Charger, Inverter, Deep Cycle Batteries
Posted: Wed Feb 17, 2010 4:39 am
This is another article in my series of practical solutions to Nigeria's problems.
In response to incessant power interruptions in Nigeria, I recently built a friend a battery power backup system. This is an alternative solution to Diesel Generators.
Not even Abuja is immune to PHCN's incompetence, since my friend lives in Abuja.
The idea of this Power backup system is quite simple. When power is on from PHCN (NEPA), the battery Charger charges the Battery.
When PHCN strikes with a blackout, the battery takes over. One can run several electrical devices on the charged Battery.
Typically the backup system runs fans, light bulbs, laptop, TV, cellphone chargers, etc.
The following are the components that I used to build the system, along with what we paid for them:
The battery puts out 12 volts DC current. As we know, home electrical appliances run on 240 volts AC.
So we need to convert the 12 volts DC coming from the battery to 240 volts AC that our electrical devices require.
The Inverter converts 12 volts DC to 240 volts AC.
The advantages of this power backup system are numerous compared to a conventional diesel generator.
- No noise.
- No fuel required.
- Practically maintenance free once you get it up and running.
- Can be upgraded and downgraded easily.
The above is a 1000W system. Generally, a more powerful system can be built by adding more batteries, and getting a higher wattage Inverter.
The more batteries you have, the longer you can run the system for.
Assuming I want to build a 5kW system, I would need to purchase a 5kW Inverter. I would also need to get more batteries to share the load.
I will post next a step-by-step on how to connect all of the above components together.
In response to incessant power interruptions in Nigeria, I recently built a friend a battery power backup system. This is an alternative solution to Diesel Generators.
Not even Abuja is immune to PHCN's incompetence, since my friend lives in Abuja.
The idea of this Power backup system is quite simple. When power is on from PHCN (NEPA), the battery Charger charges the Battery.
When PHCN strikes with a blackout, the battery takes over. One can run several electrical devices on the charged Battery.
Typically the backup system runs fans, light bulbs, laptop, TV, cellphone chargers, etc.
The following are the components that I used to build the system, along with what we paid for them:
Schumacher SSC-1500A Battery Charger | $49 | |
Deep cycle battery | $180 | |
Senpower 1000W 12V DC to 220V AC Power Inverter | $48 |
The battery puts out 12 volts DC current. As we know, home electrical appliances run on 240 volts AC.
So we need to convert the 12 volts DC coming from the battery to 240 volts AC that our electrical devices require.
The Inverter converts 12 volts DC to 240 volts AC.
The advantages of this power backup system are numerous compared to a conventional diesel generator.
- No noise.
- No fuel required.
- Practically maintenance free once you get it up and running.
- Can be upgraded and downgraded easily.
The above is a 1000W system. Generally, a more powerful system can be built by adding more batteries, and getting a higher wattage Inverter.
The more batteries you have, the longer you can run the system for.
Assuming I want to build a 5kW system, I would need to purchase a 5kW Inverter. I would also need to get more batteries to share the load.
I will post next a step-by-step on how to connect all of the above components together.