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UPS + Car Battery = More Computing (Or a 48 Hour Disco Ball?!?)

Monday, March 2nd, 2009 – running time 24:35
UPS Hack! Take the tiny battery out of your Uninteruptible Power Supply and replace it with a car battery: you get to run your UPS for a lot longer, and potentially melt your face!

Uninterruptible power supplies are a great for maintaining power to a PC during a black out or brown out.

Unfortunately most UPS's pack tiny batteries that last just a few minutes before they drain. That's great for saving out files and shutting down. It's not so good for working on and on while the power is out.

Quite a few of you have written in about using a car battery with your UPS... we don't recommend it, but we walk you thru the project in this episode!

And, yes, we do have a Disco Ball ready to run on emergency power.... tho we really want to swap in a pair of deep cycle batteries before we leave the disco ball spinning all weekend.

Highlights
hot dog ( 21:35, 21:35 ) 3-D ( 11:21, 11:21 ) United States ( 11:26, 11:26 ) hydrogen oxygen ( 9:07, 9:07 ) hot dog ( 21:35, 21:35 ) 3-D ( 11:21, 11:21 ) United States ( 11:26, 11:26 ) hydrogen oxygen ( 9:07, 9:07 )

Automatically Generated Transcript(may not be 100% accurate) ( more )

" War."

" Can you make it's awful monster 48 hour honorable power supply but swapping out the tiny onboard battery for a dog pile. A car batteries find out the ins and outs of UPS hacking on this episode of system. There's ups that a system is brought to you by saying his empire total war. Square space dot com and godaddy.com. Wolf the system up."

" The Norton directory -- so few weeks ago we got an email from Ernest eroded. We have many short blackouts and brownouts you know whether it's Cisco my trusted EP CU PS's internal battery died the other day. Now can -- replace its tiny battery with a cart battery. Special last one to two just five minutes consistent do an episode on this -- SS. Do you ever have blackouts actually I've never had backed up that had brown that's where it lake. No actually I think that that I've had bouts of at least four to five hours of blackouts. And it's kind of weird because you know all. North American cities they're power lines are based on the grid man and so like one half of the street will be brightly they'll be like Las Vegas the other Apple be totally dark and partially my half of the blood is usually all the art."

" That's really -- I believe I almost never have blackouts and -- entire cities like its earliest whatever they you're you're probably your Roger. We're sorry to hear your pain down if you're not -- up on the whole UPS thing. A UPS were on -- or will power supplies a way to keep your computer running the power from the wall socket goes it's essentially a big power strip. It's gonna really fast we decided to foot from the 120 -- wall socket. To a -- provided by converter connected to a sealed battery inside yes. When the power goes out or brown outfit -- well below 120 volts. UPS powers of heat from the battery and as a suspect there's a battery charger inside the UPS to keep its batteries topped off and ready to go to."

" But generally speaking UPS decides with enough battery power so last enough you know long OC could actually turn off to computer -- saving audio files and shut it down normally. Now quite a few if you out there system and the like to have several hours because oftentimes if you're -- condition where you cannot. I'm safe right away or you just want to work a little bit longer. I don't want to work there longer. You know you want to -- games played video games you want to be able to squeeze you know couple hours a seven a couple of minutes. So one of the most interesting things out will be doing is essentially kind of hacking one of these to do just that."

" But take a moment to thank what of the sponsors today's -- system go to daddy got cop. What make an impact on line -- dot com has what you need starting at less than five bucks a month web hosting from bill that includes 99 point 9% of time. 24 sevenths support and free access to the GoDaddy hosting connection. It is deeply to quickly fell over 53 applications like word -- Drupal -- commerce quite a few more. Donated dot com make it easy to customize your virtual dedicated server -- one of three popular plans horse like your old links to windows server with all the plan options you need now. You want to hook up curious do enter the code 61 that SYS while we'll check out -- gonna scored an additional 10% off your entire border. Some experts in the -- to decide for details due to -- here system. It to be for the Internet and godaddy.com. And use that code that's -- this 15 one you're gonna be helping out the system to."

" First we got I about the whole thing. Safety upon these pictures -- a baby can play with it. -- Especially old school what an -- car batteries that it tipped over not only an hour. But -- that follow your floor before you start the project I had written. You put it out because it's boxes of baking so do you contracting out because of me do that still against it. This will neutralizing. Your -- it gets hot baking soda on the spill neutralize the -- it. That's fine if your home and you know the cat for the beat -- walk through it before you get to do it. But I haven't even mentioned the horrors of severe overcharging which at best -- wrote the battery and it works fulfill your plastic box of Athens with hi."

" And it which would happily blow up with the addition of a small spark and say -- your legs or the wife's car that's -- to house the cat your carpet. That's kind of the worst case scenario would -- acid batteries go wrong they can who really. Really wrong. And you know you know even even if it doesn't ignite some of these gases especially in just not something you want to be. -- often especially in a close and so it's one of those things you want to make sure that you have access to any of outside just in case something goes horribly horribly horribly wrong idea that well ventilated rooms are critical to this one mean there who -- to the ceiling but if the floats up to the ceiling into the cigarette -- neighborhood well you're drama for your case. So seriously if you kill your cat and -- house after permanently disfiguring your face and dropped clothes hanger across the battery terminals of the battery stuff on your death has been actually. Releasing huge amounts of hydrogen and oxygen because you've been overcharging and he is not our fault. This project can be categorized under the not really good idea you're responsible for your own stupidity if you do this."

