Use of Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPSs) with Scanners

[revclstoner]

I wonder if there are any scanner/radio users that have their equipment powered through an Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPSs).

Is there a benefit with using an Uninterruptible Power Supplies?

[Chauffeur6]

The benefit would be the same as anything else plugged into a UPS...if the electricity goes out, the scanner will continue to operate.

Of course if you have a handheld scanner with charged batteries in it, it would switch to the batteries automatically if the power fails. For a base model, it would obviously lose power and turn off, unless you had it plugged into a UPS.

This all seems pretty obvious. Am I missing something here? Are you looking for some other "benefit" to plugging your scanner into a UPS, such as power line filtering or surge protection or increased RF performance?

[revclstoner]

Originally Posted by Chauffeur6

This all seems pretty obvious. Am I missing something here? Are you looking for some other "benefit" to plugging your scanner into a UPS, such as power line filtering or surge protection or increased RF performance?

I know about the benefit of backup power. I'm more concerned with power line filtering and surge protection. Not too sure with the increase RF performance.

[doctordialtone]

Originally Posted by revclstoner

I wonder if there are any scanner/radio users that have their equipment powered through an Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPSs).

Is there a benefit with using an Uninterruptible Power Supplies?

Two benefits - 1) Additional battery power in a power outage and 2) Filtering commercial power.

I happen to have a pile of UPS backing up Alarm System, Camera System, (2) PC's, DISH DVR, TV and Phone/Voice Mail System.

A small UPS in the 500VA range is good insurance for power surges on something small like a scanner and will give you some time to figure out what's going on with the outage, not to mention the batteries in portable scanners. I have 1400VA UPS's on the PC's and scanners and another on the TV, as most power failures here are less than 30 minutes. Run time depends upon the devices connected.

Power strips that profess to be "Surge Protection" are pretty useless. Commercial power is getting dirtier and dirtier, and I hear my UPS "trip" 2 or 3 times per day in response to an aberration.

If you're bored or needing further information, try this: UPS Selector Sizing Applications or just go to Staples and buy a 500/700 for $50 to $75.

[revclstoner]

Originally Posted by doctordialtone

Two benefits - 1) Additional battery power in a power outage and 2) Filtering commercial power.

I happen to have a pile of UPS backing up Alarm System, Camera System, (2) PC's, DISH DVR, TV and Phone/Voice Mail System.

A small UPS in the 500VA range is good insurance for power surges on something small like a scanner and will give you some time to figure out what's going on with the outage, not to mention the batteries in portable scanners. I have 1400VA UPS's on the PC's and scanners and another on the TV, as most power failures here are less than 30 minutes. Run time depends upon the devices connected.

Power strips that profess to be "Surge Protection" are pretty useless. Commercial power is getting dirtier and dirtier, and I hear my UPS "trip" 2 or 3 times per day in response to an aberration.

If you're bored or needing further information, try this: UPS Selector Sizing Applications or just go to Staples and buy a 500/700 for $50 to $75.

Thanks for the input! I will peruse the link.

[Chauffeur6]

Originally Posted by revclstoner

I know about the benefit of backup power. I'm more concerned with power line filtering and surge protection. Not too sure with the increase RF performance.

Gotcha.

Most UPS provide decent surge protection, but keep in mind that if you use an external antenna with the scanner, that should be protected as well. Proper grounding and lightning protection is key, because it doesn't matter how fantastic your AC source is if all entry points aren't protected.

Inexpensive UPS aren't going to do much filtering of the incoming AC, if any at all. More expensive models, such as APC's SmartUPS series, have better power filtering.

Another thing to keep in mind is that lower cost UPS do not put out "pure" sine wave AC when they are running on battery power. Instead they use an approximated step wave. Some newer computers will actually not run on step wave, they require sine wave. This shouldn't be too big an issue with a scanner, however because it's not a pure 60hz sine wave, it could negatively affect RF reception by introducing RFI or EMI into the scanner.

And finally, as far as RF performance...while having a good AC source isn't going to boost RF performance per se, having a dirty AC source can sure hurt RF performance. Handheld scanners running off internal batteries with a rubber ducky antenna is about the cleanest you're going to get, since there are no outside influence such as dirty AC, a cheap AC adapter, external antenna issues with grounding or static electricity, etc.

[revclstoner]

Originally Posted by Chauffeur6

Gotcha.

Most UPS provide decent surge protection, but keep in mind that if you use an external antenna with the scanner, that should be protected as well. Proper grounding and lightning protection is key, because it doesn't matter how fantastic your AC source is if all entry points aren't protected.

Inexpensive UPS aren't going to do much filtering of the incoming AC, if any at all. More expensive models, such as APC's SmartUPS series, have better power filtering.

Another thing to keep in mind is that lower cost UPS do not put out "pure" sine wave AC when they are running on battery power. Instead they use an approximated step wave. Some newer computers will actually not run on step wave, they require sine wave. This shouldn't be too big an issue with a scanner, however because it's not a pure 60hz sine wave, it could negatively affect RF reception by introducing RFI or EMI into the scanner.

And finally, as far as RF performance...while having a good AC source isn't going to boost RF performance per se, having a dirty AC source can sure hurt RF performance. Handheld scanners running off internal batteries with a rubber ducky antenna is about the cleanest you're going to get, since there are no outside influence such as dirty AC, a cheap AC adapter, external antenna issues with grounding or static electricity, etc.

Appreciate the input! I'll look into those SmartUPS series systems.

