Re: [WISPA] Portable Alternators?
A couple of ideas for in-expensive AC power monitoring 1. The Canary Method. Take a busted radio, any device that can hold an ip address,. respond to pings, power it using AC, and use ping monitoring to determine loss of AC Power. 2 The Mikrotik Method (if your Model of MT has Voltage Monitor). If you are using a Mikrotik Router @ Site. Mikrotik Routers can be powered using two sources of Power. One on the DC Jack and other on POE (port1). By default it will use the power sources with the higher voltage as primary. Use this method to power the MT from AC power, as well as DC Power... There is a nice script ( http://wiki.mikrotik.com/wiki/Monitor_input_voltage_on_RB333/433AH ), that allows you to monitor the Voltage, and send email of a change in voltage is detected. 3. The GregSowell Method. Create an ethernet loopback plug using a small relay.. http://gregsowell.com/?p=2093 There are other more fancy devices that will give you alters too.. the above are the inexpensive versions... Regards. Faisal Imtiaz Snappy Internet Telecom 7266 SW 48 Street Miami, FL 33155 Tel: 305 663 5518 x 232 Help-desk: (305)663-5518 Option 2 or Email: supp...@snappytelecom.net - Original Message - From: Roger Howard g5inter...@gmail.com To: WISPA General List wireless@wispa.org Sent: Wednesday, May 8, 2013 10:14:25 PM Subject: Re: [WISPA] Portable Alternators? Alternatively, run your equipment on DC from an Iota DLS charger, which is constantly trickle charging some batteries. When the power goes out, it will run a lot longer because you're not converting (like a UPS) from DC coming out of your batteries to AC and then converting from AC back to DC again in a POE to power the radio. Just use DC to DC converters to get the different DC voltages you need to run your various equipment. Plug your generator into the Iota charger to power it. I bet you'll get clean DC out of it. Especially if a battery is plugged in, which I think will help smooth out the DC current. I haven't tested it, but we're using DC everywhere. Just don't have to use a generator since the battery backup lasts so long. I recently had a tower with 6 radios on it, which had two deep cycle marine batteries from walmart. Someone somehow left the breaker off after working on the site. It ran for 3 days directly off the batteries before going down. We now have to monitor each the site is being fed by AC or not. Haven't got around to that yet. Maybe some mFi will help with this. Except the single port mFi doesn't have ethernet. Cheers! Roger G5 Internet, LLC On Wed, May 8, 2013 at 3:29 PM, Blair Davis the...@wmwisp.net wrote: Especially with those small, cheap 2-cycle, 800-1000W generators, a 200-400W light stabilizes it well. -- On 5/8/2013 1:27 PM, Joel Mulkey wrote: blockquote We've noticed that our cheap generators won't charge the UPSs back up without some extra load to stabilize things. To provide that load we include a 500w or 1000w halogen construction light with each generator kit. Plug the light in and the voltage stabilizes, which allows the UPS to kick back on to the line power. It also provides some nice lighting if it's at night. Joel Mulkey CIO Freewire Direct: 503-616-2557 | Support: 503-614-8282 http://www.gofreewire.com http://twitter.com/FreewireNetwork On May 8, 2013, at 10:17 AM, wireless-requ...@wispa.org wrote: blockquote This is the third time in about two years that we've had some major power outages across our region due to the supplier lines going down. Every time the situation is the same, We roll out our portable generators to a few of our smaller sites that don't have full-time generators -- and every time we have to fight with them to get clean power out of them -- usually just ending up putting equipment directly on the generators and bypassing the UPS systems. I've seen the generators go everywhere from 40Hz to 90Hz. Has anyone come across a nice portable alternator (as opposed to a generator) that can be taken to tower sites as supplementary power? ~ Matt ___ Wireless mailing list Wireless@wispa.org http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless /blockquote -- West Michigan Wireless ISP Allegan, Michigan 49010 269-686-8648 A Division of: Camp Communication Services, INC ___ Wireless mailing list Wireless@wispa.org http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless /blockquote ___ Wireless mailing list Wireless@wispa.org http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless ___ Wireless mailing list Wireless@wispa.org http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless
[WISPA] Portable Alternators?
