DC power UPS?

Along with power strips, eventually we get around to dealing with powering the devices reliably.  There's a ton of different UPSes out there.  I've had more than my share of random brands over the years.  APC tends to remain 'less problematic' but their monitoring was/is expensive and their software usually sucks.
 
But since a lot of gear is now either 12v or 5v (usb) there's room for considering not bothering with wall warts at all, and going with direct DC power.  Which since most UPSes use 12v batteries inside, well, why not use a DC UPS instead?
 
Cyberpower seems to offer a range of gizmos here:
http://www.cyberpowersystems.com/products/telecom-equipment.html
 
Anyone made use of one of these for powering automation gear?

You could probably hack a normal UPS with a power port hooked directly to the batteries.
Use a medusa cable or terminal block to power multiple devices.

I've thought of doing this with multiple PTCs. You wouldn't want a short on a single connection to take down the complete UPS system.

There are plenty of DC ups' out there. Just use a 12vdc power supply with a battery backup like an Altronix AL600ULX or similar.
 
You get 120v to 12vdc conversion, A.C. Fail and Battery Fail Monitoring outputs (Form C),
 
If you need discrete power channels for different devices then add a PD8. You get 8 outputs with a glass 3.5 amp fuse on each. You can change out the fuses to 500ma or 1 Amp or whatever if that suite your needs.
 
http://www.altronix.com/products/product.php?name=AL600ULX
 
The PD8 would go right in the can in the picture to the right of the main PCB.
 
Or you can get an AL600 ULXB (Board only) and add it to an existing can.

Does Altronix make them with a serial, USB or Ethernet port so you can monitor battery voltage, watts being used, battery run-time remaining, etc?

Automate said:

Does Altronix make them with a serial, USB or Ethernet port so you can monitor battery voltage, watts being used, battery run-time remaining, etc?

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I haven't gotten that detailed in my looking. There are plenty of options for 12vdc to USB converters out there. As far as monitoring, I didn't see any data based monitoring in the OP's linked to devices so I didn't go down that path.

wkearney99 said:

APC tends to remain 'less problematic' but their monitoring was/is expensive and their software usually sucks.

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If you have not used APC UPS Daemon you need to check it out http://www.apcupsd.org/about/

Open source, more features and less bloat than APC's software.

I have one of those cyberlink telecom UPSs in my closet now - it's part of our Fiber to the Home thing with this community...
 
Depending on amperage requirements, you could of course use an Elk P212 - it works with or without an Elk and can give status either via the Elk's databus or via contacts - but it's limited to 2A.  Otherwise I know I come across these sorts of things all the time in my SCADA/WISP projects - I'd just have to dig up some specific items. 
 
Continuing from the other thread - of course I'd never put a typical automotive battery in the house...

I actually just took a closer look at the cyberpower thing already in my closet - that might actually nto be a bad way to go - seems it has outputs for monitoring battery issues which could be integrated into the alarm panel (and the internal buzzer cut so it doesn't wake us during the night) and it takes an optional additional battery pack.
 
Oh well - it's not high on my list right this second but I'll look again soon.

The cyberpower outputs are just line level, no data.  There's ways to fake detecting them with an RS-232 port (using the signaling lines).  Stuff like NUT can be made to work with just about any UPS.
http://www.networkupstools.org

Work2Play said:

I have one of those cyberlink telecom UPSs in my closet now - it's part of our Fiber to the Home thing with this community...
 
Depending on amperage requirements, you could of course use an Elk P212 - it works with or without an Elk and can give status either via the Elk's databus or via contacts - but it's limited to 2A.  Otherwise I know I come across these sorts of things all the time in my SCADA/WISP projects - I'd just have to dig up some specific items. 
 
Continuing from the other thread - of course I'd never put a typical automotive battery in the house...

Click to expand...

 
How 'bout an AGM battery?

