Old uninterruptible power supplies for the computer. Uninterruptible power supplies for personal computers: types, characteristics, recommendations

In order to decide for yourself whether an uninterruptible power supply is needed at all or not, you should think carefully about which power problems may occur when working on a computer:

All existing on this moment Uninterruptible computers for computers are divided into three groups. Interrupters from different groups differ in some properties, the presence or absence of certain functions, etc.

Something else to remember is that it's frustrating to have your computer shut down immediately when the power goes out even for a few seconds. When it comes to buying the right UPS for your data center, size matters.

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How to choose an uninterruptible computer

After the user has learned about the existence of such devices and got to know them better, he may want to purchase an uninterruptible power supply. But in order to buy, you must first carefully weigh the pros and cons" and decide whether the user really needs this device. After a positive answer, you should understand the uninterruptible power supplies better so as not to get into an unpleasant situation or waste more money than was originally intended.

First we need to understand the terminology. Power factor is defined as the ratio of "real power" and "apparent power", but this is not a technical article, so that's all we're going to say on this subject. But it's the watt figure that's important in today's data centers, so we can admit this mystery.

We need to understand that this thing called power factor is rarely 0, except for incandescent lights, heaters and toasters. It is usually less than 0 and never greater, so watts are usually less than volt-amps. With better power factors, it's even less, which is why we said the error doesn't matter much unless you have a lot of hardware.

Uninterruptible power (VA) should be equated to the connected load(BT) and the resulting value is divided by 0.7.

It is very important to note that sellers can confuse VA and W, which can cause a mismatch between the buyer's calculations and the seller's recommendations. If we assume that the buyer will follow the seller's lead, who made such a common mistake, then he will have to be content with an uninterruptible power supply, the power of which will be significantly less than expected by about 1.4 times, which can subsequently cause problems, not to mention a spoiled mood.

The utilities routinely summarize the causes of any power outages in their newsletter or regular reports. Causes range from anything listed above to animals infiltrating transformers and other components. Whether there is a power outage of a few seconds or several days, work must continue. And they must do it continuously and consistently.

The reasons may vary, but business outages raise concerns about how projects will be completed on time and on budget. Every business and household needs lights, heat, equipment and other essentials to thrive. Without power, injury, loss, damage and diminished income become unnecessary.

conclusions

Uninterruptible power supplies are devices that can help users in their work on personal computers. In addition to the function of maintaining power supply, some models of uninterruptible carry out the function of control for voltage and breakdown prevention. It can be stated that uninterruptible power supplies can prolong the operation of a personal computer and protect it from the adverse effects of power supply problems.

Now imagine another scenario where there is a power outage. In the event of a long-term shutdown, it allows a lot of time to convert to alternative source nutrition. Imagine that your building is a building that continues to hum despite the circumstances, and the people inside it experience peace, not chaos.

What are uninterruptible power systems?

And with a complete system, you can remove "power failure" from your list of problems. Technology continues to improve as the importance of maintaining power for core systems and operations becomes more and more important. Many people don't realize how much a data-driven world has changed overall energy needs as the internet and big data in general continue to drive demand for cleaner, more reliable power. Energy surges, spikes or dips cause fluctuations and disturbances that can adversely affect your equipment and your data, so systems provide a clean, consistent and uninterrupted power flow that protects against these effects.

No one is immune from the unpleasant consequences of various power failures. It can happen to any of the users personal computers. But problems can be eliminated by having an uninterruptible power supply, which perform the protection function and get you out of trouble.

Choosing an uninterruptible power supply is not so difficult, but this process cannot be called unequivocally easy. The fact is that all the characteristics of uninterruptible power supplies are not so easy to fit in your head, and not everyone can figure it out. But in principle, if you remember the main important functions of uninterruptible power supplies, then you can choose a device that is suitable specifically for a particular personal computer.

Generally speaking, an uninterruptible power system can be anything from a little black box that sits somewhere near your desk and protects your personal computer from megatons, megawatt models capable of driving big business. Power outage protection Provide enough power during short breaks and "travel time" to convert to standby power. Turn on the backup power source for long term outages such as generators. Refine power quality as it enters the building, office, and equipment. . You will usually find battery based systems in small operations such as home computer or office, as well as the flywheel configuration in large systems used to power large facilities.

