Xantrex Technologies 802-1500 XPower Powerpack 1,500-Watt Portable Backup Power System Reviews

• Badly damaged once again.

  
  By A2D76VWRO9TLIR on 2004-01-20
  I previously ordered two of these units and wrote a review. Both were badly damaged, but one was salvagable. The other I had to return, after it overheated and emitted a noxious odor. I decided to take a chance and order another unit this month (goal was to have total of two working units), hoping that whatever warehouse or shipping issues that resulted in previous damage had been resolved. They weren't. This unit also came with crushed top and wheels. Until the manufacturer comes up with a better way to ship these heavy beasts, not worth it.
  
  

• Powers a large Karaoke machine for five+ hours

  
  By A3TLPFNP3V2BWK on 2006-03-21
  I needed a powerful but sealed power-pack (sealed battery + converter) for poolside use, to power a large 110-volt karaoke machine for five hours a day. The Xatrex 1500 is the only power-pack I've found that meets this requirement.
  
  It was a pleasant surprise to find that the wheels have rubber rather than (noisy) plastic treads.
  
  The first 1500 stopped working with a bang after two hours. When I phoned the Xantrex company, the technician I soon was talking to quickly concluded that my 1500 had malfunctioned and recommended that I return it. I was pleased with this candor. The second 1500 has worked for about a month now.
  
  Not obvious is that the 1500 has a small storage cabinet, in which I store an extension cord.
  
  Both 1500s arrived undamaged. A disclaimer is that I bought my 1500s from costo-dot-comm, which is relevant because perhaps Costco uses different packaging for shipping.
  
  The "large karaoke machine" is a MegaStar CM-K1100, and its average draw has been 30-something watts.
  
  9/18/06 Update: Around July the charge time dropped to under four hours. When I called Xantrex, the technician told me that battery life is about 200 charges.
  
  

• Bad experience

  
  By A2X1BKZ51AJYE0 on 2006-05-18
  The unit failed after I owned it only five weeks. I was only actually used it a few times for short durations. I tried to use it one day and the fault light was illuminated and no ac power was coming out of the outlets. I returned it for repair or replacement 3 weeks ago after receiving a RMA number. I contacted Xantrex and they say they don't know anything about it, and the RMA number is not in there system. The customer support is impossible to get on the phone, and email support takes days to get back to you. They do offer to sell you another unit for 40% off though instead of sending me a replacement.
  
  UPDATE: Xantrex did finally replace the first unit. Two months later the replacement also failed. They refuse to refund my money.
  
  

• Good all-in-one package

  
  By on 2003-10-24
  The Xpower 1500 is a good backup system as it has eveything you need in a convenient handtruck (the batteries are heavy).
  Unfortunately the 61 Amphr batteries don't last that long. Adding a 100Ahr battery which you can easily be connected to the xPower make for a nice system which will get you thru a few days of blackout.
  
  

• Living Off The Power Grid - The True Test

  
  By on 2003-06-26
  Our ranch is outside of utility power service, and we rely upon a generator for our power. The Xantrex xPower 1500 was appealing to us for the purpose of running small electrical units, TV, VCR, lamp, computer, without having to start up and listen to a 10K generator. An added advantage is being able to take power where you need it on our acerage. The portable dolly design allows the power unit to go where you want the power, for power tools, weedeaters, etc.

  The system works wonderfully for our purpose. Now we can enjoy a few quiet evening hours without having to forego light and entertainment. Plugged into a standard wall outlet, the x1500 battery easily charges up during the generator-run hours. We are very pleased.

  We experienced one glitch, which turned out okay. The original unit we received had battery acid spilled inside of the box. Xantrex technical support was very clear that this was not right, and the unit could not be used and needed to be replaced. Their warranty department took care of everything, and delivered an entire new system within two weeks. It did take more than one call to get a solid answer on this solution, but it worked out satisfactorily.
  