" And then the battery in this particular UPS my UPS kind of say well let's see what happens we -- know people that money big batteries to with UPS's. Patrick -- have a big truck that -- people too -- to -- batteries out of it to experiment with. Now the chargers this UPS barely kept the battery that came with the UPS's charts. It's gonna be a bit of a talent deceiving can keep these. Charge when and when they're not pulling out Apple."

" And dolphin in theory we shouldn't have issues with overcharging like like serious overcharging we'll talk a little bit more about that later. So I mentioned earlier it's a pretty simple project right. The -- twelve volt battery if you UPS's global battery you basically you look at the UPS -- that pulling out here UPS and see what it says somewhere on merit mention it to empower capacity. And it's voltage -- more about batteries election -- later. You -- cable of the appropriate -- to go from the UPS battery connectors you battery you can pretty much. Yes by looking at the cabling inside of your battery actually is listed on the side of that cable generally speaking. Go with heavier cable if you can have your -- you'll never go wrong by using basically overspending on copper because. You know there's nothing worse than having that model film outlined. Copper certainly just bird into an all my people that is in order to go to starting a fire -- insulator. It when that happens so you're gonna need clamps or your batteries pose for sockets. The appropriate pliers and cutters to work either connectors and some -- the faith preferably fairly permanently because is that not the kind of -- you -- bouncing around your house. So ATM or absorb -- batteries -- it is contained in the basically a fiberglass and adding inside the battery. There are really good step up safety lies from sealed batteries and especially flooded let acid batteries. The cost more but it can be cheaper than several weeks in the hospital if we said it before things go wrong. A battery box is also an excellent idea for this project I think mandatory at the very least put the battery -- filled with baking -- preferably a pirate because the -- won't go through the pirates. And really discuss it -- more time well ventilated rooms only. And one last time if you burn your house down about your face off it's not our. -- right about here's a good time to remind you that car batteries are really dumb choice for this they're cheap. But they have lots of Finland planes designed for maximum service area so people say they're more like this finds that a block of land. They're designed to produce the maximum amount of -- they like thousands of two to 5% -- charges of old cold crank and amp things I think usage profile when you start your car think you have enough. And basically keep capacity TP engine right in the lights on for half an hour plus. But 3250. -- cycles will just about always kill a car battery dead dead dead. Deep cycle batteries however have big thick -- please decide to be discharged we'd like 70% thing for it over. That is good for starting your car but they are great for extended use like if you want to keep UPS up for hours now. Let's talk about serious overcharging yes let's. So this is very unlikely yet UPS with a small twelve -- 47 and battery and serious overcharging like basically putting too much power in this say. Connecting somebody's like. Is that even possible with something what it. Of this size one type of overcharging is impossible with this but you can also in the put trickle charging Internet talk about trickle charging the second. Severe -- which is basically to shoving too much average in the battery for too long again this is unlikely if you have a UPS of the small like force evidence battery. Can it best with a battery muscle cleaning the plates and at worst generate a mass of hydrogen oxygen that you suspect the whole exploding at the first spark thing. If you discharge of battery a lot bigger car batteries going to last about a year deep cycle battery will last four plus years in a super costly premium deep cycle super expensive heavier than your car battery. Is gonna last upwards of eight years. Now if you're under will power plays a six full battery you're gonna detract six volt battery or another UPS --"

" The thankfully we have here a UPS that uses a twelve volt battery. And we have our banners on hand so you know the both twelve -- now we're using him for this project so it's -- some time if you can. With the volt -- meter to find out if you're UPS is designed for triple charging or flip charging. Now -- chargers have circuitry to prevent overcharging. Battery voltage is topped off it shuts down until the voltage drops out again that way you're not. You know piling voltage on top voltage electrical charge is always charge the battery even it to ready fully charged. Potential damage from battery because you know basically boils the electric lights or -- states the -- That's bad horrible even. Now if you UPS has -- charger you don't want to connected to a car deep cycle battery if you do be prepared to replace the battery or batteries regularly. And not so yes united can just try to match it up you know these things you can find."

" News stories on Craig's list for like twenty bucks how lot of people don't realize that you can actually buy from RadioShack or Fries or best buy error or. You know battery marchers and lots of sources on the replacement batteries that -- exactly match the battery became every UPS if you want to do that. That's awesome it's pretty easy to replace you just -- cables. What new cables on big she got positive or negative right slighted back in the UPS and threw back together and you're dot. What we're doing is gonna take a little bit longer so let's cut back to the workshop."

" What effect Sega -- empire -- war for help -- bringing the show this week it's a real time tactics and turn based strategy computer games and buyer told war takes the total war franchise. Today eighteenth century. If your perpetual war -- the game. This latest installment of the award winning total war franchise -- with a host of evolutionary features including improved 3-D people combat -- cool. Due -- even if -- be able factions including the United States of America as -- let me use diplomacy exploration economic and military might have towards you or personal empire. Players control single chip for past week -- distrustful sales of both candidates must act reported -- in war. Empire total war is based on a newly created windows XP compatible -- text and graphics it just. You're an experienced real times these these dynamic weather and do advance plans because what system he is happy people to help support system by checking out Vegas and fire. Total war."

