A Windows XP help forum. PCbanter

If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

Go Back   Home » PCbanter forum » Microsoft Windows XP » Hardware and Windows XP
Site Map Home Register Authors List Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read Web Partners

UPS hack possible?



 
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old November 9th 08, 12:21 AM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware
Pflueger
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 29
Default UPS hack possible?

If anyone knows of a more appropriate NG for this, please advise.

My APC UPS has been screaming at me to get another replacement battery. I
have replaced it before, it is a piddly 12V.

Today as I was readying my boat for winter it came to me that I have two big
expensive Deep-cycle 12V batteries going to waste all winter, while if I
could use a jumper to hack into the UPS they could possibly be used instead.
It would provide much more of a backup source and would be of help in
maintaining them through the winter as well.

I would be interested in hearing any feedback about it. Thanks,

pflu


Ads
  #2  
Old November 9th 08, 03:14 AM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware
Jake[_6_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 50
Default UPS hack possible?



"Pflueger" wrote in message

If anyone knows of a more appropriate NG for this, please
advise.

My APC UPS has been screaming at me to get another
replacement battery. I have replaced it before, it is a
piddly 12V.

Today as I was readying my boat for winter it came to me
that I have two big expensive Deep-cycle 12V batteries
going to waste all winter, while if I could use a jumper
to hack into the UPS they could possibly be used instead.
It would provide much more of a backup source and would
be of help in maintaining them through the winter as
well.

I would be interested in hearing any feedback about it.
Thanks,

pflu


You have to tell it that you replaced the battery. The message most likely
has nothing to do with the state of the battery. Did you tell it to do a
self test?



  #3  
Old November 9th 08, 06:28 AM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware
philo
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 4,807
Default UPS hack possible?


"Pflueger" wrote in message
...
If anyone knows of a more appropriate NG for this, please advise.

My APC UPS has been screaming at me to get another replacement battery. I
have replaced it before, it is a piddly 12V.

Today as I was readying my boat for winter it came to me that I have two

big
expensive Deep-cycle 12V batteries going to waste all winter, while if I
could use a jumper to hack into the UPS they could possibly be used

instead.
It would provide much more of a backup source and would be of help in
maintaining them through the winter as well.

I would be interested in hearing any feedback about it. Thanks,

pflu



I work for a major battery manufacturer and also have worked on my share of
UPS's over the years...so I feel qualified to answer your question.

The answer is not as clear cut as you might imagine.

Since the charger is designed to charge a smaller battery
there is of course the possibility the batteries may not charge fully...
however a problem might only occur is there was a very long power failure
and the batteries got deeply discharged.

The real danger is in the emission of hydrogen gas...which of course is
explosive!

The battery that's in the UPS now should be a VRLA battery.
That stands for valve-regulated lead-acid. It's designed to allow a
negligible amount
of hydrogen gas emission under all but a thermal run-away condition.

The deep-cycle batteries you have, could be the "wet" type which would emit
hydrogen
and could therefore be potentially dangerous.
Since VLRA deep cycle batteries do exist the ones you have *might* be safe
to use...but be sure to
find out if they are the "wet" type (with liquid acid inside) or "sealed"
VLRA's

The VLRA is a fairly expensive battery and can cost over $200 each!

The good news, is that since the charger is going to be undersized for the
batteries
the chances of a dangerous emission of hydrogen is minimized...but that is
not to say it would be safe.

Since you will be using the deep cycle batteries in the summer (presumably
in your boat)
you are going to have to replace the internal battery anyway...
So you might as well not bother with the deep-cycle batteries you have.

When in doubt err on the side of caution.



  #4  
Old November 10th 08, 07:19 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware
Pflueger
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 29
Default UPS hack possible?


"philo" wrote in message
...

"Pflueger" wrote in message
...
If anyone knows of a more appropriate NG for this, please advise.

My APC UPS has been screaming at me to get another replacement battery.

I
have replaced it before, it is a piddly 12V.

Today as I was readying my boat for winter it came to me that I have two

big
expensive Deep-cycle 12V batteries going to waste all winter, while if I
could use a jumper to hack into the UPS they could possibly be used

instead.
It would provide much more of a backup source and would be of help in
maintaining them through the winter as well.

I would be interested in hearing any feedback about it. Thanks,

pflu



I work for a major battery manufacturer and also have worked on my share

of
UPS's over the years...so I feel qualified to answer your question.

