Old uninterruptible power supplies for a computer. UPS for personal computers: types, characteristics, recommendations

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A UPS is a very profitable device. As long as it works, the user has no problems with power supply. But the functionality of this device does not end there. The simplest modification of an uninterruptible power supply makes it possible to create on its basis such devices as a converter, power supply and charging.

How to convert an uninterruptible power supply into a 12/220 V voltage converter

A voltage converter (inverter) converts 12-volt direct current into alternating current, simultaneously increasing the voltage to 220 volts. The average cost of such a device is 60-70 US dollars. However, even owners of worn-out uninterruptible power supplies with a battery start function have a very real chance of getting a working converter for virtually nothing. To do this you need to do the following:

Open the UPS case.

Dismantle the battery by removing two wires from the storage terminals - red (to positive) and black (to negative).

Remove the speaker - a sound signaling device similar to a centimeter washer.

Solder a fuse to the red wire. Most designers recommend using 5 amp fuses.

Connect the fuse to the “input” contact of the UPS - the socket where the cable connecting the uninterruptible power supply to the socket was inserted.

Connect the black wire to the free contact of the “input” socket.

Take a standard cable to connect the UPS to the outlet and cut off the plug. Connect the connector to the input socket and determine the wire colors corresponding to the red and black contacts.

Connect the wire from the red contact to the positive of the battery, and from the black to the negative.

Turn on the UPS.

Eaton 5P 1150i UPS internals

This transformation is allowed only by uninterruptible power supplies with a battery start function. That is, the UPS must initially be able to turn on from, without connecting to an outlet.

If the UPS has a standard outlet, 220 volts can be removed from its contacts. If there is no such outlet, it will be replaced by an extension cord connected to the “output” socket of the uninterruptible power supply. The extension plug is removed, after which the wires are soldered to the contacts of the “output” socket.

The main disadvantages of such converters:

The recommended operating time for such an inverter is up to 20 minutes, since UPSs are not designed for long-term battery operation. However, this drawback can be eliminated by embedding a computer fan operating from 12 V into the UPS case.
Lack of battery charge controller. The user will have to periodically check the voltage at the drive terminals. To eliminate this drawback, you can embed a regular automotive relay into the design of the converter by soldering the red wire behind the fuse to pin 87. If connected correctly, such a relay will turn off the power supply when the battery voltage drops below 12 volts.

How to make a power supply from an uninterruptible power supply

In this case, of the entire design of the uninterruptible power supply, only . Therefore, the user who decides to remake the UPS in this way will have to either gut the entire UPS, leaving only the housing and transformer, or remove this part and prepare a separate housing for it. Then proceed according to the following plan:

Using an ohmmeter, the winding with the highest resistance is determined. Typical colors are black and white. These wires will be the input to the power supply. If the transformer remains in the UPS, then this step can be skipped - the entrance to the homemade power supply in this case will be the “input” socket at the end of the UPS, connecting the device to the socket.

Next, an alternating current of 220 volts is supplied to the transformer. After this, the voltage is removed from the remaining contacts, looking for a pair with a potential difference of up to 15 volts. Typical colors are white and yellow. These wires will be the output from the power supply.

The input to the power supply is formed from wires on one side of the core. The output from the block is formed from wires located on the opposite side.

A diode bridge is installed at the output of the power supply.

Consumers are connected to the contacts of the diode bridge.

Transformer

The typical voltage at the output of the transformer is up to 15 V, but it will drop after connecting it to a homemade load power supply. The designer of such a device will have to select the output voltage through experimentation. Therefore, the practice of using a UPS transformer as the basis of a power supply for a computer is far from the best idea.

Converting an uninterruptible power supply for charging

In this case, a minimal transformation similar to that described in the paragraph above is not needed. After all, the uninterruptible power supply has its own battery, which is charged as needed. As a result, to turn the UPS into a charger you need to do the following:

Locate the primary and secondary circuit of the transformer. This process is described in the paragraph above.