" Are open -- workshop. We got our basic pile supplies he'll get Rogers and her will power supply it's. -- each cable demands that engage people inside the power supplies the that we didn't talk my guess there -- gonna use little unlike. 15:30 am views inside there to keep -- house down. We've got spade connectors to match this we've got our battery. A couple of things we'll show you right now though. He'd be easy to stay connected to on this and moving to cable to do this and see how much he's we need. --"

" The very least -- thanks piracy dish. We'll bottomless pool of baking soda. -- The city that in there I would highly recommend with the strap around the top of this whole. Hold placed on there. Neutralize -- did mention that the battery. That said we're gonna use it battery box. Before you that was probably about picking up the battery in parallel. To -- rather than doing a lot of cutting and getting out there. Favorite crimping tools. And custom making cables is always cool -- I think he -- be simple. And you some premium battery cable. Picture. Do not cross and cables if you. Because if you do you get a really horrible. -- Don't forget to get you'll see if people just designed. Feel it's an excellent one side this dual -- had told. If you're doing your batteries a couple of things about the death. It just off a pair of terminal guards. This is essentially slide over. -- Prevent you from having one of those giant glorious sparks quickly. Here which we're doing -- it up and launch of battery he would keep them. In parallels means negative to negative and positive positive -- that. This is wonderful to that of could pull it. The front -- if you have them on there we -- grabbed we'll are commonly called marine terminals. And they combined a couple of useful bits and pieces obviously if you really that have shorter cable. -- and we what was what was available and these are gonna pop account. On here -- positive the positive. Negative to negative. Grow -- offer a quick. Because from the -- a single battery for right now. If -- powered disco ball -- or renewable electricity."

" Because we'll do that problem later. And so the cable from the battery and vascular -- out."

" never seem him before. -- of people over for human batter's box. Basically it's designed to sit on the floor. It's government led. -- too loud explosive gases -- events. And the -- are designed so that there's -- place for you can battery cables to see if we pass out. -- want to look inside the batter's boxes indeed. Couple clamps -- we don't hold this draft of the war the straps and hold off to the floor. If you want to do it before your house or apartment and so indeed being square piece of plywood -- this remember don't drill through the bottom. The battery boxes that society sealed place contained sulfuric acid from inside the battery. But basically. These kids through the have to explain it and then you. Literally -- built. That holds us together. And that's listening keep the lid coming off. They're more sophisticated batter's box is this pretty basic and if you use this draft. And the clamps to secure this to -- sheet of plywood floor it's -- be awfully hard to this thing over and damage things -- house at this point starts to get really simple. Plus of course you've misplaced your water. Okay -- millions who like to apologize for using brave people my negative connection on the cover of black people. But this have have a whole lot of the -- We're gonna use of appropriate size ring terminals to connect. Car. Extension cables if you. -- battery cables. I -- well we'll just hearing the Senate. If we felt we had sort of taking great connector it. Against our B connectors. Page one connectors sliding -- and off connectors those feelings out of battery box. Then we're going to connect to go to the UPS. And plug it it so. These two seconds plans."

" honiara emergency disk. -- ball and members of the disco ball lightning has been -- ever will power supply of -- of the battery and does the battery power it."

" The press mr. Prager we've verified that he. Power has been unplugged from the camera to power --"

" Indeed yeah. Tell you -- there's no longer receive power supply except story here yeah. It's a statement that you."

" We're gonna work on clipping the wires to that happy little how would you know alarmed that tells you this is off like full -- He is electric actors acting out of being annoying we feel that this next. UPS is running and -- Who knows how many hours at a disco ball now it's."

" Let's take a moment to thank one of our sponsors square space dot com here to tell you more is our fabulous editor -- Cia."

" Hey every COB editors this then I'm here to tell you about square space with smarter web publishing site that takes the WTF. Out of blogging square space as they fully hosted environments which means that you don't have to worry about installing any code on any server. That combined with the great template designs gotten to take advantage of their fourteen day free trial. I was up and running within an hour and that includes the complete importing of my previous blog with their import tools. And even better use the code system that SY ST am -- to get 10% off the light of your order. -- head on over to square space dot com and you won't be disappointed."

" we're back from the workshop. Stuff storage everybody's happy as though it -- let everybody else that brought him they want much longer up time on the UPS. Now if you want 48 hours worth of UPS -- time you need to figure out how much the average draw is. In my case my UPS has a 7 -- our battery that lasts about ten minutes to keep my machine up and running. Now if I want to last an hour and they need 42 it matters out of battery I want 48 hours to days and the need. 2016. Empowers so it's that's either one sat. Battery or a bunch of vendors yet I thought. Basically yet you get -- battery delivered empower -- the watt hours that you need or you connect multiple batteries in parallel in two banks of batteries. Which is generally what you see -- you know the electrical systems and our means it off degree wind or solar power homes. Now connecting two or more batters in parallel IV positive post a positive -- Negative post negative -- keeps the voltage constant this is good stuff. But it combines the capacity of all the batteries to deliver -- Now one thing you want to keep in mind this campus safety tip they all have to be of the same voltage and highly recommend option we highly recommend. There of all the same and upgrading to."