  

• Power on Wheels
  By A10T84XKQG5MQ7 on 2002-07-24
  This is the second one I have bought, I think they are great, They are so handy to have around, I think it is better than a gas powered generator because of the fact you don't have the vibrations or exhust fumes, no need to carry gas around, We have one for our business, in which we travel around to merchandise shows and need power where sometimes it is not available, some shows do not allow gas powered generators because of the the liability, and it is completly silent, I have decieded to buy a second one to bring to our 2nd home in Quito, Ecuador, where we have 110V,
  
  
• doesn't run
  By A29ZOAIAVUUJ6G on 2003-07-01
  bought one for the boat, didn't run, wouldn't charge. Fluke?
  exchanged for a new one. Followed directions still no charge after 24hours plugged into household power.
  Not worth time or effort it would appear.
  
  
• ***** A MUST HAVE ITEM *****
  By A1OEFNH0G6XFB on 2006-08-30
  After purchasing my 2nd unit I cannot praise these Battery/AC power unit's enough. My wife + I are 100% Electric reliant due to the fact that everything in our 2,085 Sq Ft Townhouse IS AC. I have to say that this type of AC back-up power plant is THEE ONLY type of Quasi/Generator any Condo type association would ever allow an owner to make use of. Gasoline Generator's are totally forbiden, and with summer's "Rolling Black-out's" and winter storm's, this 1500 Watt supply is a true peace of mind investment. If used responsibly it's easily achievable to stay on top of news or weather by TV-Radio, running a 40-60 watt lamp for many hour's, AND - other conservatively rated appliance's for brief period's of time ON/OFF ALSO for hour's of time. I would also like to mention that if your the "Handy" type, with this system you could gradually beef up your supply time's by simply adding additional batteries, YOU CAN'T DO THAT with any Gas powered Generator, if you bought a 2500 watt generator it can't be expanded up to a 5000 watt unit....with this XP-1500 there's nothing but time + limited $$$ to build the system to your specific needs. In closing, I must also say its very well made, and very reliable when you might need it most! Thank's Xantrex and [...] for offering this great product. Respectfully, Frank.
  
  
• Definite bummer
  By A3TFCPLNQC6QJ6 on 2007-03-16
  This is a great idea, badly executed. We bought one three years ago as a true emergency generator. We have a medical device that requires power, and our area is known for outages during the summer. But since we bought it, we have not needed to use it. We followed all manufacturer instructions for when leaving it sit idle, yet the batteries died anyway and the inverter fried itself. Replacing these cost more than buying a new unit. One of the batteries must also have developed a small leak (due to the summer heat, perhaps), and when I went to try to replace the batteries, there was corrosion all over the terminals and cables. I have to think that keeping the unit inside might not be a good idea if this happens to you, because of the potential for gas and acid release.
  
  Xantex customer service is nearly non-existent and is geared only to selling replacement parts (but NOT batteries, which you have to look for elsewhere).
  
  I really wish this thing worked, as a silent indoor generator is a wonderful notion. Too bad. We're still stuck with gasoline units and long extension cords.
  
  
  
  
• Still waiting for the replacement (4 months)
  By ARCP766BXWYKT on 2007-05-10
  We purchased the 1500 Watt power pack. The only appliance connected to it was an answering machine. It was charged daily for about 8 hours. 3 weeks later the battery would no longer charge. Sent it back and have not heard anything. They are very hard to get in touch with
  
  
• I HAVE TWO OF THESE
  By A2R3Q0DTS4HVLA on 2003-10-13
  I HAVE TWO XPOWER 1500 UNITS . THEY WORK AS ADVERTISED, EACH UNIT WILL RUN A REFRIGERATOR FOR OVER TWO HOURS DURING A POWER OUTAGE. THEY WILL START A SKILLSAW WHEN FULLY CHARGED.
  THE ONLY PROBLEM I HAVE HAD, ONE OF THE CHARGERS WILL NOT CUT OFF AUTOMATICALLY WHEN THE BATTERY IS FULLY CHARGED.
  A QUALITY PRODUCT, BUT NEEDS TO HAVE MORE RESERVE (BATTERY AMPS) FOR LONGER SERVICE. GREAT IDEA.
  
