C M Y CM MY CY CMY K Owners Guide 445-0092-01-01 PRINTED IN CHINA t 1 800 670 0707 f 1 800 994 7828 support.xpower@xantrex.com www.xantrex.
About Xantrex Xantrex Technology Inc. is a world-leading supplier of advanced power electronics with a product line that ranges 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.
Contents Safety First 1 1 Introduction 3 2 Quick Start Guide 4 Overview .......................................................................................... 4 An Explanation of Power Ratings and Battery Life ......................... 5 Operating 115-Volt AC Products ...................................................... 5 Operating 12-Volt DC Accessories ................................................... 6 Recharging xPower300 ..................................................................
6 Vehicle or Boat Engine Starting Assistance 14 Jump-Starting Direct to the Battery ............................................... 14 Jump-Starting via a Vehicles Lighter Plug Socket ......................... 15 7 Recharging xPower300 16 General Information on Batteries and Charging ............................. 16 Charging Options ................................................................................. 16 Battery Self-Discharge and Shelf Life ..............................................
Safety First Misuse of xPower300 may result in danger to the user. We urge you to pay special attention to all CAUTION and WARNING statements. CAUTION statements identify conditions or practices that may result in damage to xPower300 or to other equipment. WARNING statements identify conditions that may result in personal injury or loss of life. WARNING! Not for use with medical or life-support equipment. xPower300 will run a wide variety of consumer electronics, power tools and household appliances.
CAUTION Do not expose xPower300 to temperatures in excess of 104°F (40°C). CAUTION Do not connect any AC load, whose neutral conductor is connected to ground, to xPower300. CAUTION: Do not use the xPower300 with the following equipment: Small battery operated products such as rechargeable flashlights, some rechargeable shavers, and night-lights that are plugged directly into an AC receptacle to recharge. Certain battery chargers for battery packs used in hand power tools.
1 Introduction Thank you for purchasing xPower300, the 300-watt electronic generator. Designed for best-in-class performance and value, xPower300 can temporarily power a wide variety of electrical products and equipment when utility power is unavailable or during a power outage, and can even jump-start your car in an emergency. Read this guide before using xPower300 and save it for future reference. Be sure to charge xPower300 immediately after purchase (see Section 7).
2 Quick Start Guide Overview The following basic instructions are intended to provide a brief overview of xPower300s key features. For complete information, be sure to read this guide fully. The diagram below shows xPower300s key features and accessories.
An Explanation of Power Ratings and Battery Life AC powered products are rated by how much electrical power (in watts) they consume. xPower300s AC inverter is capable of generating a maximum of 300 watts to power AC products plugged into the AC receptacles. As an example, a 40 watt light bulb can be operated from xPower300 for up to 3½ hours when xPower300s internal battery is fully charged.
Operating 12-Volt DC Accessories 1. Ensure xPower300s battery is fully charged. See Section 7 for details. 2. Plug the accessory into xPower300s DC Power Socket, and switch the accessory on (if required). xPower300 will operate any 12-volt DC auto or marine accessory that draws 12 amps or less. 3. Because the DC Power Socket is internally wired direct to xPower300s battery, extended operation of a 12-volt accessory may result in excessive battery discharge.
3 Indicators, Controls and Connectors Refer to Figure 1 in Section 2 for location of the items identified below. Display Panel The display panel is located on the front of xPower300, directly below its carrying handle. Located on the display panel, you will find xPower300s DC Power Socket, the Charger Input Socket, a Recharge Status Indicator light, and a Battery Level Indicator that is actuated by the Battery Status Button.
Charger Input Socket The AC Charger supplied with xPower300 connects to this socket when recharging is required. Other low power charging devices can also be connected here. See Section 7 Recharging with a Solar Panel for full details. DC Power Socket The DC Power Socket is a cigarette lighter style connector used for powering 12-volt DC auto or marine accessories (see Section 5), and for recharging xPower300 from your vehicles electrical system. See Section 7 - Recharging from Your Vehicle.
4 Powering 115-Volt AC Products General Information xPower300 is capable of powering most 115-volt AC products and equipment that use 300 watts or less. Its AC output waveform, called a quasi-sine wave or modified sine wave, is designed to function similarly to the sine wave shape of utility power. CAUTION: Do not use the xPower300 with certain small battery operated products or certain battery chargers. See Section Safety First...
4. As the battery becomes nearly discharged, or empty, a low voltage warning will sound. This will give you time to shut down a computer, for example. If this warning is ignored, the inverter will switch off automatically a few minutes later to prevent battery damage. (See section below for full details.) 5. Fully recharge xPower300s battery as soon as possible after each use. See Section 7.
Television Interference xPower300s AC inverter is shielded to minimize interference with TV signals. In some cases, particularly with weak TV signals, some interference may still be visible in the form of scrolling lines across the screen. In this case, take the following corrective measures: 1. Use an extension cord to position xPower300 as far away as possible from the television, antenna and cables. 2. Adjust the orientation of xPower300, television, antenna and cables to minimize interference. 3.
5 Powering 12-Volt DC Accessories Connecting 12-Volt DC Accessories xPower300 can operate any accessory that is intended to run from a vehicles lighter socket. Simply insert the accessorys plug into the DC Power Socket on xPower300s display panel. xPower300s DC Power Socket will operate any 12-volt DC auto, marine or other 12-volt accessory that draws 12 amps or less. The following steps assume you have first fully charged xPower300s battery according to instructions in Section 7. 1.