The purchase of an uninterruptible power supply for your personal computer will allow the user to avoid problems that are most often associated with failures in the power supply networks. If a problem occurs, the UPS will be able to switch to battery power, which will prolong the operation of the computer. This will allow the user avoid possible problems data corruption or loss.

There are enough manufacturers of uninterruptible power supplies for a computer, but you should not rack your brains and choose a device from a certain manufacturer from the entire expanse of the presented assortment. It does not justify the expended effort and nerve. There is no need to conduct a deep comparative analysis, since in fact all models of uninterruptible power supplies that have similar characteristics cost the same and work about the same.

Uninterruptibles are indispensable assistants to users who perform a huge amount of work and whose activities are inextricably linked with the computer. One can hope for the illusory quality of power supply networks and their uninterrupted operation, but it is better to act in a practical way and make sure once again.

Unfortunately, interruptions sometimes occur in our electrical networks, and in such situations it is necessary to protect expensive equipment from overloads. In addition, in such cases it is important to save information on the computer from irretrievable loss. To do this, there are uninterruptible power supplies, in short - UPS. Today we will talk about how to choose a good UPS for a computer, and what is important in this device. There is a huge amount of such equipment on the market, and if you decide to read this article, then you can’t decide on the final version. Good power supplies for a computer today can be produced using a variety of technologies. Depending on the purpose for which you use the computer, and you need to choose this equipment.

Types

Beforehand, it is worth talking about the main types of uninterruptible power supplies for a computer, of which there are three options on the market.

Reserve

Standby UPSs are the most primitive in terms of design. They differ in that they respond to a power supply delay of 10 ms. At this point, it switches to battery. Such budget power supplies for a computer are suitable for private home use only if you do not have any problems with power outages. There is no voltage stabilizer here, which means that in case of any interruption, the device will switch to the battery, which adversely affects the duration of its service.

Line Interactive

Line-interactive power supplies for a computer solve this problem. In the event of voltage surges in the network, they automatically adjust to the current level. This greatly increases the life of the device. In terms of price-quality ratio, power for a computer of this type is considered the best.

Online

The best but most expensive are online UPSs. they respond to voltage drops in the network instantly. The principle of operation of this type is to double the conversion of incoming electricity. First, the rectifier converts the AC voltage to DC. The inverter then converts it back to AC. But unlike reserve and interactive computer and other devices constantly receive energy from the online, and electricity with a pure sine wave, equalized in voltage. This device constantly responds to changes in current, and transmits this information to the computer.

main parameters

Here we will deal with the main criteria for devices that will help determine the choice. It will also be possible to understand which parameters affect the cost of equipment.

Power

Power is considered one of the main characteristics of any UPS for a computer. If the indicator of the total power of the computer exceeds the power of an inexpensive device for a computer, then this can lead to the failure of the latter, or constant reboots. Be sure to pay attention to this parameter before buying. You need to know how much power your personal computer consumes and that's it. peripherals connected to it. To determine this indicator for uninterruptible power supplies, it is worth multiplying the available total value by 1.4. It is this power reserve that is necessary for this device.

Time battery life

This parameter is approximately the same for most budget UPSs for a computer. Battery life is approximately 5-8 minutes. This is often enough to save all applications and shut down. operating system in the correct mode. For those who use the resources of their PC to the maximum, this may not be enough. Fortunately, some manufacturers offer models in which the battery life increases to 15-20 minutes. Of course, you can independently increase the battery capacity, and make it better. To do this, manufacturers put additional batteries on the market. Through them, you can achieve the required temporal characteristics.

Software

Many of today's best computer UPSs come with special programs that allow you to save device statistics files. If a person is not at home, then the equipment will independently save all the working information on the hard disk. This is a very useful option, the presence of which you need to pay attention to when buying.

Number of connectors

Inexpensive computer UPSs often come with a computer connector only. In fact, a wide variety of peripheral devices can be located next to it. You need to calculate how many such devices you have at home, and on the basis of this, draw conclusions about the purchase of this or that equipment. There should also be an outlet with surge protection. Do not forget about the protection of the telephone line. If this is not done, then the modem connected to it, during power outages, can fail soon enough.