Supply 220 volts to the primary circuit by inserting a voltage regulator into the circuit - as such, you can use a rheostat for light bulbs, replacing a traditional switch.

The regulator will help calibrate the voltage on the output winding in the range from 0 to 14-15 volts. The place where the regulator is inserted is in front of the primary winding.

Connect a 40-50 ampere diode bridge to the secondary winding of the transformer.

Connect the terminals of the diode bridge to the corresponding poles of the battery.

The battery charge level is monitored by its indicator or voltmeter.

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For any question you can use this form.

In order to decide for yourself whether an uninterruptible power supply is needed at all or not, you should think carefully about what power problems may occur when working on a computer:

All currently existing UPS systems for computers are divided into three groups. Uninterruptible power supplies from different groups differ from each other in some properties, the presence or absence of certain functions, etc.

Something else to remember is that it's frustrating when your computer immediately shuts down when the power goes out for even a few seconds. When it comes to buying the right uninterruptible power supply for your data center, size matters.

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And it has become so that “more is better” is usually taken for granted.

How to choose a UPS for your computer

After the user has learned about the existence of such devices and got to know them better, he may want to purchase a power supply for himself. But in order to buy, you must first carefully weigh the pros and cons" and decide whether the user really needs this device. After a positive answer, you should understand UPS better so as not to get into an unpleasant situation or waste more money than originally expected.

First we need to understand the terminology. Power factor is defined as the ratio of "real force" to "apparent power", but this is not a technical article, so that's all we're going to say on the subject. But it's the watt figure that matters to today's data centers, so we can accept the mystery.

We need to understand that this thing called power factor is rarely 0, except for incandescent light bulbs, heaters, and toasters. It is usually less than 0 and never greater, so watts are usually less than volt-amps. With better power factors it's even less, which is why we said the error isn't a big deal unless you have a lot of hardware.

The power of the uninterruptible power supply (VA) must be equal to the connected load(BT) and the resulting value is divided by 0.7.

It is very important to note that sellers may confuse VA and W, which may cause a discrepancy in the buyer's calculations and the seller's recommendations. If we assume that the buyer follows the lead of the seller who made such a common mistake, then he will have to be content with an uninterruptible power supply, the power of which will be significantly less than expected by about 1.4 times, which can subsequently cause problems, not to mention a spoiled mood.

Utilities regularly summarize the reasons for any power outages in their newsletter or regular reports. Causes range from everything in the list above to animals getting into transformers and other components. Whether the power outage occurs for a few seconds or several days, work must continue. And they must do this continuously and consistently.

Reasons vary, but disruptions raise concerns about how projects will be completed on time and on budget. Every business and household needs lights, heat, equipment and other essentials to thrive. Without power, trauma, loss, damage and reduced income become unnecessary.

conclusions

Uninterruptible power supplies are devices that can help users in their work on personal computers. In addition to the power maintenance function, some uninterruptible power supply models carry out control function monitoring voltage and preventing breakdowns. It can be stated that uninterruptible power supplies can prolong the operation of a personal computer and protect it from the adverse effects of power supply problems.

Now imagine another scenario where there is a power outage. In the event of a long-term outage, it allows plenty of time to convert to an alternative power source. Imagine that your building is a building that continues to hum despite the circumstances, and the people inside it experience calm rather than chaos.

What are uninterruptible power systems?

And with a complete system, you can remove "power failure" from your list of problems. Technology continues to improve as the importance of conserving power for essential systems and operations becomes more and more important. Many people don't realize how much the data-driven world has changed overall energy needs, as the Internet and big data in general continue to drive demand for cleaner, more reliable electricity. Energy surges, spikes or dips cause fluctuations and disturbances that can adversely affect your equipment and your data, so systems provide a clean, consistent and continuous flow of power that protects against these effects.

