Types of UPS for gas boilers: how to choose an inexpensive and reliable one?
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An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) is a device designed to protect a gas boiler from blackouts during power outages, sudden voltage drops and power grid failures.
Gas boiler capable of working around the clock, so to prevent the negative consequences of the above problems, it is important to think about purchasing a UPS.
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Types of UPS kits for gas boilers: what is it
Uninterruptible power supplies are classified according to different criteria: by battery location, operating principle, power supply type.
There are also additional characteristics - the shape of the output signal and the time of switching to the reserve. They are considered secondary features, but still affect the choice of one or another model.
By location of the battery block
Batteries may vary by location and operating principle, are divided into built-in and external, backup, linear-interactive, double conversion.
Built-in
When purchasing a power source for a boiler with a built-in battery, it is worth keeping in mind that its supply is limited.
When the power goes out, this type of UPS gradually supplies the required amount of energy for the boiler (it is not too large), on average, a good battery will last about ten o'clock.
You can connect a gasoline or diesel generator after a power outage to power the UPS, but then another problem arises: the device will not be able to work for long indoors, as the exhaust will make breathing difficult and leave an unpleasant odor in the house.
Attention! Connecting a generator to a gas boiler strictly prohibited, since unstable voltage of the first unit can damage the electronics of the second.
External
On a UPS with such a battery, you can connect another external source. For this, there must be separate grooveIn this case, the UPS operating time will increase.
External batteries have another positive property - rechargingIf you have a generator that runs on gasoline or diesel, you can alternately recharge the depleted tanks.
Photo 1. Uninterruptible power supply for a gas heating boiler with an external battery Cyber Power.
The device can operate outdoors, so no negative consequences its functioning will not be observed. If one battery fails, the second will continue to function (at this time, you can buy a new battery).
Backup sources
Backup UPS for gas boilers have the following advantages:
- affordable price category;
- Possibility of wall and floor mounting;
- compact dimensions.
The low price and small dimensions are achieved due to the absence of a stabilizer. Therefore, such a UPS can only be used in homes where there is stable voltage in the network.
There is a sensor inside the unit that, if there is a shortage of voltage, disconnects the power supply from the network and uses internal resources. On average, its capabilities will last for a period of from a few minutes to two hours.
Linear-interactive
This model differs from the previous variation by the presence of a simple stabilizer. It has a relatively small battery capacity, which is enough for twenty minutes of work. It is possible to connect an external battery, which increases the operating time until ten o'clock.
Photo 2. The Legrand line-interactive UPS can operate for up to ten hours if you connect an external battery to it.
The main difference between the linear-interactive modification on the offline platform is no switching to batteries when voltage drops. This device uses converted voltage in the network when critical values are reached.
The downside of the model is that it is extremely low speed of switching to a spare source power supply, which can negatively affect the performance of the boiler electronics, as well as unstable sine wave output at the moment of maximum load.
Reference! If you have a limited budget and want to at least partially protect your gas boiler from power surges, it makes sense to consider a UPS with AVR stabilizer.
Online Double Conversion Device
Double Conversion Systems – the most reliable of the presented devices, however, their price is significantly higher. Such systems are actively used in server rooms and other areas where expensive electrical equipment is used.
Online UPS includes power supply, batteries and inverter. The operating principle is that alternating current received from the network is converted into direct current.
Then the current turns back into alternating current, but with one modification - a stable frequency and a sine wave appear. If the power is turned off, then the system switches to internal reserves.
Additional batteries can be connected if necessary.
This type of UPS provides maximum protection for the boiler. Of the minuses, only one should be mentioned - the high price. There are several more advantages:
- instant switching to operating mode when the critical point is reached;
- the output signal is correct and stable;
- support for the required voltage parameters.
Selection of a phase-dependent UPS with a stabilizer function
For the most correct choice of a phase-dependent uninterruptible power supply with a stabilizer function, read the instructions for the gas boiler, which indicate parameters by which you should select additional equipment. We are talking about such characteristics as power, capacity, operating time in emergency mode, time of transition to reserve, and output signal shape.
