Uses for Old UPSes
 

I am the "lucky" owner of a number of older UPSes.

So what can a person build out of these?

The batteries are for the most part dead but the remainder of the
components seem to be in good condition.

Any suggestions?

Thanks

TMT

Uses for Old UPSes
 

"Too_Many_Tools" wrote in message
oups.com...
I am the "lucky" owner of a number of older UPSes.

So what can a person build out of these?

The batteries are for the most part dead but the remainder of the
components seem to be in good condition.

Any suggestions?

Thanks

TMT

If you can get your hands on a copy of the 2005 ARRL Handbook, there are
several suggestions in there (radio-related, but you can improvise from
them), and some information about UPS's.

One is a charger for 12V storage batteries in general, including car
batteries. Another is an emergency power supply (you can just run two wires
to your car battery, or a bank of deep-discharge batteries wired in parallel
if you're so inclined). Depending on the model you have, you can get 160 W
to over 300 W of 120 VAC and/or 12VDC from them.

Mine (an APC Back-UPS 600) is now wired to an old car battery. It will run
my computer for a lot longer than the old gel-cell that came with it. Since
we're on the end of a power transmission line, it gets a fair amount of use.

--
Ed Huntress

Uses for Old UPS units
 

"Too_Many_Tools" wrote in message
oups.com...
I am the "lucky" owner of a number of older UPSes.

So what can a person build out of these?

The batteries are for the most part dead but the remainder of the
components seem to be in good condition.

Any suggestions?

Thanks

TMT

A local college student has a successful business placing new batteries in
these units -- checking out and selling on eBay and to a large number of
local small companies.

I usually pickup the transformers from his junked units (fire, internal
damage).
This are usually good for 13.8 VDC linear power supplies in the 7 to 25 amp
range.

gb

Uses for Old UPSes
 

Too_Many_Tools wrote:
I am the "lucky" owner of a number of older UPSes.

So what can a person build out of these?

The batteries are for the most part dead but the remainder of the
components seem to be in good condition.

Any suggestions?

Thanks

TMT

Yep, the power transformers in them - feed the local mains voltage BACK
into it, you will get 18v (usually centre tapped) on the other side
where the original switching transistors were, nice big thick wire -
good for a few amps. As well, lots of other windings, good for what
have you voltages.

73 de VK3BFA Andrew

Uses for Old UPSes
 

I have a back-UPS 400 with a useless gelcell. However, touching
terminals of a fully charged and healthy gelcell to the battery
leads causes mega amps to flow, so something is likely fried.
Interestingly, the dead battery has about 10.5 volts on it,
in-circuit, no current!

Anyone got a schematic or wisdom to share? / thanks / mark


Ed Huntress wrote:

"Too_Many_Tools" wrote in message
oups.com...

I am the "lucky" owner of a number of older UPSes.

So what can a person build out of these?

The batteries are for the most part dead but the remainder of the
components seem to be in good condition.

Any suggestions?

Thanks

TMT


If you can get your hands on a copy of the 2005 ARRL Handbook, there are
several suggestions in there (radio-related, but you can improvise from
them), and some information about UPS's.

One is a charger for 12V storage batteries in general, including car
batteries. Another is an emergency power supply (you can just run two wires
to your car battery, or a bank of deep-discharge batteries wired in parallel
if you're so inclined). Depending on the model you have, you can get 160 W
to over 300 W of 120 VAC and/or 12VDC from them.

Mine (an APC Back-UPS 600) is now wired to an old car battery. It will run
my computer for a lot longer than the old gel-cell that came with it. Since
we're on the end of a power transmission line, it gets a fair amount of use.

--
Ed Huntress

Uses for Old UPSes
 

"Too_Many_Tools" wrote in message
oups.com...

Too_Many_Crossposts

Uses for Old UPSes
 

Replace the batteries. We do it at work all the time.

Scott



Too_Many_Tools wrote:
I am the "lucky" owner of a number of older UPSes.

So what can a person build out of these?

The batteries are for the most part dead but the remainder of the
components seem to be in good condition.

Any suggestions?

Thanks

TMT

Uses for Old UPSes
 

Do you have to worry about fumes from the car battery, or do you only use
the "sealed" type of car battery?

"Ed Huntress" wrote in message
...
"Too_Many_Tools" wrote in message
oups.com...
If you can get your hands on a copy of the 2005 ARRL Handbook, there are
several suggestions in there (radio-related, but you can improvise from
them), and some information about UPS's.

One is a charger for 12V storage batteries in general, including car
batteries. Another is an emergency power supply (you can just run two
wires
to your car battery, or a bank of deep-discharge batteries wired in
parallel
if you're so inclined). Depending on the model you have, you can get 160 W
to over 300 W of 120 VAC and/or 12VDC from them.

Mine (an APC Back-UPS 600) is now wired to an old car battery. It will run
my computer for a lot longer than the old gel-cell that came with it.
Since
we're on the end of a power transmission line, it gets a fair amount of
use.

Uses for Old UPSes
 

In article .com,
"Too_Many_Tools" wrote:

I am the "lucky" owner of a number of older UPSes.

So what can a person build out of these?

The batteries are for the most part dead but the remainder of the
components seem to be in good condition.

Any suggestions?

Thanks

TMT


I replace the batteries. I get them at the MIT flea market, two for 10
bucks. Yes, and they have a test load there so you can verify the
batteries are good. I have had not problem.

I have several free UPSs because clueless people have thrown them out at
our recycling center as they are "bad."

Al

Uses for Old UPSes
 

Al wrote:

In article .com,
"Too_Many_Tools" wrote:

I am the "lucky" owner of a number of older UPSes.

So what can a person build out of these?

The batteries are for the most part dead but the remainder of the
components seem to be in good condition.

Any suggestions?

Thanks

TMT


I replace the batteries. I get them at the MIT flea market, two for 10
bucks. Yes, and they have a test load there so you can verify the
batteries are good. I have had not problem.

I have several free UPSs because clueless people have thrown them out at
our recycling center as they are "bad."

Al

Generally you can get new batteries from a local battery distributor at
very good prices and with local pickup no shipping costs. I used to use
Midstate Battery in Bloomfield, CT but there will be wholesale
distributors everywhere. With new batteries most UPSs will be good as
new.

Keep what you can use and sell the rest locally, donate a few to the
local senior center for a tax write off (yes seniors use computers these
days), etc.

Pete C.