This is the third time in about two years that we've had some major power outages across our region due to the supplier lines going down. Every time the situation is the same, We roll out our portable generators to a few of our smaller sites that don't have full-time generators -- and every time we have to fight with them to get clean power out of them -- usually just ending up putting equipment directly on the generators and bypassing the UPS systems. I've seen the generators go everywhere from 40Hz to 90Hz. Has anyone come across a nice portable alternator (as opposed to a generator) that can be taken to tower sites as supplementary power? ~ Matt ___ Wireless mailing list Wireless@wispa.org http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless
Re: [WISPA] Portable Alternators?
On our APC UPSs we set the sensitivity to low and they work fine on every portable generator we've thrown at them. On Wed, May 8, 2013 at 12:55 PM, Matt Hoppes mhop...@indigowireless.comwrote: This is the third time in about two years that we've had some major power outages across our region due to the supplier lines going down. Every time the situation is the same, We roll out our portable generators to a few of our smaller sites that don't have full-time generators -- and every time we have to fight with them to get clean power out of them -- usually just ending up putting equipment directly on the generators and bypassing the UPS systems. I've seen the generators go everywhere from 40Hz to 90Hz. Has anyone come across a nice portable alternator (as opposed to a generator) that can be taken to tower sites as supplementary power? ~ Matt ___ Wireless mailing list Wireless@wispa.org http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless ___ Wireless mailing list Wireless@wispa.org http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless
Re: [WISPA] Portable Alternators?
So you trick your APCs into allowing dirty power through to your equipment? ;-) I'm trying to avoid doing that. On 5/8/13 12:58 PM, can...@believewireless.net wrote: On our APC UPSs we set the sensitivity to low and they work fine on every portable generator we've thrown at them. On Wed, May 8, 2013 at 12:55 PM, Matt Hoppes mhop...@indigowireless.com mailto:mhop...@indigowireless.com wrote: This is the third time in about two years that we've had some major power outages across our region due to the supplier lines going down. Every time the situation is the same, We roll out our portable generators to a few of our smaller sites that don't have full-time generators -- and every time we have to fight with them to get clean power out of them -- usually just ending up putting equipment directly on the generators and bypassing the UPS systems. I've seen the generators go everywhere from 40Hz to 90Hz. Has anyone come across a nice portable alternator (as opposed to a generator) that can be taken to tower sites as supplementary power? ~ Matt ___ Wireless mailing list Wireless@wispa.org mailto:Wireless@wispa.org http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless ___ Wireless mailing list Wireless@wispa.org http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless ___ Wireless mailing list Wireless@wispa.org http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless
Re: [WISPA] Portable Alternators?
I am not sure exactly what you are getting at by using the term alternator. But a good option is any of the honda or yamaha inverter generators. These have a DC generator system running a power inverter so the power output is much more constant. They are also quieter and more fuel efficient because the engine RPM can slow down to match the load where a normal generator must run at 3600rpm to get your 60hz power. On Wed, May 8, 2013 at 12:55 PM, Matt Hoppes mhop...@indigowireless.comwrote: This is the third time in about two years that we've had some major power outages across our region due to the supplier lines going down. Every time the situation is the same, We roll out our portable generators to a few of our smaller sites that don't have full-time generators -- and every time we have to fight with them to get clean power out of them -- usually just ending up putting equipment directly on the generators and bypassing the UPS systems. I've seen the generators go everywhere from 40Hz to 90Hz. Has anyone come across a nice portable alternator (as opposed to a generator) that can be taken to tower sites as supplementary power? ~ Matt ___ Wireless mailing list Wireless@wispa.org http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless ___ Wireless mailing list Wireless@wispa.org http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless
Re: [WISPA] Portable Alternators?
