What can I do with these battery backup parts? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: XOIIO
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 09, 2013, 09:30:59 pm
content: Alright so I have these two things which I figure there must be some good use for, both from battery backup systems. First is a nice, chunky 15lb transformer. Two wires on one side four on the other. I can't find anything searching the numbers on it, so am wondering what I can do with it. I do know that the white and black wires (ont he side with just those two) are not mains input, I tripped the breakers like that lol.Next is this board with these massive, toroid rings? (my best guess). it has two spade connections on each side, and those are connected through those rings. Each side has all 3 hooked up connecting the two rings together, I have provided a scan of the bottom of the board. These rings only have one wire each.So, what is this board for and what is something I could use it for?

author: Clint
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 09, 2013, 10:04:26 pm
content: Its all out if a APC UPS if that helps, the transformer will be the step-up transformer.

author: XOIIO
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 10, 2013, 02:02:33 am
content: Quote from: Clint on November 09, 2013, 10:04:26 pmyup, it is. I'm guessing then the 12 from the batteries is on the 4 pin connector and 120v out the other side? Any idea as to what the wiring would be?

author: tsmith35
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 10, 2013, 03:34:17 am
content: Quote from: Clint on November 09, 2013, 10:04:26 pmWhich model?

author: XOIIO
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 10, 2013, 04:58:40 am
content: Sadly I haven't a clue, I've had this for a year or two at least sitting around. All I know is that a UPS was being thrown out so I grabbed some parts from it on the way out. I believe it may have been the same kind as the two I have with dead batteries (thanks, winter) but I'll have to check them tomorrow.The board with coils is from a much bigger UPS btw

author: Whales
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 10, 2013, 08:32:39 am
content: How many "wires" make each coil up? If they only have a single wire around each toroid then their only use is for inductance. If they have eg two windings, they are probably useful as isolation transformers.

author: tsmith35
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 10, 2013, 01:18:00 pm
content: Found this in another forum:'W ------------3 ||'. . . . . . . 3 ||'. . . . . . . 3 || C------ WHITE'B ------------3 || C------ BLACK'Y ------------3 ||'U ------------3 ||where W is the thin white wire, B is the thin black wire, Y yellow, U blueW - B is for 110VW - Y is for 120VW - U is for 130Vgiving 13.8V rms-AC at 30+ amps - more if you're ok with the transformer getting warm :-)I remember from my own APC xformer (since misplaced) that there were 3 options for powering the coil; one was for normal 120vac, while the other two were to correct for high or low voltage (surges / sags).

author: tsmith35
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 10, 2013, 01:21:06 pm
content: And from the same forum:I was instructed to apply 120 volts to the yellow and white wires and then connect the blue and black wires together. That is supposed to yield 16.4 volts open circuit at 50 + amps.He when on to tell me that I could get 14.4 volts by applying 120 volts to the white and black wires and leave the blue and yellow wires open.Or finally I could get 12.9 volts by applying 120 volts to the white and blue wires and the connecting the black and yellow wires together.What do you think?Pretty versatile transformer if it can truly fulfill those claims and useful information as UPS transformer are easy to come by.I tried to get information and googled every combination of the above listed numbers I could think of and kept coming up with UPS information but no one that was using this type transformer as a simple step down transformer. I'm not at all clear as to how a UPS transformer is wound. Some pages hinted that they are a bidirectional transformer that functions as either a step up or a step down transformer depending on the cycle the UPS unit is in.

author: tsmith35
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 10, 2013, 01:32:43 pm
content: By the way, there's an interesting projecthere. Someone turned their old, dead APC SmartUPS 3000 into a whole-house backup. Pretty neat.

author: XOIIO
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 10, 2013, 03:59:48 pm
content: Quote from: tsmith35 on November 10, 2013, 01:21:06 pm

author: XOIIO
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 10, 2013, 04:24:40 pm
content: oh man, awesomeI need to find some used jumper cables though this thing is vaporizing it's wires.I'm curious does anyone know why those bits of smoke hang around and float low down? It's really cool but I've never figured out why they do that.

author: XOIIO
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 10, 2013, 05:33:50 pm
content: Quote from: Whales on November 10, 2013, 08:32:39 amThey only have one wire for the coil so I guess inductance.