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UPS FOR DC powered devices!

  • 11-04-2008 12:29AM
    #1
    p2kone
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 120 ✭✭


    does any body know what type of Uninterruptible Power Supply device you can use to protect dc powered devices like external tape backups, external usb hard disk, router etc...?


Comments

  • #2
    irlrobins
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,541 ✭✭✭irlrobins


    I would have thought a normal UPS would work, and you'd just plug the AC transformer for the device into it. No?


  • #3
    darraghrogan
    Closed Accounts Posts: 309 ✭✭darraghrogan


    a car battery battery? ;-)

    seriously though - it is a much better idea thatn ac power going into a inverter, dc into a battery in a conventional ups, then through a sine wave gen to AC, only to be converted back to DC by the devices transformer/inveter...

    Many data centres are going the path of DC distribution to the cabinets/devices, which have DC power supplies in the interests of efficiency...

    Be interested to see how you get on with this idea...maybe there is such a thing as a conventional UPS that has DC outputs on it also for this purpose?

    D


  • #4
    p2kone
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 120 ✭✭p2kone


    the reason i ask is

    we are in a bad area for power failures, brown outs etc and we have a server cabinet with three servers plug into two apc ups. The ups keeps the power supply constant and if the power shortage gones on for a while the servers shut down porperly and everything is ok.

    we also have an extenal tape backup machine, firewire, airspan router, 3com switches etc... in the cabinet.

    i cannot connect these devices to the ups beacuse they dont use the same power cable as a pc/server.

    is there another type of cable you can get to plug the dc devices into the ups?


  • #5
    conzy
    Subscribers Posts: 6,408 ✭✭✭conzy


    Wouldn't making some leads with the 3pin "kettle" sockets that go to standard sockets be cheaper and easier? Even if you do find a UPS with DC outputs I doubt it will have 5v 7v 12v 18v 20v etc to support all your devices...

    mk24_3.jpg

    The one on the left connected to a standard 4 way adapter?


  • #6
    Snowbat
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,065 ✭✭✭Snowbat


    +1
    You can buy IEC line plugs from any electronic components supplier (eg. Maplin order code FT64U). Remove the mains plug from a four way extension, fit one of these in it's place, and plug it into the APC.

    I tapped the 12V supply in my server to run a WRT54G router and a DSL modem (both run on 12V and draw about 1.8 amps together). The server is on a UPS so my internet connection stays up during power outages.


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  • #7
    darraghrogan
    Closed Accounts Posts: 309 ✭✭darraghrogan


    snowbat - exactly what I was going to suggest!


  • #8
    p2kone
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 120 ✭✭p2kone


    cheers Snowbat.

    putting a kettle type connector onto an expansion board should do the trick.



    regards
    paul


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