I'm looking at inverters as a solution. We have several generators (they increase throttle based on load and generally have very unclean power). We also have one Sear Alternator that runs at a constant RPM and provides some of the cleanest power I've ever seen. 60Hz on the nose @ 120volts. As you load it, the voltage slowly goes down, but the Hz remains constant. On 5/8/13 1:00 PM, Chris Fabien wrote: I am not sure exactly what you are getting at by using the term alternator. But a good option is any of the honda or yamaha inverter generators. These have a DC generator system running a power inverter so the power output is much more constant. They are also quieter and more fuel efficient because the engine RPM can slow down to match the load where a normal generator must run at 3600rpm to get your 60hz power. On Wed, May 8, 2013 at 12:55 PM, Matt Hoppes mhop...@indigowireless.com mailto:mhop...@indigowireless.com wrote: This is the third time in about two years that we've had some major power outages across our region due to the supplier lines going down. Every time the situation is the same, We roll out our portable generators to a few of our smaller sites that don't have full-time generators -- and every time we have to fight with them to get clean power out of them -- usually just ending up putting equipment directly on the generators and bypassing the UPS systems. I've seen the generators go everywhere from 40Hz to 90Hz. Has anyone come across a nice portable alternator (as opposed to a generator) that can be taken to tower sites as supplementary power? ~ Matt ___ Wireless mailing list Wireless@wispa.org mailto:Wireless@wispa.org http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless ___ Wireless mailing list Wireless@wispa.org http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless ___ Wireless mailing list Wireless@wispa.org http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless
Re: [WISPA] Portable Alternators?
Do you have equipment that is very sensitive to frequency? Most newer stuff uses switch-mode supplies which typically can operate fine over a wide range of voltages and frequencies. On Wed, May 8, 2013 at 1:12 PM, Matt Hoppes mhop...@indigowireless.comwrote: I'm looking at inverters as a solution. We have several generators (they increase throttle based on load and generally have very unclean power). We also have one Sear Alternator that runs at a constant RPM and provides some of the cleanest power I've ever seen. 60Hz on the nose @ 120volts. As you load it, the voltage slowly goes down, but the Hz remains constant. On 5/8/13 1:00 PM, Chris Fabien wrote: I am not sure exactly what you are getting at by using the term alternator. But a good option is any of the honda or yamaha inverter generators. These have a DC generator system running a power inverter so the power output is much more constant. They are also quieter and more fuel efficient because the engine RPM can slow down to match the load where a normal generator must run at 3600rpm to get your 60hz power. On Wed, May 8, 2013 at 12:55 PM, Matt Hoppes mhop...@indigowireless.com mailto:mhop...@indigowireless.com wrote: This is the third time in about two years that we've had some major power outages across our region due to the supplier lines going down. Every time the situation is the same, We roll out our portable generators to a few of our smaller sites that don't have full-time generators -- and every time we have to fight with them to get clean power out of them -- usually just ending up putting equipment directly on the generators and bypassing the UPS systems. I've seen the generators go everywhere from 40Hz to 90Hz. Has anyone come across a nice portable alternator (as opposed to a generator) that can be taken to tower sites as supplementary power? ~ Matt ___ Wireless mailing list Wireless@wispa.org mailto:Wireless@wispa.org http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless ___ Wireless mailing list Wireless@wispa.org http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless ___ Wireless mailing list Wireless@wispa.org http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless ___ Wireless mailing list Wireless@wispa.org http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless
Re: [WISPA] Portable Alternators?
Not that I've noticed -- it all runs fine when we plug it into the generator directly -- but why chance it? On 5/8/13 1:16 PM, Chris Fabien wrote: Do you have equipment that is very sensitive to frequency? Most newer stuff uses switch-mode supplies which typically can operate fine over a wide range of voltages and frequencies. On Wed, May 8, 2013 at 1:12 PM, Matt Hoppes mhop...@indigowireless.com mailto:mhop...@indigowireless.com wrote: I'm looking at inverters as a solution. We have several generators (they increase throttle based on load and generally have very unclean power). We also have one Sear Alternator that runs at a constant RPM and provides some of the cleanest power I've ever seen. 60Hz on the nose @ 120volts. As you load it, the voltage slowly goes down, but the Hz remains constant. On 5/8/13 1:00 PM, Chris Fabien wrote: I am not sure exactly what you are getting at by using the term alternator. But a good option is any of the honda or yamaha inverter generators. These have a DC generator system running a power inverter so the power output is much more constant. They are also quieter and more fuel efficient because the engine RPM can slow down to match the load where a normal generator must run at 3600rpm to get your 60hz power. On Wed, May 8, 2013 at 12:55 PM, Matt Hoppes mhop...@indigowireless.com mailto:mhop...@indigowireless.com mailto:mhop...@indigowireless.com mailto:mhop...@indigowireless.com wrote: This is the third time in about two years that we've had some major power outages across our region due to the supplier lines going down. Every time the situation is the same, We roll out our portable generators to a few of our smaller sites that don't have full-time generators -- and every time we have to fight with them to get clean power out of them -- usually just ending up putting equipment directly on the generators and bypassing the UPS systems. I've seen the generators go everywhere from 40Hz to 90Hz. Has anyone come across a nice portable alternator (as opposed to a generator) that can be taken to tower sites as supplementary power? ~ Matt ___ Wireless mailing list Wireless@wispa.org mailto:Wireless@wispa.org mailto:Wireless@wispa.org mailto:Wireless@wispa.org http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless ___ Wireless mailing list Wireless@wispa.org mailto:Wireless@wispa.org http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless ___ Wireless mailing list Wireless@wispa.org mailto:Wireless@wispa.org http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless ___ Wireless mailing list Wireless@wispa.org http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless ___ Wireless mailing list Wireless@wispa.org http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless
Re: [WISPA] Portable Alternators?
