Battery back-up tutorial

Yanche wrote:

LsFarm wrote:You guys need to shrink your post size or photo size to no more than 12" wide. I have to walk into the next room to read the text and see the photos on my laptop.

But seriously, I have my laptop at maximum screen size and sometimes someone's text doesn't wrap, or the link or photo is so wide that I only see about 1/2 of it without slewing the screen. Makes me feel small [pouting, sniff, sniff]

Anyway, Yanche how long would that backup power system run your AHS? and circulation pump?

Greg L

What's posted is low resolution, only 1024x768 pixels, 256 colors, 60% JPEG compression, 77.36 KBytes! Dumbed down from 1600x1200, 16.7 million colors, no JPEG compression, 842.89 KBytes. I thought all the VGA 680x480 displays went to the Salvation Army Thrift Store. Are you trying to view it with a cell phone browser? Seriously if your laptop is 680x480 only about half the width will display. The message text is apparently linked to the image width and doesn't scroll independently.

I'll make some calculations on powering the AHS on the UPS and post the results.

I have a 17" flat panel lcd monitor set for 1280 x 1024 and Yanche's picture is perfect for my viewing.

Are you using AGMs Yanche or just maintenance free flooded lead, they look like AGMs from the picture.

Thanks for starting this thread LsFarm. I plan on setting up some sort of battery backup for my Keystoker(s) (2 now) this winter. Because the Keystoker design is very dependent on electricity it is a good idea for those of us who are away for many hours or days to be able to depend on the fire to stay burning. AHS, Axman Anderson, EFM and similar designs hold fire very well for extended periods but the shallow coal bed on the Keystoker and probably the Harman also will go out in as little as 15 minutes in the summer to maybe an hour at the most in the winter.

For those wanting to research battery power and inverters and such, a good starting place is with sites targeted st solar, wind, and mini hydro for people who want to live free of the power companies. Lots of good info is available from these folks.

I was doing a little planning for the next science project and ran across this:

http://www.boatandrvaccessories.com/PWRIC1500W.htm

Nice unit (not true sine wave, but then neither is the price!) that can run a complete stove including power vent like my set up. The key feature that makes it nice is the built in battery charging circuit. Just add some deep cycle batteries and you are ready to go! With a couple size 27NF deep cycle batteries it should be good to run for a couple days with my stove at full tilt.

As stated earlier you need to locate the batteries away from the stove and vent the area due to hydrogen being produced by lead acid battery charging.

I plan to mount the batteries in the basement on a shelf directly under the stove and run the wires through the floor. The inverter will mount out of the heat near the stove.

This would appear to be another option;

http://www.monitorheaters.com/Surefire_Stove_Sentry.htm

Hi Jerseycoal. We seem to get hit by lightning a lot. So I put Primax (Siemens) unit in the system right in the breaker box as that is supposed to soak up the surge on the whole house and is linked to the ground wire. Seems to work fine but an electrician told me they are excellent for all but the most massive strikes from God, then nothing helps.

Thanks Guys,I'm guessing there is no off the shelf system on the market for something that draws as much as a stoker.This is MUCH more complicated than i figured.Somehow I thought it was 1) plug inverter into wall 2) hook battery to inverter 3) plug stoker to inverter .Nothing is as easy as first thought.
Thanks
Keith

There's also the option of a small generator. I picked up a small gasoline one for a little over $100, and keep two jugs of gas with conditioner in them for the winter. Though it's tiny, it will run the pellet stove, tv, and a couple of lights. If I'm smart I should freshen up the jugs every three months -- hopefully. Even with conditioner, alcohol in the gasoline doesn't like to sit around for too long.

Whether you're planning a battery backup or generator, buy or borrow a wattmeter and add up the actual wattage peaks of the stuff you're going to run. Then buy a big enough unit so you don't have to run it more than 80% capacity. YMMV, of course.

Try homepower.org,the magazine is about off grid systems,low budget and big budget.For huge batteries used 1.2 volt telephone co batteries in series to run a large inverter will supply all your needs for days if not a week or more.The phone co batts are replaced on a schedule and available used ,and will supply good use for a decade or more to the homeowner with proper maintenance.They are lead acid wet cells about the size of a small garbage can.For a smaller system golf cart batteries (6 volt in series)are moderately priced and with a quality inverter/charger only need the water checked now and then once the charger is adjusted. RichB