the DC Charging Cable - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 28
Recharging with a Generator’s Regulated 12 Volt DC Outlet - - 29
Recharging From a Solar Panel - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 30
Replacing the Internal Battery - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 30
Battery Life - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 30
Obtaining a Replacement Battery - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 31
Replacing the Battery - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 32
Replacing the Fluorescent Tubes - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 34
Replacing the External Fuse - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 34
5 Troubleshooting
Common Problems - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 36
Buzz in Audio Equipment - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 36
Television Interference - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 36
Troubleshooting Reference - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 36
6 Specifications
Electrical Specifications - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 41
Physical Specifications - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 43

Contents
xi
7 Warranty and Product I nformation
Warranty Information- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 45
Returning a Product - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 47
Out of Warranty Service - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 48
Contacting Xantrex Customer Service- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 49

xii

1
1I ntroduction
About the XPower Powerpack
Thank you for purchasing the XPower™ Powerpack.
Easy to use and designed for years of reliable service, the
XPower Powerpack can run many AC appliances and 12
volt DC appliances whenever you need power for work or
play, at home or on the road.
XPower Powerpack:
• Powers 115 volt AC appliances
• Powers 12 volt DC appliances
• Jump-starts vehicle engines
• Provides fluorescent lighting for emergency use
In addition, the XPower Powerpack 300 Plus with air
compressor inflates tires and small sports equipment.

Comprehensive Protection
2
Comprehensive Protection
Automatic overload
The XPower Powerpack has built-in protection against output
overload. If you connect an appliance to the AC Outlet that
draws more than 250 watts, or one which draws excessive
surge power, the power to the AC Outlet automatically shuts
off.
Overheating
The XPower Powerpack is protected from overheating. If the
inverter exceeds a safe temperature, power to the AC Outlet
automatically shuts off.
Low Battery Protection
Low battery protection protects the internal battery from
excessive discharge and possible damage. When the AC
Outlet On/Off switch is turned on, an audible alarm alerts you
when the internal battery is nearly discharged (10.7 volts DC)
and the unit turns off at 10.0 volts DC.
Jump-start Cables Safety Feature and Reverse Polarity Detection
The XPower Powerpack has a special jump-start safety
feature that eliminates the sparking that sometimes occurs
when the jump-start cables are connected to a battery. The
XPower Powerpack can also detect a reverse polarity
connection and notifies you with an audible alarm and a
Battery Clips Connected Improperly (red light).
The battery to be jump-started must have a terminal voltage
of at least 4 volts in order to work with the XPower
Powerpack.

3
2Features
Chapter 2 describes the main features of the
XPower Powerpack. Xantrex recommends
that you familiarize yourself with these
features before operating the unit.
Materials List
Your XPower Powerpack package includes these items:
❐XPower Powerpack 300 or XPower Powerpack 300 Plus
❐Owner’s Guide
❐AC Charger
❐DC Charging Cable
❐Jump-start Cables
❐Accessory bag
The XPower Powerpack 300 Plus also includes:
❐Two nozzle adaptors for the compressor
❐One sports needle adaptor for the compressor
If any of these materials are missing or are unsatisfactory in
any way, please contact Customer Service. See “Contacting
Xantrex Customer Service” on page 49 of this guide.

XPower Powerpack Features
4
XPower Powerpack Features
Front Panel Detail
Feature Description Note
①
①①
①Battery Level indicators
illuminate when you press the
Battery Status button.
• 4 lights indicates full charge
• 3 lights indicates 3/4 charge
• 2 lights indicates 1/2 charge
• 1 light (red light): the battery is
discharged (empty) and must
be recharged promptly.
Battery Level indicators are
accurate only when the
XPower Powerpack has been
disconnected from all
appliances and all charging
sources for fifteen minutes.
①
①①
①②
②②
②
③
③③
③
④
④④
④

Front Panel Detail
5
②
②②
②Battery Status Button indicates
the charge state of the battery.
Battery Level indicators are
inaccurate if you press the
Battery Status Button while
the XPower Powerpack is
running an appliance or is
being recharged.
③
③③
③Recharge Indicator illuminates
only when the battery is being
recharged through the Charger
Input Socket and not through the
DC Charging Cable. The light is
amber when charging, and green
when the battery is fully charged.
Recharging with the AC
Charger is a true “plug-in-and-
forget” charging method.
Xantrex recommends leaving
the AC Charger connected
when the XPower Powerpack
is stored.
④
④④
④Vehicle Jump-Start Features
•Reverse Polarity Alarm
sounds and the Battery Clips
Connected Improperly (red
light) illuminates when the
jump-start cables are
incorrectly connected to the
battery terminals.
• Battery Clips Connected
Properly (green light)
illuminates if jump-start cables
are correctly connected to the
positive and negative terminals
of the vehicle battery being
boosted.
XPower Powerpack can detect
a reverse polarity condition
(caused by incorrectly
connecting the jump-start
cables to a battery) and
automatically stops the flow
of current.
The jump-start safety feature
prevents sparking at the
battery terminals and prevents
potential damage to your
vehicle’s electrical system.
The battery to be jump-started
must have a terminal voltage
of at least 4 volts in order to
work with the XPower
Powerpack.
Not
shown
Audible alarm (inside the unit)
sounds in the event of overheating,
low battery protection, and reverse
polarity jump-start connection.
Feature Description Note

Air Compressor (XPower Powerpack 300 Plus only)
6
Air Compressor (XPower Powerpack 300
Plus only)
Feature Description
①
①①
①On/Off switch turns the compressor unit on and
off.
②
②②
②Pressure gauge shows the PSI (lb/in2)
③
③③
③Nozzle Adaptor Compartment
④
④④
④Valve connector with connector cord
ON
OFF ①
①①
①
③
③③
③
②
②②
②
④
④④
④

Right Side View
7
Right Side View
Feature Description
①
①①
①DC Power Socket can:
• Power 12 volt DC auto, RV or marine
appliances
• Recharge XPower Powerpack from a 12 volt
outlet in a vehicle using the DC Charging
Cable
②
②②
②AC Outlet On/Off switch illuminates when
switch is turned On.
③
③③
③AC Outlet is a standard 3-prong outlet supplying
115 volts AC power for running an AC appliance.
④
④④
④Charger Input Socket for use with the AC
Charger supplied.
⑤
⑤⑤
⑤External replaceable fuse is a 40 amp 32 VDC
automotive blade-type fuse which is available at
many automotive parts stores.
③
③③
③
④
④④
④
①
①①
①
②
②②
②
⑤
⑤⑤
⑤