Why spend money to fix a problem that's not a problem? Always two ways to look at things! My point is that turning down the UPS sensitivity is a fine solution if the equipment runs ok on the generator. On Wed, May 8, 2013 at 1:18 PM, Matt Hoppes mhop...@indigowireless.comwrote: Not that I've noticed -- it all runs fine when we plug it into the generator directly -- but why chance it? On 5/8/13 1:16 PM, Chris Fabien wrote: Do you have equipment that is very sensitive to frequency? Most newer stuff uses switch-mode supplies which typically can operate fine over a wide range of voltages and frequencies. On Wed, May 8, 2013 at 1:12 PM, Matt Hoppes mhop...@indigowireless.com mailto:mhop...@indigowireless.com wrote: I'm looking at inverters as a solution. We have several generators (they increase throttle based on load and generally have very unclean power). We also have one Sear Alternator that runs at a constant RPM and provides some of the cleanest power I've ever seen. 60Hz on the nose @ 120volts. As you load it, the voltage slowly goes down, but the Hz remains constant. On 5/8/13 1:00 PM, Chris Fabien wrote: I am not sure exactly what you are getting at by using the term alternator. But a good option is any of the honda or yamaha inverter generators. These have a DC generator system running a power inverter so the power output is much more constant. They are also quieter and more fuel efficient because the engine RPM can slow down to match the load where a normal generator must run at 3600rpm to get your 60hz power. On Wed, May 8, 2013 at 12:55 PM, Matt Hoppes mhop...@indigowireless.com mailto:mhop...@indigowireless.com mailto:mhop...@indigowireless.com mailto:mhop...@indigowireless.com wrote: This is the third time in about two years that we've had some major power outages across our region due to the supplier lines going down. Every time the situation is the same, We roll out our portable generators to a few of our smaller sites that don't have full-time generators -- and every time we have to fight with them to get clean power out of them -- usually just ending up putting equipment directly on the generators and bypassing the UPS systems. I've seen the generators go everywhere from 40Hz to 90Hz. Has anyone come across a nice portable alternator (as opposed to a generator) that can be taken to tower sites as supplementary power? ~ Matt ___ Wireless mailing list Wireless@wispa.org mailto:Wireless@wispa.org mailto:Wireless@wispa.org mailto:Wireless@wispa.org http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless ___ Wireless mailing list Wireless@wispa.org mailto:Wireless@wispa.org http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless ___ Wireless mailing list Wireless@wispa.org mailto:Wireless@wispa.org http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless ___ Wireless mailing list Wireless@wispa.org http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless ___ Wireless mailing list Wireless@wispa.org http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless ___ Wireless mailing list Wireless@wispa.org http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless
Re: [WISPA] Portable Alternators?
