Inverter/Battery solutions for online teaching

M

MaineCoonGirl

New Member
Joined
Dec 20, 2019
Messages
2
Reaction score
0
Hi all,

I know exactly zero about how ups/inverter/battery works so I need you to help me figure out the cheapest yet most effective way to stay online (and streaming in-class {Skype/Zoom}).

I don't need to run anything other than 2 PCs and the router for roughly 3 - 4 hours, but a couple of spanners first.

1st computer is inside the main house very close to the router (10m?) while the second computer is in the cottage relatively far away from the router and will be getting a signal via TP-LINK AV600 Wi-Fi Powerline Extender Starter Kit.

Q1 - Will ups/battery/inverter switch on automatically?
Q2 - Will I need to move closer to the router?
Q3 - What size of what exactly do I need?
(links to the products or at least names will be highly appreciated!)

Mainecoongirl
 
Get yourself the Mecer Trolley and a very long extension for the relatively far cottage.

Look at different places and compare prices, it doesn't necessarily have to be identical to this one.

Mecer 1440 W/2400 VA Inverter Kit with Trolley | Inverters | Inverters | Inverters & Solar Panels | Electrical | Hardware & Auto | Makro Online Site

www.makro.co.za www.makro.co.za

Yes, it changes over automatically, don't know about computers but switchover is seamless for my TV.

You don't need to move closer, you just need to make sure the backup power is brought closer to your appliances.
 
Not sure how well the powerline networking will work over an inverter/ups circuit
 
PsyWulf said:
Not sure how well the powerline networking will work over an inverter/ups circuit
Click to expand...
Works fine on the inverter generator we use to power the house during load shedding, would a stand alone inverter be different?
 
@TheChamp Thank you for the ideas and info. and thanks but that's waaaaay too expensive.
@MightyQuin The reviews I've watched are pretty positive, why do you say powerline is kak? I'm using a wifi extender currently but it still goes black at the end of the cottage.
@bwana That's good to know! Thanks

My friend recently got these and recommends them because they are very inexpensive:

800W Inverter 12V with Built-in 6A Battery Charger (Modified Sinewave) - GeeWiz

800W Inverter 12V with Built-in 6A Battery Charger (Modified Sinewave) for sale online at the Best Prices! Door to Door and Overnight Delivery
www.geewiz.co.za www.geewiz.co.za

www.geewiz.co.za

Royal Delkor NS40 35AH Battery - 12 Volt

35AH Semi-Sealed Lead Calcium Battery 12V
www.geewiz.co.za www.geewiz.co.za
 
bwana said:
Works fine on the inverter generator we use to power the house during load shedding, would a stand alone inverter be different?
Click to expand...
Dunno,not all inverters are equal when it comes to clean power
 
MaineCoonGirl said:
@TheChamp Thank you for the ideas and info. and thanks but that's waaaaay too expensive.
@MightyQuin The reviews I've watched are pretty positive, why do you say powerline is kak? I'm using a wifi extender currently but it still goes black at the end of the cottage.
@bwana That's good to know! Thanks

My friend recently got these and recommends them because they are very inexpensive:

800W Inverter 12V with Built-in 6A Battery Charger (Modified Sinewave) - GeeWiz

800W Inverter 12V with Built-in 6A Battery Charger (Modified Sinewave) for sale online at the Best Prices! Door to Door and Overnight Delivery
www.geewiz.co.za www.geewiz.co.za

www.geewiz.co.za

Royal Delkor NS40 35AH Battery - 12 Volt

35AH Semi-Sealed Lead Calcium Battery 12V
www.geewiz.co.za www.geewiz.co.za
Click to expand...
Well,you said 2 PCs for 4 hours
Napkin math:
You'd need about 250AH battery capacity at 12v to give you 4 hours under 300watts of load to drain your batteries to 50% which is the absolute minimum charge you should go to
35AH should give you 35min?
 
MaineCoonGirl said:
@TheChamp Thank you for the ideas and info. and thanks but that's waaaaay too expensive.
@MightyQuin The reviews I've watched are pretty positive, why do you say powerline is kak? I'm using a wifi extender currently but it still goes black at the end of the cottage.
@bwana That's good to know! Thanks

My friend recently got these and recommends them because they are very inexpensive:

800W Inverter 12V with Built-in 6A Battery Charger (Modified Sinewave) - GeeWiz

800W Inverter 12V with Built-in 6A Battery Charger (Modified Sinewave) for sale online at the Best Prices! Door to Door and Overnight Delivery
www.geewiz.co.za www.geewiz.co.za

www.geewiz.co.za

Royal Delkor NS40 35AH Battery - 12 Volt

35AH Semi-Sealed Lead Calcium Battery 12V
www.geewiz.co.za www.geewiz.co.za
Click to expand...
That is unfortunately not going to work for two PCs for 3 to 4hrs. Also note the inverter does not have an automatic switchover.

If you want to settle for that at least consider a bigger battery. The set you friend got is just good enough for routers and very small appliances.
 