" Yes and if you do combined batteries -- remember that -- to replace the positive -- negative charging cables that opposite ends of the bank to charge all of the cells. Basically something that looks like this the reason -- that is basically. The current coming -- him the ground. The positive and you basically want them to reach in and charge all the batteries in between promote when in its just not gonna work -- cycle red at the tip. That's my -- and yes. -- never tested it to find out what that this happened we."

" Didn't have a long time I don't physics class would have kind of basically -- or not this is my summer class back in junior high. Whatever projects was to cook a hot dog with much of battery since in perilous. Yeah we should make it abundantly clear if you start putting much twelve volt batteries in parallel. 312 volt batteries in parallel a set of jumper cables and a piece of rod is enough to you. Well. Pretty basically well broking. Vehicle frames back together rubber gloves really thick rubber gloves -- well. No gloves yes but even more importantly. Is is if you do disregard. You really need to make sure that all of the posts and all of the copper in all of the connectors. On this this contraption you've put together are well insulated because -- somebody drop something back there. The will be -- spark its arc welding if you do not want to work well things in your house it is a bad. Being who do. -- well tell her -- everybody else emailed and that is the the secret of building your own -- power supply power by twelve volt battery we do not recommend you put this in your house and we recommend you take every possible safety precaution if you do. And again. One last time if you melt your face off kicked your cat -- your house program or anything else bad. Don't say we didn't warn you and tell you not to do this yes. Warning warning warning do not do this is. He really clumsy here he's just not gonna pay any attention to all the safety. Issues we've brought up because you know all fun and games until the battery tips over burns a hole through the carpet takes up the -- China. Deadbeat dad. Had that happen to boast like that there was no China just -- Tuesday floor court also."

" So -- it's not that isn't totally shell -- Alexander objective behind the scenes to fan appreciation party -- puzzle quest and accurate answer thoughts on the Oscar nominated. Graduate covers everything from movies to video -- to comic book bloody war you can -- totally -- show every Tuesday every Tuesday -- issued its mysteries. Yeah and it's house 3 PM eastern to revision3.com. Slash T."

" Our house. And there's always if you have any ideas comments or suggestions please email us at system at revision3.com. And don't forget to -- forms at revision3.com slash forum of course you can visit our archives at revision3.com. Slash system so I think that's okay -- sort of ball game routine they'll just last in the in between the revision green icon in the system maybe case. About a Norton and a Russian tank we'll see you next week on system."

" War."

" Can you make it's awful monster 48 hour honorable power supply but swapping out the tiny onboard battery for a dog pile. A car batteries find out the ins and outs of UPS hacking on this episode of system. There's ups that a system is brought to you by saying his empire total war. Square space dot com and godaddy.com. Wolf the system up."

" The Norton directory -- so few weeks ago we got an email from Ernest eroded. We have many short blackouts and brownouts you know whether it's Cisco my trusted EP CU PS's internal battery died the other day. Now can -- replace its tiny battery with a cart battery. Special last one to two just five minutes consistent do an episode on this -- SS. Do you ever have blackouts actually I've never had backed up that had brown that's where it lake. No actually I think that that I've had bouts of at least four to five hours of blackouts. And it's kind of weird because you know all. North American cities they're power lines are based on the grid man and so like one half of the street will be brightly they'll be like Las Vegas the other Apple be totally dark and partially my half of the blood is usually all the art."

" That's really -- I believe I almost never have blackouts and -- entire cities like its earliest whatever they you're you're probably your Roger. We're sorry to hear your pain down if you're not -- up on the whole UPS thing. A UPS were on -- or will power supplies a way to keep your computer running the power from the wall socket goes it's essentially a big power strip. It's gonna really fast we decided to foot from the 120 -- wall socket. To a -- provided by converter connected to a sealed battery inside yes. When the power goes out or brown outfit -- well below 120 volts. UPS powers of heat from the battery and as a suspect there's a battery charger inside the UPS to keep its batteries topped off and ready to go to."

" But generally speaking UPS decides with enough battery power so last enough you know long OC could actually turn off to computer -- saving audio files and shut it down normally. Now quite a few if you out there system and the like to have several hours because oftentimes if you're -- condition where you cannot. I'm safe right away or you just want to work a little bit longer. I don't want to work there longer. You know you want to -- games played video games you want to be able to squeeze you know couple hours a seven a couple of minutes. So one of the most interesting things out will be doing is essentially kind of hacking one of these to do just that."

" But take a moment to thank what of the sponsors today's -- system go to daddy got cop. What make an impact on line -- dot com has what you need starting at less than five bucks a month web hosting from bill that includes 99 point 9% of time. 24 sevenths support and free access to the GoDaddy hosting connection. It is deeply to quickly fell over 53 applications like word -- Drupal -- commerce quite a few more. Donated dot com make it easy to customize your virtual dedicated server -- one of three popular plans horse like your old links to windows server with all the plan options you need now. You want to hook up curious do enter the code 61 that SYS while we'll check out -- gonna scored an additional 10% off your entire border. Some experts in the -- to decide for details due to -- here system. It to be for the Internet and godaddy.com. And use that code that's -- this 15 one you're gonna be helping out the system to."