Power
This is one of the important parameters that should be taken into account first of all. After all, the selection of the UPS power determines not only the quality of the boiler operation, but also the safety of its components.
In order to correctly calculate this indicator, it is necessary write down each element that consumes energy and add up the valuesto get the total amount of electricity.
It should be taken into account that starting and nominal the currents have a significant difference.
Example. At the circulation pump the starting current is three times higher, than the nominal value. Therefore, to adjust, you need to multiply the pump value for three, and then add up all the digits. Multiply the result by 1.5. This will give you approximately the number at which the power of the selected UPS will fully cover the requirements of the gas boiler.
Capacity
The larger the capacity of the car battery, the longer the boiler operates from the reserve in the UPS. The best option is have two batteries (or even three – in case of an unexpectedly long power outage in winter) 12V/100Ah.
This ratio is considered optimal, since the difference between 100 Ah and 120 Ah is about 50% cost, and between 50 Ah and 100 Ah - order 40%. So, buy two batteries 12V/100Ah – a good solution from the point of view of both boiler power supply and finances.
Photo 3. N-Power UPS with a small capacity of 12 V x 70 Ah - budget savings and good power supply for a gas boiler.
To use the UPS, the following batteries are required: AGM GEL or AMG. A regular car battery will not work, as it is designed for different starting currents, different consumption, and when connected to a boiler, such a battery will quickly discharge. And discharge is critical for car units, as it destroys their insides.
Important! When using car batteries, there is evaporation of electrolyte, which is quite harmful for the house and its inhabitants.
Emergency operating time
This characteristic is calculated based on the data on the power of the gas boiler with all additional devices (such as a pump) and the type of UPS:
- when connecting an offline UPS, the operating time will make up about 15 minutes;
- for the linear-interactive UPS model – 2–4 hours;
- when operating online units - from 3 hours at maximum load (on average, for a private home this figure rarely exceeds 500 W) to 13.4 hours at a minimum (about 90 W) provided that they are connected two batteries of 12V/100 Ah.
For a more accurate calculation, turn to specialists who, using formulas covering many variables, can give a specific figure, or use an online calculator. This result will not be as accurate, but rather approximate. In the second case, you will have to independently understand the notations that need to be entered.
Time to switch to backup
The optimal choice according to this criterion is – double conversion system (online UPS).
Its response is instantaneous, which allows you to keep all the electronics of the gas boiler intact, the repair of which costs a little less than half the cost of the boiler itself. For such a response speed you will have to pay extra money.
If you calculate the possible damage from power surges in the network, as well as the discomfort caused by the lack of heat when the electricity is turned off, then the cost of such a UPS does not seem so high.
Offline systems with or without stabilizer It switches to backup power supply rather slowly, which creates a real danger of damaging the boiler electronics. Such systems are installed only in places with a reliable and stable power supply. In all other cases, it is worth purchasing double conversion units.
Output signal shape
The correct UPS gives out correct sinusoidal waveform at the output.
It is for this reason that a special UPS must be purchased for a gas boiler, since a computer power source produces an approximated (i.e. approximately expressed, implicit) signal.
A high-quality sine wave can be produced by a UPS with a double conversion system due to the presence of an inverter in its composition. A weaker, but still rectifying sine wave is produced by an offline system UPS with a stabilizer. does not guarantee 100% safety, but with large voltage drops it will still be able to perform its function and protect electronics from destruction.
The most useless in this regard, the unit is regular offline system. It has neither a stabilizer nor an inverter. Connecting such a device is risky, since even city power grids cannot guarantee stable voltage and high-quality operation.
Useful video
From the video you can learn how to choose a UPS system for a gas boiler, what you need to pay attention to.
Choosing the Right Uninterruptible Power Supply for Heating
Double conversion system or online UPS - the most universal and effective way keep your gas boiler intact, and also feed it for some time, preventing the residents of the house from freezing in winter. It is worth paying a little more once and not thinking about the costs associated with repairing the electrical components of the gas boiler for a long time.
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