[Hidden-tech] Backup power

[David Korpiewski]

APC (apc.com) has some VERY large battery rack configurations that are 
designed to keep huge server running for long periods of time.  The 
advantage to these is they run on 220v power and put out 220v power, so 
you could technically tie it directly into your panel.   The downside to 
this is you are going to pay a fortune for this ~20-30k.

It really depends on what you want to do.  If you run your web sites 
from within your company, with the power down, your Internet connection 
might be down regardless of your office having power.   If you want to 
simply continue using your computer(s), then a large battery rack would 
be the most effective solution

Ultimately a gas generator would be the cheapest solution.   You could 
get one to power your office for under 1000 dollars.  Then just keep 5 
gallons of gas on hand and refill as necessary.  The UPS's in your 
office would keep your computer going while you start your generator. 
If you know a good electrician, they can literally set up your panel so 
that you plug the generator into the panel and then hit a button and 
start the generator.  You'd get going in well under 5 minutes.

David




Robert Heller wrote:
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> 
> At Sat, 20 Jan 2007 15:51:00 -0500 Jean Graef <jean.graef at montague.com> wrote:
> 
>> MIME-Version: 1.0
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>>    ** The author of this post was a Good Dobee.
>>    ** You too can help the group
>>    ** Fill out the survey/skills inventory in the member's area.
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>>
>>
>>
>>
>> The recent winds and ice have made us think again about backup power
>> for both our computers and household appliances. I still remember one
>> spring when the power was out for 3 days.
>>
>> We have battery backup on all our computers, but the longest any of
>> them last is a half hour and the manufacturer wasn't any help for a
>> whole office/house.
> 
> The UPS systems commonly used for (home/office) computers are designed
> for either short power loses and/or to provide time to do a 'clean'
> shutdown.  Not really meant for long term functioning during a power
> failure.
> 
> Data centers that need to be up 24/7 no matter what use completely
> different technology, generally a diesel generator is the ultimate backup
> power.  Ditto for hospitals and the like.
> 
>> Does anyone have any ideas about how to get backup power for 3 - 4
>> days without using a generator?
> 
> How much power are you talking about? 
> 
> A typical household has electrical service of 220V at up to 100A, or
> something like 220*100 VA, or 22KVA.  4 days is 4*24 hours = 96 hours. 
> 22KVA for 96 hours yields 2112KVAHr, or a seriously large amount of
> battery storage.  Now the 22KVA service allows for heavy appliances,
> such as washing machines, dryers, stoves/ovens, hot-water heaters, etc. 
> I will assume that you what you want is 'essential' 'service': the
> computers, lights, small appliances and that you plan to skip things
> like laundry or massive feast/baking projects during a 3-4 day power
> outage, so what you need to do first is figure out what that amounts
> to, in terms of power requirements.
> 
> A *large* pile of deep-cycle batteries and a (large) DC-AC inverter is
> possible. 2112KVAHr is a huge pile of batteries, though. You would need
> a way to charge the batteries as well -- this could include solar
> (photo-voltaic) or a windmill.  A fuel cell system is also possible (I
> believe GE makes fuel cells that 'burn' propane or natural gas). 
> Neither are particularly cheap (once you add up all of the pieces). A
> generator is probably the most cost effective way to keep your
> household running for several days during a power failure.
> It is possible to get a *diesel* generator and burn bio-diesel (this is
> a little more environmentally friendly).  
> 
>> Jean
>> -----------------------------------------------
>> Jean Graef
>> The Montague Institute
>> www.montague.com
>> -----------------------------------------------
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-- 
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David Korpiewski                     Phone: 413-545-4319
Software Specialist I                Fax:   413-577-2285
Department of Computer Science       ICQ:   7565766
University of Massachusetts Amherst
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