These seem more reasonably priced than the Cyberpowers.  http://www.powerstream.com/12V-backup.htm
 
36 and 72 Watt, DIN rail mountable.  User provides the battery.  Can be paralleled for increase current

Is the OP inquiring about powering lots of different DC devices from a central DC UPS, or powering individual DC devices from their own dedicated Micro UPS's?  There have been a fair number of kickstarter and related projects lately for the latter case (including this indiegogo one, with 12 days to go.  It uses the LTC1980EGN to accomplish both DC to DC conversion as well as battery charging.   It's perhaps the least expensive of the bunch, although right now it doesn't look like it will get funded:  https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/microups-for-raspberry-beaglebone-cubieboard).  If space or portability isn't a concern, then regular SLA battery float charging UPS that alarm panels use seem to offer the least expensive solution for the most standby power.   Or, so I thought until seeing the above indiegogo micro UPS's which aren't SLA.  
 
For SLA, the chargers that take into account battery temperature and adjust charging voltage accordingly are both the best and the least common.  

This issue recently became a project for me as well.   I wanted fault tolerance for a power outage.  And, because I use my network connection for my connection to alarmrelay, I wanted my networking core components to be on a UPS.
 
Ok... here goes my shot at this.

1. 12V power supply - std open frame w/ cover. 
    Digi-key: I already have one of theses.  It will run it off 220ac (for efficiency, 84%@220vac) (it also does 110ac) and it
    will adjust up to about 13v - 6A
    http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/LS75-12/285-1825-ND/1918836
2. Open UPS, lots of parameters available via the USB port.  I'll set it to 12v out.
    a. Open UPS - 6-24v input
    http://www.mini-box.com/OpenUPS
3. Fuse Block - 6 terminal fan out with ground block,
    https://www.google.com/shopping/product/4624698487750095590
4. Battery - Lithium Iron Phosphate, for the longevity
    http://www.powerstream.com/LLLF-12v-7ah.htm
5. Battery Shelf for in-cabinet mounting
    http://www.automatedoutlet.com/Home/Accessories/SWS
6. Power Connectors for each device
    http://www.microcenter.com/product/432520/Power_Block-Male_10-pk
7. Power over Ethernet - passive inserter/splitter
    http://www.amazon.com/Passive-PoE-Injector-Splitter-Connector/dp/B00CGMI4KI
 
The battery will be in my security cabinet.   The power supply, DC regulator and battery charger (UPS), and the fuse block will go on a 19" rack shelf below the Modem, Router and ISY controller.

Output 1 to Cable Modem Zoom 5341j - 1A
Output 2 to Ethernet Router Cisco RVS4000 - 1A
Output 3 to Elk Ethernet gw - 2A
Output 4 to ISY Automation Controller - ISY994i gw - 2A
Output 5 to NetGear Ethernet switch - 700ma
Output 6 to passive POE inserter/spliter for WiFi Access Point in Great Room - 700ma

The OpenUPS looks like it has nice features.  But I wonder how much capability you really need.
 
If all you need to do is power some devices, like your modem and router that run off of 12VDC, then why not just buy an off the shelf solution like the Altronix AL600ULPD4 (or PD8 or PD16, if you need more than 4 outputs).   Models are available that have either fuses or PTCs, if you prefer.  New, you can buy one for around $200 from a distributor. But they often sell for much less than that on eBay.  Sometimes as low as $20 to $60 in new condition. 
 
[Edit:]  There is one available in an eBay auction that ends shortly for $69.
 
It provides form-C outputs to indicate loss of AC power and low battery, but doesn't have a data connection for monitoring more detailed information.  
 
Altronix is known for rock solid, reliable power supplies.  I think that's what you'd want for an important part of your alarm system.
 
If you think you really want/need more detailed information on the power supply status, then your proposed solution probably can provide that.  But I don't see much other advantage.
 
One thing I'd recommend is ditching the expensive Li ion battery and going with an SLA battery instead.   You can pick up a Power Sonic 1290 9Ah battery that's the same physical size and offers more standby capacity for about $23.