Xantrex Powerpack 600 Watt Jumpstarter, Power Inverter and Backup Power Source Order Now

After spending my vacation in Florida during hurricane Wilma, I learned the value of being prepared for a prolonged power outage. This unit would have been just the thing.

This is essentially a big 12 volt battery and an inverter that produces 120v AC from the battery. While this unit won't power a heater or an air conditioner, it can power a small fan overnight so you can sleep. It can also charge your cell phone and laptop. (After all, your laptop's DVD player might be your only entertainment.) The XPower can power a lamp so you can read or play cards, or you can watch TV for a few hours. You can plug in just about anything so long as the total number of watts drawn is 480 or less. (The 600 watt rating is a 5 minute rating, you can only draw 480 watts continuously.)

There's an emergency light built-in. if you place the unit so the light bounces off a near-by wall, it makes a nice low-level room light. With the backside facing you, you see the built-in clock radio. It's not hi-fi, but it's not horrible, it has good volume and it can wake you in the morning. There's also a 12v outlet and a connector for attaching the supplied jumper cables.

You do have to be mindful of the number of watts you pull from the unit if you want the battery to last. It's easy to know how many watts you're drawing because the unit tells you on it's digital display. Good thing you can charge the XPower from a car cigarette lighter. During my adventure in Wilma's wake, I would have used the XPower by night and charged it in the car while driving during the day. The digital display also shows the percentage of charge left in the battery.

The best thing to have during a prolonged power outage is a gas generator. But generators require periodic maintenance. And you have to store fresh gas and remember to change the gas periodically. With this unit you just find an out-of-the-way corner, plug in the AC charger and forget all about it until you need it.

The XPower has a big 28 amp-hour battery which is good for capacity, but makes the unit heavy, almost 30 pounds, so you won't want to carry it very far. Xantrex makes smaller units, but I think the 600 is the best compromise between capacity and portability. The XPower's construction is robust and it looks like it could take some hard knocks.

I'm almost looking forward to the next power outage.Get more detail about Xantrex Powerpack 600 Watt Jumpstarter, Power Inverter and Backup Power Source.

Xantrex Powerpack 600 Watt Jumpstarter, Power Inverter and Backup Power Source Decide Now

I pretty much agree with Rex Kullmans' review,
but i have a few things to mention.

While i think that removing the compressor
and adding a radio, was a good move for the
600 W unit, the clock radio itself does
not have lightable controls & station
indicator, to turn on/off.

Also, while i don't mind that the sound
quality isn't all that great from the
speaker, i really think that they should
have included a headphone jack, as to me,
as a 'power outage survival tool', i would
like to listen to the radio, without
disturbing anyone else who may be sleeping.

And a third point: That LOW BATT Alarm...is
extremely LOUD. And in certain circumstances,
i can see why this would be a good thng. But
since the unit will shut down automatically,
10 minutes later, i think that it would be
a much better unit, if the alarm volume were
controllable, or at least, that it could be
turned off, so as not to jar people awake,
who are using it to run something overnight,
like a fan, or mini TV.

Hopefully they will correct these things on
future models. I will continue to use
my pocket radio instead of the one on the
600HD, and consider the non-use of the radio,
as just more power to run my little 7" Holmes
Clip Fan, while the power is off, or
more power for my little 9" TV.

I've got a 300W, a 400W and now a 600W unit, that
can get me through a few hours power outage.
(Depending on how many things i try to run
with them) I am looking at getting the 1500W
unit to run my fridge for a 4 or 5 hour
outage, which means i could keep my food
good for up to 6 or so hrs, on battery packs
alone too. But i am concerned with all the
reports of 1500W units arriving in damaged
conditions. Perhaps if there is news that
they've solved the problems regarding the
1500W units it'll be back on my wish list.

I know someone who has one to run a piece of
medical equipment that he *needs* to be able
to breathe while sleeping, and he uses Xantrex
units as his "electrical lifeline" during
power outages. He used his car to recharge
his units during an ice storm outage...
It was a pain to run them out to the car
to charge them back up, but at least he
was able to survive without having to go
to a Red Cross Shelter, or be evacuated.

I've read of a person who described how
he had hooked his 1500W unit up to a
second battery, (a 100 Amp hr battery),
and said that he was able to stay
"powered up" for "several days". Now
i've read in the instruction manuals
that this could be done, but the Xantrex
manuals aren't really all that helpful
if decribing how to do this, and if,
when the power comes back on, will the
inverter recharge the second battery as
well? I would think that Xantrex would
not only want their customers to know
how to easily "build" a "battery bank",
to extend the power availiable to them,
but want to sell them the equipment to do
so.

To sum up. The Xantrex units i've had,
have held me in good stead, but they
really aren't for more than basic small
power usages, for matters of hours, rather
than days. If you're looking for something
that will give you more than "eke-ing by"
power, for a few hours, or an "overnight"
power outage...get a generator.

My Recommendation:(the one i'd buy if i
could afford it: the Yamaha 2800(I) W
generator. It's worth a look, at least. Get more detail about Xantrex Powerpack 600 Watt Jumpstarter, Power Inverter and Backup Power Source.

