Even without electricity, stable operation is ensured! DIY uninterruptible power supply for a gas boiler
Devices for uninterruptible power supply of gas boilers will differ from UPS for home appliances (mainly for regular PCs).
If there are problems with the electrics, it is enough to turn off the computer, having saved all the data beforehand, this takes several minutes, then to ensure the heat supply it will take longer to work UPS - 1-2 hours, until the power supply is restored.
Features of UPS for gas boilers
There are two types of uninterruptible power supply devices:
- The device operates in power bypass mode by default., without changing its parameters, and if the signal disappears, it automatically switches to battery power.
- The second type of UPS initially converts electrical energy, bringing it to an optimal form, that is, "levels" the characteristics. In an emergency, it also switches to the power supply mode from the built-in batteries.
The voltage changes in 2 stages:
- first transformation from variable 220V into permanent 12V;
- second step: direct current is converted back to alternating current 220V and 50Hz.
This is necessary to obtain the most “smoothed” current parameters, which allow to extend the service life of electrical elements of boiler equipment. Moreover, the batteries must be constantly recharged.
Install UPS type 1 should only be done if the owner is confident that the network parameters are within normal limits, or when there is already a general stabilizer at the entrance to the house.
In other cases it is recommended to use UPS with "smoothing" circuit. As service companies testify, a high percentage of breakdowns is due to problems with the quality of the supplied electricity.
Can uPS be used for computers
The parameters of the voltage supplied to the consumer in the gas boiler are important. The correct sinusoidal waveform of the input signal And phase coincidence.
This is why it is not recommended to use a household (computer) UPS, only as a last resort for a short period of time.
How to calculate UPS
Most boilers and pumps will not require a large UPS capacity. On average, you will need 300-350 W if there is one pump, then for two - 450-550 W. You should also pay attention to the capacity of the batteries and the power of the charger for the UPS. If you multiply the charging current by 10, we get the maximum possible battery capacity that the charger can handle in ampere-hours.
It is permissible to use either helium or regular batteries. The first type is safe, but the cost 2-3 times higher, than regular car batteries. But it's better not to skimp here: capacious car batteries cannot be too cheap. With a battery capacity of about 50A/h the battery life will be about 8 hours, A at 95-100A/h for about 24 hours.
Attention! Charger power should roughly correspond to the battery capacity.
Selecting inverters
An inverter is an important element of a UPS - a device that converts direct current from the battery into alternating current (220V).
Professionals recommend using devices like CPS (For example: 3500, 7500 and 5000 PRO).
Theoretically, you can assemble an inverter yourself, however, it will not be possible to set it up without special knowledge and professional equipment.
DIY connection
What is required:
- Inverter.
- Batteries.
- Automatic charger for batteries.
- Powerful copper wires.
- Tips and terminals for connecting batteries.
- Wrenches And screwdrivers.
- Two relays to switch modes.
- Cooling fan.
The battery is connected with copper wires, with pre-installed terminals and tips (preferably made of copper, aluminum cannot be used). It is important to follow the connection diagram: "+" to "+", and "-" to "-". The connections should be tightened securely to ensure good contact.
Photo 1. Connection diagram of the uninterruptible power supply to the gas boiler. All parts of the system are labeled.
Also, the wires of the automatic charger are connected to the battery terminals; it is better to use regular ones. car chargers — they read the readings from the battery contacts and (if necessary) turn on the charging current themselves as soon as the voltage drops below the norm. The first relay is used to switch the boiler and pump to the inverter (as soon as the mains voltage disappears), and the second relay helps to activate the batteries. It is recommended to use a cooler (from a PC) to cool the relay.
Reference. If several batteries are connected, then use parallel connection.
Checking the operation of the computer UPS on the boiler
Checking the received UPS can be divided into two procedures:
- Checking the battery charging process.
- Testing the operation of the boiler and pump from batteries.
To check the charge, turn on the power supply and wait 30-40 minutes. If possible, remove (unscrew) the plugs on the battery and look inside: the release of bubbles is normal, and the boiling of the solution indicates that the charging current is too high. You will have to either increase the battery capacity or reduce the starting current.
To test the operation process of the entire system it is necessary to check the operation of the boiler and pump with the network disconnected, powered by pre-charged batteries.
It is important not to connect unnecessary consumers, only the most necessary. It is also important to record the operating time that the equipment will operate autonomously.
Safety and Maintenance
When assembling and operating the finished system are guided by the following rules:
- The wires are used whole (without damage).
- The charging current should not be greater than the total capacity of the batteries., otherwise they may overheat.
- The room must have adequate ventilation., since toxic gases are released when recharging car batteries.
- Electrical equipment is grounded. Grounding using plumbing fixtures (pipes, coils, heating radiators) is not permitted.
- Once a month, inspect the battery terminals., remove dirt and emerging oxide films that disrupt contact between the battery and the inverter.
- Check the fill level of the radiators periodically, if they are serviced and add distilled water. With a small amount of water, the lead plates of the battery begin to "crumble".
Useful video
Watch a video that explains how to choose an uninterruptible power supply for a gas boiler.
The result of savings
When creating a UPS yourself, there is a chance to save about 25-30% of funds. But the resulting device will be inferior to factory analogues: in terms of dimensions, safety and additional functions, including instrument readings.
