On Mon, 21 Nov 2005 18:52:01 -0600, "RDF"
wrote:

Would a 12 V deep cycle- Optima work in a APC-UPS 1400R I keep my servers
and dyno on with it along with some routers and switches. I don't know the
output, the battery fails and I now have it frightfully bypassed. The
batteries died and are almost 2 bills to replace. voltages ? issues? but I
have a few Optima batteries from wrecked race cars that would be perfect!

If they are 'Red Top' starting batteries, not really. Starting duty
batteries aren't meant to be deep discharged, even if the Optima
starved electrolyte design will take the abuse far better than most
because electrolyte volume is restricted.

If they're the Yellow Top deep-cycle, or the Blue Top Marine
starting/deep cycle, and the voltages are right, yes.

But realize it might work TOO well when compared with a standard
gel-cell battery. Those Optima batteries can deliver frightening
amounts of short-circuit current for several seconds and the circuit
can fry before a fuse can react.

-- Bruce --

--
Bruce L. Bergman, Woodland Hills (Los Angeles) CA - Desktop
Electrician for Westend Electric - CA726700
5737 Kanan Rd. #359, Agoura CA 91301 (818) 889-9545
Spamtrapped address: Remove the python and the invalid, and use a net.

On 20 Nov 2005 21:14:33 -0800, "Too_Many_Tools"
wrote:

I am the "lucky" owner of a number of older UPSes.

So what can a person build out of these?

The batteries are for the most part dead but the remainder of the
components seem to be in good condition.

Any suggestions?

Thanks

TMT

Sure! I have a few of them. I usually get them for free because they
are "broken". I replace the batteries and they are as good as new. I
have even gotten a hold of an expensive "sine wave" UPS. Most UPSs
use a sum of square waves to simulate the 60Hz sine wave. There are
lots of transients and noise, however. Some (expensive) UPSs use a
different type of inverter and produce pure sine wave AC. If you put
an accessory plug in the side, you can use it to keep the batteries
topped off and plug into the accessory plug for volts. Be careful
though, the better ones use 2 12V batteries in series.

Russ

"Russ" wrote in message
...
Sure! I have a few of them. I usually get them for free because they
are "broken". I replace the batteries and they are as good as new. I
have even gotten a hold of an expensive "sine wave" UPS. Most UPSs
use a sum of square waves to simulate the 60Hz sine wave. There are
lots of transients and noise, however. Some (expensive) UPSs use a
different type of inverter and produce pure sine wave AC. If you put
an accessory plug in the side, you can use it to keep the batteries
topped off and plug into the accessory plug for volts. Be careful
though, the better ones use 2 12V batteries in series.

You need to be very careful with this - I have seen units that have one side
of line voltage on the battery terminals. This is not a problem with the
batteries sealed in the UPS, but could be a big problem if you try to bring
leads out to charge a battery.

I have about 25 UPS' I picked up at a local university sale for $30 total. The
largest was a 2KW unit with 18 12V batteries, one of which was dead :-).
Metalworking content - after replacing the one bad battery I tested it using my
bandsaw....

- Bob Headrick

Would a 12 V deep cycle- Optima work in a APC-UPS 1400R I keep my servers
and dyno on with it along with some routers and switches. I don't know the
output, the battery fails and I now have it frightfully bypassed. The
batteries died and are almost 2 bills to replace. voltages ? issues? but
I have a few Optima batteries from wrecked race cars that would be
perfect!
===================
Suggest you check the charging instructions on the original battery and
compare these with the ones applicable to the Optima type of battery.
The battery in a UPS is on 'standby duty' The charging instruction for a
YUASA SLA found in many UPSes has the following for standby duty :
Voltage regulation : 13.5 - 13.8 V
Initial current : Unlimited

Connect the Optima battery to the UPS and check the voltage when the
battery is fully charged . You can charge the battery externally to say 13.5
volt before you connect it to the UPS. If the fully charged voltage is in
the above range ,you can safely use it for this purpose.
I would think that any 12 V SLA will happily work with your APC UPS 1400R
,provided its capacity is adequate for the load to be maintained for the
minimum time needed. If you use a number of batts in parallel ,please
ensure there is an adequate FUSE in each battery circuit !
You can also connect a much larger 12 V sealed battery to the UPS (for
example those used in electric golf trolleys). Even non-sealed batts can be
used provided they are located in a well ventilated area .
I have non-sealed batts located on the loft connected via leads made from
welding cable running to equipment in the ground floor radio shack ( to feed
radio equipment requiring a peak current not exceeding 25 Amperes)

Above I mentioned batts for Golf trolleys because their cost is very
reasonable nowadays there being a relatively large demand , hence
competition (pun intended)

Frank GMØCSZ / KN6WH

I have about 25 UPS' I picked up at a local university sale for $30 total.
The
largest was a 2KW unit with 18 12V batteries, one of which was dead :-).
Metalworking content - after replacing the one bad battery I tested it
using my bandsaw....
- Bob Headrick
==========================
Bob , Interesting info ; can you confirm that the 18 pcs 12V battery were
in fact 9 strings of 2 batts in series (each string having a fuse )
providing 24 V ? or were all the 18 batts in parallel ?

Frank GMØCSZ / KN6WH

"2. The charging current of the tiny native 1400va ups batteries is
probably much less than that of the car batteries. Higher current
coulld damage the charging circuit of the UPS. You could make some
current limiter (see Art of Electronics) to limit charging current,
but it probably is not worth the time. "

Why would that matter?

Wouldn't the charging circuit be current limited?

TMT

How would one verify it in a UPS?

TMT

Yes, one could call if the company is still around and they want to
tell you.

What if the UPS is propietary or if the company is long gone?

Any test setup one can rig to measure rated charging capability?

TMT

"Highland Ham" wrote in message
...

Bob , Interesting info ; can you confirm that the 18 pcs 12V battery were
in fact 9 strings of 2 batts in series (each string having a fuse )
providing 24 V ? or were all the 18 batts in parallel ?

Actually they were all in series, making it a bit nerve-wracking to replace a
battery in the string.

- Bob W7OV

On Tue, 22 Nov 2005 12:29:37 -0000, "Highland Ham"
wrote:


I have about 25 UPS' I picked up at a local university sale for $30 total.
The
largest was a 2KW unit with 18 12V batteries, one of which was dead :-).
Metalworking content - after replacing the one bad battery I tested it
using my bandsaw....
- Bob Headrick
==========================
Bob , Interesting info ; can you confirm that the 18 pcs 12V battery were
in fact 9 strings of 2 batts in series (each string having a fuse )
providing 24 V ? or were all the 18 batts in parallel ?

Frank GMØCSZ / KN6WH

Most likely six strings of 3, for a 36 volt system, or 3 strings of 6
for 72. a 2KW 110 volt system on 12 volts would draw close to 200
volts, on 24 close to 100, on 36 close to 60, and on 72 less tan 30
amps for 18 amps out and85% +/- efficiency.