In my house, I have long installed an electric heating control system - a pyrolysis boiler that heats water in a barrel, which goes into the radiators. However, this winter there were frequent power outages, which was unpleasant. In this regard, I decided to independently manufacture an uninterruptible power supply for a heating boiler, and in the future for a circular pump. Therefore, next I will tell you about this device and how to make an uninterruptible power supply with your own hands.
Source domsgazom.ru
Why does a boiler need a UPS?
Typically heating systems use gas, solid or liquid fuel. However, for stable operation you need a current source that will work without interruption. If the power goes out, the furnace will turn off and the coolants will cool down. And if this happens frequently, due to constant temperature changes, cracks will begin to appear in the system, which will then only increase. All this leads to rapid wear and tear of the equipment.
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If you use electric heating in your home, then most likely you have encountered the problem that the light can turn off at the most necessary moment. To solve this problem, install an uninterruptible power supply - a device that serves as a power source even when the main power supply is turned off. You can buy it in a specialized store or make an uninterruptible power supply yourself.
As practice shows, a homemade device will cost you two times less than a purchased one, which is considered to be one of the main advantages of why it is worth making.
But keep in mind that without the appropriate skills, you can spend much more time and resources than professionals. Therefore, it is worth considering whether it would be advisable to independently manufacture such a device.
Performance selection
To correctly select the power of an uninterruptible power supply for a boiler, it is necessary to calculate the power of all devices that will ensure stable operation of the heating system. This includes pumps and automation. By summing up all these indicators, you can reach the required UPS power. But it’s better to play it safe and look for a device with a power 20-30% higher than required; it will help during peak load periods, which will certainly occur during startup.
On average, a boiler pump consumes no more than 150 W, which means you will need a device with a power of 300 W. When equipped with double pumps, this figure increases by 400-500 W.
What you need
One of the most important parts for making an uninterruptible power supply for a heating boiler with your own hands is the inverter.
Source cezar.ua
An inverter is a device that converts the direct voltage of the battery into an alternating voltage of 220 volts.
It is better to make the device itself from rechargeable batteries, since they are cheaper than any generators. For the normal functioning of the boiler, which depends on the electric current, it is worth installing CPS type inverters (the best type indices are 7500, 3500 and 5000 PRO).
In addition to the inverter, you will need batteries that will provide uninterrupted power for the pump or boiler, and a charger. Batteries for a homemade uninterruptible power supply are selected with maximum capacity, because the larger the capacity, the longer the device itself will last.
To give you an idea, with an equipment capacity of 45 ampere-hours, the device will operate for about 8 hours, and at 95 ampere-hours – up to 24 hours.
The charger must match the battery capacity.
Source akb-s.ru
Kinds
There are two types of uninterruptible heating pumps: linear and linear-interactive.
- Linear. These are the simplest devices of this type; they do not have a voltage stabilizer. If the equipment is disconnected from the power supply, it will automatically charge from the battery.
- Line-interactive, they are also called double conversion UPS. Such equipment is equipped with a system that stabilizes the voltage; it can be connected to a generator. Line-interactive systems monitor the battery charge level without intervention. If there is a power outage, the battery automatically starts up. When power is restored, the systems automatically resume normal operation. Line-interactive uninterruptible power supplies are more expensive.
Both types of devices are always connected to the power supply; in addition to charging the batteries, the equipment also monitors the battery charge level.
Manufacturing instructions
If you have already purchased everything you need (inverter, batteries and charger), then to manufacture a UPS for a gas boiler you need to do the following:
- Connect the symbols “+” and “-”, which are marked on the inverter, with a powerful wire with the corresponding marks on the battery.
- Insert the boiler plug into the inverter and press the “On” button.
Your homemade uninterruptible power supply is ready, the device is working.
When assembling, also keep in mind that the wires for connection must be thick and copper, and their fastenings must be reliable. It will be necessary to check the connections periodically, as there is a possibility of metal oxidation, which will impair the operation of the system.
Essentials
Everything you need for a homemade UPS is on the Ali Express trading platform:
- A pair of batteries for a 18650 series screwdriver.
- Built-in charge indicator.
- Converter board.
- Charging board.
- Power adapter 9 V 2 A.
- Plastic housing.
Full set of parts:
Nuances of filter assembly
To monitor the stability of the device, a harmonious system for voltage filters will help you. You can do it yourself by finding a proven scheme, or order it from professionals if you are not confident in your abilities. Such filters consist of various transformers, resistors and other additional devices.
If you have assembled the filter system correctly, then your system will stabilize any source of electrical current. It will not be difficult to assemble it, but to do this, follow the following diagram:
Source radiostorage.net
The main problem is in calculating the parameters. And the contour elements are easy to calculate and make, but they are assembled in different ways - one parallel, the other sequential. Regardless of the assembly method, tune to 50 Hz.
You will need to calculate the parameters of the inductors for the core, and in the core you need to make a gap between the turns.