No one is immune from the unpleasant consequences of various power failures. This can happen to any user of personal computers. But problems can be eliminated by having an uninterruptible power supply, which will perform a protection function and get rid of troubles.

Choosing an uninterruptible power supply is not so difficult, but this process cannot be called definitely easy. The fact is that all the characteristics of uninterruptible power supplies are not so easy to fit in your head, and not everyone can figure it out. But in principle, if you remember the main important functions of uninterruptible power supplies, you will be able to choose a device that is suitable specifically for a specific personal computer.

Generally speaking, an uninterruptible power supply system can be anything from a small black box that sits somewhere next to your desk and protects your personal computer from megaton, megawatt models capable of running a large business. Power Outage Protection Provide sufficient power during short interruptions and “drive time” to convert to backup power. Include a backup power source for long-term outages such as generators. Review the quality of power as it enters the building, office, and equipment. . You'll typically find battery-based systems in smaller operations such as a home computer or office, as well as flywheel configurations in larger systems used to power larger facilities.

Purchasing an uninterruptible power supply for your personal computer will allow the user to avoid problems that are most often associated with failures in power supply networks. If a problem occurs, the uninterruptible power supply will be able to switch to battery power, which will prolong the operation of the computer. This will allow the user avoid potential problems with data corruption or loss.

There are enough manufacturers of uninterruptible power supplies for computers, but you shouldn’t rack your brains and choose a device from a specific manufacturer from the entire expanse of the presented assortment. This does not justify the effort and nerve expended. There is no need to conduct a deep comparative analysis, since essentially all models of uninterruptible power supply systems that have similar characteristics cost the same and work approximately the same.

UPS are indispensable assistants to users who perform a huge amount of work and whose activities are inextricably linked with the computer. You can rely on the illusory quality of power supply networks and their uninterrupted operation, but it is better to be practical and once again play it safe.

Unfortunately, interruptions sometimes occur in our electrical networks, and in such situations it is necessary to protect expensive equipment from overloads. In addition, in such cases it is important to save information on the computer from irretrievable loss. For this purpose, there are uninterruptible power supplies, abbreviated as UPS. Today we will talk about how to choose a good UPS for a computer, and what is important about this device. There is a huge amount of similar equipment on the market, and if you decide to read this article, it means you can’t decide on the final option. Good power supplies for a computer today can be produced using a variety of technologies. Depending on the purpose for which you use the computer, you need to choose this equipment.

Types

First, it’s worth talking about the main types of uninterruptible power supplies for a computer, of which there are three options on the market.

Reserve

Backup UPSs are the most primitive in terms of design. They differ in that they respond to a power supply delay of 10 ms. At this point, switching to the battery occurs. Such budget computer power supplies are suitable for private home use only if you do not have any problems with power outages. There is no voltage stabilizer, which means that during any interruption the device will switch to the battery, which has a detrimental effect on its service life.

Linear interactive

Line-interactive computer power supplies solve this problem. In the event of voltage surges in the network, they are automatically adjusted to the existing current level. This significantly increases the service life of the device. In terms of price-quality ratio, power supplies for a computer of this type are considered the best.

Online

The best, but most expensive, are online UPS. they react to a voltage drop in the network instantly. The operating principle of this type is the double conversion of incoming electricity. First, the rectifier converts AC voltage to DC voltage. Then the inverter converts it back into AC. But unlike backup and interactive ones, the computer and other devices constantly receive energy from the online one, and electricity with a pure sine wave, equalized by voltage. This device constantly responds to changes in current and transmits this information to the computer.

Main settings

Here we will look at the main criteria for devices that will help you make your choice. It will also be possible to understand exactly what parameters affect the cost of equipment.

Power

Power is considered one of the main characteristics of any UPS for a computer. If the total power of the computer exceeds the power of an inexpensive computer device, this may lead to the latter failing or causing constant reboots. Be sure to pay attention to this parameter before purchasing. You need to know how much power your personal computer and all the peripheral devices connected to it consume. To determine this indicator for uninterruptible power supplies, it is worth multiplying the available total value by 1.4. It is precisely this power reserve that is needed for this device.