Perhaps My concern is what that may do to the clamping ability of the UPS during regular operations? On 5/8/13 1:22 PM, Chris Fabien wrote: Why spend money to fix a problem that's not a problem? Always two ways to look at things! My point is that turning down the UPS sensitivity is a fine solution if the equipment runs ok on the generator. On Wed, May 8, 2013 at 1:18 PM, Matt Hoppes mhop...@indigowireless.com mailto:mhop...@indigowireless.com wrote: Not that I've noticed -- it all runs fine when we plug it into the generator directly -- but why chance it? On 5/8/13 1:16 PM, Chris Fabien wrote: Do you have equipment that is very sensitive to frequency? Most newer stuff uses switch-mode supplies which typically can operate fine over a wide range of voltages and frequencies. On Wed, May 8, 2013 at 1:12 PM, Matt Hoppes mhop...@indigowireless.com mailto:mhop...@indigowireless.com mailto:mhop...@indigowireless.com mailto:mhop...@indigowireless.com wrote: I'm looking at inverters as a solution. We have several generators (they increase throttle based on load and generally have very unclean power). We also have one Sear Alternator that runs at a constant RPM and provides some of the cleanest power I've ever seen. 60Hz on the nose @ 120volts. As you load it, the voltage slowly goes down, but the Hz remains constant. On 5/8/13 1:00 PM, Chris Fabien wrote: I am not sure exactly what you are getting at by using the term alternator. But a good option is any of the honda or yamaha inverter generators. These have a DC generator system running a power inverter so the power output is much more constant. They are also quieter and more fuel efficient because the engine RPM can slow down to match the load where a normal generator must run at 3600rpm to get your 60hz power. On Wed, May 8, 2013 at 12:55 PM, Matt Hoppes mhop...@indigowireless.com mailto:mhop...@indigowireless.com mailto:mhop...@indigowireless.com mailto:mhop...@indigowireless.com mailto:mhop...@indigowireless.com mailto:mhop...@indigowireless.com mailto:mhop...@indigowireless.com mailto:mhop...@indigowireless.com wrote: This is the third time in about two years that we've had some major power outages across our region due to the supplier lines going down. Every time the situation is the same, We roll out our portable generators to a few of our smaller sites that don't have full-time generators -- and every time we have to fight with them to get clean power out of them -- usually just ending up putting equipment directly on the generators and bypassing the UPS systems. I've seen the generators go everywhere from 40Hz to 90Hz. Has anyone come across a nice portable alternator (as opposed to a generator) that can be taken to tower sites as supplementary power? ~ Matt ___ Wireless mailing list Wireless@wispa.org mailto:Wireless@wispa.org mailto:Wireless@wispa.org mailto:Wireless@wispa.org mailto:Wireless@wispa.org mailto:Wireless@wispa.org mailto:Wireless@wispa.org mailto:Wireless@wispa.org http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless ___ Wireless mailing list Wireless@wispa.org mailto:Wireless@wispa.org mailto:Wireless@wispa.org mailto:Wireless@wispa.org http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless ___ Wireless mailing list Wireless@wispa.org mailto:Wireless@wispa.org mailto:Wireless@wispa.org mailto:Wireless@wispa.org http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless ___ Wireless mailing list Wireless@wispa.org mailto:Wireless@wispa.org http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless ___ Wireless mailing list Wireless@wispa.org mailto:Wireless@wispa.org http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless
Re: [WISPA] Portable Alternators?
We've noticed that our cheap generators won't charge the UPSs back up without some extra load to stabilize things. To provide that load we include a 500w or 1000w halogen construction light with each generator kit. Plug the light in and the voltage stabilizes, which allows the UPS to kick back on to the line power. It also provides some nice lighting if it's at night. Joel Mulkey CIO Freewire Direct: 503-616-2557 | Support: 503-614-8282 http://www.gofreewire.com http://twitter.com/FreewireNetwork On May 8, 2013, at 10:17 AM, wireless-requ...@wispa.org wrote: This is the third time in about two years that we've had some major power outages across our region due to the supplier lines going down. Every time the situation is the same, We roll out our portable generators to a few of our smaller sites that don't have full-time generators -- and every time we have to fight with them to get clean power out of them -- usually just ending up putting equipment directly on the generators and bypassing the UPS systems. I've seen the generators go everywhere from 40Hz to 90Hz. Has anyone come across a nice portable alternator (as opposed to a generator) that can be taken to tower sites as supplementary power? ~ Matt ___ Wireless mailing list Wireless@wispa.org http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless
Re: [WISPA] Portable Alternators?
