On Wed, 07 Sep 2005 01:00:15 GMT, Ignoramus25850
wrote:

A post by Wayne, which I at first disagreed with, made me think.

I already have a generator, my notorious Onan DJE

http://igor.chudov.com/tmp/onan/Diesel/

I realized that also have two things:

1) a Ferrups FE series UPS with functioning inverter, but blown charging
circuit. 1400 honest VA.

2) A heavy 12V battery charger pictured he

http://igor.chudov.com/misc/ebay/tmp3/

(look at the orange colored item).

I suppose that I can buy a few marine 12V batteries, or forklift
batteries, tie them in parallel, and use in the following manner:
charge during generator runtime with the big charger, and when the
generator is out, use the Ferrups FE inverter to supply (limited)
power to the house. It should be enough to run fridges and furnace and
a couple of lights or TV.

During normal periods when utility power is available, this big bank
can be kept charged and in top shape with a automatic trickle charger.

Any thoughts on this? My cost will, pretty much, amount to buying new
marine batteries or a 12V forklift battery or some such.

It's not really a far fetched project. I have a bunch of DC connect
links and short heavy cables. The Ferrups FE is a proven working
inverter, I used it as my house power backup before I bought the
genset. All I need is put it all together on a shelf and properly tie
into my electrical system at home. It will only power one leg of home
220V power, but that's fine. Good enuf for TVs and fridges and
furnace, which I can put all on one leg.

I am not a newbie to making working things out of salvaged parts. As
Rec.Crafts.Metalworking posters know, partly due to their help I built
a 10 HP phase converter with $45 worth of stuff.

i
Ever hear of a UBS? Best power made them in years past - a big UPS,
such as you are considering, with a reasonable battery pack, and a DC
generator that looked after providing power when the bateries got low,
and recharged them. Get an old reefer deisel (or a Kubota or Yanmar -
or even an old Lister)and put a big bus or ambulance alternator on it
and connect THAT to your UPS.
If you get a 220 volt UPS - and they WERE made - you can run both
legs, And the GOOD ups units of that size even had a built in transfer
switch - which isn't required if you run a dual conversion UPS on a
full-house basis.