" First we got I about the whole thing. Safety upon these pictures -- a baby can play with it. -- Especially old school what an -- car batteries that it tipped over not only an hour. But -- that follow your floor before you start the project I had written. You put it out because it's boxes of baking so do you contracting out because of me do that still against it. This will neutralizing. Your -- it gets hot baking soda on the spill neutralize the -- it. That's fine if your home and you know the cat for the beat -- walk through it before you get to do it. But I haven't even mentioned the horrors of severe overcharging which at best -- wrote the battery and it works fulfill your plastic box of Athens with hi."

" And it which would happily blow up with the addition of a small spark and say -- your legs or the wife's car that's -- to house the cat your carpet. That's kind of the worst case scenario would -- acid batteries go wrong they can who really. Really wrong. And you know you know even even if it doesn't ignite some of these gases especially in just not something you want to be. -- often especially in a close and so it's one of those things you want to make sure that you have access to any of outside just in case something goes horribly horribly horribly wrong idea that well ventilated rooms are critical to this one mean there who -- to the ceiling but if the floats up to the ceiling into the cigarette -- neighborhood well you're drama for your case. So seriously if you kill your cat and -- house after permanently disfiguring your face and dropped clothes hanger across the battery terminals of the battery stuff on your death has been actually. Releasing huge amounts of hydrogen and oxygen because you've been overcharging and he is not our fault. This project can be categorized under the not really good idea you're responsible for your own stupidity if you do this."

" And then the battery in this particular UPS my UPS kind of say well let's see what happens we -- know people that money big batteries to with UPS's. Patrick -- have a big truck that -- people too -- to -- batteries out of it to experiment with. Now the chargers this UPS barely kept the battery that came with the UPS's charts. It's gonna be a bit of a talent deceiving can keep these. Charge when and when they're not pulling out Apple."

" And dolphin in theory we shouldn't have issues with overcharging like like serious overcharging we'll talk a little bit more about that later. So I mentioned earlier it's a pretty simple project right. The -- twelve volt battery if you UPS's global battery you basically you look at the UPS -- that pulling out here UPS and see what it says somewhere on merit mention it to empower capacity. And it's voltage -- more about batteries election -- later. You -- cable of the appropriate -- to go from the UPS battery connectors you battery you can pretty much. Yes by looking at the cabling inside of your battery actually is listed on the side of that cable generally speaking. Go with heavier cable if you can have your -- you'll never go wrong by using basically overspending on copper because. You know there's nothing worse than having that model film outlined. Copper certainly just bird into an all my people that is in order to go to starting a fire -- insulator. It when that happens so you're gonna need clamps or your batteries pose for sockets. The appropriate pliers and cutters to work either connectors and some -- the faith preferably fairly permanently because is that not the kind of -- you -- bouncing around your house. So ATM or absorb -- batteries -- it is contained in the basically a fiberglass and adding inside the battery. There are really good step up safety lies from sealed batteries and especially flooded let acid batteries. The cost more but it can be cheaper than several weeks in the hospital if we said it before things go wrong. A battery box is also an excellent idea for this project I think mandatory at the very least put the battery -- filled with baking -- preferably a pirate because the -- won't go through the pirates. And really discuss it -- more time well ventilated rooms only. And one last time if you burn your house down about your face off it's not our. -- right about here's a good time to remind you that car batteries are really dumb choice for this they're cheap. But they have lots of Finland planes designed for maximum service area so people say they're more like this finds that a block of land. They're designed to produce the maximum amount of -- they like thousands of two to 5% -- charges of old cold crank and amp things I think usage profile when you start your car think you have enough. And basically keep capacity TP engine right in the lights on for half an hour plus. But 3250. -- cycles will just about always kill a car battery dead dead dead. Deep cycle batteries however have big thick -- please decide to be discharged we'd like 70% thing for it over. That is good for starting your car but they are great for extended use like if you want to keep UPS up for hours now. Let's talk about serious overcharging yes let's. So this is very unlikely yet UPS with a small twelve -- 47 and battery and serious overcharging like basically putting too much power in this say. Connecting somebody's like. Is that even possible with something what it. Of this size one type of overcharging is impossible with this but you can also in the put trickle charging Internet talk about trickle charging the second. Severe -- which is basically to shoving too much average in the battery for too long again this is unlikely if you have a UPS of the small like force evidence battery. Can it best with a battery muscle cleaning the plates and at worst generate a mass of hydrogen oxygen that you suspect the whole exploding at the first spark thing. If you discharge of battery a lot bigger car batteries going to last about a year deep cycle battery will last four plus years in a super costly premium deep cycle super expensive heavier than your car battery. Is gonna last upwards of eight years. Now if you're under will power plays a six full battery you're gonna detract six volt battery or another UPS --"

" The thankfully we have here a UPS that uses a twelve volt battery. And we have our banners on hand so you know the both twelve -- now we're using him for this project so it's -- some time if you can. With the volt -- meter to find out if you're UPS is designed for triple charging or flip charging. Now -- chargers have circuitry to prevent overcharging. Battery voltage is topped off it shuts down until the voltage drops out again that way you're not. You know piling voltage on top voltage electrical charge is always charge the battery even it to ready fully charged. Potential damage from battery because you know basically boils the electric lights or -- states the -- That's bad horrible even. Now if you UPS has -- charger you don't want to connected to a car deep cycle battery if you do be prepared to replace the battery or batteries regularly. And not so yes united can just try to match it up you know these things you can find."