Noise level

This is also worth paying attention to before buying a power supply. Some inexpensive computer UPSs are loud enough to cause problems; for example, a person may experience headaches. Try not to install the power supply directly next to the bed. It is even better to separate it from your bed with a partition.

Display and controls

The modern best UPS for a computer is capable of not only beeping in case of switching operating modes, but also providing information using LEDs. This is very convenient if it is possible to visually monitor the state of the block. Some models are able to inform the user about the need to replace the battery. Relatively recently, equipment equipped with liquid crystal displays has appeared on the market. Up to 20 different block states can be displayed here. In addition, some models are complemented by controls. They allow you to configure the power supply for a specific network operation mode.

Battery replacement option

Today on the market you can find uninterruptible power supplies for a computer, which involve replacing the battery during operation. The average battery life is approximately 5 years. During this time, he completely exhausts his resources. There are models that involve replacing the battery after the end of its life. Pay attention to them before buying, because it is better to buy a battery than a new UPS, and such devices will save you money in the future.

Manufacturers

Today on the market you can find a variety of both expensive and inexpensive UPS for a computer. There are many manufacturers of such equipment. The best companies are APC, FSP, Ippon.

Rating of the best UPS for a computer in 2016

So, dear readers, we have considered the main types and parameters of uninterruptible power supplies. Now each of you knows how to choose a UPS for a computer, and what characteristics you should first look at when choosing. And now we bring to your attention a small rating of the best UPSs of 2015-2016, average price category based on the opinions of experts.

APC by Schneider Electric Smart-UPS 1000VA LCD 230V

Switching Interactive Power Supply - APC by Schneider Electric Smart-UPS 1000VA LCD 230V has input voltage- 160 - 286 V, input frequency - 47 - 63 Hz, and output frequency - 47 - 53 Hz. The device with an LCD display has an audible alarm, a USB interface and a slot for additional interfaces. output power device - 650 W, operating time at full load - 6 minutes, at half load - 20.6 minutes. The device is equipped with 8 output power connectors computer type- IEC 320 C13. The power supply battery charges in 3 hours. It is possible to replace the battery during UPS operation.

IPPON Smart Winner 1000

A modern high-quality switching interactive power supply - Ippon Smart Winner 1000 has an input voltage of 161 - 276 V. The output power of the device is 650 W, the operating time at full load is 5 minutes. The device has a complete set of cables and the ability to mount in a 19-inch rack. On the rear panel of the unit there is a USB connector and a slot - RS-232. The device is equipped with 6 computer-type power outlets - IEC 320 C13. The UPS battery charges in 3 hours. The power supply radiators are blown by a high-tech fan from the company - SUNON. Information about the processes is displayed through LED indicators, and sound alarm. The device with the cold start function is equipped with protection telephone line, and overload protection.

INELT Power Station POWER 1500

Switching interactive power supply - INELT Smart Station POWER 1500 has an input voltage of 170 - 280 V and an input frequency of 45 - 65 Hz. The device with LED indicators has a sound alarm, USB or RS-232 interface is optional. The output power of the device is 900 W, there is a cold start option. The device is equipped with 6 computer-type power outlets - IEC 320 C13. The power supply battery charges in 12 hours. It is possible to replace the battery during UPS operation. The device with the function of filtering interference has protection local network, telephone line protection, and surge protection.

Ippon Back PowerPro 800 New

Switching interactive power supply - Ippon Back Power Pro 800 New has an input voltage of 162 - 268 V, and an output power of 480 watts. The device with LED indicators has an audible alarm, a cold start function and a USB interface. The device is equipped with 3 computer-type power outlets - IEC 320 C13. The power supply battery charges in 6 hours. It is possible to replace the battery during UPS operation. The device with noise filtering function has LAN protection, telephone line protection, as well as protection against high-voltage impulses.