The answer is not as clear cut as you might imagine.

Since the charger is designed to charge a smaller battery
there is of course the possibility the batteries may not charge fully...
however a problem might only occur is there was a very long power failure
and the batteries got deeply discharged.

The real danger is in the emission of hydrogen gas...which of course is
explosive!

The battery that's in the UPS now should be a VRLA battery.
That stands for valve-regulated lead-acid. It's designed to allow a
negligible amount
of hydrogen gas emission under all but a thermal run-away condition.

The deep-cycle batteries you have, could be the "wet" type which would

emit
hydrogen
and could therefore be potentially dangerous.
Since VLRA deep cycle batteries do exist the ones you have *might* be safe
to use...but be sure to
find out if they are the "wet" type (with liquid acid inside) or "sealed"
VLRA's

The VLRA is a fairly expensive battery and can cost over $200 each!

The good news, is that since the charger is going to be undersized for the
batteries
the chances of a dangerous emission of hydrogen is minimized...but that

is
not to say it would be safe.

Since you will be using the deep cycle batteries in the summer (presumably
in your boat)
you are going to have to replace the internal battery anyway...
So you might as well not bother with the deep-cycle batteries you have.

When in doubt err on the side of caution.



Thanks for the info. The deep cycle batteries are the wet type. I would bet
neither would need any charging from the UPS all winter as you say,
especially if hooked up in parallel. I use the UPS almost exclusively only
for the voltage-leveling attributes, not document preserving -- if they keep
my automatic bilge pump going all summer, they would probably only need the
usual amount of monitoring over winter.

If I decide to try it I will take care to provide plenty of venting.

Once I got the jumpers in place I could forsee even using one of my handy
portable 12V jump-start power packs for backup as well -- they are VLRA
types.





  #5  
Old November 10th 08, 10:55 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware
philo
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 4,807
Default UPS hack possible?


snip


I work for a major battery manufacturer and also have worked on my share

of
UPS's over the years...so I feel qualified to answer your question.

The answer is not as clear cut as you might imagine.

Since the charger is designed to charge a smaller battery
there is of course the possibility the batteries may not charge fully...
however a problem might only occur is there was a very long power

failure
and the batteries got deeply discharged.

The real danger is in the emission of hydrogen gas...which of course is
explosive!

The battery that's in the UPS now should be a VRLA battery.
That stands for valve-regulated lead-acid. It's designed to allow a
negligible amount
of hydrogen gas emission under all but a thermal run-away condition.

The deep-cycle batteries you have, could be the "wet" type which would

emit
hydrogen
and could therefore be potentially dangerous.
Since VLRA deep cycle batteries do exist the ones you have *might* be

safe
to use...but be sure to
find out if they are the "wet" type (with liquid acid inside) or

"sealed"
VLRA's

The VLRA is a fairly expensive battery and can cost over $200 each!

The good news, is that since the charger is going to be undersized for

the
batteries
the chances of a dangerous emission of hydrogen is minimized...but that

is
not to say it would be safe.

Since you will be using the deep cycle batteries in the summer

(presumably
in your boat)
you are going to have to replace the internal battery anyway...
So you might as well not bother with the deep-cycle batteries you have.

When in doubt err on the side of caution.



Thanks for the info. The deep cycle batteries are the wet type. I would

bet
neither would need any charging from the UPS all winter as you say,
especially if hooked up in parallel. I use the UPS almost exclusively only
for the voltage-leveling attributes, not document preserving -- if they

keep
my automatic bilge pump going all summer, they would probably only need

the
usual amount of monitoring over winter.

If I decide to try it I will take care to provide plenty of venting.

Once I got the jumpers in place I could forsee even using one of my handy
portable 12V jump-start power packs for backup as well -- they are VLRA
types.






Considering the batteries will be a much higher Ampere-Hour than the
charger,
the amount of gassing will be negligible...but I just wanted to sure you
were fully cautioned.

Basically, no smoking or flames near the batteries!

BTW: There are several possible charging methods...but if the voltage
remains below 14.2 volts while on charge,
the gassing is next to nothing.


I see I also made a few typos, valve regulated lead acid is VRLA G


 




Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is Off
HTML code is Off






All times are GMT +1. The time now is 01:28 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright ©2004-2024 PCbanter.
The comments are property of their posters.