Uninterruptable Power Supply for UFB available: Constant Vigil Sentry Lite UFB DC UPS

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#1317159 4-Jun-2015 08:20

timmmay (or anyone else)... during your research, have you come across any DC-DC chargers/UPS units which can operate with only 12V input?

My ONTs are both on my main UPS, but I have a remote low power system I need to power independently, and I am unable to change the 12V power supply (built in to a cabinet) to the higher voltage required by most of these units. The cheap units also only pass through the (higher) supply voltage, unless it drops below a minimum, and switches to battery. To use such a thing would require a boost in voltage, then a drop in voltage, all of which can be done for less than $10 in parts, but it's a messy solution.

The OpenUPS units from Mini-box.com are about the only thing I've found which can do what I want in a single unit, but they are expensive ($US119) compared to under $US30 for the basic units.

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#1317168 4-Jun-2015 08:33

Specs for this vigil unit say Input Voltage: 9-25VDC (+18V wall-mounted supply provided).

SirHumphreyAppleby

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#1317171 4-Jun-2015 08:38

timmmay: Specs for this vigil unit say Input Voltage: 9-25VDC (+18V wall-mounted supply provided).

The specs also state that it switches to battery at 12.9V.

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#1317174 4-Jun-2015 08:40

SirHumphreyAppleby:
timmmay: Specs for this vigil unit say Input Voltage: 9-25VDC (+18V wall-mounted supply provided).

The specs also state that it switches to battery at 12.9V.

Give the guy a call and ask him. He doesn't seem to reply to email but he does answer his phone. If it accepts a 9V input, which he told me on the phone as well, it must cope with it somehow.

steve98

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#1317936 5-Jun-2015 14:55

Anyone had any experience with the Fuelcube mentioned earlier in the thread? I hadn't heard of it, but it's interesting. Terrible website though.

timmmay

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#1317939 5-Jun-2015 14:59

Quick update on this. Alan has been super busy this week with the media interest, but we've been chatting by email. I should have a demo unit next week, so I'll be able to report back with a full review.

huckster

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#1318029 5-Jun-2015 16:17

timmmay: Quick update on this. Alan has been super busy this week with the media interest, but we've been chatting by email. I should have a demo unit next week, so I'll be able to report back with a full review.

Am more interested in this now after a 10 hour power-cut overnight!

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timmmay

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#1321961 10-Jun-2015 11:10

I got the demo unit today. Thought I had the wrong plug but it's fine - all works well :)

lxsw20

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#1321971 10-Jun-2015 11:24

Alcatel is the manufacturer of the Chorus ONT.

Behodar

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#1321988 10-Jun-2015 11:59

But calling it an Alcatel ONT will only serve to confuse customers since it doesn't say Alcatel anywhere on it.

timmmay

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#1322037 10-Jun-2015 12:34

It's not very scientific, but here are the images showing sizes of the plugs. The thumb is constant size between the two images.

Vigil plug (below)

Chorus plug (below)

timmmay

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#1322427 10-Jun-2015 20:36

Update - nope I was wrong, they sent the right cable for the Chorus ONT. The casing around the moulded plug made it look bigger than it really is. Plugged it in (after testing voltages) and it works fine, I'm running it now. Full review will be done at some point.

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#1323656 12-Jun-2015 20:18

timmmay: Update - nope I was wrong, they sent the right cable for the Chorus ONT. The casing around the moulded plug made it look bigger than it really is. Plugged it in (after testing voltages) and it works fine, I'm running it now. Full review will be done at some point.

Interesting. I suspect BMarquis will be interested to know. Hopefully it doesn't blow up the ONT...
Sounds interesting though.

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#1323724 12-Jun-2015 21:57

BarTender: Interesting. I suspect BMarquis will be interested to know. Hopefully it doesn't blow up the ONT... Sounds interesting though.

I checked voltage and polarity before I plugged it in, both were spot on. It's not exactly rocket science.

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#1323729 12-Jun-2015 22:11

timmmay:
BarTender: Interesting. I suspect BMarquis will be interested to know. Hopefully it doesn't blow up the ONT... Sounds interesting though.

I checked voltage and polarity before I plugged it in, both were spot on. It's not exactly rocket science.

I've seen significant differences between different power supplies that all meter fine without load.
What's even more fun is when they have been left running after a period of time and some internal components melt down after heating up and then cause the regulator to short out and overload and fry your equipment.
But I am sure it's been fully tested so if it blows up you won't need to pay the LFC to replace it. And in the event of fire you'll be covered.

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