CAUTION: Use the Emergency Light indoors only. Do not expose to rain or moisture. Should lamp tube replacement be necessary, first unplug the light, then remove the clear cover by grasping it on each side at the end furthest from the switch. Squeeze firmly inward and pull the top of the cover away from the housing. Remove the small black plastic cover to expose the top end of the lamps. Rotate lamps ¼ turn to remove.
6 Vehicle or Boat Engine Starting Assistance Jump-Starting Direct to the Battery xPower300 may be used to jump-start a 12-volt vehicle or small boat engine using the Jump-Start Cable supplied. Jumpstarting causes very high current surges and possible sparking. Unless care is taken, the possibility of battery explosion exists. Read the safety warnings in the beginning of this guide before proceeding, then follow these instructions exactly. 1. Turn off the vehicle or boat ignition, and all accessories. 2.
9. After the vehicle is started and while the cables are still connected, it is a good idea to run the motor at fast idle for 2 minutes to fast-charge xPower300s battery. After recharging, unplug the Jump-Start Cable from xPower300, disconnect the black (negative) cable clamp, and then as a last step, disconnect the red (positive) cable clamp. Jump-Starting via a Vehicles Lighter Plug Socket The following simple procedure is often sufficient to start a vehicle when its battery is not completely dead. 1.
7 Recharging xPower300 General Information on Batteries and Charging Charging Options A variety of charging options are possible with xPower300: Charging with the fully automatic plug-in-andforget AC Charger. Charging from your vehicle as you drive. Charging from a generator equipped with a 12-volt battery charging outlet. Charging from a solar panel. Battery Self-Discharge and Shelf Life All rechargeable batteries gradually discharge when left standing.
Recharging with the AC Charger Recharging with the AC Charger is a true plug-in-and-forget charging method. To use it, follow these steps: 1. Disconnect any 12-volt DC accessories and switch the inverter OFF. 2. Insert the AC Charger plug into the Charger Input Socket on xPower300s display panel. 3. Plug the AC Charger into a standard 115-volt AC receptacle. 4. As xPower300 charges, its Recharge Indicator will glow amber. A typical recharge may take up to 35 hours. 5.
IMPORTANT: This charging method must not be used with vehicles having abnormally high voltage electrical systems that operate above 15 volts DC. Do not leave xPower300 permanently connected to the vehicles lighter socket or 12volt accessory outlet. CAUTION: While xPower300 is being recharged with the DC Charging Cable from your vehicle, do not oerate AC products over 120 watts from the AC inverter at the same time.
Figure 3 - Typical DC Coaxial Connector Connection 3. Insert the plug into the Charger Input Socket and place the solar panel in the sun. xPower300 will charge automatically just as with the AC Charger. (See Section 7 - Recharging with the AC Charger.) A 3 amp solar panel will charge xPower300 in about 8 hours in direct sunlight.
8 Connecting to an External Battery Extended Operating Time Much longer battery operating time is possible when connecting xPower300 to a larger external battery. For example, an external 60 amp-hour battery will give approximately 3 times the operating time of xPower300s internal battery alone. WARNING: Use a sealed, non-spillable battery for indoor use. Common auto and marine batteries are not suitable for indoor use unless their fumes are vented outdoors.
9 Troubleshooting P roblem AC product will not operate, inverter red FAULT light is on. Run time is less than expected. P ossible Cause Suggested Remedy Product rated more than 300 watts, safety overload circuit has tripped. Use an AC product with a power rating less than 300 watts. Product is rated less than 300 watts, high starting surge has tripped overload. AC product may exceed xPower 300's surge capability. Use an AC product with starting surge power within xPower 300's capability.
P roble m Measured inverter output voltage is too low. Charging light is O FF when AC Charger is connected. 22 P ossible Ca use Sugge ste d Re me dy Use of standard "average" reading AC voltmeter to read output voltage. "Modified- sine wave" output of inverter requires "true RMS" reading meter, such as Fluke 87 series multimeter, for accurate measurement. Battery is almost "empty". Check Battery Level Indicator and recharge battery as needed. No AC power at wall receptacle.
10 Specifications 12-Volt DC Section Internal battery type AGM, sealed lead acid Internal battery voltage (nominal) 12 Vdc Internal battery capacity (minimum) 21 Ah Cycle life at 100% discharge/recharge cycles at 68°F (20°C) 170 cycles Maximum load current through 12-volt DC Power Socket (breaker protected) 12 A Inverter (115-Volt) AC Section AC output voltage (nominal) 115 Vac Maximum continuous AC output power 300 W Maximum AC surge power 500 W AC output frequency 60 Hz ± 4 Hz AC output
11 Limited Warranty (USA and Canada only) 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 12 months from the date of purchase except for the battery (see details below).
How Do You Get Service? 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.
12 Out-of-Warranty Service Information Service Out Of Warranty: If the warranty period for your xPower300 has expired, if the unit was damaged due to misuse, incorrect installation or if other conditions of the warranty have not been met, or if no dated proof of purchase is available, your unit may be serviced/replaced for a minimum flat fee of $85.00 US ($130.00 CDN).
13 Other Products from Xantrex xPower300 is one of the many advanced power conversion products designed and manufactured by Xantrex. Other inverters and portable power products include: PORTAWATTZ 150 Inverter A compact, versatile inverter that provides 150 watts of AC power for running everything from compact TVs and VCRs to laptop computers to recharging camcorders and cellular phones.
C M Y CM MY CY CMY K Owners Guide t 1 800 670 0707 f 1 800 994 7828 support.xpower@xantrex.com www.xantrex.
