Xantrex 852-2000 XPower 600 HD Powerpack Review

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(More customer reviews)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.

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There are many times when extra power is needed, but not available. If an outlet is not within reach or plugging into the dashboard cigarette lighter is simply not an option, you'll be pleased that you have the Xantrex Powerpack 600HD. This 600-watt device is an all-in-one unit that is not only powerful enough to start your car, but robust enough to provides portable power for small appliances -- it even comes with a built-in air AM/FM radio and digital clock.
Enough Power to Jump-Start Your Car Powered by a rechargeable battery, the Powerpack 600HD can jump start most 4-cylinder and 6-cylinder engines, and will operate a wide range of DC-powered products. It also has a built-in emergency light for extra illumination to keep you out of the dark and to provide light so others can see you if you're stranded.
Runs Multiple Appliances at Once With three AC outlets and one DC socket at your fingertips, the 600HD is the right power solution for people with demanding applications or the need to run multiple loads simultaneously. Use it to operate small power tools or at your outdoor worksite so you can get the job done even without an outlet nearby. It will also charge cell phones so you can stay connected.
Built-in AM/FM Radio This unit also has an integrated AM/FM radio and digital alarm clock that provides access to music, talk radio and news, weather, and important information in critical emergency situations.
Rechargeable Battery The XPower Powerpack 600HD is powered by a sealed, non-spillable 28AH battery that can be conveniently recharged from any household AC outlet or DC cigarette-lighter outlet so that it can be made ready anytime, anywhere.
Great for Outings The Powerpack 600HD isn't just for times of need. It is perfect for taking on camping trips or outings where some extra power is needed to run camcorders, video games, televisions, even your espresso machine.
Safety Mechanisms The feature-rich Powerpack 600HD has a built-in 600 watt inverter and a reverse polarity detector to prevent accidentally clamping the cables onto the wrong terminals. A barragraph LED indicator monitors the Powerpack's battery charge level, so it won't overcharge, and an audible alarm signals unit overheat and battery under-voltage conditions. An overload and over-temperature protection is built in to ensure longer inverter life.
Whether it's a job site or a camp site, the XPower Powerpack 600HD is the ideal portable power solution.

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