Choosing the right backup solution

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KaMoS

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I'm gatvol of load shedding and I am thinking of getting a backup power source. A colleague recommended the Crystal Intellipower 4 kit sold by Maiden Electronics. I did some research and found that this system might suit my needs but I'm not sure, so I thought I'd ask here.

This is what I want to backup:

TV (60" Plasma) - 270W
Receiver (Denon AVR-X2100W) - 500W
Media PC (Microserver) - 150W
Desktop PC - 400W
LCD Monitor (Samsung T240) - 150W
Modem (Huawei B593) - 30W
Lamps - 2x10W

Total: 1570W

Now I know this is peak power usage and most of the devices won't pull that much power on average.

So what do you guys think, will the Crystal Intellipower 4 kit suit my needs?

Also, the other options that I found are the Inverex Intellipower 4 kit (also sold by Maiden Electronics), as far as I can see it is the same as the Crystal except for an LCD, and the Mecer 2400VA Inverter + 2x 102Ah Battery kit sold by Geewiz. What is your opinion on these?
 
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envo

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A pre-built option always comes with a premium. So watch out for that. Looks good.

I'd get a Kilowatt meter to get a better idea. But this Intellipower thing looks nice. Too bad you can't hook it up directly your DC board and have the plugs in the living room / spare room work as well as the lights
 
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elbow

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Power

KaMoS said:
This is what I want to backup:

TV (60" Plasma) - 270W
Receiver (Denon AVR-X2100W) - 500W
Media PC (Microserver) - 150W
Desktop PC - 400W
LCD Monitor (Samsung T240) - 150W
Modem (Huawei B593) - 30W
Lamps - 2x10W
Click to expand...

For reference, this lot together draws about 250W in total: 42" LCD tv, Explora, Bluray player / 5.1 system, Mac Mini, ADSL modem etc, and a 6W LED lamp.

In particular I think you'll find your receiver and the desktop PC draw much much less than you have quoted.

Steve
 
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KaMoS

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envo said:
A pre-built option always comes with a premium. So watch out for that. Looks good.

I'd get a Kilowatt meter to get a better idea. But this Intellipower thing looks nice. Too bad you can't hook it up directly your DC board and have the plugs in the living room / spare room work as well as the lights
Click to expand...
The sales rep said that I can hook it up to the distribution board and my friend had his one done that way, so it is possible.
 
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KaMoS

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elbow said:
For reference, this lot together draws about 250W in total: 42" LCD tv, Explora, Bluray player / 5.1 system, Mac Mini, ADSL modem etc, and a 6W LED lamp.

In particular I think you'll find your receiver and the desktop PC draw much much less than you have quoted.

Steve
Click to expand...

Yeah, figured. How much usage would I get on say 400w draw?
 
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desiganp

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KaMoS said:
Yeah, figured. How much usage would I get on say 400w draw?
Click to expand...

With 2 x 100Ah batteries :

400w/12v = 33.33A.

You will have 100Ah at 50% discharge (2 x 100Ah) -> 100Ah/33.33A = approx 3 hours, less say 20% losses from DC to AC and you looking at about 2.5 hours. Rough estimate.
 
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mmacleod

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desiganp said:
With 2 x 100Ah batteries :

400w/12v = 33.33A.

You will have 100Ah at 50% discharge (2 x 100Ah) -> 100Ah/33.33A = approx 3 hours, less say 20% losses from DC to AC and you looking at about 2.5 hours. Rough estimate.
Click to expand...

I think (though it depends on the exact batteries) - but at that rate of discharge you are looking more at about 75Ah actual power from the batteries with the rest going to heat,the faster you draw from a battery (particularly lead acid) the less actual power you get out and the more heat they generate instead...
So 75Ah/33.33A - After other losses I think around 1.6 or so hours is more reasonable.


Correct me if I'm wrong :)
 
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elbow

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KaMoS said:
Yeah, figured. How much usage would I get on say 400w draw?
Click to expand...

Hi,

My setup is 2 x 105AH AGM batteries. With my load - that 250W or so I'm about 30% discharged after a load shedding period (about 2 to 2 1/4 hours here). That seems more or less in line with the calculations.

So with 400W I'd guess close to 50% discharged in the same time. Which is about as far as you want to go.

Steve
 
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elbow

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The_Traveller said:
If you like noise, then these kind of inverters are for you.
Click to expand...

As much as I love geeking out on this stuff, I have limited budget, and my backup power system is really just a convenience so needs to have a reasonable cost.

My 2 x 105AH AGM batteries plus the Mecer 1200VA inverter with cables, fuses, trips etc cost I suppose around R6.5k.

Inverter and batteries are installed in the garage and so the fan isn't audible in the house.

I think its great value. We sit comfortably in a well lit living room. TV works. Music if we prefer. My internet is up, cordless IP phone works, my Plex box keeps running and no more reboot hassles. And there is plenty of headroom on the system.

So sure - 5kVA Axpert plumbed into the DB would have been great but that would have been a R15k system so fails my personal cost / benefit analysis.

Victron? R25k?

Before I did the inverter I had previously done some LED lamps on burglar alarm batteries, and ran my ADSL / Wifi on battery too. I guess that effort cost about R1k so even that modest spend had good benefits.

Steve
 
The_Traveller

The_Traveller

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elbow said:
As much as I love geeking out on this stuff, I have limited budget, and my backup power system is really just a convenience so needs to have a reasonable cost.

My 2 x 105AH AGM batteries plus the Mecer 1200VA inverter with cables, fuses, trips etc cost I suppose around R6.5k.

Inverter and batteries are installed in the garage and so the fan isn't audible in the house.

I think its great value. We sit comfortably in a well lit living room. TV works. Music if we prefer. My internet is up, cordless IP phone works, my Plex box keeps running and no more reboot hassles. And there is plenty of headroom on the system.

So sure - 5kVA Axpert plumbed into the DB would have been great but that would have been a R15k system so fails my personal cost / benefit analysis.

Victron? R25k?

Before I did the inverter I had previously done some LED lamps on burglar alarm batteries, and ran my ADSL / Wifi on battery too. I guess that effort cost about R1k so even that modest spend had good benefits.

Steve
Click to expand...

You can get a Sako 1kw 12v/24v inverter and (better) batteries for around that price . My 3kw barely makes any noise. That fan Hardly comes on.
 
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Eddie01

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Just got a powerstash 1440w inverter at home. need to run about 400w off it but would like to run it through my db. anyone know a good electrician WITH experience on inverters? also require a COC
 
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cozy35

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Eddie01 said:
Just got a powerstash 1440w inverter at home. need to run about 400w off it but would like to run it through my db. anyone know a good electrician WITH experience on inverters? also require a COC
Click to expand...

What the hell is a powerstash inverter?
 
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