Modifying a RCT2000VA UPS with an External charger

thehuman said:
No need to wory about exceeding charge current on bateries
Max charge current is 30 amps
Try mantech for an pannel meter it not realy necessary tho
Can use a cheap multimeter too
I still see no problem conecting both ups + bateries + external charger and let it be :)
Click to expand...

Me to, but not sure if internal charger will damage batteries. Will try at next loadshedding.
Can I then run a load and charge them at the same time
 
KOPITE said:
Me to, but not sure if internal charger will damage batteries. Will try at next loadshedding.
Can I then run a load and charge them at the same time
Click to expand...

Just don't let the ups be in battery mode and gets charged from the external charger (unlikely tho if normal loadsheding)

When ups runs of mains power the load is isolated from the internal inverter
 
I will check out the RCT2000 and see if I can figure it out. I mean my mod on my UPS was simple.

To disconnect the crappy charging circuit on my Powerman was easy. Three desoldered pins and that was that...also one PCB for everything....much the same with other's I would imagine.

I leave the external charger and the UPS on 24/7. When Eskom bails all appears normal and everything keeps working as if nothing happened....except of course beep..beep..beep.

Now that is what we need to do to the RCT2000.

I will see if management is interested tomorrow. I do not need to buy a RCT2000 to experiment with (my system is fine and safe)..
But yes we could all learn here :)
 
thehuman said:
Just don't let the ups be in battery mode and gets charged from the external charger (unlikely tho if normal loadsheding)

When ups runs of mains power the load is isolated from the internal inverter
Click to expand...

I see what you mean. Never thought of that. Leave the power on permanently and ups. Battery mode will only kick in when power is off and ups is off.

So then ups and external charger will then be running permanently. I'm I correct
 
amongstthevotingfodder said:
I will check out the RCT2000 and see if I can figure it out. I mean my mod on my UPS was simple.

To disconnect the crappy charging circuit on my Powerman was easy. Three desoldered pins and that was that...also one PCB for everything....much the same with other's I would imagine.

I leave the external charger and the UPS on 24/7. When Eskom bails all appears normal and everything keeps working as if nothing happened....except of course beep..beep..beep.

Now that is what we need to do to the RCT2000.

I will see if management is interested tomorrow. I do not need to buy a RCT2000 to experiment with (my system is fine and safe)..
But yes we could all learn here :)
Click to expand...

Will take some pics tommorr
 
amongstthevotingfodder said:
I will check out the RCT2000 and see if I can figure it out. I mean my mod on my UPS was simple.

To disconnect the crappy charging circuit on my Powerman was easy. Three desoldered pins and that was that...also one PCB for everything....much the same with other's I would imagine.

I leave the external charger and the UPS on 24/7. When Eskom bails all appears normal and everything keeps working as if nothing happened....except of course beep..beep..beep.

Now that is what we need to do to the RCT2000.

I will see if management is interested tomorrow. I do not need to buy a RCT2000 to experiment with (my system is fine and safe)..
But yes we could all learn here :)
Click to expand...

i have a friend who possibly have a blown model , he does not answer his messages at moment tho (will try get it and inspect )
I know some ups the charging is integrated in the inverted ( i know the apc i have is like this )
 
KOPITE said:
I see what you mean. Never thought of that. Leave the power on permanently and ups. Battery mode will only kick in when power is off and ups is off.

So then ups and external charger will then be running permanently. I'm I correct
Click to expand...

Correct when battery is full it will be charged in float mode ( no damage to battery)
 
KOPITE said:
I see what you mean. Never thought of that. Leave the power on permanently and ups. Battery mode will only kick in when power is off and ups is off.

So then ups and external charger will then be running permanently. I'm I correct
Click to expand...

And they will be fighting each other...internal UPS charger and external charger. One is trying to pull the battery up to 14.4V...the other wants to keep it @ 13.6- 13.8V.....

OKAY. Enough. I will post a new thread if and when I know more about the RCT2000.

Until then stay safe and don't try stupid things.
 
amongstthevotingfodder said:
And they will be fighting each other...internal UPS charger and external charger. One is trying to pull the battery up to 14.4V...the other wants to keep it @ 13.6- 13.8V.....

OKAY. Enough. I will post a new thread if and when I know more about the RCT2000.

Until then stay safe and don't try stupid things.
Click to expand...

You missing the point. The internal charger will only come on once ups is in battery mode if there is no power or ups turned off. The external charger will be the only one running.
 