Battery life

This parameter is approximately the same for most budget UPSs for computers. Battery life is approximately 5-8 minutes. This is often enough to save all applications and shut down the operating system in the correct mode. For those who use their PC resources to the maximum, this may not be enough. Fortunately, some manufacturers offer models whose battery life increases to 15-20 minutes. Of course, you can increase the battery capacity yourself and make it better. To achieve this, manufacturers are releasing additional batteries onto the market. By using them, the required timing characteristics can be achieved.

Software

Many of today's best UPSs for computers come with special programs that allow you to save statistics files on the operation of the device. If a person is not at home, the equipment will independently save all working information on the hard drive. This is a very useful option, the presence of which you need to pay attention to when purchasing.

Number of connectors

Inexpensive computer UPSs often come with just a computer connector. In fact, there may be a wide variety of peripheral devices nearby. You need to calculate how many such devices you have at home, and based on this, draw conclusions regarding the purchase of this or that equipment. There should also be an outlet with protection against power surges. Don't forget about protecting the telephone line. If this is not done, then the modem connected to it may soon fail during a power outage.

Noise level

This is also worth paying attention to before purchasing a power supply. Some inexpensive computer UPSs are quite loud, which can cause various problems; for example, a person may experience headaches. Avoid installing the power supply directly next to your bed. It’s even better to separate it from your sleeping place with a partition.

Display and controls

Modern best UPSs for computers are capable of not only producing sound signals when switching operating modes, but also providing information using LEDs. This is very convenient if it is possible to visually monitor the state of the block. Some models are capable of informing the user when the battery needs to be replaced. Relatively recently, equipment equipped with liquid crystal displays has appeared on the market. Up to 20 different block states can be displayed here. In addition, some models are supplemented with controls. They allow you to configure the power supply for a specific network operating mode.

Possibility of battery replacement

Today on the market you can find uninterruptible power supplies for computers, which involve replacing the battery during operation. The average battery life is approximately 5 years. During this time, it completely exhausts its resources. There are models that require replacing the battery after its service life has expired. Pay attention to them before purchasing, because it is better to buy a battery than a new UPS, and such devices will save your money in the future.

Manufacturers

Today on the market you can find various both expensive and inexpensive UPSs for computers. There are a lot of manufacturers of such equipment. The best companies are considered to be APC, FSP, Ippon.

Rating of the best UPS for computers in 2016

So, dear readers, we have looked at the main types and parameters of uninterruptible power supplies. Now each of you knows how to choose a UPS for a computer, and what characteristics you should first look at when choosing. And now we bring to your attention a small rating of the best UPSs of 2015-2016, in the middle price category, compiled on the basis of expert opinions.

APC by Schneider Electric Smart-UPS 1000VA LCD 230V

Switching interactive power supply - APC by Schneider Electric Smart-UPS 1000VA LCD 230V has an input voltage of 160 - 286 V, an input frequency of 47 - 63 Hz, and an output frequency of 47 - 53 Hz. The device with an LCD display has an audible alarm, a USB interface and a slot for additional interfaces. The output power of the device is 650 W, the operating time at full load is 6 minutes, at half load - 20.6 minutes. The device is equipped with 8 computer-type power output connectors - IEC 320 C13. The power supply battery charges in 3 hours. It is possible to replace the battery during operation of the UPS.

IPPON Smart Winner 1000

A modern high-quality switching interactive power supply - Ippon Smart Winner 1000 has an input voltage of 161 - 276 V. The output power of the device is 650 W, operating time at full load is 5 minutes. The device has a full set of cables and can be mounted in a 19-inch rack. On the rear panel of the unit there is a USB connector and an RS-232 slot. The device is equipped with 6 computer-type power output connectors - IEC 320 C13. The UPS battery charges in 3 hours. The radiators of the power supply are blown by a high-tech fan from SUNON. Information about processes is displayed through LED indicators and an audible alarm. The device with a cold start function is equipped with telephone line protection and overload protection.

