Genny power for gaming computer.

[xelasnave]

The new place only has solar power, batteries etc.
The system is large enough for the tv fridge and most things. There is about 1000 amp battery, inverter I think about 800 watts.
My daughter has a gaming computer and guessing it may be 1000watts but I will nail it down but I expect that region even half would mean it can not run thru the current system.
There is a 7.5 kva genny but not sine wave.
Any ideas on how to solve this problem.
I am wondering if I get a 2kva sine wave genny run the power thru a surge protect board as a possibility or even larger.
But I get the impression I need a larger system of 48vlt battery, 2000watt inverter, ...
Well before I lose any more sleep does anyone have a cheap solution using a genny so she can have at least a couple of hours fun each week.
I have not tried the 7.5kva genny because I am worried it may damage something.
Alex

[guipago (Geoff)]

I think you'll be lucky sorting out a cheap solution, give a solar power store a ring, there's one in Nimbin, Rainbow Power Co. I think, they'll know what works with what, I only use a laptop & it works solar or Genny, but a computer on 240v needs that really clean sine wave or it spit's it, lots of gennys "claim" sine wave, but they may not be clean enough any small spikes & the comp. might get a bit confused.
I use Honda gennys you pay for them but they work & the wave is as clean as you'll get it but I don't know if even there good enough for computers, the 2kva UI genny uses about 500ml of fuel an hour, my 3kva Honda uses about 700ml of fuel an hr.
The bigger solar system you talked about, 48v, is the way to go for trouble free power, but you pay. I got panels off fleabay cheaper, Tor Tech for a sine wave inverter at a good price, been going 2yrs so far & found the acid batteries just as good as the dry cell but heaps cheaper.
Good luck with it.

[Atmos (Colin)]

You should be able to get a device that will make it into a pure sinewave. 240V in and out, pure sinewave module in the middle with a decent capacitor. Have no idea what it would be called, just thinking about it logically

[xelasnave]

Thanks Geoff
I was talking to Rainbow Power yesterday and we are getting data for them so as to build a 48 vlt system. But each time I ring and suggest or ask about a quick fix he tells me I have to do my home work and the reason why I ask here is because I want to keep on side.. He doesnot like any of my quick fixes... If I come up with something I dont plan to tell him.
I think he thinks I am impatient.. Well I am I want something asap for my daughter. She is not complaining but she is a good kid and I want to make life better for her...

And thanks Colin if you can build me something I will buy it.
Thinking about it there must be a market such as me.. Which makes me wonder if there is something out there...
I have a solution via batteries etc but it will cost 16k which frankly after the purchase I dont want to spend.
I am checking where grid power is... I think I saw poles about a kilometer away so maybe in time but as I said I need something fast.
Anyways got back to Sydney a couple of hours ago and I am beat after the drive. So I will sleep even with this problem still on the books.
Oh the good news is there is another good solar system in a shed real close to where I intend to build the new observatory. So no worries for power there.. 500 amp hours which will be enough, 500 watts in solar panels a d a wind generator. The shed is cool I will be happy there. Alex

[Atmos (Colin)]

What I have in mind exists, it is what creates a pure sine wave within the normal 12v to 240v inverters. My friend is currently completing his Honors in Electronic Engineering, I remember him showing me the theory behind it a couple of years ago.

It is just a pure sine wave inverter that converts uncorrected current and corrects it via capasitor and other various things. Current enters the capasitor and is corrected on its way out. I have no idea what to call it though!

[guipago (Geoff)]

Google "sine wave inverter to run a computer" down the page is
www.off-grid.net/forums/topics/inverters-for-computers
might have the info your after, beware of the cheap stuff you get what you pay for in this game.

[guipago (Geoff)]

Back to your quick fix
Honda EU20i 2Kva max 1.6Kva normal around $2099rrp has inverter in it, portable, handy as hell, sounds like it will run a computer ring Honda Power Equipment on 03 92701348 I luv 'em, will run a 800w vaccum cleaner(where my EU10i wouldn't, the joys of living by yourself) Yes you can get cheap Bunnings models but they will drop there bundle & possibly take out the computer as well, more food for thought.