  
• Great for Running Sump Pump During Power Outages
  By A1BAOBFH0MSHKZ on 2006-02-09
  I wanted a backup power supply to run the sump pump in my basement after spending big bucks on basement repairs and to prevent another flood. What good does the sump pump do when there is no power to run it if the electricity goes out after a heavy storm or wind storm? I got this Xantrex Xpower 1500 and also an automatic relay switch from www.tekrispower.com. Now I'm covered if the regular power supply goes out as the Xantrex automatically kicks in using the automatic relay switch and I don't have to worry about the sump pump not working and the basement flooding again. It's a heavy piece because of the batteries, but it works extremely well for my purposes.
  
  
• Xantrex works great
  By ALBM73XNUC0R3 on 2007-03-09
  I keep the battery connected to a solar-charged battery string for backup. The solar panels keep it charged up and take a little power off it to return to the system just after sunset. The interter has lots of power for power tools and I can connect a big load to the system like a skil saw during the day and it pulls charge off the battery while the load is running and the battery recovers from the solar charge after several minutes.
  
  What they don't tell you is that the separate charger that is included with the unit can also charge your car battery to 100% and even use the inverter output for a power source. This allows you to charge one battery from another battery if needed. Another bonus for solar-fed systems.
  
  All-in-all this is a very flexible system for around the house to keep the cars charged and the refrigerator running when the power goes off. Very good.
  
  
• Power Wow
  By ADP6NQ6GE3SAU on 2006-11-06
  The Xantrex 802-1500 XPower Powerpack 1500 Portable Backup Power System is amazing. We were looking for something to power our satilite system and television for when a hurricane hits. We were so amazed with the results. The system ran our receiver and 32inch tv for 9.5 hours. We recharged the battery (which in a real emergency could be recharged via car charger) and ran the system on our 60 inch tv and receiver. This one ran for 6 hours. The system is very portable. It would be great for camping too.
  
  
  
  
• Reliable Portable Power
  By A196FHQ2A4G32B on 2007-04-23
  I bought one of these over four years ago for my son's HS Band. They needed sideline power for guitar and bass amplifiers, and quickly discovered that not all football fields they visited had power available. Even a small gasoline generator made far too much noise for this application. The Xantrex Xpower proved itself an excellent solution, and it's been in seasonal and intermittent use every year since. It's been useful for more than its originally-intended purpose, powering PA systems and lighting in addition to its sideline duties. It remains on its included trickle charger whenever it's not in use, and gets the occasional in-vehicle charge when the band is traveling.
  
  My experience with this product has been nothing but positive, and I recommend it highly.
  
  
• Didn't work
  By A368UXVQ45Y4KG on 2007-07-14
  After searching for a battery powerpack I was excited to find this product. After receiving it I followed the manufacturer's recommendations and plugged the unit in overnight. The next day, nothing - no power. I went to a Xantrex forum and found that sometimes a battery needs 7 days of charging to restore it. I plugged it in for 7 days and, nothing, totally dead. I am still waiting for a call tag from Amazon for return.
  
  
• Xantrex
  By on 2003-06-08
  Great product, bought this and left it plugged in. Had a power outage for several hours, ran a TV, coffee pot, lamp. No problems highly recommend
  
  
• Excellent for what it is.
  By A2L1310JWT4PEA on 2007-09-13
  I bought this item from Fry's for $300. $350 would be good if they don't charge additional shipping. It's great for what it is though. It comes with a wall charger, 12V plug charger. It has DC and AC outlets and it's easy to move. Great for light camping trips and backup during power outages.
  
