Smoke back when the power goes out?

[TimfromMA]

Before buying the marine charger, I would let the APC do the charging which would take anywhere from several hours to several days to recharge. I mostly bought the charger so I could ensure a full recharge in a few hours. As far as managing that, I handle it manually so far. I do have a circuit idea that would use relays to switch in and out the charger automatically but I haven't brought it to fruition.

 

[TimfromMA]

I also have a 20A fuse in line with the batteries in case of an APC failure that shorts the batteries out.

 

[CaptSpiff]

Thanks. So it sounds like the APC charging system is somehow current limited and hasn't smoked itself under your setup. That's key.
And now I understand that you manage the charging manually as time permits, bringing in the bigger charger as needed. Also doable.

I plan on rigging up a setup that will give me 1hr operate time to shutdown automatically without the smoke.
I've got a APC750 without its battery, so i'll hunt around for a marine battery and begin to play.
I remember a thread about using a simple 120v relay with a pair of contacts: one in series with the ignitor, and the other in series with the hopper switch.
Is that a good way to initiate the shutdown process, or is there a more elegant method?

 

[TimfromMA]

If I add another set of batteries, I think Ill have enough juice so that the hopper would run dry before the batteries do.

 

[CaptSpiff]

OK, no pellets no smoke problem.

 

[TimfromMA]

The stove will shutdown once the pellets run out.

 

[Papelletman]

TimfromMA, what apc unit do you have? Was the factory batttery 24v?

 

[TimfromMA]

It's a Smart UPS 1200. It came from the factory with 2 12V batteries wired in series for 24V.

 

[Papelletman]

Good to know! Thanks!

 

[bill3rail]

The batteries are in series using heavy gauge wire with ring terminals.

My APC / battery setup sits in the room downstairs below the stove. I ran a piece of romex up inside the wall to an outlet right next to the stove. The downstairs end of the romex, inside a wall box, has a plug attached that runs out and connects to the APC.

Improvements I have in mind are things like more batteries to increase run time, a battery switch to switch in and out different battery groups and other such tid bits.

Tim,

Great job!

Please create a detailed description with parts list and pictures in a new thread. This thread would need to be tacked for all to learn from.

Thank you,

Bill

 

[SidecarFlip]

In my biew it makes more sense both from a safety standpoint and a cost standpoint to extebd the venting vertically enough to created a natural draft so if the power fails, the natural draft will draw off the smoke and allow the fire to go out by itself. No power = no pellets = no fire.. I'm 3 off the stove into a 3-4 cleanout amd 4 vertically for 18 feet with a termination cap and it draws very well, in fact so well, I have to kieep the draft shutter closed all the time, no matter what the HR is set at.

In my view thats a whole lot better (and cheaper) than batteries or inverters or all that stuff. I don't want batteries in my living room either, belching corrosive acid fumes or leaking on the floor.

 

[TimfromMA]

In my biew it makes more sense both from a safety standpoint and a cost standpoint to extebd the venting vertically enough to created a natural draft so if the power fails, the natural draft will draw off the smoke and allow the fire to go out by itself. No power = no pellets = no fire.. I'm 3 off the stove into a 3-4 cleanout amd 4 vertically for 18 feet with a termination cap and it draws very well, in fact so well, I have to kieep the draft shutter closed all the time, no matter what the HR is set at.

In my view thats a whole lot better (and cheaper) than batteries or inverters or all that stuff. I don't want batteries in my living room either, belching corrosive acid fumes or leaking on the floor.

For me yes, keeping the smoke out in a power failure is a big plus but the primary reason is to maintain stove function. Most of our power failures here only last a couple of hours which my battery system can easily handle. On the rare occasion that a power failure comes along that lasts days, I want to be able to shut the generator off at night and still keep warm.

Its all about personal preference. If you are happy with just keeping the smoke out when power goes out the yes, vertical rise in your vent would be the easier option.

 

[TimfromMA]

Tim,

Great job!

Please create a detailed description with parts list and pictures in a new thread. This thread would need to be tacked for all to learn from.

Thank you,

Bill

There are alot of things that can go wrong with a setup like mine if you don't know what you are doing. Its far from perfect. Ive been doing electronics for 25 years so Im quire comfortable with little projects like this but I would caution against anyone trying this on their own if they don't know what they are doing .

 

[gfreek]

I don't want batteries in my living room either, belching corrosive acid fumes or leaking on the floor.

I intend to put mine in the basement, and have just the stove outlet on the UPS..