Slightly OT: Increase current capacity of UPS by 5A

[Blue Jinn]

Hello,

I acquired a 5amp UPS, (meaning cheap.) 

I have a sump pump that draws 10 amps. (Has a tank associated with it, so pumping is not constant. ) Figure in a really bad storm if rain comes and power goes, it would be nice to have a battery on the pump.

I'm going to try and get a service manual from the manufacturer for the UPS, (Ferrups FE500VA) but conceptually, assuming the transformer can handle the load, is there any reason I can't increase the current rating by e.g. adding pass transistors, and a higher rated battery? Or conversely a higher rated transformer and battery? I'm venturing into uncharted waters for myself here so forgive me if I'm asking a completely clueless question. (I'm fairly certain the UPS outputs a reasonably close sine wave. ) I've come across simple enough inverters that would likely work, except they are all square wave output.

 

[JohnRoberts]

You may be better off to make/buy a dc motor based sump pump. Perhaps something from a boat.

JR

 

[PRR]

UPSes are VERY cost-competitive.

There is not one extra milliAmp of output, and hot-rodding will involve EVERYTHING (the iron, the silicon, the wires....).

Agree. Get a 12V pump. Browse www.northerntool.com , I think I saw 12V sump-pumps in there.
Yes, complete with battery-box (an open battery in a cellar is risky):
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_4866_4866
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200352037_200352037
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200488470_200488470

 

[SSLtech]

Umm -a FERRUPS?

Those things are ferro-resonant. Don't do it.

There isn't enough overhead. -You may as well try and convert a Ford Fiesta into a Ferrari-beater.

COULD you do it? -Sure... but it would cost more to buy the real thing, in BOTH cases.Oh And Ferrups are physically noisy, if that's an issue. -I once ran a Neve Capricorn on a 6kVA version.

 

[Blue Jinn]

@all Thanks,

and  @PRR thanks for the links, US$144/shipping and the time to install is pretty dang cost effective.

@SSLtech You're right about the noise. I had this at my old old office for the main server.

 

[PRR]

> US$144/shipping

Battery not included.

 

[Blue Jinn]

> US$144/shipping

Battery not included.

Some assembly required.

 

[PRR]

Perhaps a better model:

http://www.radonseal.com/pumps/battery-sump-pumps.htm

This is battery. *IF* you have _reliable_ city-water even in a blackout, they have another model which uses a strong rush of city-water through an ejector to suck-up sump water; no electrons, clever.
http://www.radonseal.com/pumps/water-powered-pumps.htm

 

[Blue Jinn]

@PRR, thanks again. I think the previous battery powered one will be fine. The basement leaks in very heavy rain, but the drains lead to a large containment vessel, and this is just redundant systems in case the power goes out too in a storm.