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baplaski

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#220284 3-Aug-2017 11:39
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I'm setting up some security and fire monitoring at our Scout hall, using a phone hotspot to provide an internet connection (the phone also runs the Cleverloop Smokey App).  The power in the hall is only on for a few hours every day when the hall is in use, but is off the rest of the time.  I'm looking for an option to keep the phone powered for the rest of the time.  

 

I've considered using a power bank, but the ones I've had switch off when the phone is charged, and don't switch back on until the button is pressed.  Are there options that do something different?  

 

This is a temporary solution, as the power situation will change after a refurbishment.  I'm looking for something very low to no cost.


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freitasm
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  #1836455 3-Aug-2017 11:47
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You could use a UPS and run the phone from a USB wall charger... But most small UPS will have a maximum charge time of less than one hour even at minimum load - e.g. Eaton 3S.





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baplaski

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  #1836469 3-Aug-2017 11:53
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I can't believe a UPS never occurred to me.  "It only there was some sort of Power Supply that was Uninterruptible"


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  #1836471 3-Aug-2017 11:55
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The Eaton I linked is around $160 new. There are bigger models that may last longer... If you only have the phone charger it will be a minimum load.





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baplaski

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  #1836508 3-Aug-2017 12:45
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Unfortunately out of the budget.  Low to no cost means well under $100 otherwise it's not worth doing.


baplaski

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  #1836517 3-Aug-2017 12:57
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I actually have a powerbank like that somewhere in my emergency supplies, and a north facing window.  I'll give it a go. 


 
 
 

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  #1836560 3-Aug-2017 13:46
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Surely if the power is on a few hours a day, the phone's battery will do for the rest of the day? Or does the app it is running really drain the power?


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  #1836576 3-Aug-2017 13:52
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Get a battery that doesn't have such a button.




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  #1836635 3-Aug-2017 15:24
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Those solar panels built into power banks are a bit of a gimmick. The solar panel only makes a few milliamps so won't even keep up with the phones consumption.

 

Can you get your hands on a good or recently retired car battery, a cigarette lighter USB adaptor and a car battery charger? Hook those up and you have an instant DIY UPS.


baplaski

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  #1836636 3-Aug-2017 15:25
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trig42:

 

Surely if the power is on a few hours a day, the phone's battery will do for the rest of the day? Or does the app it is running really drain the power?

 

 

 

 

Yeah, it lasted about 18 hours.  


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  #1836667 3-Aug-2017 15:39
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baplaski:

 

trig42:

 

Surely if the power is on a few hours a day, the phone's battery will do for the rest of the day? Or does the app it is running really drain the power?

 

 

 

 

Yeah, it lasted about 18 hours.  

 

 

If you don't need wide bandwidth for the data, and you're not on Spark/Skinny, switching the phone to 2G only will usually improve the battery life. Don't forget to also kill blue tooth, syncing and background data.


 
 
 
 

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  #1836890 3-Aug-2017 22:46

tripper1000:

 

Those solar panels built into power banks are a bit of a gimmick. The solar panel only makes a few milliamps so won't even keep up with the phones consumption.

 

Can you get your hands on a good or recently retired car battery, a cigarette lighter USB adaptor and a car battery charger? Hook those up and you have an instant DIY UPS.

 

 

This is actually the best system for what the OP needs. Only you will need quite a high current battery charger to reliably recharge the battery in only a few hours of mains on time. Also check that the battery charger doesn't draw power from the battery when the mains is off, Some definitely do.

 

Although for a temporary system, it probably won't matter if the batteries get worn out quite quickly.






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  #1836897 3-Aug-2017 23:22
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Get Someone who has a child there to park up their motorhome around the back for the duration? These days they all have battery banks and most have pretty decent solar panels too.

Free parking for them in winter, and free UPS for you 👍

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  #1836922 4-Aug-2017 06:54
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Maybe @jeffnz could hook you up with a decent sized battery (30ah?), then get a $20 battery charger from trademe and a $5 12v to USB adapter from ebay.


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  #1839147 4-Aug-2017 13:15
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if its for the scouts we can may have something for $00.00 unless we have to freight, what part of country are you, PM me. I'll check what we have around 30a/h





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