http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/14/how-to-build-your-own-ups/ Engadget Comments for How to build your own UPS http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/14/how-to-build-your-own-ups/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/14/how-to-build-your-own-ups/
Never mind...I'm too sleepy to comment anything useful. Good night, everyone!]]>Oct 14th 2007 3:07AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/14/how-to-build-your-own-ups/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/14/how-to-build-your-own-ups/Step 2: ?
Step 3: Profit]]>Oct 14th 2007 3:14AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/14/how-to-build-your-own-ups/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/14/how-to-build-your-own-ups/Oct 14th 2007 4:51AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/14/how-to-build-your-own-ups/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/14/how-to-build-your-own-ups/Step 2.5: Deliver billions of packages]]>Oct 14th 2007 1:33PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/14/how-to-build-your-own-ups/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/14/how-to-build-your-own-ups/
coffepot - I am not sure if you are being sarcastic or not... but it's a reference to South Park. The little elves with the pants. ]]>Oct 15th 2007 12:15AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/14/how-to-build-your-own-ups/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/14/how-to-build-your-own-ups/Oct 14th 2007 3:21AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/14/how-to-build-your-own-ups/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/14/how-to-build-your-own-ups/Oct 14th 2007 12:57PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/14/how-to-build-your-own-ups/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/14/how-to-build-your-own-ups/Oct 14th 2007 4:34AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/14/how-to-build-your-own-ups/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/14/how-to-build-your-own-ups/
The UPS has a low charge current so it takes several days to fully charge the battery but my power cuts are far less frequent so it works well. The run time is now over a hour vs. 10 minutes before.

For safety I only used a sealed battery. It is located in my non habit ed basement with reasonable air flow. I placed the battery inside a "battery box" (~$10 from a car / marine parts store).

For extra versatility I have a 12V car power socket mounted in the battery box and the ups connects to it with a 12 male plug. That way I have a convenient, always charged battery to take with me camping (to use with my portable inverter that plugs into a 12v car power socket). Aside: I put the gel pack back in place for these trips.

Also having a fully charged portable car battery available at all times has also been very handy in the last few months to jump-start both a car and a lawnmower. :-)]]>Oct 14th 2007 6:13AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/14/how-to-build-your-own-ups/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/14/how-to-build-your-own-ups/
I use 3 96Ahr gell cells (removed from service at work) on my solar array to provide 12V lighting, and to run my radio shack. Car batteries really discharge quickly and the plates are too thin for deep cycling. From what I've found, most UPS inverters expect to see a higher voltage than can be provided from a lead acid battery. A better solution would be something like this:

http://www.xantrex.com/web/id/41/p/1/pt/24/product.asp

Of course that is an expensive way to get AC. However, the unit is designed to keep the batteries in good shape, and it is a true sine wave, unlike just about any UPS made. Also, the inverters in a typical UPS aren't made for long runtimes and generate a lot of waste heat (not that these are all that efficient). The electronics in this type of unit are made to run continuously.

Another solution is to use laptops and DC/DC converters. Greatly increases the run time on a battery.]]>Oct 14th 2007 10:26AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/14/how-to-build-your-own-ups/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/14/how-to-build-your-own-ups/Oct 14th 2007 7:02AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/14/how-to-build-your-own-ups/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/14/how-to-build-your-own-ups/Oct 14th 2007 9:25AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/14/how-to-build-your-own-ups/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/14/how-to-build-your-own-ups/
Just joking.]]>Oct 14th 2007 9:34AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/14/how-to-build-your-own-ups/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/14/how-to-build-your-own-ups/
"I have a fully kitted-out office at home with a workstation that runs two PCs, a 4-in-1 digital scanner/printer, an inkjet printer, a DSL broadband router, a wireless network router, and two sets of speakers. There are also a fax machine, and a mobile handset that is useless when its base goes dead."

Umm, maybe this is why South Africa is having so many power issues and unable to keep up with demand? Just a thought. May I be the first to introduce you to this great technology called a "laptop." Then get yourself *one* printer/scanner/copier/fax, a wireless DSL router, a hard wired phone, and a single set of speakers.

Maybe try to work within the constraints rather than just building a massive UPS. Idiots.]]>Oct 14th 2007 10:03AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/14/how-to-build-your-own-ups/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/14/how-to-build-your-own-ups/
I've got one computer at home for working on, with three monitors attached. Another couple are servers. One is strictly for the kids, so that their use is isolated. Funny enough I've also got some of the smaller bits of electronics that he mentioned, including a phone.

I'd have a hard time compressing that all into a single laptop. I must be an idiot too.]]>Oct 14th 2007 10:13AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/14/how-to-build-your-own-ups/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/14/how-to-build-your-own-ups/Oct 14th 2007 10:18AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/14/how-to-build-your-own-ups/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/14/how-to-build-your-own-ups/
OR, he could build a good UPS. (which considering what he says about his power utility, he would need some sort of UPS anyway.)

