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Polls Poll Question: What Type of UPS are Currently Using: Battery or Ultracapacitor?
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  • Author Author: rscasny
  • Date Created: 23 Sep 2020 8:30 PM Date Created
  • Last Updated Last Updated: 23 Sep 2020 8:30 PM
  • Views 182 views
  • Likes 1 like
  • Comments 13 comments
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Poll Question: What Type of UPS are Currently Using: Battery or Ultracapacitor?

According to our tech spotlight, Tech Spotlight: The Difference between an Ultracapacitor UPS and a Battery UPS, ultracapacitors have emerged as a new alternative for batteries in UPS systems. Ultracapacitor, also known as a supercapacitor, is a term referencing a family of high-capacitance devices which combine the properties of batteries and capacitors in a single device. In many ways, an ultracapacitor is simply a larger capacitor with bigger electrode plates and less distance between them, allowing for a higher charge to be stored in the form of electrical potential energy.

 

Ultracapacitor-based UPS is a relatively new alternative to the battery-based UPS systems. Ultracapacitor UPS is specifically designed for the industrial network and solves the challenges that plague battery-based UPS devices. They are ideal devices for bridging short power outages, lasting less than a minute.

 

Poll Question: What Type of UPS are Currently Using: Battery or Ultracapacitor?

  • ultracapacitor ups
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Top Comments

  • jw0752
    jw0752 over 1 year ago +6

    I have 5 UPSs in my home all modified to run on full sized car batteries. I buy the UPS units as junk from the local electronics scrap dealer for next to nothing and then I modify and use them with an…

  • jw0752
    jw0752 over 1 year ago in reply to koudelad +5

    Hi David,

     

    When I make modifications they have to be fairly simple. On the UPS systems I generally removed the original battery and extend the cabling so that it will reach the car battery(s) that are going…

  • jw0752
    jw0752 over 1 year ago in reply to koudelad +3

    Yes it is important to match charging systems to the proper batteries. If I was going to try to put a Li-Ion battery on one of these units for example I would probably disable the internal charger and…

  • wolfgangfriedrich
    wolfgangfriedrich 6 months ago in reply to dougw

    Of course it is. Those are the obvious connection points. Don't try this at home.

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  • dougw
    dougw 6 months ago in reply to wolfgangfriedrich

    Is that like a steel handle connected to the terminals - a dead short???

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  • wolfgangfriedrich
    wolfgangfriedrich 6 months ago

    I have a failed project on the shelf, using the MAXIM MAX38888 chip for a "Circuit UPS" with supercaps.

    The issue was, that the chip blew up very easily, sometimes just by trying to measure the supercap voltage with a DMM.

     

    I have to re-visit that one, the idea was really cool. The supercap charges during normal operation and when the rail drops, the charger reversed direction and the supercap became the supply for the rail. Was supposed to work for 3.3V and 5V systems. There is a new MAX38889, maybe it is more robust.

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  • wolfgangfriedrich
    wolfgangfriedrich 6 months ago in reply to jw0752

    Do you have a proper car battery handle?

     

    Found on the MEP slack channel.

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  • Marmotus_ee
    Marmotus_ee over 1 year ago

    I don't currently have a UPS as I rely on my laptop's battery for that purpose. My town is at the end of a long, non-redundant transmission line and power outages are common during the winter. I can survive the 15-minute variety without backup, but when it stretches into hours it becomes a problem.

     

    I have been investigating building a UPS to power some things for the 15-minute outages, but a gasoline/diesel/propane generator is the only viable option for powering everything needed for multiple-hour outages.

     

    I just did a quick calculation and the cost of storage using ultracapacitors is absurd. A single 2200 mAh NiMH AA cell provides roughly 2 watt-hours for under $5 and that's far from the cheapest option. 2 watt-hours with ultracapacitors requires multiple units and a total cost of around $50. They simply do not make sense unless you have a very specific situation that only they can fill.

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  • jw0752
    jw0752 over 1 year ago in reply to koudelad

    Yes it is important to match charging systems to the proper batteries. If I was going to try to put a Li-Ion battery on one of these units for example I would probably disable the internal charger and use a dedicated external Li-Ion charger for the battery. I forgot to mention that I also like to disable the Beep Beep Beep if the unit is equipped with this questionable feature.

     

    John

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  • koudelad
    koudelad over 1 year ago in reply to jw0752

    Thank you, John.

     

    I was afraid there were some charging circuit modifications necessary. Chargers for other battery chemistries usually have some charging timeout to prevent charging a damaged battery for unlimited time.

    I am now experimenting with charging a smaller Pb accumulator using a wall adapter-like charger and it also looks simple enough that it can charge forever.

     

    David

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  • jw0752
    jw0752 over 1 year ago in reply to koudelad

    Hi David,

     

    When I make modifications they have to be fairly simple. On the UPS systems I generally removed the original battery and extend the cabling so that it will reach the car battery(s) that are going to be used. I also like to incorporate a digital voltmeter and perhaps an Ammeter so that I can monitor the battery condition and power usage. Here are pictures of the units I have in 4 of the 5 locations.

     

    Unit in my lab for the computer

     

    24 Volt system for the TV and Stereo                         Unit for the WiFi modem and router                               Unit for the Office Computer

     

    I try to use AGM type batteries as they are better suited to the charging systems in the UPC APC units. The larger capacity of the automotive batteries can give me from one to several hours of extended use depending on what I am doing. The only downside is that where power failures used to be a bummer I now look forward to them with the glee inherent in feeling like I have beaten the system.

     

    John

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  • koudelad
    koudelad over 1 year ago

    Ultracapacitors might be useful for some environments, but I am not aware of any usage in automotive.

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  • koudelad
    koudelad over 1 year ago in reply to jw0752

    May I ask you, what kind of modifications you do, John? It sounds very interesting...

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