Bullet proof power supply build

[SIR VEYOR]

Okay, i get to have some fun designing a power box for remote-ish work.

Task:
Power GPS receiver, Starlink, overwatch camera, and maybe a radio of undetermined power

Outputs likely a mix of 12V\110V\Ethernet (POE unsure)

Main constraints:
Cheap company
Generator, light plant or other dirty electric source that isn't on 24/7
Need to output clean steady power, pure sine wave or better
Has to fit in a JobBox or similar.
Weight not a huge concern, but lets not get too stupid
Plan on 1/3 of the box for project equipment, cable storage, etc.
No power for 11-14 hours per 24H, might need to run up to 48 hours with no power. Rather not put in a timer option, but might have to consider it

Rough plan:
Dirty power source into jobbox through one plug pass through
Backup pass through for second genny option (like an RV plug style maybe so cord stays in box)
Batteries in a bank of some size to stabilize power and supply reserve power when dirty source is off
Dirty source keeps batteries topped off
UPS to clean power and run electronics at all times (generator friendly)
solar panels or another power source may be an add on later
an option to provide clean power to additional equipment would be nice. Think Laptop or something you roll up to it with.

What do you suggest?
and what am I overlooking?

 

[SIR VEYOR]

Leaning towards either Deep Cycle auto batteries, or forklift\golf cart batteries. Open to other types, especially if cheaper.

Camera might get dropped, so POE not mandatory unfortunately. (Will be after vandalism\theft, lol)

UPS needs to be genny friendly. Network Management would be nice (remote)
VFI\double conversion
Line Interactive vs UPS
Power conditioner
Temp sensors for cooling fans (2 different fans\set points)
What to use for pass throughs? probably round holes cut in thin sheet metal.

 

[IReallyLikePizza2]

Go LiFePO4 for the battery

Victron makes everything you could ever need for this project

 

[SIR VEYOR]

Go LiFePO4 for the battery

Victron makes everything you could ever need for this project

Great! Thank you!

 

[Coldair]

go lithium

 

[Techie007L]

go lithium

Lithium Ion batteries present a noteworthy fire risk, particularly in this type of application. LiFePO4/LFP batteries are a much safer form of Lithium battery, more likely to melt down and smoulder rather than exhibit chain-reaction explosions that can't be put out if something goes wrong.

@SIR VEYOR If you're interested in ready-made/kit type equipment as opposed to building your own with individual parts, you might want to check out Ecoflow.

 

[SIR VEYOR]

So leading thoughts are run dirty power into battery chargers and run everything off the bank. Which may shorten the life of the batts.

And apparently the horrible recharge times of a UPS kinda killed that option quick.

However, a recommendation for using a Victron Multiplus pass through inverter. And it's 3KW is ~$1K, so similar to other 3KW inverters out there.

Anybody familiar with Victron? I see double Za is a fan.

 

[SIR VEYOR]

Lithium Ion batteries present a noteworthy fire risk, particularly in this type of application. LiFePO4/LFP batteries are a much safer form of Lithium battery, more likely to melt down and smoulder rather than exhibit chain-reaction explosions that can't be put out if something goes wrong.

@SIR VEYOR If you're interested in ready-made/kit type equipment as opposed to building your own with individual parts, you might want to check out Ecoflow.

Not oppose to it at all. But I think we're undersized for Ecoflow and too big for the lower options of "power stations".

LiFePO4 may replace the deep cycle autos.

I'm no linger in a restrictive IT environment and can also drop into a couple of the solar sellers. Problems with working remote areas.

 

[bp2008]

If you really want to build it all out with your own choice of batteries, inverter, charge controller, etc, then you should be able to find 5 kWh server rack style LiFePO4 batteries for around $800 each which is a steal. Wiren | Server Rack Battery | 48V 100AH currently out of stock there but I've seen them in stock before.

However depending on dollar budget versus time budget, you may be better off buying a portable power station that bundles everything into a tidy plug-and-play package. How about this. EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3 4000Wh Smart Power Station for Home Back-up Refurbished | eBay It can even switch over fast enough you should not need a traditional UPS. I've been using the cheaper Delta 3 Plus model with 10ms switch-over time as a UPS for my server rack and it works great. I recommend the mobile starlink dish for its reduced power consumption by the way.

 

[bp2008]

For a smaller ecoflow kit (1024 watt hours if that is enough for your purpose) there is Delta 3 Classic for around $450. I use one right now as a UPS for my gaming computer with an RTX 5090 in it, because a traditional UPS could not quite handle the peak watt load, not to mention the pathetic battery capacity of a legacy UPS!!

The Classic doesn't support expansion/extra batteries to increase storage capacity so be aware of that. Also ecoflow generally overcharges for their first-party solar panels but these aren't TOO bad considering the bundle discount here: EcoFlow DELTA 3 Classic 1024Wh Portable Power Station with 2pcs 100W Solar Panel | eBay or this EcoFlow DELTA 3 Classic 1024Wh Portable Power Station with 220W Solar Panel | eBay

If you want more than 1024 watt hours they have other size options; just look for the 10ms UPS feature which is available in MOST of their Delta 3 series but not all.

 

[IReallyLikePizza2]

Watch out using an Ecoflow, odds are it will not like the power coming out of the light tower. They seem to not like most non-inverter generators

I have a light tower, and quite a few Ecoflows, and none of them will charge off the power unless there is a 1000w+ resistive load on the light tower

 

[SIR VEYOR]

Watch out using an Ecoflow, odds are it will not like the power coming out of the light tower. They seem to not like most non-inverter generators

I have a light tower, and quite a few Ecoflows, and none of them will charge off the power unless there is a 1000w+ resistive load on the light tower

Yeah, your light plant is what might get put there if there's no sharing with the 3rd party big genny at the same place.

It's a different project from most because it's not solar, capacity is likely the the biggest need, and trying to stay small, self contained. Too big for most mobile options, too small for most stationary.