IPPON Back Comfo Pro 800 New

Switching interactive power supply - Ippon Back Comfo Pro 800 New has an input voltage - 162 - 268 V, and an input frequency - 45 - 65 Hz. The device with LED indicators has an audible alarm, USB interfaces and RS-232. The output power of the device is 420 W, there is a cold start option. The device is equipped with 8 computer-type power outlets -CEE 7 (Euro socket). The battery of the power supply is charged in 8 hours. It is possible to replace the battery during UPS operation. The device with noise filtering function has LAN protection, telephone line protection, as well as protection against high-voltage impulses. In addition, there is a short circuit protection and an automatic fuse.

FSPEP 1000

Switching interactive power supply - FSP Group EP 1000 has an input voltage - 162 - 290 V, and an input frequency - 45 - 65 Hz. The device with LED indicators has an audible alarm, USB and RS-232 interfaces. The output power of the device is 600 watts. The device is equipped with 4 output power sockets of computer type - IEC 320 C13. The power supply battery charges in 6 hours. The device with noise filtering function has short circuit protection, telephone line protection, and overload protection.

Ippon Smart Power Pro 1400

Switching interactive power supply - Ippon Smart Power Pro 1400 has an input voltage - 165 - 275 V, and an input frequency - 47 - 63 Hz. The device with LED indicators has a sound signaling, interfaces - USB and RS-232. The output power of the device is 1400 VA, there is a cold start option. The device is equipped with 4 output power sockets of computer type - IEC 320 C13. The power supply battery charges in 4 hours. It is possible to replace the battery during UPS operation. The device with noise filtering function has protection for the telephone line, as well as protection against high-voltage impulses, against overload and against short circuit.

Conclusion

Uninterruptible power supplies have long been fully settled in our homes along with computers. And the benefits of these devices can hardly be overestimated, because they protect computer equipment from failures in the electrical network, and in this regard, they protect our nerves. A good UPS will reliably protect your electronic devices from overloads. Thanks to him, when the power goes out, your computer will work for some more time, powered by the battery of the equipment. This will allow you to safely save all data and turn off the computer in normal mode. In conclusion, we still recommend not to save much on the price of the device, and buy at least a line-interactive one so that it works in automatic mode, or better, an online UPS. That's all I would like to say about how to choose a good UPS for a computer that will last a long time. Take care of your electronic equipment and do not spare money for a good device.

Many PC users have old, end-of-life UPSs in stock. Their most common cause of disability is the failure of the batteries. Since replacement with new batteries is unprofitable, and sometimes simply impossible due to the lack of analogues, these devices simply lie idle or are thrown into the trash.

But you can give a second life to the UPS by making it a very useful device - an inverter that converts 12 in the car's on-board network into the 220 V necessary for some appliances. Moreover, the factory version of the inverter will cost a lot of money, otherwise you will save money and make the right thing out of the trash.

So, the first thing to do is to remove the old, leaking batteries. They are quite simply dismantled by removing the bottom cover and disconnecting the power wires. If there are traces of leaked electrolyte, we clean the case from oxidation crystals.

Such an operation will ensure the elimination of further leakage of acid, as well as significantly lighten the weight of the apparatus.

Changing the wiring diagram

Uninterruptible power supplies differ in design, but they have the same principle of operation - to convert 12 V voltage to 220 V. That is, in each model there is a board with an electronic voltage converter. He is what we need. But there is one condition, it must be working.

Since the appliances that will be connected to this device have a standard 220 V plug, it is necessary to install a regular household socket for flush wiring on the side or rear panel. We solder the output wires from the 220 V converter to it, which previously fit the special three-pronged plugs on the rear panel of the UPS.

In the first and second cases, the wires are soldered to those that went to the UPS battery. It is very important to observe the polarity of the connection. The red wire is positive and the black wire is negative.

Both in the auto network and in the UPS, these colors must match. It is best, of course, to check the polarity with a multimeter to be sure.

This connection scheme provides for instant operation of the device when it is connected. If you want to turn it on through a toggle switch or an automatic machine, then simply break the “plus” in the wire coming from the car’s battery and connect one wire to the input and the other to the output of the machine mounted on the UPS case. This cuts off the power to the inverter when needed.

Subtleties at work

It should be understood that such a device will not produce much power. Usually. it is no more than 150 W, but this is quite enough to connect a small TV, laptop and other low-current equipment.