  The key point I would make is that they have an efficient inverter. If you run out to the store and buy an inverter, you pay a lot and it's very inefficient for this type of application. Xantrax has solved the problem. However, because it's from a battery, there is the danger of an initial spike which blew out a light bulb when I plugged it in. Turn off the appliance, plug it it, then switch on the appliance. Lesson learned but the directions warn you about it.
  
  62 Ahr will get you through an hour or two of a power outage but like other reviews suggested, get more deep cycle batteries to connect in parallel. The reason for buying this is unit is for the mobility, connectors, and inverter (inverters are expensive and usually inefficient). Marine deep cycles are probably the cheapest addition with high Ahr however I recommend the maintainence free batteries designed for alternative energy applications. A little shopping should find the best deals.
  
  
• High Quality Wonderful for Emergencies
  By AZ6VNFY7KUMXK on 2004-11-06
  I have found this product to be top of the class. It outpeformed my expectations, and has been very reliable. I would reccommend this product to anyone interested in a top of the line mobile power source for a variety of needs. My personal use is for Emergency Communications. I am an Amateur Radio Operator (Ham Radio), and have found this product useful in a variety of emergencies. Plan on purchasing one myself real soon.
  
  
• Updated Specs
  By A2XAUTA4FKIMJU on 2008-03-24
  Xantrex has changed the battery capacity of the Xantrex XPower Powerpack 1500. The unit delivered to me now has 51 AH (Amp Hour)'s of battery storage instead of the 60 AH listed in the Amazon product description or 63 AH listed in the downloadable product manual. The smaller battery capacity will shorten the charge time but will also shorten the time things will run when plugged into the unit.
  
  Also note that the inverters output is 1350 watts continuous, 1500 watts burst for 10 minutes and 3000 watts maximum AC surge.
  
  
• Performs as Advertised!
  By A1J6383WCN0WLS on 2007-07-17
  I bought this unit in the summer of 2007 to power a tv, satellite dish, and receiver during tailgating at college football games. I decided to give it a practice run before football season started so I charged it up as directed and plugged up the unit and turned on my 13" tube tv and let Directv run until the battery gave out. According to the formula in the manual it should have lasted almost 8.5 hours and it ran over 9 hours (82 watts total AC draw). It will also be our backup if we get more hurricanes. Can't wait to use it this fall!
  
  
• Has been a lifesaver
  By A2S3ON3ZZT5QRJ on 2007-01-29
  I bought this unit at least a year ago now and it has paid for itself many times over. It did arrive with a cracked battery cover but I contacted the company and they immediatly sent out a new one. We have now used this for short term power outages. It is great to plug in a regular lamp during the night vs carrying around flashlights. Also we have now used it two times to take my mother in law from LA to MI and back. She requires home oxygen and this unit is a gem. If it weren't for this battery she never would have beeen able to make the drive. We simply stick it in the back of the truck with her home oxygen condenser and nebulizer and off we go. When she needs her oxygen we just flip the switches and voila. We do turn it off when she doesn't need her air and always make sure the battery has a full charge before we depart. She also uses it for her regular nebulizer both on trips and during power outages and it works fantastic. We bring it into the hotel at night to charge and off again the next day. The kids have used it while camping for lights and music. The only thing I have found not to work in it is my coffee pot. If I had the extra money I would get a few more of these.
  
  
• great backup power
  By AG5IN8LK5INKZ on 2007-09-17
  I read the reviews and was concerned about the damage in shipping and malfunctioning units. The unit arrived on time and in good condition. I plugged the unit up, charged it over the weekend, and then tested it on a full size refrigerator. It ran it for just over 2 hours. I was impressed!! This unit was not intended for such a large load, yet it ran it, and most importantly did not damage it. I also purchased a deep cycle battery to add to the unit as described in the directions. This should really extend my run time. It's a great combo for the money.
  