I think that the choice here is pretty obvious. Its real obvious which would cost less.
Idiot.]]>Oct 14th 2007 10:42AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/14/how-to-build-your-own-ups/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/14/how-to-build-your-own-ups/
This attitude towards technology isn't sustainable in the least. If you honestly think he couldn't consolidate some of that gear down then you are crazy. He then even goes on to say he runs Folding@Home which pegs his CPU's 100% for prolonged times for no real reason (yes, it is helpful but in a power crisis it is a bit excessive) I knew my addition of the word "idiots" would be slightly inflammatory, but it is the truth... to willingly be wasteful even if not in the midst of a problem is idiotic.]]>Oct 14th 2007 10:43AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/14/how-to-build-your-own-ups/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/14/how-to-build-your-own-ups/Oct 14th 2007 11:10AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/14/how-to-build-your-own-ups/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/14/how-to-build-your-own-ups/
I can see some of your points, but you are seeing things only from your point of view. ("I'd also be hard pressed to find a task/game that couldn't be done with a laptop.") What if your machine is a server? Should you buy a laptop for that and then run back and forth every three hours to plug it in and then unplug it?

Just because you would be pressed to find something you couldn't do with an expensive laptop, not everyone has the same luxury. The others are right...there are way more energy-wasteful appliances in the house that your ire should be directed at.]]>Oct 14th 2007 11:59AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/14/how-to-build-your-own-ups/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/14/how-to-build-your-own-ups/
Again, appliances, lightbulbs, etc. are also great areas to tackle. The point I was making is that in times of trouble you need to give up some comforts to better the situation. Imagine if every S. African household had two PC's two printers, two routers, etc. all running daily... now try cutting that in half (or to even one laptop and one PC) and you have a substantial decrease. But it is easy to have the self-absorbed "bah! let someone else worry about it and change and make sacrifices *I'm* too important and *special* to have to do without." B.S.

I make sure I have efficient appliances, CFLs, computers/laptops, and habits and it is not to save money or because of shortages... it is because it is wasteful not to. Everyone *can* do it, but it's easier to make a hundred excuses why you shouldn't have to or won't.]]>Oct 14th 2007 7:39PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/14/how-to-build-your-own-ups/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/14/how-to-build-your-own-ups/Oct 14th 2007 9:36PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/14/how-to-build-your-own-ups/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/14/how-to-build-your-own-ups/Oct 15th 2007 10:05AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/14/how-to-build-your-own-ups/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/14/how-to-build-your-own-ups/
"As a result, I have collected all manner of uninterruptible power supplies which are linked to all the computers scattered around my house" Yes clearly he is concerned with his personal power consumption, yes running folding at home is normally waste full.(When faced with the choice of using an 1KW electric heater or 4 old desk tops running folding@home to heat my apartment I chose the old desktops)

The guy obviously has cash to spend and if he replaced his desktops with new laptops he would probably see an over all performance gain at 1/3 the power consumption, even replacing the CRTS with LCDs would be an improvement(which evidently he has since done.). Chances are if he is running folding@home he never turns his computerS off, so don't tell me he would be better off getting a new fridge.]]>Oct 15th 2007 11:02PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/14/how-to-build-your-own-ups/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/14/how-to-build-your-own-ups/
(Very Interruptible Power Supply)]]>Oct 14th 2007 11:38AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/14/how-to-build-your-own-ups/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/14/how-to-build-your-own-ups/
I put my projector (a Sanyo Z3) on an APC Back-UPS® ES UPS to theoretically save the bulb in case of a power outage. There hasn't been an outage, but once while watching a movie, for no predictable reason (there was no power outage) the UPS beeped and went offline, taking the projector down (fortunately the bulb didn't blow). I'm guessing this is because the projector's wattage requirements can exceed the UPS', but can anyone let me know if there is a good solution?
]]>Oct 14th 2007 12:09PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/14/how-to-build-your-own-ups/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/14/how-to-build-your-own-ups/Oct 14th 2007 5:12PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/14/how-to-build-your-own-ups/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/14/how-to-build-your-own-ups/Oct 14th 2007 5:15PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/14/how-to-build-your-own-ups/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/14/how-to-build-your-own-ups/
I am guessing you would need a minimum of 1500 VA. In addition, make sure you get a GOOD UPS. The APC UPS units come in various quality levels. I prefer the SmartUPS units. They are a good compromise between price and performance though APC does make better ones as well.]]>Oct 14th 2007 6:39PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/14/how-to-build-your-own-ups/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/14/how-to-build-your-own-ups/Oct 14th 2007 7:43PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/14/how-to-build-your-own-ups/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/14/how-to-build-your-own-ups/]]>Oct 14th 2007 4:03PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/14/how-to-build-your-own-ups/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/14/how-to-build-your-own-ups/Oct 14th 2007 7:13PM