This one interests me. Wonder how many small UPSs you could run from a
truck battery (assuming using heavy enough cables between each UPS and each
battery [when needed for the 24 volt input]). I am sure you would have to
leave the vehicle running if running the UPSs for any length of time or
heavy load... Probably pretty basic questions but I am kind of interested
because I have a couple laying around and never thought of using them as an
inverter (powered by a vehicle). That would make a neat addition to a
garden tractor or something too...

--
Brent Atkerson
Anrod Screen Cylinder Co.
www.anrodscreen.com


"Ignoramus1487" wrote in message
...
On 22 Nov 2005 10:51:01 -0800, Too_Many_Tools
wrote:
How would one verify it in a UPS?


Try calling APC and ask them (with your particular model) if you can
hook up an extra or external battery to it. See what they say.

I blew a charging circuit on one UPS once. It was a ferrups that
I picked up from trash. I wanted to use it as a powerful inverter for
powering my home from my pickup, so its charging capabilities did not
interest me. For a few years, it was my house power backup. It worked
great, producing power from truck's battery.

i

Ignoramus14135 wrote:
On Mon, 21 Nov 2005 20:53:33 -0800, Bob Headrick wrote:


I almost bought a 15 kva UPS for $49, but decided that I had too much
on my hands already...

i

/| /| _____________________
||__|| | |
/ O O\__ | PLEASE DO NOT |
/ \ | FEED THE TROLLS |
/ \ \|_____________________|
/ _ \ \ ||
/ |\____\ \ ||
/ | | | |\____/ ||
/ \|_|_|/ | _||
/ / \ |____| ||
/ | | | --|
| | | |____ --|
* _ | |_|_|_| | \-/
*-- _--\ _ \ | ||
/ _ \\ | / `
* / \_ /- | | |
* ___ C_c_c_C/ \C_c_c_c____________

There are 2 types of UPS. One, the load actually runs off the battery (the
UPS just keeps the battery charged and inverts the DC power to AC) and the
other the load actually runs on line voltage and switches to battery when
line voltage disappears (this is probably the type you are speaking of but I
have not tested that).
Also, should not need any heavier cables (except to account for the longer
length that may occur between truck battery and UPS) as long as using the
UPS within the design specifications. I think it is generally about 12 Ga.
wire between the battery and UPS (at least in the PC world, servers might be
a little bigger since the batteries are often in series).

--
Brent Atkerson
Anrod Screen Cylinder Co.
www.anrodscreen.com


"Ignoramus1487" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 22 Nov 2005 16:05:54 -0500, Brent Atkerson
wrote:
This one interests me. Wonder how many small UPSs you could run from a
truck battery (assuming using heavy enough cables between each UPS and
each
battery [when needed for the 24 volt input]). I am sure you would have
to
leave the vehicle running if running the UPSs for any length of time or
heavy load... Probably pretty basic questions but I am kind of
interested
because I have a couple laying around and never thought of using them as
an
inverter (powered by a vehicle). That would make a neat addition to a
garden tractor or something too...



Beware that some UPSes refuse to start without A/C voltage
present. Kind of stupid, but it's reality. That could hinder their use
for emergency.

12V is a very low voltage and you need big cables. Your battery can
produce a lot of amps intermittently, so with it, you could run loads
that are not too high on average.

For example, on 70 amps, you could run about 700 watts of power (after
considering all losses). That's enough to power up the furnace and a
few fluorescent lights or the TV. Maybe even a refrigerator.

Since your truck recharges the battery as it runs, the battery acts as
a buffer/smoother of your alternator's output and can help produce
power without frying the alternator.

i

Too_Many_Tools wrote:
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?

Assume the UPS was designed to properly charge the batteries.
Look up the battery manufacturer's recommended charge rate.
As a practical matter, that's probably the best most people
can do when the UPS specs are not available.


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

Well, if you happen to have a high wattage fully adjustable load
(not very damn likely) and the wherewithal to fool the UPS into
"thinking" that a battery is connected (with a variable supply and
a diode or maybe a big 'lytic), you could plot a charge curve by
measuring the current through the load and the voltage across it.

Ed



TMT

Crazy hose must have a HP mini running Bruno!
Bruno could draw up the darnest pictures and export them as ascii for teletype
transport.

Martin [ all of my paper tape - 5 and 8 level were given away or dumped last year. ]

Martin Eastburn
@ home at Lions' Lair with our computer lionslair at consolidated dot net
NRA LOH, NRA Life
NRA Second Amendment Task Force Charter Founder


wrote:
Ignoramus14135 wrote:

On Mon, 21 Nov 2005 20:53:33 -0800, Bob Headrick wrote:


I almost bought a 15 kva UPS for $49, but decided that I had too much
on my hands already...

i


/| /| _____________________
||__|| | |
/ O O\__ | PLEASE DO NOT |
/ \ | FEED THE TROLLS |
/ \ \|_____________________|
/ _ \ \ ||
/ |\____\ \ ||
/ | | | |\____/ ||
/ \|_|_|/ | _||
/ / \ |____| ||
/ | | | --|
| | | |____ --|
* _ | |_|_|_| | \-/
*-- _--\ _ \ | ||
/ _ \\ | / `
* / \_ /- | | |
* ___ C_c_c_C/ \C_c_c_c____________


----== Posted via Newsfeeds.Com - Unlimited-Unrestricted-Secure Usenet News==----
http://www.newsfeeds.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! 120,000+ Newsgroups
----= East and West-Coast Server Farms - Total Privacy via Encryption =----

18 x 12v = 216v with plenty current...since you are with us I assume
everything went well? ;)

TMT

Most are APCs but I have others (Best, Minuteman, etc.) and have access
to several others I have yet to see.

My questions are an attempt to learn so I can evaluate all them
properly.

I appreciate the information from those who have gone before and still
are around to tell about. ;)

TMT

Too_Many_Tools wrote:

Most are APCs but I have others (Best, Minuteman, etc.) and have access
to several others I have yet to see.

My questions are an attempt to learn so I can evaluate all them
properly.

I appreciate the information from those who have gone before and still
are around to tell about. ;)

TMT

If you have any Best Fortress 1420s of the older model with the 4 digit
display, I might be interested in purchasing them sans batteries to save
on shipping if the price it right.

Pete C.

"Too_Many_Tools" wrote in message
oups.com...
Most are APCs but I have others (Best, Minuteman, etc.) and have access
to several others I have yet to see.

My questions are an attempt to learn so I can evaluate all them
properly.

I appreciate the information from those who have gone before and still
are around to tell about. ;)

TMT


I have two Minuteman units I rescued from work. Both just needed batteries.
I opened them up so I could get to the battery while they were plugged in
and checked the charging voltage. It was something over what the battery was
rated, 13 volts and a 12 volt battery, so I figured that the charging
circuit was ok. The UPS worked as far as running a load when unplugged, but
they had no reserve capacity so I took a chance and put batteries in them.
Greg

On Wed, 23 Nov 2005 01:06:11 GMT, "Pete C."
wrote:

Too_Many_Tools wrote:

Most are APCs but I have others (Best, Minuteman, etc.) and have access
to several others I have yet to see.

My questions are an attempt to learn so I can evaluate all them
properly.

I appreciate the information from those who have gone before and still
are around to tell about. ;)

TMT

If you have any Best Fortress 1420s of the older model with the 4 digit
display, I might be interested in purchasing them sans batteries to save
on shipping if the price it right.

Pete C.
Those older Fortress units are EXCELLENT