KOPITE said:
You missing the point. The internal charger will only come on once ups is in battery mode if there is no power or ups turned off. The external charger will be the only one running.
Click to expand...

No not really .
Power falied
Ups on battery mode no power to charge
Power back external + internal charger starts to charge
 
amongstthevotingfodder said:
And they will be fighting each other...internal UPS charger and external charger. One is trying to pull the battery up to 14.4V...the other wants to keep it @ 13.6- 13.8V.....

OKAY. Enough. I will post a new thread if and when I know more about the RCT2000.

Until then stay safe and don't try stupid things.
Click to expand...

No worries
I can get a 1kva broken model of rct range
Will try inspect
My measurements I found is if ups tries to charge at 13.8 v and battery above 13.8v eg 14.4 ups stops charging (external charger charging only)
This is my experience with a ups that float charge at 13.8 and a 3 stage solar controller
 
thehuman said:
Just don't let the ups be in battery mode and gets charged from the external charger (unlikely tho if normal loadsheding)

When ups runs of mains power the load is isolated from the internal inverter
Click to expand...

I thought this statement says what I meant. Guess i was wrong.
 
KOPITE said:
I thought this statement says what I meant. Guess i was wrong.
Click to expand...

:)
What i meant there is don't do the following

External Charger(mains live)->battery->ups(mains disconnected , running in battery/inverter mode) -> ups
Above is how an on-line ups work (ups must be a very robust extended run model ) to do above

Sitting in semi dark still have 1 hour loadshedding left ( my ups dont understand my battery think battery @ 40% but sitting at 90%)
will upgrade inverter soon
 
thehuman said:
No worries
I can get a 1kva broken model of rct range
Will try inspect
My measurements I found is if ups tries to charge at 13.8 v and battery above 13.8v eg 14.4 ups stops charging (external charger charging only)
This is my experience with a ups that float charge at 13.8 and a 3 stage solar controller
Click to expand...

Get it. Take photo's. Show me how it looks inside.
We can do this. I am basically working on assumptions and that helps buggerall :confused:

We (assuming a new partner) can educate to the benefit of all. We can all learn here. That's what it is ultimately about.
 
thehuman said:
:)
What i meant there is don't do the following

External Charger(mains live)->battery->ups(mains disconnected , running in battery/inverter mode) -> ups
Above is how an on-line ups work (ups must be a very robust extended run model ) to do above

Sitting in semi dark still have 1 hour loadshedding left ( my ups dont understand my battery think battery @ 40% but sitting at 90%)
will upgrade inverter soon
Click to expand...

So you mean having the external battery connected and also connected via power plug. Ups then disconnected from power plug or off and running in battery mode. Will this method damage the ups then
 
amongstthevotingfodder said:
Get it. Take photo's. Show me how it looks inside.
We can do this. I am basically working on assumptions and that helps buggerall :confused:

We (assuming a new partner) can educate to the benefit of all. We can all learn here. That's what it is ultimately about.
Click to expand...

Every model different , the APC 700 XL i have the charger is integrated in the inverter ( no ways to disconect charger )
This ups is about 15 + years old :)
Ran it of a month with 100AH bateries ( Charges at 5A Limited , 27.7V Limited )
Then bought 300w of solar pannels inc 3 stage charge controller
Monitored it When Battery empty it charges 5 + solar charger till 27.7 volts then ups stopped charging
Solar charge till 28.8 then when current drop to 0.5A it switch over to 27.7 V
Solar and UPS share the 0.5 Amps
 
KOPITE said:
So you mean having the external battery connected and also connected via power plug. Ups then disconnected from power plug or off and running in battery mode. Will this method damage the ups then
Click to expand...

Not sure how i can explain
Lets try this
Scenario A

Your power dies
ups kicks in starts to run from external batteries
Charger loose power so it stops charging
Power comes back
UPS goes in bypass mode and computers runs from mains
Charger gets power from mains starts charging batteries

Scenario B (Undesired do not do )
Power mains is fine
Charger busy working on battery
Computers run via ups on mains voltage

Now you only unplug the ups mains supply (Charger still have power)
Computers run from batteries (But charger still tries to charge batteries coz it still have mains)
Batteries never runs flat or discharge at a very slow rate

Scenario A is fine according to me
Scenario B can in long run put excess strain on ups and charger and can overheat
I realy hope this makes sense
My power just came back seems load shedding cancelled
 
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