INELT Power Station POWER 1500

Switching interactive power supply - INELT Smart Station POWER 1500 has an input voltage of 170 - 280 V, and an input frequency of 45 - 65 Hz. The device with LED indicators has an audible alarm, a USB or RS-232 interface is optional. The output power of the device is 900 W, there is a cold start option. The device is equipped with 6 computer-type power output connectors - IEC 320 C13. The power supply battery charges in 12 hours. It is possible to replace the battery during operation of the UPS. The device with interference filtering function has local network protection, telephone line protection, and protection against high-voltage pulses.

Ippon Back Power Pro 800 New

Switching interactive power supply - Ippon Back Power Pro 800 New has an input voltage of 162 - 268 V and an output power of 480 W. The device with LED indicators has an audible alarm, a cold start function and a USB interface. The device is equipped with 3 computer-type power output connectors - IEC 320 C13. The power supply battery charges in 6 hours. It is possible to replace the battery during operation of the UPS. The device with interference filtering function has local network protection, telephone line protection, and protection against high-voltage pulses.

IPPON Back Comfo Pro 800 New

Switching interactive power supply - Ippon Back Comfo Pro 800 New has an input voltage of 162 - 268 V, and an input frequency of 45 - 65 Hz. The device with LED indicators has an audible alarm, USB and RS-232 interfaces. The output power of the device is 420 W, there is a cold start option. The device is equipped with 8 computer-type power output connectors - CEE 7 (Euro socket). The power supply battery charges in 8 hours. It is possible to replace the battery during operation of the UPS. The device with interference filtering function has local network protection, telephone line protection, and protection against high-voltage pulses. In addition, there is short circuit protection and an automatic fuse.

FSP EP 1000

Switching interactive power supply - FSP Group EP 1000 has an input voltage of 162 - 290 V, and an input frequency of 45 - 65 Hz. The device with LED indicators has an audible alarm, USB and RS-232 interfaces. The output power of the device is 600 W. The device is equipped with 4 computer-type power output connectors - IEC 320 C13. The power supply battery charges in 6 hours. The device with noise filtering function has short circuit protection, telephone line protection, and overload protection.

Ippon Smart Power Pro 1400

Switching interactive power supply - Ippon Smart Power Pro 1400 has an input voltage of 165 - 275 V, and an input frequency of 47 - 63 Hz. The device with LED indicators has an audible alarm, interfaces - USB and RS-232. The output power of the device is 1400 VA, there is a cold start option. The device is equipped with 4 computer-type power output connectors - IEC 320 C13. The power supply battery charges in 4 hours. It is possible to replace the battery during operation of the UPS. The device with interference filtering function has telephone line protection, as well as protection against high-voltage pulses, overload and short circuit.

Conclusion

Uninterruptible power supplies have long been fully established in our homes along with computers. And the benefits of these devices are difficult to overestimate, because they protect computer equipment from failures in the electrical network, and in this regard, protect our nerves. A good UPS will reliably protect your electronic devices from overloads. Thanks to it, if there is a power outage, your computer will continue to work for some time, powered by the equipment’s battery. This will allow you to safely save all data and turn off the computer in normal mode. In conclusion, we still recommend not saving too much on the price of the device, and buying at least a line-interactive one so that it works in automatic mode, or better yet, an online UPS. That's all I would like to say about how to choose a good UPS for a computer that will last a long time. Take care of your electronic equipment and do not spare money on a good device.

UPS (uninterruptible power supply) is a device that supplies a specific system with electric current in cases where there is no power in the main network. Such batteries are used in various equipment and technology. They are most often seen in offices, stationary power systems and server rooms. Essentially, UPS creates the minimum necessary conditions to keep devices operational when power outages occur.