[OICURMT]

Cheapest solution for your desktop computer is to get an "uninterruptible power supply". This will sort out any spikes, deformations in waveforms and transients.

[rmuhlack (Richard)]

perhaps it would be easier/cheaper to purchase a gaming laptop instead...

[ZeroID (Brent)]

Get a decent UPS, double conversion. Rubbish ac in, excellent AC out.
They are a bit expensive but do the job and give you some storage and backup. About 3000 va is about where double conversions start, small ones are not effective.

[ZeroID (Brent)]

Originally Posted by OICURMT

Cheapest solution for your desktop computer is to get an "uninterruptible power supply". This will sort out any spikes, deformations in waveforms and transients.

Has to be double conversion for that, otherwise it only works when power either fails of falls below certain points.
Double conversion means it ALWAYs converts to DC then creates 230vAC independent of whatever is coming in.

[xelasnave]

Originally Posted by ZeroID

Get a decent UPS, double conversion. Rubbish ac in, excellent AC out.
They are a bit expensive but do the job and give you some storage and backup. About 3000 va is about where double conversions start, small ones are not effective.

Thanks Brent.
That sounds like it.
And thanks to everyone for input this problem has been worrying me no end.
Alex

[ZeroID (Brent)]

No problem Alex, give us a yell if you have any questions. My lovely wife runs a business selling them over here and has all the specs and stuff. We'd do you a great deal if we were in Aus, no problem.
But it's the only real complete solution for your situation. Don't let them fob you off with a Line Interactive, that only cuts in when it sees low voltage and doesn't really eliminate the poor input waveform or voltage.

[sil (Steve)]

a power conditioner is what you are describing. expensive but worth it to look after expensive gear. UPS can also work but you will need a high VA type (again expensive). surge boards are useless, they are sacrificial, essentially a complicated fuse, they dont clean dirty power and run seperate power loops because fridge compressors and power tools will dirty up the power in the loop so a computer on the same loop will get fried. just because you can plug stuff together doesnt mean you should.

[xelasnave]

Thanks again Brent and Sil
Any thoughts on a specific model and where to get it.
Alex

[w0mbat (Ian)]

Alex the first thing you need to do is measure the actual ac power draw of the computer. I would be shocked if it is more than a few hundreds watts.
From the small amount of info about the solar power system you have given you should not have a problem running the computer for reasonable periods.
I was once an agent for Rainbow Power. They are good people. If you give them the information needed they will give you reliable information in return.
Ian
PS
In my experience the switch mode power supplies of desktop computers (or any computers) do not require high quality power so should happily run on any generator or square wave inverter.

[xelasnave]

Hi Ian thanks for your thoughts.
You are correct we need to find out the draw.
I have been in touch with Rainbow I have to provide them with details about the system which I yet to do.
They are thinking we need aarger system which is only necessary if the computer draws what I suspect.
I think the graphics card mentions 750 watts and I read that a gaming computer will draw around 1000watts.
I am not up there at the present so I cant get a personal visit in to thecomputer guy (the builder) or get over to Nimbin to have a personal chat with someone over there.
Thank you your input.
Alex

[ZeroID (Brent)]

About 3 Kva is the smallest Double conversion UPS you can get, it will handle any gaming computer you can think of with some to spare.

Sil, you don't need a power conditioner with a double conversion UPS. The one that runs my sound system puts out exactly 50HZ @ 230VAC with a variation of .01%. Double conversion means it charges the batteries full time and then recreates it's own sinusoidal waveform at exactly the right voltage etc. It took all the pops and clicks from domestic power off my big sub woofer and runs the TV and sound system fully protected from any transients.

Alex, Liz sells Eaton products, check out the website for models that suit and are available in Australia. They build stuff for NASA and their gear is rock solid. Stay well away from cheap Chinese knockoffs. They use simulated sinewave from a square wave system. Tends to be rough and can cause problems with sensitive electronic gear.
Other good manufacturers would be APC and Emerson.
I'll check it out myself later and find some models that fit the bill.

[xelasnave]

Thank very much.
Alex