If your power is suspect to failure then using a decent UPS (uninterruptible power supply) is the answer. This unit has two batteries in it and will keep your system running for about 15 minutes. Time enough to finish a short job or give you time to record your line number and shut the job down properly. It also prevents dirty electricity ie brown outs.
It’s about $350 cdn but worth every penny.
120V only then? I haven’t seen a 240V (needed for those with upgraded spindles) UPS for sane $.
I have one on my controller, but the price for a 240 UPS is more than I can afford at the moment. I just might have to design one myself. It only needs to last 5 minutes, enough time to safely pause the machine. I have a habit of writing down my coordinates when I start a project.
The 240 volt UPS units do seem to be more expensive, but a quick search found this: TRIPP LITE UPS System,Line Interactive,750VA (AVRX750U) | Zoro
Not a brand I have used before, but if all that is needed is a small unit, this may be acceptable at $270 USD.
I had used a UPS for years at a previous job. I found it to be more of a nuisance really. Sure it was nice when it worked… but it seemed like every month or two it would need some kind of attention. I would consistently get a warning on my PC that it failed it’s self-test, each day it would bother me about it. …Or the battery would die, and it needed a new pricey battery… Or the power would go out, and it wouldn’t do it’s job right for one reason or another.. or it would hound me for a software update… Or start beeping every few minutes, with no way to stop it… Ugh it was death by a thousand cuts. I asked myself it this was actually better than just letting the power cut out and deal with the consequences.
I used an APC brand. In my area, the power goes out pretty infrequently. I think I’m probably a little impatient with devices designed to make life easier that don’t seem to do so.
Thank you for the feedback. I was ready to pull the trigger and buy it, but my spindle is 2.2Kw, and that UPS is 450 watts. Probably go up in smoke quickly.
Agreed, that was a small UPS. They do have larger ones, at increased cost of course.
I was just hoping to show there are some affordable (relative to everyone’s perspective) options out there.
Good luck with your search.