[lep]

I have a UPS on one of my scanners just to be able to receive during an emergency. My 996XT doesn't have any other source of power during an outage. I bought it at Fry's for around $75 and don't recall the exact spec but it is plenty adequate for the scanner.

[Chauffeur6]

Originally Posted by lep

I have a UPS on one of my scanners just to be able to receive during an emergency. My 996XT doesn't have any other source of power during an outage. I bought it at Fry's for around $75 and don't recall the exact spec but it is plenty adequate for the scanner.

I run my base/mobiles off 14.4 volt DeWalt battery packs. I crimped two 3M Scotchlok fully insulated male disconnects on the end of the DC power cord, and they fit right over the terminals on the top of the battery. In fact, it worked so well that I pigtailed it so I could run it off two battery packs (in parallel) at the same time to get longer runtime.

[cg]

I used to have one but it was a significant source of interference for the scanners. If I were to do it again, I would put the UPS and the power supply at the far end of my house. Since I run my radios on 12 VDC (no wall warts, another interference source) I would only have to run one heavier wire 50 feet.

chris

[Chauffeur6]

Originally Posted by Chauffeur6

I run my base/mobiles off 14.4 volt DeWalt battery packs. I crimped two 3M Scotchlok fully insulated male disconnects on the end of the DC power cord, and they fit right over the terminals on the top of the battery. In fact, it worked so well that I pigtailed it so I could run it off two battery packs (in parallel) at the same time to get longer runtime.

Here's what the setup looks like.

[revclstoner]

Originally Posted by Chauffeur6

I run my base/mobiles off 14.4 volt DeWalt battery packs. I crimped two 3M Scotchlok fully insulated male disconnects on the end of the DC power cord, and they fit right over the terminals on the top of the battery. In fact, it worked so well that I pigtailed it so I could run it off two battery packs (in parallel) at the same time to get longer runtime.

That's very interesting! I have to see how that's done!

[revclstoner]

Originally Posted by Chauffeur6

Here's what the setup looks like.

Ok. Now I see LOL!!!

[Blackink]

Originally Posted by Chauffeur6

I run my base/mobiles off 14.4 volt DeWalt battery packs. I crimped two 3M Scotchlok fully insulated male disconnects on the end of the DC power cord, and they fit right over the terminals on the top of the battery. In fact, it worked so well that I pigtailed it so I could run it off two battery packs (in parallel) at the same time to get longer runtime.

I hope I'm not Hacking a thread here, please let me know if I am.

Wow, what a great idea on using the battery packs as an energy source!
I do have one question concern the scotchlok connections on the end of the DC power cord.
Does that mean you cut the adaptor off the DC power cord - Meaning the part that plugs into the cigarette lighter, or a power port in the vehicle? And that's where you connected the scotchloks?

I'm telling ya, everyday I learn something new about this great scanner hobby by reading through these posts!
Thanks

[Blackink]

Forget about replying. By the time I got my previous message posted, you already had a picture up showing what you did.
Once again, thanks for a great idea. I'll be looking into this tomorrow.

[Chauffeur6]

Any base/mobile scanner I've ever bought had bare, tinned ends on the DC cord, so it was just a straightforward crimp. Well, actually, it was until I decided to run two batteries in parallel. I cut a few inches off the wire to use as the pigtail for the second battery, then spliced the main wire and pigtail together into new Scotchlok terminals (as you can see in the photo).

I suppose if you had a DC cord that had a cigarette lighter plug on that end, you'd have to cut it off, yeah. You could, of course, cut it off leaving a few inches of the cord, then crimp female Scotchlok disconnects to it. That way you can re-connect the main part of the cord back to it whenever you want.

One caveat: The female disconnects don't mate up with the DeWalt battery terminals very well at all, so I used male disconnects for both + and -. You obviously have to be careful to observe battery polarity, since both connectors are the same sex. That would be doubly important if you attached two female disconnects to the cigarette lighter plug. Normally in that situation I would recommend attaching one male and one female to each section of the cord so that you can't accidentally reverse the polarity.

[Chauffeur6]

Originally Posted by Blackink

Forget about replying. By the time I got my previous message posted, you already had a picture up showing what you did.
Once again, thanks for a great idea. I'll be looking into this tomorrow.

No problem, I was replying as you posted this message.

One other thing you could do, if you already have a DC cord with cigarette lighter plug attached, is to buy a cigarette lighter socket and attach the Scotchlok connectors to that instead. This way you don't have to cut your DC cord, and you can easily connect the scanner to the batteries.

Cigarette Lighter Socket : Amazon.com : Automotive

[doctordialtone]

Originally Posted by Chauffeur6

You obviously have to be careful to observe battery polarity, since both connectors are the same sex.

Any chance we can use the term "Gender"? It's a much more comfortable visual, especially near bedtime - Thank you.

[Chauffeur6]

But, aren't you a DOCTOR? Surely the word SEX doesn't offend you?

[Blackink]

I'm all set, once I saw your picture, I went into my bag of leftover goodies that came with the scanner and saw the pigtail you're talking about.

You know....you folks that have had these scanners for awhile and know these tips & tricks probably don't think anything about tidbits like what I just learned. But for me (still wet behind the ears and then some about scanners...), now I'm excited as all heck to put something like that together and try it but it's 10:30pm here and I have a hard enough time reading these posts and keeping my eyes open.
What that all means is I know what'll be going through my mind when I go to bed.....zzzzzzz
Thanks again