Looking For Smart Battery Charger For Ups

[painless]

Hi All,

I am piecing together a UPS similar to http://www.dansdata.com/diyups.htm

I am opting towards a 25amp "smart" battery charger. Has anyone seen or know

where I can source one in Thailand. Please no posts about buying a cheap UPS from the local computer shop.

I trade various markets and I need my system up 24/7. Also if you do not know what I mean by smart battery charger then you can assume if

it is not solid state then it is a no go.

I have found some units overseas but it appears I will pat 20% duty + vat.

Local might be a better option. I am in Khon Kaen and have had no luck here.

Thanks

[jaideeguy]

Painless,

I won't post about buying a cheap UPS, but a cheaper compromise might be to buy a larger capacity UPS and set up an additional battery in parallel...effectively doubling your backup time. Don't know how far you can stretch it, but maybe a sealed lead acid motorcycle battery would work.

Up here in CM, we have a couple of branches of electronic/electrical shops that are a national chain called 'Amon' ....maybe there's a branch in KK??

I would be interested in what you find and hopefully you will post cost, parts and watts/hr.

maybe someone more technical could confirm.....

and maybe this post should be moved to internet communications forum????

[painless]

My understanding is that most cheap commercial UPS units give enough power to shutdown your computer

and not much else.

I use an Apple IMac.

Although Apple state that the maximum continuous power is 200W (20-inch models). This does not really tell me the

kva that actually will be needed. Nevertheless Apple products are pretty light on power usage

I have noticed on several tests. eg

http://weblog.infoworld.com/enterprisemac/..._keeps_its.html

I will connect the battery charger to the mains and the output to my 300W inverter input (2880 Baht).

The inverter out goes to the computer. Thus it is an inline unit and protects from brown outs

etc. I will use a wet cell car battery. How many hours will it run before the inverters low input warning

light comes on? I would imagine with a 50 to 80 amp hour battery something way more than I should

ever need. My friend set one of these up in Aus and the thing worked like a charm. Brisbane has electrical storms

to match anything Khon Kaen does so that will fit my bill.

At the moment I am considering

the KI-2512 battery charger from http://www.kipoint.com.tw/

Looks to fit the bill and is not designed to start trucks but more in the solar-inverter etc field

thus no cranking current. Not available in Thailand.

I will check out the store that you recommended if I can find one here.

When it is finished I will send the details of how it runs.

[Crossy]

Unless you already have the inverter I'd look at a 24V unit, lower currents are more manageable and the efficiency is better, otherwise that charger looks a good match if you can get something similar here. The main Amorn branch is in Chinatown (BKK of course), that's the area to get what you need, website here http://www.amornelectronic.com/ should have shop locations on there somewhere.

I would NOT use car batteries, if you discharge lower than 60% of charge they will rapidly sulphate and die. Much better to get deep-discharge gel batteries, more expensive but much longer lived.

Edited August 1, 2008 by Crossy