The useful life of batteries for uninterruptible power supplies is 3-5 years, after which the device is replaced with a new one. It is prohibited to throw batteries into a landfill, as during the process of decomposition they begin to release toxic substances into the ground and air. You can help the environment and make good money if you donate your battery to our company. We accept UPS batteries at the highest prices in Moscow and the Moscow region. The list of services provided and the current price list for scrap metal can be found in the relevant sections of the website.

Our prices for receiving batteries

Application areas for UPS batteries

The main component of an uninterruptible power supply is the battery. It is capable of accumulating, storing and expending energy in emergency situations. They contain various non-ferrous metals. Typically these are lead, iron and copper, but some devices use nickel, cadmium and antimony. It turns out that handing over the battery at a specialized collection point is beneficial.

All existing types of UPS batteries are divided into 3 main groups:

Lead. They are used for constructing autonomous and backup systems with standard and alternative energy sources.
Nickel-cadmium (alkaline). Batteries of this type are used in various highly specialized equipment and machines: trains, subways, carriages, elevators.
Gel. The average service life of such batteries reaches 10 years, thanks to the implementation of the redistribution of hydrogen and oxygen. The devices are characterized by increased safety, are stable under powerful discharges, are explosion-resistant and have a wide range of operating temperatures. These factors have led to the widespread use of gel batteries in the construction of residential autonomous power systems.

In addition to UPS batteries, our company can deliver other types of batteries: automobile, traction, in ebonite cases.

Battery acceptance conditions

To hand over batteries as scrap, the following conditions must be met:

We accept batteries without visible damage in a non-disassembled form. When estimating the cost of scrap, the weight of non-metallic inserts is not taken into account.
Lead and nickel-cadmium appliances should have minimal clogging.
Alkaline batteries must be empty - no acid.

Preparing batteries for delivery is not difficult. If any difficulties arise, just call us for qualified advice.

Why recycle old batteries?

Substances contained in UPS batteries cause irreparable harm to nature. Such devices have a second class of danger, but dozens of batteries end up in landfills every day. Toxic components accumulate in the ground, then seep into the water and evaporate into the air. Animals and plants become carriers of serious diseases, increasing the risk of infection of the population.

Our company provides you with the opportunity to be conscious of the problem of environmental pollution. Everyone has the right to take unwanted batteries to our specialized collection points and get good money for it.

Convenient disposal of used batteries

Our company buys UPS batteries at the best prices in Moscow and the surrounding area. In addition, we provide a number of related services that allow you to get rid of old scrap as quickly and comfortably as possible. We are engaged in:

removal of scrap metal;
dismantling old metal structures;
dismantling of cars and engines.

Selling batteries is another area of our business, so if you want to sell your old battery and immediately buy a new battery, just call us.

Everyone is probably familiar with the situation when, when changing equipment to a newer one, you don’t know what to do with the old one, which has already become obsolete, but quite good so far. If there is no need to use the old computer for its intended purpose, then you can come up with new purposes for its components. For this, it will be useful to know what can be made from a UPS for a computer.

An old uninterruptible power supply can make a lot of devices in a hurry. Among other things, among them should be especially note useful in everyday life:

Charger;
simple inverter;
UPS for gas boiler;
12 volt source (for radio and other purposes).

Charger

To make a charger from an old uninterruptible power supply, you need to proceed as follows:

firstly, the primary and secondary circuits of the transformer are determined;
220 V is supplied to the primary by inserting a voltage regulator into the circuit (a rheostat for a light bulb is suitable);
a bridge of approximately 40-50 amperes is connected to the secondary winding of the transformer;
connect the terminals and the corresponding battery poles.

Voltage calibration will be carried out with an improvised regulator within 0-15 volts.

You will have to control the charge level according to the indicator or using a voltmeter.

