An inverter is an equipment which will convert a battery voltage or any DC (normally a high current) into a higher mains equivalent voltage (120V, or 220V), however unlike an UPS inverters may lack one feature, that is these may not be able to switch from mains battery charging mode to inverter mode and vice versa during grid power failure and restoration situations.
Converting an Inverter to UPS
An inverter can be easily converted to an UPS with a few simple modifications or rather additions with their existing circuitry.
The lacking or missing changeover feature in an inverter can be upgraded by including a few number of relay stages within its circuit, as explained in the following sections:
Referring to the figure below, we see that the above requirement is implemented by using 4 SPDT relays whose coils are wired up in parallel and joined with a mains operated DC source, which could very well be the battery charger DC output.
It means during the presence of mains input the relays would be energized such that their N/O contacts get connected with the individual relay poles and the respective electrical gadgets which could be seen connected with the poles..
The left two relays can be seen with their N/O contacts connected with the mains AC input, while the N/Cs are terminated with the inverter mains output.
The relays at the right side have their N/O contacts rigged with battery charger (+)/(-) inputs, and the N/Cs are integrated to the inverter DC input.
The above data ensures the following actions during mains presence and failure situations:
When mains AC is present, the appliances get connected to the available mains power via the left pair of relay poles, while the battery is able to get the required charging voltage through the right hand relay poles. This also ensures that the inverter is cut-off via the N/C points from the battery and is no longer able to operate.
In a situation when mains AC fails, the relay contacts revert to their N/C contacts, giving rise to the following actions:
The battery instantly gets connected with the inverter DC input via the right hand side relay N/C contacts, such that the inverter becomes operative and its output starts producing the required mains back up voltage.
At the same instant the above inverter mains voltage now gets switched to the appliances via the left hand side relay N/C contacts ensuring that the appliances do not experience an interruption while the positions revert in the course of the above actions.
Selecting the Relays
The relays must selected with low coil resistance type so that they operate under higher switching currents, and therefore are able to "hammer" the contacts much harder and quicker compared to the lower resistance coil relays.
This will ensure the changeover time to be rapid within milliseconds which happens to be the most crucial factor with UPSs and inverters needing to be converted into UPS systems.
In the above diagram if an automatic battery charger is used, the supply would be cut off once the battery is fully charged, which would also cut off the supply to the relays forcing the inverter to switch ON even while the mains is present.
To avoid this issue, the relays must be powered through a separate power supply as shown in the following diagram. A capacitive type of power supply circuit could be seen here, which makes the design much compact.
Note: Please connect a 1K resistor across the filter capacitor associated with the bridge rectifier, this is to ensure its quick discharging during a mains failure, and an instant switching of the relevant relays.
olupot says
thanks a lot let me take time to build one and incorporate it to my inverter
have a blessed day sir
Swag says
you are welcome Olupot
Martins says
Passing inverter battery power via a relay could be a very bad thing considering the fact that the inverter could be drawings up to 90amps from the battery and if the really is rated 20-30a it could mess things up
Swag says
In electronics Everything can be bad and dangerous if done non-technically, a 30 amp relay would burn and fuse at 90amp any sensible person will understand this.
chucks says
hi sir. please I need a circuit of automatic fan that will cool my heatsink when it get hot.. the fan will automatically blowing when it cool it will stop blow. ..
Swag says
chucks, you can try this
https://homemade-circuits.com/2015/03/fan-speed-controller-for-heatsink.html
Sameer Khan says
Hello Swagatam ,
I have an 5.5kva microtek Inverter which i use to power my cyber cafe.The issue i am facing is as soon as the electricity trips or even fluctuates , a few of my computers goes off automatically although all the pc's have there own UPS (most of them are new or with new replaced batteries). Kindly help
Swagatam says
Hello Sameer, PCs are generally very sensitive to power fluctuations and even the slightest of power lapses can rattle them…in your case it could be happening due to may be slight inefficiency with the relay changeover actions within the UPSs, which could be difficult to correct or avoid. You can try replacing the systems with SSR based UPSs or alternatively you can try replacing the relays with SSRs after doing some research in the field….
Aminu Yahaya Ibrahim says
Sir, the normal regulator operate Air Cond fan only at number one, which is the highest among the change. if an attampt is made to reduce the speed, the fan goes off.
Swagatam says
sorry, can't say without checking the motor practically.
Aminu Yahaya Ibrahim says
Sir I need your assistence.
I have a Fan removed from dead Air Conditioner I what use it as a room fan but, it fails to work with cieling fan regulator.
Is there any circuit to achieve this?
Thank you Sir.
Swagatam says
Aminu, both the motors are "capacitor-start" type however Air Cond motors are more powerful and include a relay,
first keep the dimmer at max speed let the motor start and then you can try reducing the speed once the relay has clicked.
Yogendra Bhattacharya says
Hi Swagatam,
Your blog makes interesting reading, and your knowledge seems to be phenomenal. I would like an 'idiots guide' to convert my inverter into an 'online' ups. I am not very technically savvy, but can manage my way around circuits – somewhat. I have an inverter for my house. It has two batteries of 500W each, I think. There is this delay in the inverter coming on once the mains fail. I was thinking of buying a new online one, but came across your blog. Would it be possible for me to make an add-on unit that I can use with the existing inverter? Or do I have to tinker with the existing circuitry – which I do not want to do. Some advice would be very welcome.
Thanks,
Yogi Bhattacharya
Swagatam says
Thank you Yogendra, you will have to modify the existing inverter system by opening it and by checking the specific stages.
You will have to check the relay changeover section and remove the capacitor which may be causing the delay in its operation….once you do this you will be able to find the inverter switching much quicker and making an instant changeover from mains to battery and vice versa.
