UPS for the computer

[RWebb]

is making a horrible whining nose, much as if it had been PARFed, so I called up APC for a trade-in...

APC wanted $53

a new one on Amazon is $49

therefore, I explained to the phone-droid (not to be confused with a droid phone) that I would just buy a new one - he seemed unhappy for some reason

Last time this happened I went to batteries R us or someplace and just got a new battery for it - BUT I notice that battery went belly up a LOT quicker than the original battery (suggesting some cheapo construction in the replacement battery)

[Hugh R]

I don't know if there is a question or if this is just miscellaneous postings. For $4 more, I go with new which probably has a superior battery and some warranty.

[porsche4life]

The new is 4 less.... Not sure what the question is... Just buy new from amazon....

[Hugh R]

$4 less, yeah.

[stomachmonkey]

Most likely what you got was a for hire warranty call center and the $4 + a couple more was the phone-droids spiff so yeah he was annoyed that he spent time with you for nothing.

Oh well, the crumbling cookie and all that......

[scottmandue]

There is a new fancy UPS out there with a digital readout... shows you the actual voltage at the plug... in the event of a power outage it displays a countdown to shutoff.

Does your UPS have a USB connection that automatically shuts down the PC before the battery cuts out?

[Hugh R]

I need to revisit one for my 50 gallon aquarium. Last I looked, I think they would only power the filters and heater for a few hours. I need days in case of a power loss due to earthquakes, and I can't get home for a week. Yeah, I'd spend a few hundred to save about $40 in fish.

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by Hugh R

I need to revisit one for my 50 gallon aquarium. Last I looked, I think they would only power the filters and heater for a few hours. I need days in case of a power loss due to earthquakes, and I can't get home for a week. Yeah, I'd spend a few hundred to save about $40 in fish.

Hmmmm... don't think a UPS circuit would be too coplicated to DIY... then adapt it to some car batteries... hmmm...

I'm off to google DIY UPS

[stomachmonkey]

Hook up a natural gas gererator.

[scottmandue]

Here ya go Hugh:

The DIY (or, if you must, "Ghetto") UPS

[RWebb]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

Most likely what you got was a for hire warranty call center and the $4 + a couple more was the phone-droids spiff so yeah he was annoyed that he spent time with you for nothing.

Oh well, the crumbling cookie and all that......

yes, most likely

no question - just file under "rants" (we don't have enuff here!) or observations or information

it DOES have that USB facility, but I stopped using it - should probably crawl under there & connect it I guess - not sure I trust it, being a techno-Luddite & all...

[patssle]

There is a new fancy UPS out there with a digital readout... shows you the actual voltage at the plug

They all tell you what the voltage is, just hook up the USB to the computer and install the software.

Per DIY UPS - why not just connect the car batteries to a UPS with the original battery removed? I wonder if that would work correctly.

[Scott R]

Same scam as ink cartridges. You can rebuild the battery yourself with a little bit of time and a soldering iron..

[Hugh R]

Originally Posted by scottmandue

Here ya go Hugh:

The DIY (or, if you must, "Ghetto") UPS

Thanks, I've been thinking about something like that with a solar cell and a digital timer so that the filter (oxygen replenishment via falling water) cycles a few hours on and then off. The fish don't need oxygen generation 24/7.

[RWebb]

Originally Posted by Scott R

Same scam as ink cartridges. You can rebuild the battery yourself with a little bit of time and a soldering iron..

you mean "replace" or rebuild??

see above re battery replacement & possible quality issues

[gtc]

If you don't want to deal with those pesky batteries, I can hook you up with a 240kW flywheel UPS for ~$130k. I guess it would run your typical desktop computer for about two hours.

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by patssle

Per DIY UPS - why not just connect the car batteries to a UPS with the original battery removed? I wonder if that would work correctly.

I would imagine the larger batteries would draw more current, not sure the old circuit could handle it.

Bottom line the modern UPS is a disposable device, we have researched it here at work, even if you buy replacement batteries and solder them in yourself it is not cost effective.

[Scott R]

Originally Posted by RWebb

you mean "replace" or rebuild??

see above re battery replacement & possible quality issues

Rebuild yourself. They are normally lead acid so you can open them and clean the cells then add acid from the autoparts store. The other thing to do is to get a generic battery and solder/splicer your connector on to it. They range from $10 $30 depending on the amp hours. This all depends on how motivated you are, I'm very, very motivated when it comes to reusing batteries.

The other thing you can do is to convert the lead acid battery pack to LiON using Tenergy cells or some other manufacturer.

I'm getting really good and rebuilding batteries thanks to my damned solar setup.

[Rusty Heap]

Originally Posted by Hugh R

I need to revisit one for my 50 gallon aquarium. Last I looked, I think they would only power the filters and heater for a few hours. I need days in case of a power loss due to earthquakes, and I can't get home for a week. Yeah, I'd spend a few hundred to save about $40 in fish.

I've got a $1000 saltwater reef tank with corals.............yet procrastination doesnt' allow me to wire this up........


For fish tanks, I'll explain it but I'm too lazy to google it.


A 12VDC output trickle charger plugs into your wall, both charging a 12 volt deep cycle auto battery, and holding in a double pull double throw, or quad pull double throw relay/contactor. Through the relay (while engaged) contacts, (10-15-20 amp or more contact rating) sends 120VAC powers (sourced from the wall power) for a multi-outlet power strip (or strips) that powers your fish tank.

Oooops Oh No, the House power goes out and you're not home................ the AC trickle charger plugged into the wall goes off line, and so does the contactor coil and thus the contacts feeding the wall power to the power strips. BUT on that double throw relay contactor, in the non-engaged contacts position, is now engaged the output of a 120 VAC output Inverter ( say 1000-1200 watts) to power FishTank cirulation/air pumps, that is now powered off of the battery, giving you 120 VAC to the tank


so in a nut shell, an Fish Tank power source:

A or B circuit..... 120VAC power from the Wall, or the Inverter, that is auto switched by a relay/contactor that is held in or disenguaged from the Wall Wart trickle charger, that not only holds in the relay when Wall Power is present, but also charges the car battery while Wall Sourced 120VAC power is present.

But when house wall power isn't present, the contactor switches over to A/C inverter output to power to the fish tank.


Class, any questions?


Gads, I should of just googled it, but to a Sparky Wiring guy with a soldering iron, that "should" make sense.

it's somewhere on here.

Reef Central Online Community

Reef Frontiers - Welcome to Reef Frontiers


Meanwhile when I'm away for weeks on a scuba vacation, a neighbor just comes over and turns on my 2000 watt Honda Generator ( that runs for like 8 hours on a gallon of gas at ubber quiet 58 dB) to power my 135 gallon reef tank.

[Hugh R]

Dave, thanks. I'll ponder your idea. Maybe I'm missing something , but, My idea is a little simpler, I plug the filter and heater into an inverter which is hooked to a deep cycle marine duty battery which is hooked to a solar cell and a 12 V charger. Power goes off, the 12V charger goes off line and the battery and inverter continues to work.