Xantrex Powerpack 600 Watt Jumpstarter, Power Inverter and Backup Power Source Right now

My Xantrex XPower Powerpack 600 Heavy Duty is not good for an emergency. It is an emergency. The unit does not hold a charge. It takes days to fully charge and loses its charge by 10% each day.

Xantrex customer service has not been helpful other than to say that I should charge it through my car cigarette lighter.

I ask, what should I do charge it all the time. Thats the only way their will be any power when you need it... I bought this item to help if I have a problem... It is the problem.Get more detail about Xantrex Powerpack 600 Watt Jumpstarter, Power Inverter and Backup Power Source.

Lowest Price Xantrex Powerpack 600 Watt Jumpstarter, Power Inverter and Backup Power Source

I am most pleased with this multi-function power pack although I have, as yet, not needed it, thank God, to use it to jump start my Caddy. There are lighter duty models which are adequate to jump start 4 cyl. and most 6 cyl. models. I have one of those for my Toyota. Only fall back of this heavy duty model is that it has no compresser, but you can purchase one for $10.00 in Wal-Mart. I have used the 110 power source (there are three grounded outlets) and the searchlight. The unit is a great insurance policy, and most useful for a power failure, if you don't have a generator. The price through Amazon was about $50.00 cheaper than from manufacturer who actually suggested buying it through a reseller.Get more detail about Xantrex Powerpack 600 Watt Jumpstarter, Power Inverter and Backup Power Source.

Low Price Xantrex Powerpack 600 Watt Jumpstarter, Power Inverter and Backup Power Source

I bought this power pack to power a softball pitching machine for my daughter's team and to have for power outages to run a fan or my gas fireplace's blower. The pack works great. Not sure it runs as long as stated, but it last about 2 hours running the items I need. Its stated at 600 watts, but only for 5 minutes, 480 watts contimous, and 900 surge. I use it more than I would have used an 1000 watt generator.Get more detail about Xantrex Powerpack 600 Watt Jumpstarter, Power Inverter and Backup Power Source.

Save Xantrex Powerpack 600 Watt Jumpstarter, Power Inverter and Backup Power Source

I purchased this product to use primarily in case my battery died, and secondarily as a portable power source when camping or away from a source of electricity.

The powerpack works great when starting any size car with a completely dead battery. The built-in inverter is great to charge cell phones or run small appliances when camping for example.

The display is very useful, showing either the percentage charge or the real-time wattage being used.

Be forewarned, though, that this item is heavy and portable only inasmuch as it has a handle. I wouldn't lug it too far. Also, while charging is quick through the cigarette lighter cable, it takes a long time through the AC adaptor.

Overall, a great purchase.Get more detail about Xantrex Powerpack 600 Watt Jumpstarter, Power Inverter and Backup Power Source.

Discount Xantrex Powerpack 600 Watt Jumpstarter, Power Inverter and Backup Power Source

After spending my vacation in Florida during hurricane Wilma, I learned the value of being prepared for a prolonged power outage. This unit would have been just the thing.

This is essentially a big 12 volt battery and an inverter that produces 120v AC from the battery. While this unit won't power a heater or an air conditioner, it can power a small fan overnight so you can sleep. It can also charge your cell phone and laptop. (After all, your laptop's DVD player might be your only entertainment.) The XPower can power a lamp so you can read or play cards, or you can watch a small TV for a few hours. You can plug in just about anything so long as the total number of watts drawn is 480 or less. (The 600 watt rating is a 5 minute rating, you can only draw 480 watts continuously.) Keep in mind, if you do pull 480 watts, you'll only get 15 minutes of run time. It's best to think of the 600HD as a way to keep small essentials going.

There's an emergency light built-in. if you place the unit so the light bounces off a near-by wall, it makes a nice low-level room light. With the backside facing you, you see the built-in clock radio. It's not hi-fi, but it's not horrible, it has good volume and it can wake you in the morning. There's also a 12v outlet and a connector for attaching the supplied jumper cables.

You do have to be mindful of the number of watts you pull from the unit if you want the battery to last. It's easy to know how many watts you're drawing because the unit tells you on it's digital display. It's a good thing you can charge the XPower from a car cigarette lighter. During my adventure in Wilma's wake, I would have used the XPower by night and charged it in the car while driving during the day. The digital display also shows the percentage of charge left in the battery.

The best thing to have during a prolonged power outage is a gas generator. But generators require periodic maintenance. And you have to store fresh gas and remember to change the gas periodically. With the HD600, you just find an out-of-the-way corner, plug in the AC charger and forget all about it until the lights go out.

The XPower has a big 28 amp-hour battery which is good for capacity, but makes the unit heavy, almost 30 pounds, so you won't want to carry it very far. Xantrex makes smaller units, but I think the 600 is the best compromise between capacity and portability. The XPower's construction is robust and it looks like it could take some hard knocks. Get more detail about Xantrex Powerpack 600 Watt Jumpstarter, Power Inverter and Backup Power Source.