How To Convert A UPS To Inverter

 "How To Convert A UPS To Inverter" Do you want to learn how to convert UPS into an inverter system, do you want to learn how to turn your uninterruptible power supply (UPS) to an inverter. Are you searching for how to convert UPS to inverter, how to turn an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) into an inverter or how to make a UPS work as an inverter system. If yes, Infoguide Ng has brought a step by step detailed guide on how to convert your uninterruptible power supply (UPS) into an inverter system. Before I proceed on the topic, I want to quickly explain what uninterruptible power supply (UPS) is. A UPS is a device that allows a computer to keep running for at least a short period of time when incoming power is interrupted. Provided utility power is flowing, it also replenishes and maintains energy storage. A UPS also protects equipment from damage in the event of a power failure. A UPS is basically an inverter. A UPS is already an inverter, but the inbuilt charger may not be able to charge your big batteries attach to it, you will need an external battery charger for it. The inbuilt battery charger in the UPS is only meant to charge small 7ah battery.

How To Convert Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) Into An Inverter.

1. Open the UPS cover case by removing the screws that secure it. Check the inside of the UPS to see the type of UPS you have. If the UPS has one battery inside, then is a 12v UPS that only need one 12v bigger battery to work as an inverter system. If is 2 battery you found inside the UPS, then is 24v UPS that need 2 12v bigger battery to work as an inverter. 3 battery inside mean 36v and require 3 12v bigger battery to work. Also, 4 battery inside mean 48v and require 4 12v bigger battery to work as an inverter. 
2. Remove the small battery inside and attach a thick cable to the UPS battery wire to extend it and make it long a bit, at least to reach the external big battery you are using.
3. Attach a battery clip to the UPS battery wire for easy connection to the external big battery you are using.
4. Place your UPS in a location you want it to be and place the external battery beside it for easy connection to the bigger battery. If your UPS is 24v, 36v or 48v, just check how you disconnect the inbuilt smaller 7ah battery inside and use the same method to connect it to the bigger external battery. If is one battery UPS, just connect UPS wire (red color) to the positive/red color on the external battery and UPS wire (black color) to the negative/black color on the battery.
5. You can now power on the UPS, it will work normally as an inverter system, just plug your extension cord to it and plug your electronic gadgets like phone charger, television, decoder and many others. Don't plug your AC fan because most UPS is not producing pure sine wave current, rechargeable fan is okay or fan that use adaptor. If you want to plug your AC fan, you need a UPS/inverter that is producing pure sine wave current. Most UPS that use one battery are mostly 390w in capacity, what you will connect to it should not exceed that capacity. 24v UPS is 780w, 36v is 1,170w and 48v is 1,560w in capacity.
6. There is an alarm/timer inside the UPS that makes sound repeatedly, locate the alarm/timer and remove it or use cellotape to cover and reduce the sound and enjoy your UPS/inverter system.
7. If you want to put back the back cover of the UPS, you can add a small mini AC/DC fan for cooling the UPS. The fan should face the UPS transformer directly, to cool the transformer. A good technician can help you to solder the mini fan power wire to the board of the UPS if you want to place the mini fan inside the UPS. Some UPS do work fine without adding any cooling fan to it
8.  After doing all this, you can start using your UPS as an inverter system. You also need to buy an external battery charger to charge your battery, because UPS inbuilt charger can't charge bigger battery.

Disadvantages Of Using UPS As An Inverter.

UPS do consume battery power more than normal transformer-less inverter.

If you Install a bigger battery, it can never be charged by the UPS inbuilt charger. The in-built charger of the UPS has a smaller charging current which is meant to charge 7Ah or 12ah batteries and can never charge a 40ah, 65ah, 100Ah or even worse still 200ah batteries. You will need to upgrade the charging current to suite these higher current batteries before it will work perfectly. Meaning, you will buy an external battery charger.

UPS receive 12v DC and convert it to 240v, AC, UPS can be use as inverter. The only issue is that it produces more heat because it was not meant for a long term work/use. Replacing battery with higher capacity battery and installing a cooling fan/heat extractor fan can make it work exactly as an inverter.

Some UPS can be used as inverters without any modifications but they may not give you, so great a performance as an Inverter.. Besides,, it's life maybe short because they are not designed to work 24/7. However, you may need some upgrades to give you that perfect feel of an Inverter -:

• Change the Field Effect Transistors (FETs) to higher current ratings.
• Change the transformer to match up with the changes you have made to the Transistors.
• Add an AC or a DC cooling fan. Whichever one you add, be mindful of how to connect it.

You can use some UPS directly as an inverter, it won't last for an hour before it get burnt, if you wish to use those UPS as an inverter, you need some modifications like addition of cooling fan, changing the transformer to a high efficient one with a better coil, that has enough amperage to charge battery then use bigger capacity battery. I modified one and have been using it for years now for operating my business.

Using some brand of UPS as inverter might require you to add a cooling fan around the MOSFETs heatsink and also increase the length of the battery cable to suit the new role. Bluegate UPS seems to be the best brand for converting to an inverter, other brands also work, just buy and experiment yourself. 

I believe this detailed article is able to provide answers to the questions you have on how to convert UPS to an inverter system.

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