Integrating a UPS into your home wiring?

Forums › Home Workshop DIY › Integrating a UPS into your home wiring?

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gpnz

80 posts

Master Geek

#1562660 30-May-2016 21:09

Hey Guys,

Thanks for all the responses - some good stuff there. As for me, I have come to the conclusion that a little UPS for the ONT to keep the phone going is in order but although interesting, anything else is probably a bit much work - but I'll revisit if I ever renovate or build!

Cheers,

PhantomNVD

2619 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1562682 30-May-2016 22:05

I think your final 'real' solution would be either a Tesla Powerwall, or a solar system with battery storage, both of which would need electrician to wire, but are legal and even 'clean/modern' movements toward self sustaining systems.

Think 'bigger' than UPS and go solar :)

UHD

655 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

#1562730 31-May-2016 02:09

I don't know where you guys live the the SLA for electrical faults around here is four hours last I checked. They fix stuff pretty quickly, I can handle a four hour power outage without stress.

jnimmo

1097 posts

Uber Geek

#1562748 31-May-2016 07:56

Something like this might work nicely (probably wrong voltage) if you're mainly after light

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Mr-Beams-Ready-Bright-Power-Outage-Kit-MB280/205403802

Jase2985

13462 posts

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#1562773 31-May-2016 08:58

PhantomNVD: I think your final 'real' solution would be either a Tesla Powerwall, or a solar system with battery storage, both of which would need electrician to wire, but are legal and even 'clean/modern' movements toward self sustaining systems.

Think 'bigger' than UPS and go solar :)

I believe the problem is unless you are completely off grid the power wall/battery storage is useless in a power cut as you cant have it back feeding the grid as its a safety hazard for the lines workers.

richms

28187 posts

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#1562780 31-May-2016 09:12

UHD:
I don't know where you guys live the the SLA for electrical faults around here is four hours last I checked. They fix stuff pretty quickly, I can handle a four hour power outage without stress.

They have an exclusion for storms which cause all the problems so SLA is worthless.

Richard rich.ms

Jase2985

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#1562789 31-May-2016 09:22

richms:
UHD:

I don't know where you guys live the the SLA for electrical faults around here is four hours last I checked. They fix stuff pretty quickly, I can handle a four hour power outage without stress.

They have an exclusion for storms which cause all the problems so SLA is worthless.

not in my area where there is a car vs power pole once ever couple of months

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SepticSceptic

2191 posts

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#1562793 31-May-2016 09:26

PolicyGuy:

SepticSceptic:

richms: Miles of them feeding from the substation. No underground feeders so any tree on wire action and it's out for ages. Apparently in the US they have self resetting breakers that try a few times to burn the tree off the lines etc. No luck here. Wait ages for them to inspect it before turning it back on.

Vector have done some upgrades, I think the Waiwera sub has been upgraded. When power goes out ( as it frequently does in stormy weather), there are 2-3 surges as the breaker tries to burn off what ever dead tree, posssum or other luckless product of nature has fallen on the power lines. The poor fridge and freezer chokes and rattles away with these surges. Usually a 50% success rate.

Then 2 hours later, everything finally goes out. For hours.

You are describing the action of a "re-closer". They've been around since at least the 1990s
..

Ahh, thanks for the clarification. .. Little bit wiser every day

PhantomNVD

2619 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1562858 31-May-2016 10:35

Jase2985:
PhantomNVD: I think your final 'real' solution would be either a Tesla Powerwall, or a solar system with battery storage, both of which would need electrician to wire, but are legal and even 'clean/modern' movements toward self sustaining systems.

Think 'bigger' than UPS and go solar :)

I believe the problem is unless you are completely off grid the power wall/battery storage is useless in a power cut as you cant have it back feeding the grid as its a safety hazard for the lines workers.

So yes, this doesn't solve the communities problem, but the owner has a 'total home' solution as his own house will have power anyway?

Tesla (for example) actually charges from the grid and releases when the grid is NOT supplying, and thus has a 'one way' flow that cannot feed back to the grid?

DarthKermit

5346 posts

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#1563185 31-May-2016 16:37

Typically, each phase in a domestic install is rated up to 63 amps. This is about 15,000 watts. You'd need an absolutely massive inverter and battery bank to draw that level of power off of it, not to mention you'd drain your battery bank very quickly.

Even top notch commercial emergency backup power systems are designed to only serve vital equipment. You'd never have a system that provided backup power for everything that you'd normally run off the mains, such as your stove, hand dryers, hot water, automatic water boiler in the staff cafe, etc.

That's why things like computers and servers that don't like to be shut down instantly, and things like selected emergency lighting (maybe a couple of central lights in an office building and at exits and corridors) are designed to be hooked to the emergency power system.

I think the same normally applies to diesel backup generators. They're only there to serve selected equipment when there's no mains power.

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