Power out - inverters

[suzy]

Is there any way to disable the "beeping" that a UPS does when the power is off, and its on the battery? Maybe a way to disconnect it on the inside somehow?

suzy

 

[Nuthatch]

Someone gave me an APC brand Backup UPS 280. What can I do with it? Yes, it works.

 

[LoupGarou]

Someone gave me an APC brand Backup UPS 280. What can I do with it? Yes, it works.

You can keep the power flowing for a short while to anything that is 250-280 watts and lower. See http://www.donrowe.com/inverters/usage_chart.html for estimated power draws of some appliances/electronics.

If the UPS 280 fills a need, but you want more time of backup power after the power fails, you can make an outrigger pack of bigger batteries. A set of two 34AH AGMs would give you at least 6 times as much runtime.


And a side note to anybody that uses UPSs without an alarm "kill switch" and want to make it quiet, there are a few choices. One, desolder the buzzer, or clip the leads if it is panel mounted. Two, put a switch in series with it so you can disable it. Or three (my favorite), fill it full of hot glue, this lets you still hear it if you are right next to it (for PCs you still may want to here the error beeps, for UPSs it really doesn't matter. The hot glue trick works whether you are familiar with electronics or not and is safer than the other two methods.

A word of warning, UPSs do convert high voltage, so if you want to take the covers off, make sure that it is unplugged and off, and then always work with one hand (prefferably your right one), with the other away from the unit, this way no possible across the heart voltages if you do get shocked.

Loup Garou

 

[nanna]

(snip)

I have installed/wired some very nice systems with diesel and natural gas generators as backup to the solar. I prefer using a vehicle as a generator (just me). To run a normal size home you should have 32 batteries, twin 4000w inverters - strapped out of phase to get your 220v. (I prefer this over a 10k 220v inverter), and 32 - 150w to 200w panels. I would replace 16 panels with 16 wind mills in windy/less sunny locations (like NY). With such a system you wont wear on components, it will always be there for you in time of need, you wont have a utility bill and you should have plenty of power left over to sell back you your utility company.

12v PC power supplies
http://www.opussolutions.com/index.php?p=product&id=25

My favorite Inverter - 24v (you need wire your batteries to equal 24v)
http://www.xantrex.com/web/id/44/p/1/pt/8/product.asp

a reliable supplier
http://www.solardepot.com

A dream set up, indeed

Remember, though, that you cannot grid-tie selling power back to the utilities*and* have batteries, Rex, at least in NY state.



nanna

 

[BornFree]

Is there any way to disable the "beeping" that a UPS does when the power is off, and its on the battery? Maybe a way to disconnect it on the inside somehow?

suzy

Yes anyone with electronics experience could disable the beeper for you.

 

[Slydersan]

Home Depot is currently running a 20% off sale. One of the items they had (at least in the Wash DC/Baltimore area) is a Black&Decker 100wt inverter. Originally $19.97 on sale for $15.98. It's the type that plugs into a cigarette outlet and can power laptops, power tool batter pack rechargers etc. (I'll try to include a pic...)

 

[Simple Man]

What's the difference between a "Class T" and an "ANL" fuse I see advertised on some web sites?

I aquired an old Tripplitt inverter (had been sitting on the guys shelf forever in his garage), and I may have a line on some used golf cart batteries. I would just have to bite the bullet and order a panel or three and a charge controller, and I may be busy next weekend assembling this!