Now that is a creative solution! That's exactly the problem -- I believe. The generators don't have enough load with the small pull the WISP equipment has. On 5/8/13 1:27 PM, Joel Mulkey wrote: We've noticed that our cheap generators won't charge the UPSs back up without some extra load to stabilize things. To provide that load we include a 500w or 1000w halogen construction light with each generator kit. Plug the light in and the voltage stabilizes, which allows the UPS to kick back on to the line power. It also provides some nice lighting if it's at night. Joel Mulkey CIO Freewire Direct: 503-616-2557 | Support: 503-614-8282 http://www.gofreewire.com http://twitter.com/FreewireNetwork On May 8, 2013, at 10:17 AM, wireless-requ...@wispa.org wrote: This is the third time in about two years that we've had some major power outages across our region due to the supplier lines going down. Every time the situation is the same, We roll out our portable generators to a few of our smaller sites that don't have full-time generators -- and every time we have to fight with them to get clean power out of them -- usually just ending up putting equipment directly on the generators and bypassing the UPS systems. I've seen the generators go everywhere from 40Hz to 90Hz. Has anyone come across a nice portable alternator (as opposed to a generator) that can be taken to tower sites as supplementary power? ~ Matt ___ Wireless mailing list Wireless@wispa.org http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless ___ Wireless mailing list Wireless@wispa.org http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless
Re: [WISPA] Portable Alternators?
You probably want something like this: http://www.americanpowerinc.com/6012G%20DC%20Charger.htm Go straight to the battery. Monitor closely. The honda and other model inverter generators usually only put out a small amount of amperage via DC only. ryan On 5/8/2013 10:27 AM, Joel Mulkey wrote: We've noticed that our cheap generators won't charge the UPSs back up without some extra load to stabilize things. To provide that load we include a 500w or 1000w halogen construction light with each generator kit. Plug the light in and the voltage stabilizes, which allows the UPS to kick back on to the line power. It also provides some nice lighting if it's at night. Joel Mulkey CIO Freewire Direct: 503-616-2557 | Support: 503-614-8282 http://www.gofreewire.com http://twitter.com/FreewireNetwork On May 8, 2013, at 10:17 AM, wireless-requ...@wispa.org wrote: This is the third time in about two years that we've had some major power outages across our region due to the supplier lines going down. Every time the situation is the same, We roll out our portable generators to a few of our smaller sites that don't have full-time generators -- and every time we have to fight with them to get clean power out of them -- usually just ending up putting equipment directly on the generators and bypassing the UPS systems. I've seen the generators go everywhere from 40Hz to 90Hz. Has anyone come across a nice portable alternator (as opposed to a generator) that can be taken to tower sites as supplementary power? ~ Matt ___ Wireless mailing list Wireless@wispa.org http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless ___ Wireless mailing list Wireless@wispa.org http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless
Re: [WISPA] Portable Alternators?
Especially with those small, cheap 2-cycle, 800-1000W generators, a 200-400W light stabilizes it well. -- On 5/8/2013 1:27 PM, Joel Mulkey wrote: We've noticed that our cheap generators won't charge the UPSs back up without some extra load to stabilize things. To provide that load we include a 500w or 1000w halogen construction light with each generator kit. Plug the light in and the voltage stabilizes, which allows the UPS to kick back on to the line power. It also provides some nice lighting if it's at night. Joel Mulkey CIO Freewire Direct: 503-616-2557 | Support: 503-614-8282 http://www.gofreewire.com http://twitter.com/FreewireNetwork On May 8, 2013, at 10:17 AM, wireless-requ...@wispa.org wrote: This is the third time in about two years that we've had some major power outages across our region due to the supplier lines going down. Every time the situation is the same, We roll out our portable generators to a few of our smaller sites that don't have full-time generators -- and every time we have to fight with them to get clean power out of them -- usually just ending up putting equipment directly on the generators and bypassing the UPS systems. I've seen the generators go everywhere from 40Hz to 90Hz. Has anyone come across a nice portable alternator (as opposed to a generator) that can be taken to tower sites as supplementary power? ~ Matt ___ Wireless mailing list Wireless@wispa.org http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless -- West Michigan Wireless ISP Allegan, Michigan 49010 269-686-8648 A Division of: Camp Communication Services, INC ___ Wireless mailing list Wireless@wispa.org http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless
Re: [WISPA] Portable Alternators?
The other option I've used is to use one of the tripplite online UPS'es which have a *Very wide* input frequency range. Because it's online, it will take the power from the gen, and then clean it up to the right frequency for the load. -forrest On Wed, May 8, 2013 at 10:55 AM, Matt Hoppes mhop...@indigowireless.comwrote: This is the third time in about two years that we've had some major power outages across our region due to the supplier lines going down. Every time the situation is the same, We roll out our portable generators to a few of our smaller sites that don't have full-time generators -- and every time we have to fight with them to get clean power out of them -- usually just ending up putting equipment directly on the generators and bypassing the UPS systems. I've seen the generators go everywhere from 40Hz to 90Hz. Has anyone come across a nice portable alternator (as opposed to a generator) that can be taken to tower sites as supplementary power? ~ Matt ___ Wireless mailing list Wireless@wispa.org http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless ___ Wireless mailing list Wireless@wispa.org http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless
Re: [WISPA] Portable Alternators?
