Converting a UPS to use deep cycle marine batteries

[EL34]

My favorite UPS died and so I gave it a face lift

It now runs with two 12volt deep cycle marine batteries for a huge run time

Details and pics on this page
http://www.el34world.com/Misc/home/UPSConversion.htm

[jjasilli]

Great idea.  Hope it works out over time.

[EL34]

I have a digital ammeter that I am going to install in line so I can see what's going on with the batteries

these two batteries are overkill for sure, but I already had them.

some smaller sized deep cycles would work out fine

seems the batteries they install in these things are pretty crappy

I have had several die over the years and it's always the same battery brand

 

[Ritchie200]

How many hours do you think you will have?!

Jim

[EL34]

hard to say
This UPS services so many devices  and I am not sure what the total draw is.

Normally what I do during a power outage is to finish up my work on the main business computer and then shut it down
I'll turn off the printers also

I can always fire the main computer back up, handle any orders that came in and shut it down again
the main computer is an 8 core machine with a wide screen monitor and so it would be a power hog

That only leaves routers, modems, phone system and a network hard drive that all the computers can access
Should be able to get a couple days out of those few items if it ever was off that long
Several years ago the power was off for several days and that sucked.
No heat and no hot water

This summer I put in an emergency backup propane heater in my house and a portable on demand propane water heater
My buildings are all heat pumps and so if the power goes off, I got no heat

I also converted my generator to propane and I can use 100 pound tanks for all the propane devices now
The generator runs like butter on propane compared to gasoline

The genertor can operate the fridge, freezer a computer, my water well and maybe a couple lights

[Ritchie200]

You said no water?  Are you on a well?  (oops!  Just saw that you are!)  If so, be careful using a gen on the well.  I've talked to several well guys (drillers/installers) who are convinced that undersized generators, or generators with too much load on them when the pump kicks on, will toast the well pump.  

Sounds like you are good to go now.  I've got a wood furnace backup that is paralleled in the ductwork with my main furnace/ac and it takes next to nothing to run the blower on that thing.  I was actually thinking about rigging up a solar panel/battery/converter setup just for that.  Or dump the converter and swap out the blower motor for a 12v or 24v system.  There are some pretty cool pellet stove/furnaces out there too.....  If its real cold out, it takes a lot to keep the house warm with just a stand alone in the middle of a room.  Watch Craigslist for a big propane tank, you will be surprised how cheap you can find them.  Watch the gas prices and fill it when it's cheap.  If it sits, who cares, you own the tank.  A 500 gallon tank will run that generator for a long time!

Jim

[EL34]

Thanks for the tip on the well pump
I usually turn on the pump, let my 40 gallon pressure tank fill and then turn off the pump

As far as large propane tanks go it won't work out
They want minimum usage contracts for propane which is about 50 gallons a year
There's no way I would use 50 gallons of propane a years
And most places want to rent you the tank or they won't come out and fill it if it is not theirs

The portable 100 pound tanks work great for the several locations I need propane
I can get them for $180 new and filled locally and you can take them several places to get them filled

One 100 pound tank may last 5 years or more if we don't have bad winters

If it gets down into the lower 20's I kick on a ventless propane heater to help out the heat pump

[PRR]

> They want minimum usage contracts for propane which is about 50 gallons a year

I use over 100 pounds propane twice a year. Water-heater.

Oh, wait... 50 _gallons_ is more like 300 pounds. More than a year-worth for me.

I had not yet bothered to know what tank is what. There's the 20-pounders racked outside Home-Depot. There's a 250-pounder(?) for my water-heater. Monster pigs behind the pizza-parlor.

> 100 pound tanks ... you can take them several places to get them filled

Now that's interesting. The guy with his name on the big tank is not real good about topping-off, or billing. I think it is his side-job.

I've thought about calling a bigger operator, but I didn't know the etiquette of that.

There _is_ a 100-pounder plumbed to the big tank. I asked the previous owner "why?" and he was evasive.

I bet he was getting propane somewhere else when he was behind in paying his bill to the regular guy.

> I can get them for $180 new

Lowes:
Worthington Pro Grade 100 lbs Propane Tank
$129.00
http://www.lowes.com/pd_28370-743-303953_0__

Tractor Supply Co.:
Propane Cylinder Equipped with POL Valve, 100 lb.
$129.99 
http://www.tractorsupply.com/manchester-tank-equipment-steel-dot-vertical-liquid-propane-cylinder-equipped-with-pol-valve-100-lb--4430223

[EL34]

That's $180 for new tanked filled

Propane is around 4.231 pounds per gallon so
100 pounds would be 23.63 gallons
Not sure what the current per gallon fillup rate is

For $60 more than a new empty tank I paid $2.53 per gallon
$60 / 23.63 gallons = $2.53

I think they give you reduced rates on the home deliver fills ups for the really big tanks
Not so much when you go to fill up a 20 pound barbeque grille tank which is only around 4.72 gallons

Curious what the per gallon price is on home deliveries for you guys with the big tanks?

[PRR]

> Propane is around 4.231 pounds per gallon

Ooops! I always forget how thin propane is.

> per gallon price is on home deliveries for you guys with the big tanks?

26 Nov 2012: 22.9 gallons at $3.20/gal $73.28

[PRR]

I may be paying too much. (Tho Glen recommended this guy, and Glen is cheap.) Or maybe the price has dropped.

http://www.maine.gov/energy/fuel_prices/index.shtml
"The {Maine} Governor’s Energy Office conducted its weekly heating fuel price survey on Tuesday, January 29, 2013 ...Propane prices increased only one cent from last week, to $2.73 per gallon. Propane prices continue to be much lower than last year."

[EL34]

I think they quoted me around $64 to refill my 100 pounder and that was about 3 months ago
It was brand new at the time and I probably won't have to refill it for a couple years at the rate I use propane

That seems awful cheap per gallon to me

I was gonna pickup another new 100 pounder to have on hand for the generator
I have a couple 20 pounders on hand for the grill and the generator

Propane is a great fuel, you can store it forever without it going bad
I am impressed how nice and smooth the generator runs on propane
The conversion kit was worth it