  
• Keep an Eye On It!
  By A3A157F1YI3T6R on 2008-01-26
  This item worked well for a short time but you had better keep an eye on it. I left it in a temperature controlled environment and initially checked it every month for charge. I got a little complacent and let three months pass without checking it, needed it during a power outage and, as luck would have it - it was completely dead. Apparently one of the cells in a battery shorted. This caused a complete discharge of both batteries. You would think the system could monitor this for the $300 price.
  
  
• Problem, but a nice product...
  By A3GOS2TSAJ9CFJ on 2007-12-22
  Received the item as advertised, though the case top was cracked. Contacted Xantrex and received a replacement at no cost.
  
  No complaints!
  
  
  
  
• Not what we expected
  By A1G2QZPGGFWPW5 on 2007-07-13
  After several bouts with basement flooding because of heavy rains and no power, we bought this because we wanted to be make sure that our sump pump would come on after the power went out--even if we were not home. Turns out that won't work. If you leave the sump pump plugged into the fully charged unit, it will drain the battery completely--even if the sump pump never comes on. So, you have to be home to switch to the backup power source. Not really worth the $300+ at all.
  
  
• Update with disappointment
  By A1MJ9K8L2ZFOYH on 2008-02-18
  It is now summer of 2008 and we have finally had a couple of long power failures. Imagine my shock when the 'low power' warning buzzer on the unit came on after an hour; the unit was fully charged and we were only running a lamp with a 60 watt bulb! I subsequently tested it rigorously and, while it could power much bigger load items (like our fridge) than our little 400 watt version, it barely even lasted an hour. Meanwhile, our stupid little 400 watt version went three hours when tested on lamps and fans and such. I tested the 1500 on the exact same lamps and fans and it always conked out early. Luckily, the company rep has been very nice and they are replacing it under the one year warranty, but I will have to pay the (60 pound) shipping to them (and box this cumbersome beast up). They'll pay for the shipping of the new one to me. I'm not happy. Stay tuned and I'll let you know how the new one fares--you can be sure I'll be testing it right away. If it's the same deal as this I'll be requesting a refund and will not be at all happy about shipping it back. I may need to bring Amazon into the mix if that happens.
  
  Original review follows (oh, and to answer the question asked of the original review, I ordered it from Amazon, who packed it so well. Now I'm worried about what shape the new one will arrive in!)
  
  I had purchased a 400 watt portable power device (same manufacturer; Xantrex) about a year previous and was very pleased at its ability to power a fan and lamp for several hours during power failures. Then I started thinking about keeeping a fridge going during a summer power failure (we live in the woods; trees fall, lines snap)and found this bad boy on sale. It arrived double boxed--the store box nestled inside a shipping box with custom made foam dividers--in perfect shape. It was also fully charged. I've only used it for a few tests to see if it worked, and it functions well. The hand truck that supports it and makes it easy to move around is very well made (excellent tires!) and was easy to assemble. The charging unit is itself a pretty high end device that can be used to recharge a dead car battery! I like the freedom and security this gives us, the price was right, it looks pretty cool and it should have all the power we need to keep things going while the guys in the trucks get the power back up.
  
  
• Backup energy
  By A1GLKP3ZURKH69 on 2007-09-21
  Great idea but I didn't realize how fast the battery would be used up. Perfect for what it is and very functional.
  
  
• Silent power, great stuff
  By A224W17K0O0Y9H on 2008-03-06
  I used this thing for powering up some lights on an independent film and it worked out great. Four hours of non-stop filming and it still had enough juice to jump start my brothers car. I can't say enough good things about this inverter.
  
  
• List price is $369, not $449
  By A2HQKLMI74LJ28 on 2008-06-03
  Amazon lies, the list price is almost $100 less than they advertise on here. This unit is great if you take care of it (ie DO NOT GET IT WET) and use an automatic transfer switch (if you are using it for sump pump backup).
  
  

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