UPS help

[bluntbill]

I'm thinking about buying an UPS but I don't know what to choose from.

I have a limited budget of about 250€, and I wanted something that could deliver at least 450W.

I would also like an UPS where i could swap batteries during operation or connect extra batteries externally so during a long downtime i can keep the UPS alive.

Thank you for your help

 

[FredWagner]

You're talking expensive models of UPS to get the added battery power. You might consider a small UPS with limited battery power, and a small portable generator (like people might use for camping or light construction) with a similar power rating.

Fred Wagner

 

[bluntbill]

Thanks for your tip.

Can you suggest any generator?

and by the way, how does that work? does the generator have a switch that turns it on when the electricity fails? or is the UPS supposed to send a signal to the generator? or am I supposed to be next to the generator when electricity fails to turn it on?

Thank you again

 

[FredWagner]

An expensive system will have a generator which is remotely started by the UPS when its batteries get low. You're talking something to run a local government Emergency Communications center or the like.
For your budget, look at small portable generators (500w or 600w) at camping supply stores - Honda is a likely manufacturer - generators that small are going to have engines like motor scooters, but quieter. YOU are going to be the control system. Know how much time you have on battery, and before it shuts down, start the generator, recharge the UPS. More batteries will give you more time between generator runs. You might do better to just have lots of batteries, charge them from a generator or solar panels. You need to analyze just what situation you're planning for, how long it will last, how much you have to spend. Check with some local disaster preparedness groups. Here in the USA we have Amateur Radio Emergency Services (bottom up, not government affiliated - helps hospitals and the like) and Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service - which is government affiliated for disaster planning and response.
Check on the web and at local radio and camping stores over there in Euro country for local resources and product ideas!

Fred Wagner, KQ6Q (see

http://www.hdscs.org

for the ARES organization I'm with)

Fred Wagner