MaineCoonGirl said:
Thank you for the ideas and info. and thanks but that's waaaaay too expensive
Click to expand...

That is a budget setup. These things are expensive unfortunately. You can probably assemble something cheaper by yourself if you have the knowledge but you won't get under +-R6000 for a setup that's going to last a few years.
 
B-1 said:
That's the better option I think as well.
Click to expand...
It's an overkill for two PCs, and if she has R6k for that then why not go for this?
www.geewiz.co.za

1200VA Mecer Inverter + 100AH Battery (4 HOUR BATTERY LIFE) KIT - 720W (150-200 cycles) - 12 Month Warranty

Mecer Inverter 1200VA (720W) + 20A Charger SIMILAR to INTELLIPOWER 2 or TESCOM 1000VA UNIT Includes 1x 100Ah Battery + Battery Case All cabling included 12-month warranty on the inverter PLEASE NOTE: The 4-hour battery life is based on a 150W consumption. Typically, a TV, lamp, wifi router, and...
www.geewiz.co.za www.geewiz.co.za

Use the petrol money to get an extra battery.
 
TheChamp said:
It's an overkill for two PCs, and if she has R6k for that then why not go for this?
www.geewiz.co.za

1200VA Mecer Inverter + 100AH Battery (4 HOUR BATTERY LIFE) KIT - 720W (150-200 cycles) - 12 Month Warranty

Mecer Inverter 1200VA (720W) + 20A Charger SIMILAR to INTELLIPOWER 2 or TESCOM 1000VA UNIT Includes 1x 100Ah Battery + Battery Case All cabling included 12-month warranty on the inverter PLEASE NOTE: The 4-hour battery life is based on a 150W consumption. Typically, a TV, lamp, wifi router, and...
www.geewiz.co.za www.geewiz.co.za

Use the petrol money to get an extra battery.
Click to expand...
They probably saying 4 hours till flat, so will need another battery at least. What if the power doesn't come back on in 4 hours like in some many cases?
 
TheChamp said:
It's an overkill for two PCs, and if she has R6k for that then why not go for this?
www.geewiz.co.za

1200VA Mecer Inverter + 100AH Battery (4 HOUR BATTERY LIFE) KIT - 720W (150-200 cycles) - 12 Month Warranty

Mecer Inverter 1200VA (720W) + 20A Charger SIMILAR to INTELLIPOWER 2 or TESCOM 1000VA UNIT Includes 1x 100Ah Battery + Battery Case All cabling included 12-month warranty on the inverter PLEASE NOTE: The 4-hour battery life is based on a 150W consumption. Typically, a TV, lamp, wifi router, and...
www.geewiz.co.za www.geewiz.co.za

Use the petrol money to get an extra battery.
Click to expand...

How do you calculate it? I took the following:

300w per PC (PC+screen+periferals like cameras etc)
100w for routers, range extenders led light.
That gets to 700w pretty easy.

Even if we drop that to 500w for 4 hours we looking at:

500w/12v = 42amp
42amp*4 = 168ah
Double that for 50% discharge and we already at 336 amp hours worth of battery.
 
wingnut771 said:
They probably saying 4 hours till flat, so will need another battery at least. What if the power doesn't come back on in 4 hours like in some many cases?
Click to expand...
I guess there are many what ifs to consider, I will leave that to the OP.

I have the 2400VA with 4 batteries and 200W of solar, it runs forever, you could also ask me what if there is no sun or any other what if, it just seems to work for me. I find generators to be just too much hassle, but that's just a personal opinion of mine.
 
B-1 said:
How do you calculate it? I took the following:

300w per PC (PC+screen+periferals like cameras etc)
100w for routers, range extenders led light.
That gets to 700w pretty easy.

Even if we drop that to 500w for 4 hours we looking at:

500w/12v = 42amp
42amp*4 = 168ah
Double that for 50% discharge and we already at 336 amp hours worth of battery.
Click to expand...
I did not calculate, hence my statement about using the petrol money for an extra battery, I guess someone will soon be asking me of the petrol price calculation and the price of a battery. It's clear that OP doesn't have the budget so whatever she gets will be inadequate, I am hoping it will be something she improves on in time.

To me the inverter could be enhanced to suit whatever requirement, yes at an extra cost, but it just looks like less hassle than a noisy generator and all that comes with it.

But I don't want to make an argument of it.
 
Reviving this thread, looking at buying one of these inverter trolleys.

Wanted to know if anyone has hooked up solar panels to charge it?
And if you did, how much did it cost?
 
>Reaper< said:
Reviving this thread, looking at buying one of these inverter trolleys.

Wanted to know if anyone has hooked up solar panels to charge it?
And if you did, how much did it cost?
Click to expand...

Rough figure from what I have recently done for my parents, about R7k for two 160W panels, 30A MPPT controller, mounting and wiring excluding my free labour.

Mine is 2 x 100W panels, not installed, just lying on the balcony ( R1500 for 2), a cheap PWM controller for R350 and some wires, so about R2500 for the whole thing.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X