Sherpa 120 Adventure Kit Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This is a superbly designed and built product, at least from the couple of days I've had it. I'll update the review if my impressions change.
One thing I want to mention right away: the power pack itself is only 2.2 pounds in weight. For some reason various sources of this information show anywhere between 4 and 5 pounds. All the other accessories that come in the box are lightweight as well. The included AC adapter with cords is very lightweight and small and the 12V cigarette plug is as well. Too often we find that the main object of interest, like a laptop for example, has an attractive weight specified but comes with a massive AC brick and cables that weigh as much as the thing itself. Not so here.
Physically, however, the Sherpa 120 is quite a big thing, about the size of a Webster's dictionary (if any of you remember those :-) or a really big Fodor's travel book. Make sure this meets your needs. It is not a petite device.
So far I have used the power pack to test out running a ResMed S9 CPAP machine (CPAP only, not humidifier/heater) with an inverter, and it powers it successfully for a full 8 hours on a full charge. That pretty much meets the 120 watt-hour spec, as the machine averages around 15 watts (including loss in the inverter and S9's AC adapter). A full charge from AC takes 4 hours as specified. Construction quality is first rate.
Only one issue so far: there is no indication of how to charge the power pack from a 12V source, although that charging method is given in the specifications. The charging plug is labeled as needing 15.3V. I will have to hunt down how to do that. I would have appreciated a 12V plug cable for charging in the box.
A potential issue is how TSA treats this. This device qualifies as a "larger" spare lithium ion battery and, judging by the watt-hour rating, has about 10 grams of equivalent lithium content (ELC) -- [...]. This is perfectly acceptable as a carry on according to DOT guidelines (see [...] -- up to two such "spare" batteries with ELC up to 25 grams may be in carry-on luggage; cannot be in checked luggage). But the particular TSA inspector at a given gate on a given day may have other ideas.
UPDATE: To charge this device from 12VDC source, you have to buy a separate adapter: a male cigarette to 4.7mm adapter, from Goalzero.com. It's $15 so not too bad. Also I'm not sure why Amazon had to delete the links I put in the main review -- they were to dot.gov web pages showing info about FAA treatment of li-ion batteries.

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Whether it's uncharted territory, remote terrain or an area with inconsistent service, the Sherpa 120 brings power to the far reaches of the world. Its lightweight and compact design makes it easy to carry in your backpack or daypack and its lithium iron phosphate battery offers an extended life of between 2,000 to 3,000 cycles equal to 70,000 AA batteries. Charge from the wall, solar panels or car adapter and add other Sherpa power packs and inverters through a simple stacking and unique cord chaining method that increases power. An integrated inverter for USB and DC devices provides regulated safe power to connected devices while protecting them from power surges. Giving you the power you need to go everywhere.

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Xantrex Technologies 852-2071 Xpower AC/DC Powerpack Solar With 400 Watt Inverter, Two AC Outlets, USB Port, And Digital Display Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)If the Xantrex Xpower Powerpack Solar lived up to its specifications, I would rate it 5 stars and consider it well worth the money. That's why I bought it in the first place. Unfortunately, its performance falls short of the manufacturer's claims.
The overall design of the product is very nice. I had considered building something similar based on a how-to article in Popular Science, but the Powerpack is so nicely packaged for only a couple dollars more, I chose to buy it.
The Powerpack disappoints in the amount of energy stored in its battery that is available to power other electronic devices. The battery is specified as 12 volts and 10 amp-hours. As such, I was expecting to get as much as 120 watt-hours from it, but I barely get half that.
As a test, I fully charged the battery using the included AC adapter. By "fully", I mean the unit claimed to be charged. I then ran the built-in LED lights. The manual claims they should run for 48 hours. They ran 27.5 hours for me.
I assumed this performance reflected a bad unit and exchanged it. The new unit performs similarly. Either the battery in the unit performs poorly, or the electronics to monitor and control the battery state-of-charge are weak.
As another example of the poor performance, I charged the unit completely (again based on its built-in indicator that charging is done). It indicated 100 percent charge when I turned on the AC or DC output, but as soon as I plugged in any load, it almost immediately dropped to 70 or even 60 percent. Soon after the unit's indicator dropped to 40 percent, the unit shut itself down.
So, on the one hand, this is a nice unit to carry around, and it does slowly-but-surely charge the internal battery using the included 5 watt solar panel. It does a fine job charging cell phones and iPods, and a barely acceptable job charging a notebook computer. Compared to its specifications, and for that matter my previous experience with the Xantrex Powerpack Mobile Mini, however, the product is a disappointment.


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Operate your favorite gadgets anywhere with the Xantrex XPower Powerpack Solar. This portable solar device provides 400 watts of household power to run appliances and electronics. The Powerpack Solar's solar panel continuously captures, stores, and converts the sun's energy and extends the runtime of many portable devices. Two AC outlets, a DC socket, and a USB port give you plenty of options for simultaneously operating anything from laptops to cell phones to small TVs.
Portable Power for All Your ElectronicsA perfect companion for road trips, vacations, and camping, the Powerpack Solar can simultaneously run multiple devices thanks to its two 120-volt AC outlets, single 12-volt DC outlet, and USB port. The powerful built-in 400-watt inverter and sealed, spill-free 10-amp/hour AGM battery can power anything from a CD player to a 13-inch TV to a laptop to an air compressor. At the same time, the built-in USB port makes it easy to charge digital music players, cell phones, computer peripherals, and more.
A handy three-digit display helps you keep tabs on your Powerpack Solar's battery power. For those times when you want to conserve your battery, an AC charger is included for charging from a standard wall outlet, and a DC charger is included for charging from a vehicle or RV battery.
For added convenience, the Powerpack Solar runs quietly, making it a great alternative to a generator. Non-slip rubber surrounds protect the Powerpack Solar from bumps and scuffs, and two built-in lamps help you set up the unit when the lights go out or when you're getting cozy in a tent.
Clean, Green Renewable Solar PowerThe XPower Powerpack Solar is the first power pack to incorporate solar power in a compact, portable power source. It's completely self renewing, which means the five-watt solar panel captures, stores, and converts the sun's energy, replenishes the XPower Powerpack Solar's battery, and extends the runtime of many devices by up to 25 percent. An added bonus, the solar panel is detachable, so you can charge the battery and leave the panel in a safe place when you go to the beach or tackle the trail.
The XPower Powerpack Solar is covered by a six-month warranty. It measures 15.0 x 4.5 x 10.25 inches (LxWxH) and weighs 12.3 pounds.
About XantrexXantrex Technology Inc. (xantrex.com), a subsidiary of Schneider Electric, is a world leader in the development, manufacturing and marketing of advanced power electronic products and systems for the renewable and mobile power markets. The company's products convert and control raw electrical power from any central, distributed, renewable, or backup power source into high-quality power required by electronic equipment and the electricity grid. Xantrex is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, with facilities in the United States, Germany and Spain, and a joint venture in China.
What's in the BoxRechargeable solar-powered battery pack, AC charger, and DC charger.

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