Inverter/UPS Problems

cobraboy

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Jul 24, 2004
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Our new house has an old, small inverter that is giving us problems.

Our "communications center"-2 internet phones, land phone, router, and DSL modem-are plugged into a 600w UPS that has always worked properly in our old house that had a larger name-brand Inverter.

Here, whenever the power goes out, the UPS switches over but the DSL modem loses the connection and has to be rebooted to go back online-and we lose the internet phones and internet. Sometimes the land phone (wireless) has to reboot.

The voltage fluctuations from the inverter can vary between 69-129 volts...in the matter of seconds.

I don't quite understand why the modem needs to be rebooted when the UPS ~seems~ to be working properly. In fairness to it, in 1.5 years it's had more work to do than most UPS's do in several lifetimes.

Additionally, I wonder about the "quality" of power the inverter is putting out. It makes considerable humming sounds...the lower the voltage (measured) the louder the hum.

I suspect I'll have to scrap the inverter and batteries for decent quality equipment. For ebing a "24 hour zone" per the Edenorte signs coming into Jarabacoa, we've sure been losing it a lot lately...

Any inverter/electrical guru's out there with any answers and/or suggestions.
 

SantiagoDR

The "REAL" SantiagoDR
Jan 12, 2006
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Possibly the batteries not holding up.

Re-check all inter battery connections.
A bad connection under load will cause a decrease in the supply voltage.
The hum will increase therefore, as lower voltage means more draw on the inverter I believe.

I use a Tripplite 1000va Constant ON 60 cycle UPS on ALL my electronic equipment.
There is no switch over time.


Don
 

Adrian Bye

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Jul 7, 2002
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If you're using a trace inverter, try removing the UPS and just run all your computer equipment, etc directly off the inverter. It may be an incompatibility between the inverter and the UPS. I don't use any UPS's at all anymore, since to run a UPS with an inverter you should have a sine wave UPS which are very expensive and the inverter switchover times are fast enough.

I have a lot of computer and electrical equipment and don't have any crashes at all.

If you're not running off a trace inverter, then thats the first thing to fix. :)
 

cobraboy

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In doing research of the best bang-for-the-buck inverter/battery system, I came upon this video of Inverluz, the folks in Moca who manufacture the Protrace and Wave brands of inverters:

YouTube - mocafutura's Channel
 
Sep 22, 2009
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If you're using a trace inverter, try removing the UPS and just run all your computer equipment, etc directly off the inverter. It may be an incompatibility between the inverter and the UPS. I don't use any UPS's at all anymore, since to run a UPS with an inverter you should have a sine wave UPS which are very expensive and the inverter switchover times are fast enough.

I have a lot of computer and electrical equipment and don't have any crashes at all.

If you're not running off a trace inverter, then thats the first thing to fix. :)

Agreed that Protrace is a great bang for the buck.

HOWEVER, the more sensative electronics you have, for example iPhone, BB, Laptops, big CPU systems like dual cores, LEDs and good stereos... Please do yourself a favor by investing in a pure Sine Wave inverter. The problem with "most" Dominican-type non-sinewave installations, is that the the wave transform is VERY dirty. OK for an old 1985 Whirlpool wash machine, but VERY bad for a new Dell XPS or iPhone.

Word to the wise!
 
Sep 22, 2009
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Forgot: the UPS will not "understand" when your inverter takes over if it is not a Full Sine Wave!!!!!
 

Adrian Bye

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HOWEVER, the more sensative electronics you have, for example iPhone, BB, Laptops, big CPU systems like dual cores, LEDs and good stereos... Please do yourself a favor by investing in a pure Sine Wave inverter.

my experience has been that this isn't necessary. i had a simple trace 1524 for 6 years and it worked fine (bad sine wave). now i have a 2.4 kilo trace which is a modified sine wave, and it continues fine. to get a pure sine wave inverter is probably not worth the money -- but i definitely would get a trace inverter not some no-name brand.
 
Sep 22, 2009
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my experience has been that this isn't necessary. i had a simple trace 1524 for 6 years and it worked fine (bad sine wave). now i have a 2.4 kilo trace which is a modified sine wave, and it continues fine. to get a pure sine wave inverter is probably not worth the money -- but i definitely would get a trace inverter not some no-name brand.

I could go that way also... If budget is a big issue, you gotta cut...

I just recommended on the safe side.
 

cobraboy

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But what characteristics does a solid inverter need? Some on my list, not forced ranked:
-quick power transfer: at least 30ms if not faster
-modified sine wave power
-over/under voltage protection
-short circuit protection
-multi-stage charger
-digital/solid state microprocessors, preferably machine produced
-diagnostic lights
-adjustments for battery capacity and type, and input/output voltage

Some nice characteristics:
-equalization cycle
-internal voltage regulation
-pure sine wave
-voltage meter

My goal is to get the best bang-for-the-buck with the characteristics I NEED. I'm less concerned who makes it. I intend to inspect those I research, and any sloppy work (bad solder joints, sloppy circuit boards, etc.) get rejected.

I will not be running heart monitors or nukuler missile guidance systems. I know folks all over the world who use modified sine wave power and haven't heard any stories of computer/electronics failures directly attributed to that one factor.

Line conditioning/voltage regulation is fine, but my concern is spikes and high voltage, not necessarily 100% 110v. I can live with some variance of voltage as long as extremes are buffered.

Aftab/AZB made a good post from an engineering perspective about inverters. They are basically simple devices: transformer, charger and microprocessor/switch. Most, as he posted and is congruent with my recent research, the "better" ones-including Dominican brands- use TripLite circuit/motherboards, and the layout of the diagnostic/adjustment panel reflects that. Transformers are simple devices, as are multi-stage chargers.

I have found good, solid 3.6kw inverters with two year warranty can be found for $RD16,000-19,000. There are some for RD$43,000+ that have a slew more bells and whistles, but I can't justify the incremental cost. Some will, but opinions vary.

I have found a 3.6kw unit produced locally in an impressive factory with all the items I need, with a digital voltage meter, for $RD16,000. I only "need" a 2.4kw unit, but the incremental cost to go 3.6kw is minor and gives me future expansion capabilities.

I will also be using the US2200 232ah batteries by U.S. Battery for $RD3500ea.

$RD30,000 seems like a decent price for a solid 928ah inverter system.

Based on my power bills, I use around 600kw a month with one a/c unit running at night for 8 hours. That translates into about 7.5ah usage with a/c. A 928ah battery bank should last around 2.5 days at 50% ah capacity. That is more than I need.
 

Adrian Bye

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seems rather complex. i'd just buy a trace. if you want it cheaper, buy a used trace. thats all :)