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Thread ID: 32581 2003-04-23 03:10:00 Cheap UPS somebody (208) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
138032 2003-04-23 03:10:00 I just came up with an idea.

Is it possible to make a cheap UPS using a car battery (12v) a car battery charger (or 12v transformer), and a step-up 12v-240v inverter?
somebody (208)
138033 2003-04-23 03:17:00 yes but it would proberly be far easier to get a ready made one, proberly the same price to. tweak'e (174)
138034 2003-04-23 05:30:00 The other problem is that a car battery is a very bad thing to have in the house, especially anywhere near electronic gear (like computers. :D) Everything corrodes. :_|

By the time you got a decent capacity of sealed lead acid ("gel") battery, and a proper charger for it (you don't use a "car battery charger" on them) plus a decent capacity inverter, you would certainly (not "proberly", even probably ;-) ) find it costing more than the proper thing.
Graham L (2)
138035 2003-04-23 05:34:00 Car battery charger = $40
Car Battery = $60
Inverter (300 watt) $180
or Inverter (650 Watt) $300

Total $280 - $380

400 Watt UPS = $249, includes software and interface to PC
godfather (25)
138036 2003-04-23 06:20:00 Thanks guys... I guess it was a good idea at the time....

Solar panel?? :)
somebody (208)
138037 2003-04-23 07:35:00 Yaeh, but what if the power fails at night :D lol Pheonix (280)
138038 2003-04-23 10:13:00 > Solar panel??

Assuming (as pointed out) you only want UPS during the sunshine hours, a 500 watt array of solar panels, plus an inverter will be about $7,000 to $10,000.
godfather (25)
138039 2003-04-23 10:28:00 How about peddle power? Toilet breaks could be a challenge though. Hmm ideas starting to flow.

Cheers

Murray P
Murray P (44)
138040 2003-04-23 10:56:00 now all i need is a big ups to run the whole office and add a solar panel to it to cut down the power bill a bit ;-) tweak'e (174)
138041 2003-04-23 22:46:00 mini-windfarm??? somebody (208)
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