Solar Powered Aquarium

[SunEagle]

Agreed. In my case, the UPS keeps my TV, DirectTV, small desktop and an led light going for about 4 hours. That is long enough for me to decide if I need to start the generator. If I add a more substantial backup it will be through my manual transfer switch. I was intrigued that Paul mentioned the UPS that I just bought in this context.

I think a UPS is a great idea but remember that even those batteries have a limited number of cycles.

My APC 550va is about 5 years old and from the way the devices I have plugged into it are acting, (CCTV cameras stops recording) I would say I no longer have the same backup time to handle the same load as in the beginning. Time for a replacement battery.

[lkruper]

I think a UPS is a great idea but remember that even those batteries have a limited number of cycles.

My APC 550va is about 5 years old and from the way the devices I have plugged into it are acting, (CCTV cameras stops recording) I would say I no longer have the same backup time to handle the same load as in the beginning. Time for a replacement battery.

Yes, I know. I now have an assortment of APC 550s, a 1300 and a 1500 with the extra battery pack distributed both at home and at the cabin. In three years or so I will have to decide what to do when the batteries start failing.

For the price with a lightning deal on Amazon, a 5 year old unit might be worth replacing instead of replacing batteries. I know that is what APC would want you to do

[SunEagle]

Yes, I know. I now have an assortment of APC 550s, a 1300 and a 1500 with the extra battery pack distributed both at home and at the cabin. In three years or so I will have to decide what to do when the batteries start failing.

For the price with a lightning deal on Amazon, a 5 year old unit might be worth replacing instead of replacing batteries. I know that is what APC would want you to do

I replaced my first UPS when it's battery failed but now know better that I can find a perfectly new battery for much less then the cost of a new UPS so for me it is worth keeping the older UPS.

[lkruper]

I replaced my first UPS when it's battery failed but now know better that I can find a perfectly new battery for much less then the cost of a new UPS so for me it is worth keeping the older UPS.

It is extremely easy to hot-swap a battery in the consumer units.

[paulcheung]

APC has software called Powerchute and also a freeware from Sourceforge called Apcupsd. I have each installed on different computers. There are algorithms in the firmware of the APC units and these software packages communicate with it in a proprietary way.

The 1500 has two 9ah batteries and the external battery back has four more. The UPS is designed to charge the 54 AH in about 8 hours. If it were possible to add a couple 12v 200 AH AGM batteries to be charged via this cable (this is a 24v system), the amperage would be pretty low and the time to charge would be measured in days.

Also, what would be the effect of putting 200 AH batteries in parallel to the two internal 9ah UPS batteries? Not only are they different capacities, but they are also not the same kind of batteries.

Wouldn't it be more straightforward to get an inverter/charger and use it with the 2 200AH AGMs?

In my case, the old batteries died and is tooooo Expensive to replace them, so I disconnect them and use two large truck battery, (I can't get AGM in Jamaica). It give me more than 5 hours for the light and tv before I got my solar system. I think AGM will more kind to the charging rates, that is why I suggest AGM.

[paulcheung]

Wouldn't it be more straightforward to get an inverter/charger and use it with the 2 200AH AGMs?

e
Inverter/Charger with programmable features in this case running more than thousands dollars. the ups and batteries are less than $500. you do the math.

[lkruper]

Inverter/Charger with programmable features in this case running more than thousands dollars. the ups and batteries are less than $500. you do the math.

Many Samlex chargers have a DC UPS built into them. Also remember that the APC is not pure sine wave, so that lowers the cost.

Samlex charger/DC UPS - SEC-1215UL - $130
Cotek Pure Sine Wave Inverter - S150-112 - $139

The Cotek is a pure sine wave inverter, unlike the APC. The one thing the APC does that is programmable is that there is a setting to cause the unit to shut down without discharging the battery. To get this feature, one can add a Samlex battery guard which can be programmed for Low Voltage Disconnect for about $115.

So for $384 one gets a DC UPS, real two or three stage charger with meaningful amps to take care of expensive batteries and a pure sine wave output along with the ability to choose from 10 different LVD settings. The charger also has settings for different kinds of batteries.

What happens to the 200AH AGM batteries put in parallel with 9AH UPS batteries in the APC UPS of a different type and size?

[paulcheung]

Many Samlex chargers have a DC UPS built into them. Also remember that the APC is not pure sine wave, so that lowers the cost.

Samlex charger/DC UPS - SEC-1215UL - $130
Cotek Pure Sine Wave Inverter - S150-112 - $139

The Cotek is a pure sine wave inverter, unlike the APC. The one thing the APC does that is programmable is that there is a setting to cause the unit to shut down without discharging the battery. To get this feature, one can add a Samlex battery guard which can be programmed for Low Voltage Disconnect for about $115.

