On 21 Aug 2003 13:08:34 GMT, Ignoramus27013
>>Thanks to all for your suggestions. I decided to proceed with my
>>plan of using my 1.4KVA UPS in conjunction with 12VDC input
>>from my truck's alternator as one of my backup power solutions. (the
>>other is fixing my diesel generator).
><SNIP>
>
> Best of luck. Please post your results. Do you have a multimeter?
> I'd be interested in particular in the voltage that ends up across the > UPS battery.
I put it together today. Added a nice isolator switch (thanks Gunner). So now the UPS can be fed with 12 volts either from a battery, or from the truck. I have tested it. The internal battery seems to be in poor condition, which now explains why they threw the UPS away. But I do not care much as I can get 12VDC from external sources. I bought too few cable lugs and therefore could not properly connect it to a running engine. I connected it to a deep cycle battery lying in my garage. Then I powered up the UPS without being connected to the power grid. It started up and gave current on its outlets.
Tomorrow or soon I will buy two more cable lugs, will make nice disconnects for the pickup, and will try to put some sort of a load on it, maybe my space heater or my 500 watt worklight something or that sort.
It was not without trouble. When it was powered by AC and I connected the cables to the deep cycle battery, something blew inside the UPS. I suspect that what blew was some electronic piece responsible for battery charging. So now the UPS does not charge its battery. I do not care much about it however, as I can always use a trickle charger. Everything else works.
i