Why is the car battery not charging from the charger

The UPS is a very profitable device. While it works, the user has no problems with the power supply. But the functionality of this device does not end there. The simplest refinement of an uninterruptible power supply makes it possible to create on its basis such devices as a converter, power supply and charging.

How to convert an uninterruptible power supply into a 12/220 V voltage converter

A voltage converter (inverter) converts a 12-volt direct current into an alternating current, simultaneously increasing the voltage to 220 volts. The average cost of such a device is 60-70 US dollars. However, even owners of worn-out uninterruptible power supplies with a battery start function have a very real chance of getting a working converter for nothing. To do this, do the following:

Open the UPS case.

Dismantle the battery by removing two wires from the drive terminals - red (to plus) and black (to minus).

Dismantle the speaker device sound signal ization, similar to a centimeter washer.

Solder the fuse to the red wire. Most designers advise using 5 amp fuses.

Connect the fuse to the "input" contact of the UPS - the socket where the cable was inserted connecting the uninterruptible power supply to the outlet.

Connect the black wire to the free contact of the “input” socket.

Take a standard cable for UPS connections to an outlet, cut off the plug. Connect the connector to the input jack and determine the colors of the wires corresponding to the red and black contacts.

Connect the wire from the red terminal to the positive of the battery, and from the black terminal to the negative.

Turn on the UPS.

Eaton 5P 1150i UPS internals

Such a transformation is only allowed by uninterruptible power supplies with a battery start function. That is, the UPS must initially be able to turn on from, without being connected to a power outlet.

If the UPS has a regular outlet, 220 volts can be removed from its contacts. If there is no such outlet, it will be replaced by an extension cord connected to the “output” socket of the uninterruptible power supply. The extension plug is removed, after which the wires are soldered to the contacts of the “output” socket.

The main disadvantages of such converters:

• The recommended operating time for such an inverter is up to 20 minutes, since the UPS is not designed for long-term battery operation. However, this disadvantage can be eliminated by inserting a 12 V computer fan into the UPS case.
• No battery charge controller. The user will have to periodically check the voltage at the drive terminals. To eliminate this drawback, you can embed a conventional automotive relay into the design of the converter by soldering the red wire behind the fuse to pin 87. At correct connection such a relay will open the power supply when the voltage on the battery drops below 12 volts.

How to make a power supply from an uninterruptible power supply

In this case, only an uninterruptible power supply will be needed from the entire design. Therefore, the user who decides on such a remake of the UPS will either have to gut the entire UPS, leaving only the case and transformer, or remove this part, preparing a separate case for it. Then proceed according to the following plan:

Using an ohmmeter, the winding with the highest resistance is determined. Typical colors are black and white. These wires will be the input to the power supply. If the transformer remains in the UPS, then this step can be skipped - the input to the home-made power supply in this case will be the "input" socket on the end of the UPS, connecting the device with the outlet.

Next, the transformer is supplied with alternating current at 220 volts. After that, voltage is removed from the remaining contacts, looking for a pair with a potential difference of up to 15 volts. Typical colors are white and yellow. These wires will be the output from the power supply.

The input to the power supply is formed from wires, on one side of the core. The output from the block is formed from wires located on the opposite side.

A diode bridge is placed at the output of the power supply.

Consumers are connected to the contacts of the diode bridge.

Transformer

The typical voltage at the output of the transformer is up to 15 V, however, it will drop after connecting to makeshift block load power supply. The output voltage of the designer of such a device will have to be selected through experiments. Therefore, the practice of using a UPS transformer as the basis of a computer power supply is far from the best idea.

Alteration of an uninterruptible power supply for charging

In this case, a minimal transformation similar to the one described in the paragraph above is not needed. After all, the uninterruptible power supply has its own battery, which is charged as needed. As a result, to turn the UPS into Charger you need to do the following:

Locate the primary and secondary circuit of the transformer. This process is described in the paragraph above.

Apply 220 volts to the primary circuit by inserting a voltage regulator into the circuit - as such, you can use a rheostat for light bulbs that replaces the traditional switch.

The regulator will help calibrate the voltage at the output winding in the range from 0 to 14-15 volts. The insertion point of the regulator is in front of the primary winding.

Connect a 40-50 ampere diode bridge to the secondary winding of the transformer.