Simple inverter

A transformer without a battery will make a working inverter for a car. The assembly process will proceed according to the following scheme:

disassembling the uninterruptible power supply: removing the battery, biting off the terminals, stripping the ends;
searching for a connector for connecting to the network (if there is a connector, it should be removed; if not, the wires are bitten off the board and the ends are stripped);
The wires from the battery must be connected using a soldering iron to the wires from the connector located on the rear panel; the soldering points are not isolated;
The cigarette lighter socket is soldered to the device, observing polarity and insulating the soldering points;
the internal speaker of the device is excluded (teared off with pliers or the board is removed);
assembling the case by adding standard sockets (for some UPSs they are already included in the original design).

Read also: We will explain in detail how to connect a UPS to a computer.

UPS for gas boiler

A computer UPS is also suitable for a gas boiler. Conversion process should be done as follows:

removing a faulty power supply;
creating contact clamps taking into account polarity (it is better to make clamps of different colors to indicate plus and minus) by making 2 holes, fixing the contact clamps and soldering to them the wires previously suitable for the internal power supply from the computer;
to prevent premature failure of the device due to overheating, you will need to install fans with or without a housing, connected in series (to start them, it is recommended to use an LED, soldering its leads to the winding of a small relay, and to one of the relay contacts you will need to solder a wire from the incoming “+” battery battery, and to the second - a free red wire from the fan, another free black wire is soldered to the negative of the battery).

12 volt source

A failed uninterruptible power supply Can be adapted to a 12 volt source. This is done very simply. First, you will need to connect an outlet to the UPS cord. To do this, one end is initially cut off from it. After performing this procedure using an uninterruptible power supply You can now charge your phone. By further simple transformations described above, you can increase the power of your homemade device (see the part about the inverter).

With this post I begin a story about a series of modernizations that my Volga has recently undergone. Today we will talk about how to get a relatively powerful source of 220V electricity in a car, with virtually zero investment.

Situations when it is necessary to have city electrical network voltage in a car arise quite often. For example, at work I occasionally need to transport live fish over long distances, and I need to connect oxygen compressors somewhere. Plus, for a long time there was an idea to organize a full-fledged navigator’s place for long hauls, and this requires connecting a laptop. Then, in the future, there are plans to assemble a refrigeration unit for transporting fish in hot weather, the donor for which will be an old refrigerator, powered by a 220V network. Well, a little detail - often you don’t even expect when and why you need residential electricity in your car, so it’s better to always have it.

Of course, today you can buy various kinds of inverters, as they say, for every taste and budget, but the devices that I had to deal with had two significant drawbacks. First of all, this is a low maximum power. For example, the most common inverters, which are plugged into a cigarette lighter and do not require special installation on a car, have a maximum load of about 150W. Slightly more advanced modules, which require standard installation, still rarely reach the 300W mark, and they are more expensive. The second important drawback is the quality of the electrical sine wave that the inverter produces. It is clear that when converting from direct current to alternating current, the sine wave is artificially modulated, but the quality of this modulation varies from device to device. In the same inverter connected to the cigarette lighter (which I had until now), the character of the sine wave is far from optimal, as a result, when connecting a laptop, its adapter got very hot, which, in theory, could lead to the breakdown of an expensive unit. It is possible, of course, that inverters of the highest price category are devoid of the stated disadvantages, but they have another, no less significant, disadvantage - the price. Personally, I’m not ready to give up the cost of a set of winter tires for an inverter.

A solution was found in using a board from an old uninterruptible power supply (hereinafter abbreviated as UPS). In general, I already wrote about how I successfully used a car battery for a UPS at home (), and now the opposite idea arose - to use a UPS in a car. Fortunately, I just had a broken UPS - it did not see the connection to the network (i.e., it did not charge the battery and did not pass mains current to consumers), but it perfectly converted 12V DC to 220V AC, and at the same time, it had peak power of 800W. Exactly what is needed!