Use the following formulas:
- Gap in millimeters: number of turns * max. current in amperes * 1.257E-3
- Number of turns: core cross-sectional area in square millimeters * max. current in amperes * inductance of the inductor in H * 1.257E6 - round the result up
- For a series circuit: the maximum current in amperes is 1.4 * {load power, W} / 220 V.
- For a parallel circuit: the maximum current in amperes is 1.4 * 220 V / 28 * {signal frequency, Hz - 50 Hz} * {inductance of the choke, H}.
Source habrastorage.org
Advantages and disadvantages
The advantages of using a UPS include the following:
- the equipment ensures continuous operation of the pump, regardless of possible problems with the power supply;
- volatile devices are protected from network problems, the entire system works efficiently;
- ease of installation;
- convenience and reliability in use;
- absence of noise during equipment operation.
Disadvantages of using uninterruptible power supply:
- high level of electricity consumption from batteries;
- often encountered low power of chargers built into the UPS.
Precautionary measures
If you decide to make an uninterruptible power supply for your heating boiler with your own hands, then first of all follow safety precautions and wear special clothing (at least gloves so as not to accidentally receive an electric shock from exposed wires).
Also carefully examine all the wires in order to identify even the slightest damage, because a short circuit is not uncommon, it is very dangerous and can cause a fire.
Several batteries (2-4) should be connected to the system at once, they should be fully charged, and they should be connected in parallel. Do not skimp on the device, as this can seriously affect the service life and even the quality of your equipment.
Use the device for those devices for which its power is designed - do not connect everything. Although, as a rule, there is enough power to connect and operate the computer normally, it is only important that the total power does not exceed the maximum permissible.
According to the advice of experts, the best choice would be models with phase-dependent equipment.
Device installation
It is quite possible to connect an uninterruptible power supply with your own hands. To do this you will need a socket and an indicator screwdriver. First, the phase of the UPS at the output is determined. To do this, you must first enable it in offline mode. After this, plug the device into the network and check again to see if the indicator has changed. If not, then everything is correct and you can connect the boiler.
Self service
After assembling a UPS for a circular pump with your own hands, its maintenance seems like a trifle. It will only be necessary to periodically change the batteries after some time and check the system for integrity.
I advise you to place the uninterruptible power supply in a basement or semi-basement cabinet, since it will take up less space there, and since moisture ingress is unacceptable, placing it in a small cabinet would be an excellent option.
I recommend the following video, in which the author explains how to choose a UPS for a boiler:
conclusions
If you live in a country house and have an autonomous heating system that operates using a heating boiler, then you cannot do without a backup source of energy supply. If the outages do not differ in duration and the period without light is much shorter than with it, then connecting a UPS to the boiler would be an excellent option. It does not work alone, but with batteries, and the greater their number, the longer the system can function. When choosing a UPS, you should pay attention to its type, since not all are equally “useful” for a particular type of boiler.
As a result…
Making your own uninterruptible power supply for a gas boiler is not difficult if you have the appropriate skills. To make the device you will need an inverter, charger, batteries, wires and tools. After making a UPS for a circular pump, you will need a harmonious system for voltage filters, which will help you monitor the stability of the device. You can use the diagram posted above.
Question
Write in the comments whether you think it’s easier to make an uninterruptible power supply yourself or buy it?
Necessity
If something extraordinary happens to the power line (breaks, accidents, etc.), the heating boiler stops working automatically. Such situations can not only damage the engine of a gas or solid fuel boiler, but also completely destroy the equipment.
The pump stops working, the coolant overheats, and the consequence could be a major accident in the heating system. The UPS will provide electricity not only to the pump, but also to the entire heating system. As a rule, an uninterruptible power supply is purchased to work with gas boilers, but boilers running on solid fuel can also fail as a result of interruptions in the electricity supply.
Connection diagram
Connecting through the nearest plug and socket is the easiest way and no one should have any insoluble difficulties.
But if the power of the UPS is large, then it will have to be connected directly from the distribution panel. You will have to install separate circuit breakers and run a dedicated line to separate pantographs.
The connection diagram will look like this:
To test autonomy, it is necessary to artificially simulate a power outage for the first time. To do this, turn off the phase circuit breaker in the boiler room panel.
It’s the machine, not the plug from the socket. For phase-dependent models, it is important not to break phase and zero at the same time.
After the mains power is lost, the LCD display should show that the incoming voltage is zero, and the outgoing voltage is still within 220V.
Next, you should check the electrical ignition of the boiler. Disconnect it from the power and turn it on again.
If your UPS does not have the correct sine wave, the electric ignition will not light.
If everything went well, you can be sure that your boiler room is 100% protected. Even when you are not at home.
When to choose an online inverter
This inverter for a gas boiler is similar in principle and composition to the previous one, but has an element that stabilizes the voltage within certain limits. You can find models with stabilization of the frequency of electric current. If the time it takes to switch to an additional mode is important to you, then it’s worth purchasing online interactive. On sale you can find devices of this type that produce a sinusoidal electric current. For home use, this device is more suitable than others.