Connect the terminals of the diode bridge to the corresponding poles of the battery.

The battery charge level is monitored by its indicator or voltmeter.

Write a letter

For any question, you can use this form.

There is a good use for old uninterruptible power supplies that are not used due to a small malfunction or because battery replacement is not cost effective. I have such a unit, manufactured in the mid-90s, with a long-unusable battery. I will remake it.

These UPSs usually have sealed lead batteries that can be easily removed by removing 1-2 screws through the door at the bottom. In my case, it turned out that the battery swelled, leaked, covering the compartment with white acid crystals. Therefore, it was necessary to remove the case to remove and clean it.

Electrical modification

We assume that the electronics are working, then the alteration is as follows:

1. Disable network cable. We cut off the mains plug and solder the connector for 12V. Although this cord will work, it is better to use a different one with a larger wire diameter. Low voltage and constant current means high amperage, hence thicker wires are needed.

2. We insert a new cable into a regular hole and strengthen it with a stopper.
3. Disconnect wires from circuit breaker. We solder one wire of the new cable to the rear contact of the circuit breaker.
4. Connect the battery wires to the new input. We connect one wire to the 2nd contact of the circuit breaker. The other is with the second wire of the new cable. OBSERVE POLARITY! Usually on cars, the red wires are “+” and the black ones are “-”.
5. We modify the mechanical switch on the front panel so that the unit works immediately when the connector is connected (you can also use a two-position switch). Often they have 3 positions. “Common” is usually in the middle, the value of the other 2 is determined by the tester when the switch is pressed. We connect the test / network incl.

Testing

We check the performance, the correct values ​​\u200b\u200bof voltage and frequency.

To adjust them, these blocks usually have trimming resistors.

Carefully! There is a high voltage of 220V!

Usage

We assemble the body. The new inverter can be used for laptop, etc. Do not connect devices with motors to it. For a UPS, it is generally recommended to load no more than 75% of the output power. If you weren't using a thick enough wire and plug, I would recommend reducing this figure to 50-60%.

And I also want to note one point, if you decide to buy a new car, then there is an excellent car dealership in Moscow, where prices will pleasantly surprise you. Hurry up, promotions and loans, discounts and helpful staff will help you with your choice.

With this post, I begin a story about a series of upgrades that my Volga has undergone recently. Today we will talk about how to get a relatively powerful source of 220V electricity in a car, and, in fact, with zero investment.

Situations when it is required to have city voltage in the car electrical network occur quite frequently. For example, for work, I occasionally need to transport live fish over long distances, and I need to connect oxygen compressors somewhere. Plus, for a long time there was an idea to organize a full-fledged navigational place for long hauls, and this requires connecting a laptop. Then, in the future, there are plans to assemble a refrigeration unit for transporting fish in the heat, the donor for which will be an old refrigerator powered by a 220V network. Well, the little things - often you don’t even expect when and why you need apartment electricity in the car, so it’s better that it always be.

Of course, today you can buy various kinds of inverters, as they say, for every taste and budget, but those devices that I had to deal with had two significant drawbacks. First of all, it is a low maximum power. Say, the most common inverters, included in the light and do not require special installation on the car, have a maximum load of about 150W. Slightly more advanced modules requiring already standard installation, still rarely reach the mark of 300W, and they are more expensive. The second important drawback is the quality of the electrical sine wave produced by the inverter. It is clear that when converted from direct current into an alternating one, the sinusoid is modulated artificially, but the quality of this modulation is different for different devices. In the same inverter connected to the cigarette lighter (which I had until now), the nature of the sinusoid is far from optimal, as a result, when connecting a laptop, its adapter was very hot, which, in theory, could lead to a breakdown of an expensive unit. It is possible, of course, that inverters of the highest price category are devoid of the shortcomings voiced, but they have another, no less significant, minus - the price. Personally, I am not ready to give the cost of a set of winter tires for an inverter.

The solution was found in using the board from an old uninterruptible power supply (hereinafter referred to as UPS). In general, I have already written about how I successfully used car battery for a UPS at home (), and now the opposite idea arose - to use a UPS in a car. Fortunately, I just had a broken UPS - it did not see the connection to the network (i.e., it did not charge the battery and did not pass the mains current to consumers), but it perfectly converted 12V DC to 220V AC, while having peak power of 800W. Exactly what is needed!

