Power to the people, and it's portable

It slices! It dices! It keeps your devices going during a power outage!

OK, it doesn't actually slice and dice, but the XPower Powerpack 400R, a temporary power supply, will run appliances that do, as well charge electronic gadgets when the lights go out.

And get this: It will inflate tires and jump-start cars, too. This 7-in-1 device, about the size of a boombox, is basically a battery sealed in plastic with a carrying handle. At 23 pounds it's hefty to haul around, but it provides portable power wherever you need it.

The 400-watt Powerpack 400R ($149) has two three-prong AC outlets, an auto-type DC socket, a digital alarm clock, AM/FM radio and light, built-in air compressor, and pressure gauge. The package includes a manual, jumper cables, nozzles for inflating tires and small sports equipment such as a soccer ball, DC and AC charging cables for recharging the Powerpack, a red emergency light cover, and a bag for storing the accessories.

Xantrex, a Canadian company, is aiming the Powerpack at everyone from tailgaters and campers to home users who don't want to be left in the dark during a blackout.

I live in a neighborhood that's been plagued by outages. One evening I was reading and half-listening to Jay Leno's monologue when everything went black for the umpteenth time. Since I had just charged the Powerpack 400R, it was the perfect opportunity to take it for a spin under real-life conditions.

I plugged in the TV and lamp and was immediately back in business. The devices ran normally until I flipped them off about an hour later. In the nice-touch department, the power switch is illuminated, making it easy to find in the dark.

Knowing that my cellphone battery was running low, I plugged it into the Powerpack. Worked like a charm. Meanwhile, the rest of the neighborhood was still pitch black.

Before the first use, you'll need to charge the Powerpack for at least 48 hours. Subsequent recharges can take up to 35 hours. You can leave the Powerpack plugged into a wall outlet or store it, pull it out, and plug it in to top off the charge every couple of months. It can also be recharged via a DC socket in a car or RV. How long the Powerpack lasts on a single charge depends on how you use it. It will run all kinds of 115-volt AC or 12-volt DC equipment, including camcorders, video games, small power tools, fans, blenders, and computers.

Operating multiple devices simultaneously will certainly run it down faster. The company suggests that typically you can run a 12V portable cooler for four hours, a laptop for six hours, a 40-watt lamp for three hours, or a 13-inch TV for 2½ hours.

A digital display shows how much charge is left. A fairly loud alarm sounds when the unit is nearly drained or about to overheat.

The Powerpack's not exactly whisper quiet, but the hum isn't overly distracting. The manual warns that you'll get some static when listening to the radio while you're using the AC outlet, and I found that to be true.

It's handy to have an emergency radio and clock, and when you place the included red cover over the light on the front of the Powerpack you can set it to flash.

Not having a dead car battery nearby, I didn't test the jumper cable or inflate a tire, but I did manage to easily blow up a small travel pillow using the very loud air compressor.

In addition to the 400R, Xantrex makes the Powerpack 400 Plus ($100), which is basically identical to the 400R, but sans radio and alarm clock. It also makes other Powerpacks ranging from $79 to $370.

Another interesting Xantrex product, the XPower Pocket Inverter 100 ($49-$79), will offer travelers a portable plug-in for laptops and other mobile devices. It converts DC to AC.

Overall, I was impressed with the Swiss-army-knife-like Powerpack 400R. For a city dweller who occasionally loses power for a few hours, it's a great way to keep all my gadgets humming. For vacationers, tailgaters, and others toting TVs, stereos, video games, and blow-up sports equipment, it offers power in a box. The only drawback is the long recharge time. Thirty-five hours? Actually, who cares, as long as I can run my DSL modem and laptop in a blackout.

Michelle Johnson is a freelance writer. She can be reached at mijohn@mail-me.com.