The Xantrex Powerpack 400 Plus is so handy that you wonder why no one had thought of it before. In a compact package the size of a small boombox, Xantrex has combined a rechargeable heavy-duty battery pack with a 115V AC inverter, a 12V DC outlet, an air compressor, and a built-in flashlight. This mighty mite can provide 400 watts of AC output and comes with jumper cables for starting your car when you've got a dead battery. Pound for pound, it's the most versatile device of its type I've ever encountered.

When I was given the chance to take one home for some "field testing", I didn't need to be asked twice!


First impressions
My first impression of the Powerpack 400 was "solid." While compact, the weight of the battery ensures that this is no lightweight. While you can easily pack it in your SUV for camping trips, you won't put it in your backpack for a week in the wilderness! In addition to the heft of the battery, the case is constructed from rugged, impact-resistant plastic. All in all, one tough customer.

The Powerpack 400 is neatly packed, with all the necessary instructions and accessories right on top when you unpack the box. The manual is simple and clearly written. In just a few minutes, I had plugged it in with the AC adapter for its initial charge.

The compact AC charger makes it easy to charge up the Powerpack 400 Plus. Just plug it in, and it does the rest. A DC charger is also included.

Features
The Powerpack 400 Plus' self-contained battery pack and inverter has two 115V AC outlets, rated at 400 watts output. That's more than enough juice to power camcorders, small TVs, fans, laptop computers, or even small power tools. You're only limited by your imagination — if it has a plug, you can hook it up to the Powerpack 400. There's also a 12V DC outlet, handy for charging cell phones, powering portable coolers, or jump-starting a car with the included jumper cables.

When you're not using the Powerpack 400, just plug it into an AC or DC outlet for convenient charging. The included AC and DC adapters make it a simple plug and play operation. Using the AC charger, it takes about 36 hours to fully charge the Powerpack 400 when the battery is drained. Charging via the DC adapter takes only 4 hours.

The built-in air compressor is one of the neatest features in the Powerpack 400. The air compressor is perfect for inflating tires or sports equipment and the air hose coils up neatly out of the way when you're not using it. Adapters and a needle valve are included for inflating sports equipment (don't worry about losing them — there's a handy storage compartment built right in). An air pressure gauge located by the hose lets you check the inflation pressure.

You can count on the Powerpack 400 if the lights go out — the built-in flashlight provides a strong, steady light.

Now that I'd had a chance to charge up the Powerpack 400 and check out all the features, it was time to put it to the test around the house. For the next week, I used it every opportunity to see how it would perform.

With the Powerpack 400 Plus providing the electricity, I didn't have to run multiple extension cords to the job site. Colin gives the Powerpack 400 Plus a big "thumbs up. Inflating this many balls with the Powerpack 400 Plus is quick and easy.

Sunday
Labor Day weekend. A perfect opportunity to labor around the house! I set off with the Powerpack 400 and my electric hedge clippers to trim a hedge on the edge of our property. Normally, I would have had to run over 100 feet of extension cord to use my electric hedge trimmer in this spot. With the Powerpack 400, I simply plugged in the trimmer and got to work. It handled the job flawlessly, providing plenty of juice for the power hungry trimmer.

Monday
If you don't own cordless tools, you often find yourself lugging extension cords as well as the rest of your tools to where you are doing the job. Keeping with the spirit of Labor day weekend, I installed a new closet organizer. It was necessary to cut shelving to size and to drill mounting holes in the wall, so I ran my jig saw and power drill exclusively from the Powerpack. It easily provided the power I needed, even when the saw had a tough time on the metal wire shelving. If you use power tools where electric outlets are hard to get to, the Powerpack 400 will make the job a lot easier.

Tuesday
A strong September thunderstorm provided a great real-world test of the Powerpack when the power went out at my house. My son and I handled the emergency by quickly hooking up the Powerpack to a 13" TV and Playstation, and whiled away the time until the power came back on with some closely contested games of "Star Wars Demolition" (he won). The Powerpack 400 was still running like a champ when the lights came back on, almost an hour later.

Thursday
Next, I gave the air compressor a try. When you're a volunteer soccer coach, you've got to take care of all the details, including blowing up the soccer balls. I took the opportunity to inflate the practice balls we'll be using for the fall season, to pump up the tires of my wife and son's bikes, and to put a few more pounds of air in the back tires of my pickup. A piece of cake — no extension cords, and an air gauge built right in — I was starting to really enjoy having the Powerpack 400 around the house!

Saturday
Enough work — how about some football? With the college football season under way, it was time to take in a game. We took the Powerpack 400 along for a road trip to see my alma mater, West Virginia University, take on East Carolina. It performed like a champ, powering my boombox and keeping a crock pot full of chili warm during our pregame tail-gating. It was a nice bonus knowing that I had a set of jumper cables and an air compressor along for the ride during the five hour drive. The peace of mind was gratifying.

Impressions
As we've seen, the Powerpack 400 is a very versatile piece of equipment. With the limited amount of time I had, I was barely able to scratch the surface of its many uses. You can probably think up many more uses. Camping trips come to mind for me.

The Powerpack 400 is a real winner! It has great capabilities, it's easy to use, and can be charged up, ready to go, wherever and whenever you need it. It's time to start thinking Christmas gift — for giving and receiving!