True, if you decide to follow in my footsteps and make a car inverter from a UPS, then do not forget to take into account one point - many modern uninterruptible power supplies have a shutdown timer that is hardwired into the board. Such devices, through certain time work (say, after 15 minutes) are turned off, regardless of the battery charge level. They are not suitable for use as a car inverter. But I was lucky, I didn’t have a UPS of the first freshness, and when it was produced, then, probably, the shutdown timer had not yet gained popularity (I don’t remember the exact model, but CyberPower).

And so, for starters, you should throw away the body of the device - it will not be needed, because it is planned to install a stationary socket mounted in the passenger compartment. Getting into the car, you need to solve two main problems - where to get power from and where to place the inverter. I'll tell you about solving these issues using the example of my Volga.

To begin with, I began to solve the issue of power supply, even asked on the thematic forum, but opinions were divided there - some insisted on connecting such a load directly to the battery, while others allowed connection to the steering column. It is clear that it is more reliable to connect to the battery, but I really did not want to drill a hole into the engine compartment. At the same time, the wire, in fact, directly from the battery, goes to the ignition switch, and this is convenient, but the downside is that this wire has an insufficient diameter to provide such power. In addition, I planned to bring seat heating to the same line.

But, in the end, I figured out all the options, and still decided to connect to the ignition switch, only by supplying the connection with a fuse not for 70A, as it should be for the load, but for 40A, i.e., for the load that the on-board network is designed for " Volga". This solution will slightly reduce the maximum allowable power of the inverter, but I don’t have the task of using it 100% (the load, at least according to the plans, should not exceed 400W, and this will rarely happen). In any case, I don’t risk a fire in the car - the borate network is designed for 40A, and the fuse will not let a large load through.

Connection through a fuse under the steering block (in the photo, during the tests, a 20A fuse was used).

Now, when it became clear what to connect the inverter to, it remains to solve the second question - where to put it. The board there is quite impressive, it should stand not far from the control panel (because I didn’t want to bother with lengthening two dozen small wires). At the same time, it was necessary to place the socket on the side of the seat of the passenger-navigator.

Then I remembered that on the Volga with the ZMZ-406 engine, to the right of the passenger's foot, behind the door, under the "pot-bellied" plastic lining, there is an ECU. But I have a car with a Chrysler engine, and its “brain” is under the hood, but that same “pot-bellied” pad is still present. It would be logical to think that it is empty under it, and there is enough space there to locate the entire inverter unit. In short, I unscrewed this overlay, and there really is emptiness - lucky!

Now I figured out how the inverter nodes would be located (and there are, in fact, three of them - a socket, a control board and a conversion board), outlined this location, and began to melt holes with a hot knife on the burner.

Plastic plate with socket and control unit installed on it.

True, the weather left much to be desired, pouring rain, so I had to pull the army OZK between the door and the roof, and turn on the burner already under such shelter.

Here's a makeshift shelter from the rain

After the socket and the control board have taken their places, it remains to install the inverter board itself on the back of the plastic panel. But this is no longer difficult.

Inverter assembly on reverse side panels.

Now it remains to connect to the power supply and put the plastic cover in place. Plus I used the same one that I spoke about above, and I took the minus from the case from the nearest reliable connection. Collected everything, checked - it works!

View of the 220V socket in the seat of the passenger-navigator

At the same time, the system, of course, is not always on (so as not to put a load on the on-board network when it is not necessary). I kept the regular UPS control system, with all the indications - it not only informs about the state of the inverter, but also allows you to turn it on and off as needed.

From a close distance, the control board and socket are visible.

But just in case, I didn’t turn off the sound signal about the operation of the inverter - a soft squeak once a minute or two (I don’t remember exactly) doesn’t really bother me, but the chances of accidentally leaving the device on and landing the battery will drop sharply.

Well, actually, everything is on the sim - now I always have a powerful and high-quality source in my car alternating current 220V. In the next post, we'll talk about how to modernize and improve the climate control unit on the Volga.