Could you use a cheap 400w power inverter running off of the 12v plug that most generators have? Chris From: wireless-boun...@wispa.org [mailto:wireless-boun...@wispa.org] On Behalf Of Forrest Christian (List Account) Sent: Wednesday, May 08, 2013 4:14 PM To: WISPA General List Subject: Re: [WISPA] Portable Alternators? The other option I've used is to use one of the tripplite online UPS'es which have a *Very wide* input frequency range. Because it's online, it will take the power from the gen, and then clean it up to the right frequency for the load. -forrest On Wed, May 8, 2013 at 10:55 AM, Matt Hoppes mhop...@indigowireless.com wrote: This is the third time in about two years that we've had some major power outages across our region due to the supplier lines going down. Every time the situation is the same, We roll out our portable generators to a few of our smaller sites that don't have full-time generators -- and every time we have to fight with them to get clean power out of them -- usually just ending up putting equipment directly on the generators and bypassing the UPS systems. I've seen the generators go everywhere from 40Hz to 90Hz. Has anyone come across a nice portable alternator (as opposed to a generator) that can be taken to tower sites as supplementary power? ~ Matt ___ Wireless mailing list Wireless@wispa.org http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless ___ Wireless mailing list Wireless@wispa.org http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless
Re: [WISPA] Portable Alternators?
Alternatively, run your equipment on DC from an Iota DLS charger, which is constantly trickle charging some batteries. When the power goes out, it will run a lot longer because you're not converting (like a UPS) from DC coming out of your batteries to AC and then converting from AC back to DC again in a POE to power the radio. Just use DC to DC converters to get the different DC voltages you need to run your various equipment. Plug your generator into the Iota charger to power it. I bet you'll get clean DC out of it. Especially if a battery is plugged in, which I think will help smooth out the DC current. I haven't tested it, but we're using DC everywhere. Just don't have to use a generator since the battery backup lasts so long. I recently had a tower with 6 radios on it, which had two deep cycle marine batteries from walmart. Someone somehow left the breaker off after working on the site. It ran for 3 days directly off the batteries before going down. We now have to monitor each the site is being fed by AC or not. Haven't got around to that yet. Maybe some mFi will help with this. Except the single port mFi doesn't have ethernet. Cheers! Roger G5 Internet, LLC On Wed, May 8, 2013 at 3:29 PM, Blair Davis the...@wmwisp.net wrote: Especially with those small, cheap 2-cycle, 800-1000W generators, a 200-400W light stabilizes it well. -- On 5/8/2013 1:27 PM, Joel Mulkey wrote: We've noticed that our cheap generators won't charge the UPSs back up without some extra load to stabilize things. To provide that load we include a 500w or 1000w halogen construction light with each generator kit. Plug the light in and the voltage stabilizes, which allows the UPS to kick back on to the line power. It also provides some nice lighting if it's at night. Joel Mulkey CIO Freewire Direct: 503-616-2557 | Support: 503-614-8282http://www.gofreewire.comhttp://twitter.com/FreewireNetwork On May 8, 2013, at 10:17 AM, wireless-requ...@wispa.org wrote: This is the third time in about two years that we've had some major power outages across our region due to the supplier lines going down. Every time the situation is the same, We roll out our portable generators to a few of our smaller sites that don't have full-time generators -- and every time we have to fight with them to get clean power out of them -- usually just ending up putting equipment directly on the generators and bypassing the UPS systems. I've seen the generators go everywhere from 40Hz to 90Hz. Has anyone come across a nice portable alternator (as opposed to a generator) that can be taken to tower sites as supplementary power? ~ Matt ___ Wireless mailing listWireless@wispa.orghttp://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless -- West Michigan Wireless ISP Allegan, Michigan 49010269-686-8648 A Division of: Camp Communication Services, INC ___ Wireless mailing list Wireless@wispa.org http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless ___ Wireless mailing list Wireless@wispa.org http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless