Added Runtime for an APC UPS

I swapped out the factory 9 Amp hour gel battery in a #1c1c1c; font-weight: normal;" href="http://www.amazon.com/APC-Battery-Backup-minutes-APWBE650R/dp/B001550X92">Back-UPS ES 650#1c1c1c; font-weight: normal;"> with two 12 Amp hour gel cell sealed batteries connected in parallel, to provide additional runtime for WebsterWeather.com and all associated hardware in the event of a commercial power failure.

#1c1c1c; font-weight: normal;">To the left are the two batteries, and the a Time Warner cable modem and Buffalo Tech WRT-HP-G54 router/firewall tiewrapped together.

#1c1c1c; font-weight: normal;">Notice the PowerPole interconnects. What you can't easily see are the two 15 Amp fast-blow inline fuses that are in between each battery and the PowerPole junction.#1c1c1c; font-weight: normal;">

#1c1c1c; font-weight: normal;">Anderson PowerPoles are my interconnects of choice because they have become the accepted standard in the amateur radio ARES/RACES community, and are genderless and easy to work with. Plus, having all my DC power gear on one system makes it super easy to mix-and-match stuff.

#1c1c1c; font-weight: normal;">I use APCUPSd software to monitor the status of the UPS. As of 10/14/2008, all attached hardware uses 37% load, and with the added battery capicity, the UPS thinks it provide power for over 30 minutes.

#1c1c1c; font-weight: normal;">According to my math, the additional battery capicity doesn't seem to be recognized by the BackUPS 650's firmware. However, when the commercial power does go out, it just drains more slowly than it expects. The runtime calculations performed (and reported) by the firmware is therefore not completely accurate. But the important part to recognize is that the additional capicity is used to provide a more than 2x runtime when the power goes out.