" News stories on Craig's list for like twenty bucks how lot of people don't realize that you can actually buy from RadioShack or Fries or best buy error or. You know battery marchers and lots of sources on the replacement batteries that -- exactly match the battery became every UPS if you want to do that. That's awesome it's pretty easy to replace you just -- cables. What new cables on big she got positive or negative right slighted back in the UPS and threw back together and you're dot. What we're doing is gonna take a little bit longer so let's cut back to the workshop."

" What effect Sega -- empire -- war for help -- bringing the show this week it's a real time tactics and turn based strategy computer games and buyer told war takes the total war franchise. Today eighteenth century. If your perpetual war -- the game. This latest installment of the award winning total war franchise -- with a host of evolutionary features including improved 3-D people combat -- cool. Due -- even if -- be able factions including the United States of America as -- let me use diplomacy exploration economic and military might have towards you or personal empire. Players control single chip for past week -- distrustful sales of both candidates must act reported -- in war. Empire total war is based on a newly created windows XP compatible -- text and graphics it just. You're an experienced real times these these dynamic weather and do advance plans because what system he is happy people to help support system by checking out Vegas and fire. Total war."

" Are open -- workshop. We got our basic pile supplies he'll get Rogers and her will power supply it's. -- each cable demands that engage people inside the power supplies the that we didn't talk my guess there -- gonna use little unlike. 15:30 am views inside there to keep -- house down. We've got spade connectors to match this we've got our battery. A couple of things we'll show you right now though. He'd be easy to stay connected to on this and moving to cable to do this and see how much he's we need. --"

" The very least -- thanks piracy dish. We'll bottomless pool of baking soda. -- The city that in there I would highly recommend with the strap around the top of this whole. Hold placed on there. Neutralize -- did mention that the battery. That said we're gonna use it battery box. Before you that was probably about picking up the battery in parallel. To -- rather than doing a lot of cutting and getting out there. Favorite crimping tools. And custom making cables is always cool -- I think he -- be simple. And you some premium battery cable. Picture. Do not cross and cables if you. Because if you do you get a really horrible. -- Don't forget to get you'll see if people just designed. Feel it's an excellent one side this dual -- had told. If you're doing your batteries a couple of things about the death. It just off a pair of terminal guards. This is essentially slide over. -- Prevent you from having one of those giant glorious sparks quickly. Here which we're doing -- it up and launch of battery he would keep them. In parallels means negative to negative and positive positive -- that. This is wonderful to that of could pull it. The front -- if you have them on there we -- grabbed we'll are commonly called marine terminals. And they combined a couple of useful bits and pieces obviously if you really that have shorter cable. -- and we what was what was available and these are gonna pop account. On here -- positive the positive. Negative to negative. Grow -- offer a quick. Because from the -- a single battery for right now. If -- powered disco ball -- or renewable electricity."

" Because we'll do that problem later. And so the cable from the battery and vascular -- out."

" never seem him before. -- of people over for human batter's box. Basically it's designed to sit on the floor. It's government led. -- too loud explosive gases -- events. And the -- are designed so that there's -- place for you can battery cables to see if we pass out. -- want to look inside the batter's boxes indeed. Couple clamps -- we don't hold this draft of the war the straps and hold off to the floor. If you want to do it before your house or apartment and so indeed being square piece of plywood -- this remember don't drill through the bottom. The battery boxes that society sealed place contained sulfuric acid from inside the battery. But basically. These kids through the have to explain it and then you. Literally -- built. That holds us together. And that's listening keep the lid coming off. They're more sophisticated batter's box is this pretty basic and if you use this draft. And the clamps to secure this to -- sheet of plywood floor it's -- be awfully hard to this thing over and damage things -- house at this point starts to get really simple. Plus of course you've misplaced your water. Okay -- millions who like to apologize for using brave people my negative connection on the cover of black people. But this have have a whole lot of the -- We're gonna use of appropriate size ring terminals to connect. Car. Extension cables if you. -- battery cables. I -- well we'll just hearing the Senate. If we felt we had sort of taking great connector it. Against our B connectors. Page one connectors sliding -- and off connectors those feelings out of battery box. Then we're going to connect to go to the UPS. And plug it it so. These two seconds plans."

" honiara emergency disk. -- ball and members of the disco ball lightning has been -- ever will power supply of -- of the battery and does the battery power it."

" The press mr. Prager we've verified that he. Power has been unplugged from the camera to power --"

" Indeed yeah. Tell you -- there's no longer receive power supply except story here yeah. It's a statement that you."

" We're gonna work on clipping the wires to that happy little how would you know alarmed that tells you this is off like full -- He is electric actors acting out of being annoying we feel that this next. UPS is running and -- Who knows how many hours at a disco ball now it's."

