DIYAndy
Well-Known Member
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DIY "Green" UPS/battery backup generator - the comforts of home in your Ford Ranger!
Imagine grabbing a "cold one" from a fridge or having a microwave dinner prepared from the back of your Ford Ranger truck bed - bon appétit!
Warning - For your safety and protection you probably need a truck bed cover (Tonneau) to protect the DIY UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply)/Battery Backup-Generator from the elements. (I happen to know of a very low cost DIY truck bed cover design ) You can also use a heavy poly tarp to protect the backup generator.
You also need to make a portable secure enclosure so it can be easily lifted/transported/secured in the vehicle truck bed or lifted out and away and left at home as another alternative for emergency home battery backup. The key is to separate the light modules eg charger/inverter from the heavy 50# batteries from the portable enclosure and keep them protected.
There is no use in "re-inventing the wheel" so I will give a URL link on how it is done. (You can expand or reduce this system very easily according to need or watts)
https://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Build-a-Battery-Backup-Generator/
You need to add to this system design a 12V 140 Amp Dual Battery Isolator - Voltage Sensitive Relay (VSR).
https://www.amazon.com/Dual-Battery-Isolator-KeyLine-Chargers/dp/B00WTAFR5W/ref=asc_df_B00WTAFR5W/?tag=hyprod20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=241914879076&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=16357893450110416009&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9014989&hvtargid=pla-467048321278&psc=1
This will allow your Ranger to automatically charge the UPS/Battery Backup Generator without running down your Ranger's main/starting battery. I would add, to the VSR, two fuses (on both + - leads - 200 amp ANL fuses) and a positive on/off cutoff switch near the main engine battery for protection, safety and lockout. Then run the 12 volt power cabling to the truck bed to the UPS/Battery Backup Generator. Also, you can use your household AC to charge the UPS/Battery Backup Generator BUT don't forget to unplug the AC from the charger module before driving away! - very bad things will happen. I do not recommend using an external solar charging on UPS/Battery Backup Generator because of the solar high cost and long charge time due to the 2.1 kWH high capacity, sealed, AGM, deep discharge, marine battery(s). Charging the UPS/battery backup generator with AC should only take over night. Charging from the Ranger alternator will also keep the sealed batteries at the proper charge level.
Cost - going "green" you will always pay a premium. A crude estimate for the 2.1 kWH UPS/Battery Backup Generator is ~ $1100 but this cost can be greatly reduced by carefully shopping around for parts. Using fossil fuel to power a gas generator/inverter generator at 2000 watts will cost you ~ $500 (Harbor Freight). Of course, you need lots of fossil fuel, periodic engine maintenance, low run time/duty cycle and put up with the noise. The generator 53# weight to lift it over the 36" tailgate is fairly easy but you need to keep it away from the Ranger for safe operation. The Harbor Freight 3500/4375 Watt Max Starting Extra Long Life Gas Powered Generator will only set you back only $400 (less with discounts) but asking the wife to lift this ~ 100 # generator in/out of the truck bed is committing suicide.
DIYAndy
End of Project 1/16/2020
Imagine grabbing a "cold one" from a fridge or having a microwave dinner prepared from the back of your Ford Ranger truck bed - bon appétit!
Warning - For your safety and protection you probably need a truck bed cover (Tonneau) to protect the DIY UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply)/Battery Backup-Generator from the elements. (I happen to know of a very low cost DIY truck bed cover design ) You can also use a heavy poly tarp to protect the backup generator.
You also need to make a portable secure enclosure so it can be easily lifted/transported/secured in the vehicle truck bed or lifted out and away and left at home as another alternative for emergency home battery backup. The key is to separate the light modules eg charger/inverter from the heavy 50# batteries from the portable enclosure and keep them protected.
There is no use in "re-inventing the wheel" so I will give a URL link on how it is done. (You can expand or reduce this system very easily according to need or watts)
https://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Build-a-Battery-Backup-Generator/
You need to add to this system design a 12V 140 Amp Dual Battery Isolator - Voltage Sensitive Relay (VSR).
https://www.amazon.com/Dual-Battery-Isolator-KeyLine-Chargers/dp/B00WTAFR5W/ref=asc_df_B00WTAFR5W/?tag=hyprod20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=241914879076&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=16357893450110416009&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9014989&hvtargid=pla-467048321278&psc=1
This will allow your Ranger to automatically charge the UPS/Battery Backup Generator without running down your Ranger's main/starting battery. I would add, to the VSR, two fuses (on both + - leads - 200 amp ANL fuses) and a positive on/off cutoff switch near the main engine battery for protection, safety and lockout. Then run the 12 volt power cabling to the truck bed to the UPS/Battery Backup Generator. Also, you can use your household AC to charge the UPS/Battery Backup Generator BUT don't forget to unplug the AC from the charger module before driving away! - very bad things will happen. I do not recommend using an external solar charging on UPS/Battery Backup Generator because of the solar high cost and long charge time due to the 2.1 kWH high capacity, sealed, AGM, deep discharge, marine battery(s). Charging the UPS/battery backup generator with AC should only take over night. Charging from the Ranger alternator will also keep the sealed batteries at the proper charge level.
Cost - going "green" you will always pay a premium. A crude estimate for the 2.1 kWH UPS/Battery Backup Generator is ~ $1100 but this cost can be greatly reduced by carefully shopping around for parts. Using fossil fuel to power a gas generator/inverter generator at 2000 watts will cost you ~ $500 (Harbor Freight). Of course, you need lots of fossil fuel, periodic engine maintenance, low run time/duty cycle and put up with the noise. The generator 53# weight to lift it over the 36" tailgate is fairly easy but you need to keep it away from the Ranger for safe operation. The Harbor Freight 3500/4375 Watt Max Starting Extra Long Life Gas Powered Generator will only set you back only $400 (less with discounts) but asking the wife to lift this ~ 100 # generator in/out of the truck bed is committing suicide.
DIYAndy
End of Project 1/16/2020
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