Warning: Never try to connect
any power back-up system to your home electricity distribution box or
for that matter to any plug adapter. You can start a fire and will void
your insurance. I am in the lucky position to have a fully qualified
electrician in the house that can perform such tasks and issue the
necessary certification certificates that is needed. Remember
electricity is dangerous and can kill you and others!!
The title of this post say it all. I looked at the price of UPS units but the prices just keeps on going up and up. Next best solution is to roll my own backup power unit. Here I had several options. After some scrounging in my junk boxes I came up with the items shown in the images. When load-shedding started way back then I bought a small inverter and a few odds and ends but only used the inverter maybe a few times as a stand alone mobile/portable unit, after which it went to the junk box for storage. (plastic ammo case)
The cabinet was built maybe 5 years ago for mobile contest work and is fitted with wheels to move it around. The battery is where the cost comes in, but if you need it you buy it. I bought this one a few years back and it is still holds a charge well. Never seems to drop down to damaging voltage. The inverter is a Meanwell 300 Watt Modified Sine Wave unit. The computer does not complain. I would have liked it the be a Pure Sine Wave but you cannot always have every thing your way .
After starting the GRHub Network and the latest spate of power outages I was looking to build an ugly style unit as I needed it ASAP due to the implementation of regular load-shedding.
I started getting together every item that I would need and started work on the project this morning. I plan to add 12v outlets tomorrow in the event that I needed them.
Here is a few photos of today's work. The unit is not completed but is operational and providing 220v AC for my desktop computer in the Shack. I will update and add images as the project progress. The intention is to coat the cabinet with stone chip spray coating and to add a few enhancements at a later stage when the current load-shedding is hopefully suspended.
I do however predict that we are in for a rough time as far as power generation and supply is concerned in South Africa. No, at my age I am not looking at installing a big solar power system at my house. There is really no need for this as one can find alternative solutions to easily curb any power outages.
I am also working on my own solar power unit which I will be able to move around to where ever I need 12v, 24v, and 220 v power. I call the unit: "ZS1I Smart Power Trolley". More on this in a future post.