" Let's take a moment to thank one of our sponsors square space dot com here to tell you more is our fabulous editor -- Cia."

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" we're back from the workshop. Stuff storage everybody's happy as though it -- let everybody else that brought him they want much longer up time on the UPS. Now if you want 48 hours worth of UPS -- time you need to figure out how much the average draw is. In my case my UPS has a 7 -- our battery that lasts about ten minutes to keep my machine up and running. Now if I want to last an hour and they need 42 it matters out of battery I want 48 hours to days and the need. 2016. Empowers so it's that's either one sat. Battery or a bunch of vendors yet I thought. Basically yet you get -- battery delivered empower -- the watt hours that you need or you connect multiple batteries in parallel in two banks of batteries. Which is generally what you see -- you know the electrical systems and our means it off degree wind or solar power homes. Now connecting two or more batters in parallel IV positive post a positive -- Negative post negative -- keeps the voltage constant this is good stuff. But it combines the capacity of all the batteries to deliver -- Now one thing you want to keep in mind this campus safety tip they all have to be of the same voltage and highly recommend option we highly recommend. There of all the same and upgrading to."

" Yes and if you do combined batteries -- remember that -- to replace the positive -- negative charging cables that opposite ends of the bank to charge all of the cells. Basically something that looks like this the reason -- that is basically. The current coming -- him the ground. The positive and you basically want them to reach in and charge all the batteries in between promote when in its just not gonna work -- cycle red at the tip. That's my -- and yes. -- never tested it to find out what that this happened we."

" Didn't have a long time I don't physics class would have kind of basically -- or not this is my summer class back in junior high. Whatever projects was to cook a hot dog with much of battery since in perilous. Yeah we should make it abundantly clear if you start putting much twelve volt batteries in parallel. 312 volt batteries in parallel a set of jumper cables and a piece of rod is enough to you. Well. Pretty basically well broking. Vehicle frames back together rubber gloves really thick rubber gloves -- well. No gloves yes but even more importantly. Is is if you do disregard. You really need to make sure that all of the posts and all of the copper in all of the connectors. On this this contraption you've put together are well insulated because -- somebody drop something back there. The will be -- spark its arc welding if you do not want to work well things in your house it is a bad. Being who do. -- well tell her -- everybody else emailed and that is the the secret of building your own -- power supply power by twelve volt battery we do not recommend you put this in your house and we recommend you take every possible safety precaution if you do. And again. One last time if you melt your face off kicked your cat -- your house program or anything else bad. Don't say we didn't warn you and tell you not to do this yes. Warning warning warning do not do this is. He really clumsy here he's just not gonna pay any attention to all the safety. Issues we've brought up because you know all fun and games until the battery tips over burns a hole through the carpet takes up the -- China. Deadbeat dad. Had that happen to boast like that there was no China just -- Tuesday floor court also."

" So -- it's not that isn't totally shell -- Alexander objective behind the scenes to fan appreciation party -- puzzle quest and accurate answer thoughts on the Oscar nominated. Graduate covers everything from movies to video -- to comic book bloody war you can -- totally -- show every Tuesday every Tuesday -- issued its mysteries. Yeah and it's house 3 PM eastern to revision3.com. Slash T."

" Our house. And there's always if you have any ideas comments or suggestions please email us at system at revision3.com. And don't forget to -- forms at revision3.com slash forum of course you can visit our archives at revision3.com. Slash system so I think that's okay -- sort of ball game routine they'll just last in the in between the revision green icon in the system maybe case. About a Norton and a Russian tank we'll see you next week on system."

haku

Started discussion: March 2, 2009 @ 3:17pm GMT

Episode 93 - UPS + Car Battery = More Computing (Or a 48hr Disco Ball?!) [Discussion]

UPS Hack! Take the tiny battery out of your Uninteruptible Power Supply and replace it with a car battery: you get to run your UPS for a lot longer, and potentially melt your face!

Watch or download here


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This is much more like it! back to messing with wires, solder & power :)
Waiting for it to finish downloading but have to say I've already tried hooking up my 70Ah deep cycle battery to my little APC UPS which has a (now dead) 5Ah battery, I found the software side of the APC couldn't make head or tales of the actual battery capacity of the 70Ah one so when the monitoring cable was plugged into a computer it tried to shut itself down every couple of minutes.

Reason I tested it was because I intend to have a permanent setup along those lines, the UPS battery mainly being charged by solar and configured so when the battery runs low it switches on the grid mains - ending up with an uninterruptable mains power supply which is mostly (hopefully) supplemented by solar power.


edit: I hope you're not actually using a car battery! they don't like being deep discharged, it kinda kills them

Digital69
11 months ago

UPS Madness

Well with 10 deep cycle marine batteries you can stay up for a very long time :).

I am glad Pat and Rog went over safety while doing this. I made a platform outside with wood and a porch type cover over mine. This is was done because a battery shouldn't be in a house. I run 4ga into the house and to a panel I made with car stereo fuse blocks. I am also fused on the batter side as well with a barrel 100amp fuse.

