Backup Power Source for Laptop

[caspersky]

I live in a 3rd world country where our power generator now implements a 5 hour a day power outage. Usually it's between 12nn to 7pm, which is peak work hours. Obviously this is a problem.

My question is, is there a backup power source that can run for 4-6 hours or so?

All I need to get up is a laptop, my internet modem and probably an electric fan (it's really warm here).

I'm thinking of something like a UPS style of source, though I don't really need it be able to jump up when the power goes out. And I need it to last for hours not just 5-15 minutes.

I realize that the ideal thing would be to get extra laptop batteries. but the laptop model I'm using is a old one and I tried but they've been phased out according to stores. Plus that doesn't get my internet modem up.

A generator isn't feasible since I'm located in a apartment style complex.

Is there such a thing, something the size of a UPS that you can just turn on for power that goes for 4-6 hours. Then recharge the unit when power is back on?

Hoping for some help.

 

[Blain]

I live in a 3rd world country where our power generator now implements a 5 hour a day power outage.

My question is, is there a backup power source that can run for 4-6 hours or so?

All I need to get up is a laptop, my internet modem and probably an electric fan (it's really warm here).

A generator isn't feasible since I'm located in a apartment style complex.

Is there such a thing, something the size of a UPS that you can just turn on for power that goes for 4-6 hours. Then recharge the unit when power is back on?

A UPS with the capacity of what you'd like would be out of your price range.

 

[Ken g6]

Probably the thing to do, in a 3rd-world country, is to get one or more old car batteries (wired in parallel), a car battery charger, and an inverter. But IANAE (I am not an electrician). No idea how you'd measure how much power was left in the system either.

Edit: This agrees with me: http://www.batterystuff.com/blog/using-a-power-inverter.html

 

[mfenn]

Yep, a UPS is what you want, you just need one with a big battery bank. You're probably looking at ~150W draw assuming a really power hungry laptop. Assuming you're on ~208V, then APC makes a unit that would do 5 1/2 hours on a 200W load. That costs $3k though. If your budget is much less than that, then you're probably better off hacking something up yourself (I take no responsibility from any electricity-related injuries or laws that may be broken).

I'd also wonder whether or not your ISP has UPS's on all their equipment that provides your circuit. If they don't, then you're still not going to have internet.

 

[Ken g6]

I'd also wonder whether or not your ISP has UPS's on all their equipment that provides your circuit. If they don't, then you're still not going to have internet.

Good point! You might be able to get 2G or 3G with a tethered cell phone. Which would also eliminate the need for separate batteries for the modem. I have no idea how much such service might cost you, though.

 

[mike8675309]

You didn't mention what kind of power the laptop takes or how much it uses. If you could get a 12v power adapter you could build a battery pack that you could build using LiFePo4 cells. At 3.2v nominal voltage you would need 4 to make a 12v pack. They range from $59 each for older cells with 40 ampere-hour capacity to brand new 72 ampere-hour capacity units around $143 each. http://store.evtv.me/products.php?cat=10. Depending on how much capacity you need tells you how many packs of 4 you need.

 

[SNJ]

Get a home UPS, also known as inverter in some places

 

[Blain]

You didn't mention what kind of power the laptop takes or how much it uses. If you could get a 12v power adapter you could build a battery pack that you could build using LiFePo4 cells.

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