Modify Battery Backup to Add Digital Voltage Sensing and DC Output Connectors
A good battery backup is important if you have a lot of equipment that you want to protect against power surges – or just keep working if the power goes out – but this guide from The 8-Bit Guy shows you how to make your job even more rewarding. … It’s easier than you might think to add multiple DC outputs and a voltage reader so you can track power surges.
The video is about ten minutes long, but skip the six-minute mark to learn about some of the benefits of all of these settings, such as the ability to extend backup battery life during a power outage, or better automation when you back up shuts down your computer if power goes out. The first half of the video is a step-by-step guide on how he did everything, including adding new outputs and removing more archaic components (like a surge protector for analog phone lines – something that many of us no longer need). The DC outputs can be used for things like car chargers or, in this case, the 8-Bit Guy ham radio.
All in all, this is a great way, with a little effort, to transform a UPS that you may already be hiding under your desk into something even more useful. Plus, no matter how complex electrical projects can be, you can do it all safely.
Ultimate Battery Backup Hack / Mod. | 8-Bit Guy (YouTube) via Hackaday