True, if you decide to follow in my footsteps and make a car inverter from a UPS, then do not forget to take into account one point - many modern uninterruptible power supplies have a shutdown timer, which is hard-wired into the board. Such devices turn off after a certain operating time (say, after 15 minutes), regardless of the battery charge level. They are not suitable for use as a car inverter. But I was lucky, I had a UPS that was not the newest, and when it was produced, the shutdown timer probably had not yet gained popularity (I don’t remember the exact model, but it was a CyberPower company).

And so, first you should throw away the housing of the device - it will not be needed, because it is planned to install a stationary socket mounted in the car interior. Once you get into the car, you need to solve two main problems - where to get the power from and where to place the inverter. I’ll tell you about solving these issues using my Volga as an example.

To begin with, I began to solve the issue with power supply, I even asked on a thematic forum, but opinions there were divided - some insisted on connecting such a load directly to the battery, while others allowed it to be connected to the steering column block. It is clear that it is more reliable to connect to the battery, but I really didn’t want to drill a hole into the engine compartment. At the same time, the wire, in fact, directly from the battery, goes to the ignition switch, and this is convenient, but the disadvantage is that this wire has an insufficient diameter to provide such power. In addition, I planned to add heated seats to the same line.

But, in the end, I considered all the options, and still decided to connect to the ignition switch, only by equipping the connection with a fuse not of 70A, as required for the load, but of 40A, i.e., for the load for which the on-board network is designed “ Volga". This solution will slightly reduce the maximum permissible power of the inverter, but I have no intention of using it 100% (the load, at least according to plans, should not exceed 400W, and even then this will rarely happen). In any case, I don’t risk a fire in the car - the borate network is designed for 40A, and the fuse will not allow a large load to pass through.

Connection via a fuse under the steering block (in the photo, during tests, a 20A fuse was used).

Now that it has become clear where to connect the inverter, the second question remains to be resolved - where to put it. The board there is quite impressive; it should be located not far from the control panel (because I didn’t want to bother with extending two dozen small wires). At the same time, the socket had to be placed on the side of the passenger-navigator seat.

Then I remembered that on Volgas with a ZMZ-406 engine, to the right of the passenger’s leg, behind the door, under the “pot-bellied” plastic cover, there is an ECU. But I have a car with a Chrysler engine, and its “brain” is under the hood, but that same “pot-bellied” trim is still there. It would be logical to think that underneath it is empty, and there is enough space there to accommodate the entire inverter unit. In short, I unscrewed this cover, and there was really nothing there - lucky!

Now I figured out how the inverter components would be located (and, in fact, there are three of them - the socket, the control board and the conversion board), outlined this location, and began to melt the holes with a knife heated on the burner.

Plastic cover with socket and control unit installed on it.

True, the weather left much to be desired, it was pouring rain, so we had to pull an army OZK between the door and the roof, and turn on the burner under such cover.

This is an improvised shelter from the rain

After the socket and control board are in place, all that remains is to install the inverter board itself on the back side of the plastic panel. But this is no longer particularly difficult.

The inverter assembly is on the back of the panel.

Now all that remains is to connect it to power and put the plastic cover in place. Plus I used the same one I mentioned above, and I took the minus from the case from the nearest reliable connection. I assembled everything, checked it - it works!

View of the 220V socket in the passenger-navigator seat

At the same time, the system, naturally, is not constantly turned on (so as not to put a load on the on-board network when it is not necessary). I kept the standard UPS control system, with all the indications - it not only informs about the status of the inverter, but also allows you to turn it on and off as needed.

At close range, the control board and socket are visible.

But just in case, I didn’t turn off the sound signal about the inverter’s operation - a soft squeak once every minute or two (I don’t remember exactly) doesn’t really bother me, but the chances of accidentally leaving the device on and draining the battery will sharply decrease.

Well, actually, that’s all for now - now I always have a powerful and high-quality 220V AC source in my car. In the following post we will talk about how to modernize and improve the climate control unit on the Volga.