This was all done for safety. From my inside fuse blocks I can power anything 12volt. I also have a line sent over to my ups of course. I have ungodly up time when the power goes poof.

Charging is done by a hyped up car charger with dial a watt. I can pick the voltage and amperage. This is not a cheap unit but to save the batteries it was a must. You can still use like a car charger but make sure you drain the batteries down then use like a 10amp charge. A Volt meter is a must. Not only for when to charge but to let you know how things are going. I picked up a digital one from summit racing for 30 bucks.

So far these batteries have lasted almost 4 years no issues. Still stay alive forever when power is out. One other thing to think of for extended outages. If your like me and live in the woods to be out for a day is nothing. But my setup is in a space I can pull my truck up to and charge as well. I also can use a generator as well to recharge them during long outages. I still like using my batteries over plugging into a generator because the voltage is cleaner from the UPS.

Remember again. Bad things can happen when doing this. There is no such thing as to much safety. Double fuse double check. Watch your voltage. Nothing good will happen with a battery blowing a top. Might be funny to watch a fail like Christin Bale do it but a battery is way more manly.

Twitter.com/emyst
haku
11 months ago
My first real introduction to using high amperage 12v batteries was a couple of years ago when I built a test rig for someone (their plans & guidance) which used 4 80Ah deep cycle batteries, the batteries were wired into a bank of big switches which then connected to externally controlled contactors and then to resistors the size of roman candles (when turned on they got hot & started smoking after about 30 seconds), it was to test battery power drainage & charging.

Nothing went wrong with the build but it sure taught me to treat large batteries with respect. Crimping the cables was fun, I'd never used a crimping tool the size of bolt cutters before :)


This episode was good and as Digital69 pointed out, glad Pat & Rog over-stressed the importance of safety.

Is there any way of measuring wether a particular UPS trickle charges or float charges it's battery? From my limited experience with my 70Ah battery + solar panel + charge controller I know the charge controller will take care of the battery because it monitors the voltage and will float charge to keep it from over-charging, and that the voltage is just above 14v during float charging.
tjpeople
11 months ago

Green Screen

System goes green screen. Any reason, has the set gone?

(edit - i see it happened last week too)
realitynine
11 months ago

solar ups

I had a similar idea, connecting the UPS to a car battery, but also connecting the main power of the ups to a battery. I have not done the math on how long the battery would power the main power for UPS which in turn would power the computer. I do believe using a laptop will consume less power. Have you thought of powering/recharging the battery with a dual-power input solar/and wind. There are some really cool plans including using used parts to make the wind/electric generator. I have attached diagram that shows yellow lines for power on a daily basis. The blue lines are the the system when a brown-out or lose of power are the environment.
fishtoprecords
11 months ago
Did you get new cameras or lights? The image in this show is much better.
Digital69
11 months ago
In reply to realitynine:
I had a similar idea, connecting the UPS to a car battery, but also connecting the main power of the ups to a battery. I have not done the math on how long the battery would power the main power for UPS which in turn would power the computer. I do believe using a laptop will consume less power. Have you thought of powering/recharging the battery with a dual-power input solar/and wind. There are some really cool plans including using used parts to make the wind/electric generator. I have attached diagram that shows yellow lines for power on a daily basis. The blue lines are the the system when a brown-out or lose of power are the environment.


Go to Costco and pick up the solar panels made to charge your car battery or RV. takes out a lot of hassle. Only problem with out a few of these panels you will be a very low amp charge aka trickle...

But if you had like two per battery then it will be more than just trickle. Some of them have built in circuits to cut off charge. But I think to make one would be better so the voltage is higher.

For people running inverters and not UPS can do the battery deal as well but I have found its better to stack 8 volt batteries in series and parallel to make 16 volts is better. Since most inverters will shut down at 10.5 volts. A cheap array would be two wired in parallel so + to - and then pull the main from + on one bat and - from the other bat. This will give you 16volts. Now if you had 4 of them you can wire a the other two the same then take the two main + and tap them and then the two - and tap those. now you will have 16volts double the amps. (dont do this unless you really know what the heck you are doing)
fishtoprecords
11 months ago
Another warning that Patrick and Roger forgot (you didn't think they were complete)

If you live in SF, you can probably put the battery outside. But batteries don't like being frozen. So if you live in an area where it gets cold, outside is not gonna work.

They also don't like really hot areas, like in the sun in Phoenix in the summer.
Digital69
11 months ago
In reply to fishtoprecords:
Another warning that Patrick and Roger forgot (you didn't think they were complete)

If you live in SF, you can probably put the battery outside. But batteries don't like being frozen. So if you live in an area where it gets cold, outside is not gonna work.

They also don't like really hot areas, like in the sun in Phoenix in the summer.


Well there is truth and vodoo in that. I live in the cold and snow. My 10 deep cycle batteries are outside and like right now its 28f outside. Now the voltage is up you do loose some amperage. But this low of a load it doesn't touch it that much. Unlike a car that needs 300 to 600 amps to start it. This will draw maybe 15 to 20 amps.

So till your talking Alaska and they already know how to deal with cold I wouldn't worry much about outside temp.

Two weeks ago I had to clear the snow off mine. The snow can't get on the tops but it can make a wall around my setup.
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