[PLUG] UPS batteries

2023-01-24 Thread Keith Lofstrom
Heads up for UPS users.

Last weekend, I purchased a used 500 watt Tripp-lite 
SMART1000LCD uninterruptable power supply (UPS); the prior
owner had helpfully replaced the worn-out 12V/7AH sealed
lead acid battery. 

Sadly, the replacement battery was "standard", not a High
Rate battery, which is needed to provide the 40+ amps a
500 watt load uses.  Fortunately, I discovered this while
testing before deployment, and rescued the standard-rate
battery (SLA) before it boiled off too much electrolyte.

The *PROPER* battery for a >200W UPS is a "HIGH RATE"
SLA battery.  I purchased an Interstate Batteries HSL1079
from their nearby retail store for $49, although Amazon
sells them for $40 and sometimes $35.

Batteries Plus Bulbs sells a high rate Duracell Ultra
Battery (SLAHR12-9FR) for $50.  Farther from home,
your mileage (ahem) may vary.

The standard SLA battery won't be wasted - I probably
can power a PC Engines APU and an Ooma internet telephone
interface (almost) directly from it, no upconversion
to 120VAC and 12V-output wallwarts needed.  "almost"
meaning a capacitor and regulator, Just In Case.  

I hope that high rate lithium LiFePO4 batteries and UPS
systems will be available when these SLA batteries wear out.
Coming up behind them, the next generation will be sodium
air batteries - which sound an awful lot like the small
bombs we made in the high school chemistry lab.  I hope
that sodium air UPS units will be terrorist and teenager
proof ... which is probably the same hopeless wish.

My next "UPS step" will be finding a Debian UPS management
package that talks to the USB port on the SMART1000LCD .
Before that, migrating my workstation machine from Ubuntu
20.04 to Debian 11 Bullseye.

Keith L.

-- 
Keith Lofstrom  kei...@keithl.com


Re: [PLUG] Alternative Meeting Locations

2023-01-24 Thread Russell Senior
https://multcolib.org/public-meeting-rooms-use-guidelines

Ben suggested we might consider departing from our First Thursday tradition
too. Maybe some weekend day afternoon?  I couldn't think of a very strong
reason to not consider it. One issue with library rooms is that they tend
to close with the library branch at 8pm, which is a little bit early for us
(we have traditionally finished between 8:30 and 9pm). So, we'd need to
move up the start time to use a library meeting room. They have the
advantage of "free" though, and the other rules I see in the link above
seem consistent with our purposes and practices.


Re: [PLUG] Alternative Meeting Locations

2023-01-24 Thread Michael Dexter

On 1/24/23 4:05 PM, Dick Steffens wrote:
Have "we" looked into holding in-person meetings at one of the area 
libraries? Some of them have or are planning spaces suitable for meetings.


Russell certainly did plus I believe the Multnomah building. 7PM to 9PM 
is probably a bit late for some facilities.


Do feel free to verify the options.

All the best,

Michael


Re: [PLUG] Alternative Meeting Locations

2023-01-24 Thread Rich Shepard

On Tue, 24 Jan 2023, Dick Steffens wrote:

Have "we" looked into holding in-person meetings at one of the area 
libraries? Some of them have or are planning spaces suitable for meetings.


I know that the Gresham branch has a large-ish meeting room; the Troutdale
branch has a small one. Both are too far east for most folks. :-)

Rich




Re: [PLUG] Alternative Meeting Locations

2023-01-24 Thread Michael Ewan
The Beaverton city library has some nice meeting facilities.  It is
also fairly close to the Beaverton Transit Center for access from
downtown PDX or Hillsboro.

On Tue, Jan 24, 2023 at 4:05 PM Dick Steffens  wrote:
>
> Have "we" looked into holding in-person meetings at one of the area
> libraries? Some of them have or are planning spaces suitable for meetings.
>
> https://multcolib.org/about/building-libraries-together
>
> --
> Regards,
>
> Dick Steffens


[PLUG] Alternative Meeting Locations

2023-01-24 Thread Dick Steffens
Have "we" looked into holding in-person meetings at one of the area 
libraries? Some of them have or are planning spaces suitable for meetings.


https://multcolib.org/about/building-libraries-together

--
Regards,

Dick Steffens