Yogendra Bhattacharya says
Thanks a lot, will attempt to do this. Will revert in case I need your assistance.
Ultimate Srilankan Nurse says
Hello sir. I would like to make a 12volt DC battery backup system to run 6 Led light each 12v 12wats and one 12v dc fan during power failure.i have 2 sealed lead acid batery each 12v 7Ah. Please guid me how to make this and i need to maintain battery by charging and without over discharge. Sorry for bad english.
Swagatam says
hello, you can try the following circuit, this is full fledged emergency lamp circuit with max features:
https://homemade-circuits.com/2015/10/smart-emergency-lamp-circuit-with.html
swapan says
sir, if i use dpdt 8 pin relay to change the mode, then one relay can change load from mains to inverter and another one relay(8 pin) can separate battery from charging mode to inverter battery terminal input, when main is out.so, please tell about correction to me.
Swagatam says
Hi Swapan, yes you can use two DPDT relays for achieving the same results.
swapan byapari says
Hello… Sir, if I connect only one relay (12 volt,200 ohm) on the above change over circuit.then,what is the changes on circuit.
Swagatam says
hello swapan, for a single relay the specifications should be 4 pole 4 throw type…that is it must have a 4 sets of N/C an N/O contacts and 4 central poles.
eshkariel tapiador says
can I use DPDT 220v relay??
Swagatam says
yes you can…
Aminu Yahaya Ibrahim says
Ok, Sir.
Thank you.
Sir, can I get one that can safely charge 50Ah to below. like 40Ah, and or 20Ah.
thank you sir.
Swagatam says
Thanks Aminu, I have a 12V, 5amp smps circuit posted in this blog you can try that for your requirement.
Aminu Yahaya Ibrahim says
Ok Sir.
Thank you very much.
Sir, do you have a circuit on transformaless as above that can charge 200Ah 12v battery?
thanks a lot Sir.
Swagatam says
I am sorry Aminu, I do not have a 20 amp smps at the moment, but if I find one will surely post it here for you.
Aminu Yahaya Ibrahim says
Sir you are great!
and Iam greatful for the help.
Sir, can we charge 200Ah battery with transformarless charger circuit?
thank you once again.
Swagatam says
It's my pleasure Aminu…
if the transformerless adapter is rated at 20 amps then yes it is possible.
Aminu Yahaya Ibrahim says
Sir, I did it, and it works very fine.
Still I want to know what current of relay can handle 200 AH battery?
Thanks for the help sir.
Swagatam says
Aminu, you can use a 30amp relay for that
Aminu Yahaya Ibrahim says
Sir,
Both the relay and the transfo are removed from the same UPS.
Swagatam says
then it's fine, you can use them together
Aminu Yahaya Ibrahim says
Godd Evening Sir.
Sir, I want use this circuit as changeover and inverter switch.
I have built the circuit, but I used only three relay as above and the design is as follows:
*the first two relay are remain as it's on the circuit above.
*the third relay is used as a swicth between the inverter and the battery.
The positive ( ) were of the battery is placed in NC and the center were of the transfo is connected to the POLE of the relay.
Sir, I hope there is no problem with this desing. And I hope the relay can hold the current between the center were of the transfo and the positive terminal of the battery.
Thank you Sir.
Swagatam says
Hi Aminu, if you do everything correctly then definitely it will work as explained in the article.
the relay contact current rating should be much above the current consumption of the transformer, to work handle it safely
nalayak says
Thanks Swagatam for clearing my doubt, another method I was thinking to put a diode before connecting UPS with battery, so there is no current to battery from UPS. If it is possible can I use IN007 (small diodes plenty available from old CFL ) may be 10 diode in parallel
Swagatam says
Yes you can block one of the inputs through a diode, but 1N4007 will not work, even in parallel, because diodes cannot be connected in parallel.,,,you may have to opt for a special 10amp diode…
nalayak says
Hi Swagatam I have 2 PC working on one inverter, distance between inverter and PC is around 4 meter, I have 2 UPS good condition but without batteries, can I connect these UPS to battery of inverter directly, will there be conflict amid charger of inverter and chargers of UPS, if yes how can stop charging from UPS to inverter battery.
Swagatam says
Technically there shouldn't be any conflict between the two since their polarity would be at the same level. You can prefer to remove the inverter charger as that may be easier to locate than to locate the charger section of the UPS.
Or you can simply leave them as is, and use the battery as common with the two units.
Grant Bresler says
Hi, how does this circuit handle the fact that the AC mains and the mains from the inverter might be out of phase? What would appliances such as TV's do in a case where these phases are not alligned on the switch over?
Swagatam says
Hi, this issue is not critical, even if there's a slight delay in the switching it won't harm the appliances in any manner….by the way TV sets work on DC, so anyway the phase angle doesn't make a difference
samar tauheed says
Hi Swangtam! your design is very great. i requst to please design a circuit of complete ups which operate only three energy saver light of 25watts. when ac present inverter should shutt off and battery get charge and during ac failure 3saver connected with this inverted luminate. i shall be very thankful to you.
Swagatam says
Thanks Samar, I already have one design in this blog, you can check it out here:
https://homemade-circuits.com/2012/02/how-to-make-mini-homemade.html
Jignesh says
hi swagatam
your idea is very but i have little confusion that all relays are powered by charger. so there may be time lag for relay to denergise during power failure because charger contains large filtering capacitors.
Swagatam says
Hi Jignesh, an smps normally carries a low value filter at the output, therefore with 4 relay coils in parallel, may be a 100uF or 220uF capacitor could take hardly any time to get discharged, so I don't think that would create any significant lag for the relays.
we can use low resistance relays (100 ohms) for further ensuring a quick response from them.