So for $384 one gets a DC UPS, real two or three stage charger with meaningful amps to take care of expensive batteries and a pure sine wave output along with the ability to choose from 10 different LVD settings. The charger also has settings for different kinds of batteries.

What happens to the 200AH AGM batteries put in parallel with 9AH UPS batteries in the APC UPS of a different type and size?

The Cotek inverter is 150 watts and the UPS 1500VA is 865 watts, two different thing. I don't plug my fridge or freezer in the ups, I only plug in light, tv and fans in it, they working fine. Remember the ups is plug and play, only connect the external battery on it. others have to match equipment.

I would just discard the 9AH battery if I get the 200 amps AGM.

[lkruper]

The Cotek inverter is 150 watts and the UPS 1500VA is 865 watts, two different thing. I don't plug my fridge or freezer in the ups, I only plug in light, tv and fans in it, they working fine. Remember the ups is plug and play, only connect the external battery on it. others have to match equipment.

I would just discard the 9AH battery if I get the 200 amps AGM.

Yes, I specified a smaller inverter because my APC 1500 + battery pack is used to power about 90w load, TV, Satellite, etc as well. So I don't need more capacity. However, I could also keep the price down by getting a larger MSW inverter for about the same price because the APC is not pure sine wave. The overall cost would be about the same. I don't think the 1500 would work if it did not have the internal 9ah batteries, would it?

[paulcheung]

Yes, I specified a smaller inverter because my APC 1500 + battery pack is used to power about 90w load, TV, Satellite, etc as well. So I don't need more capacity. However, I could also keep the price down by getting a larger MSW inverter for about the same price because the APC is not pure sine wave. The overall cost would be about the same. I don't think the 1500 would work if it did not have the internal 9ah batteries, would it?

It will work without the internal battery. at least mine works. If not, then just connect the external battery to the internal cable.

[paulcheung]

Another thing about ups is they are standby unit, they don't work during the normal hours until the grid is down, so they don't stress out like the inverter which run 24/7. that is my take for the OP issues.

[lkruper]

Another thing about ups is they are standby unit, they don't work during the normal hours until the grid is down, so they don't stress out like the inverter which run 24/7. that is my take for the OP issues.

That's a good point, considering that the Samlex system I described is a DC UPS which means the inverter would run all the time, unlike a traditional AC transfer switch. And your point about the internal battery not being needed makes sense considering it is plugged into AC.

Do I understand you correctly that you have an APC UPS with your own larger AGM batteries connected? If so, can you give the details as to what model and what batteries you are using?

[inetdog]

That's a good point, considering that the Samlex system I described is a DC UPS which means the inverter would run all the time, unlike a traditional AC transfer switch. And your point about the internal battery not being needed makes sense considering it is plugged into AC.

Do I understand you correctly that you have an APC UPS with your own larger AGM batteries connected? If so, can you give the details as to what model and what batteries you are using?

FYI folks, DC in this case stands for Dual Conversion, not Direct Current.

[lkruper]

FYI folks, DC in this case stands for Dual Conversion, not Direct Current.

http://www.samlexamerica.com/products/ProductDetail.aspx?pid=171

By means of a DIP switch setting, conversion to a two-stage algorithm is possible to charge batteries connected to a DC load (DC UPS). The unit can also be used as a DC Power Supply.

From the manual:
Can be used as a power supply or as
a DC UPS (Uninterruptible DC Power
Supply) when used with a battery (DIP
Switch set at "Battery with load")

(,,,)

In a DC UPS (Un-interruptible Power Supply)
, the charger simultaneously powers
the DC load as well as the battery. As long
as the AC power to the charger is available
and the charger is working normally,
the charger will supply the DC load as well
as charge/float the battery. In case the AC
power fails or if the charger stops work-
ing, the battery will automatically power
the DC load. As soon as the AC power to
the charger is restored , the DC load will
once again be fed by the charger and at
the same time the battery will be
recharged.

[paulcheung]

That's a good point, considering that the Samlex system I described is a DC UPS which means the inverter would run all the time, unlike a traditional AC transfer switch. And your point about the internal battery not being needed makes sense considering it is plugged into AC.

Do I understand you correctly that you have an APC UPS with your own larger AGM batteries connected? If so, can you give the details as to what model and what batteries you are using?

As I stated in previous post I can't get the AGM batteries, my UPS is the old 20 years old APC BACKUP-UPS 1200VX. the batteries I use are sealed SLI 70 amps hours batteries. The last set last around 3 to 4 years.