What can you use a battery for? Its a nice question. Almost everything runs on batteries these days, directly or indirectly. But what is it that I need that runs on a battery? Well, its summer, and electricity supplies have been interrupting with my daily work. Especially in a very populated country like mine(India), blackouts are very common.So, I had to figure out a way out of it.

With that thought in mind I have built this tool for providing back-up supply for my work-place. Now I can enjoy the comfort of having my own electricity supply when the whole neighborhood is deprived of it!

Its my stuff, it should look like mine, right? You'll see my last name written on the main panel and a Logo that represents my workshop! Its a human face with a bulb-filament representing the fore-brain which is the center of imagination and creativity.

Want a back-up power supply for your workshop? Want to build an electric go-cart? Having brilliant ideas but don't have power supply? Well this might be just the thing you are looking for! With this you can power any appliances that run on 220V-240V AC, awesome tool for outdoor supplies like camping isn't it? Its very portable, and its very cheap.

Most of the parts I used, were collected from a computer workshop, and they are cheap. A 12 V battery is required.

And the other major part is a step-up transformer.

I have tried to explain all the steps elaborately. If you face any problems, feel free to send me a message/ comment.

Step 1: Step 1: Finding the Mother-circuit

I had a 10-year old Ups-circuit in my workshop. I had kept it all these years because I knew some day it might be useful. I have a huge collection of different circuits, including mother boards, graphics cards, set-top box-circuitboards etc. And as it turns out, its a very good habbit.

If you don't have one in collection, go to your nearest computer workshop where they repair computers. They'll definitely have it in stock. Its cheap.

There are other ways to build an inverter, but I figured this would be the easiest way.

Step 2: Step 2: Good Clothes for the Mother-circuit

I wanted my power supply unit to look like some kind of advanced tech. So, I made a circuit-board panel. I have used plain cardboard to cover the circuit board. And then I have used properly insulated metal wires to attach the circuit board with the cardboard cover.

After attaching the circuit board with the cardboard, fold the rest of the card board to make it a proper cover. Make sure to cut a hole out of the card board near the circuit switch so that you can use the switch.

Step 3: Step 3: a Bit of Personalization

"Its my stuff, so it should look like mine, right?" I have written my last name on the cardboard cover and added my workshop-logo on the panel. I have used markers to write my name. To make the logo I have used aluminium from a soda-can.

A blue Led is fixed just behind my logo. Two other green Leds are fixed near the base of the panel. The Leds are connected in parallel.

I have used packing-tape to seal the whole thing. Another thing I have done is to use iron-net to make the top of the panel.

Step 4: Step 4: the Transforming Tower

We'll need a transformer for stepping up the battery-voltage. I have used a videocon-class B transformer. Almost all transformers used in Ups or inverters are the same. So, you shouldn't have trouble to collect the transformer from a computer workshop.

Transformers might get hot sometimes. So I've used a processor-fan to reduce the heat. To make the base of this "tower", I've used cardboard to make the base. It would also provide proper insulation in case things go south.

To attach the fan , I have used iron wires. Notice that I have used proper insulation in doing so. A Led is also attached behind the processor fan.(I am a big fan of lights, that's because I am afraid of darkness).

Step 5: Step 5: Mother Meets the Transformer

Its time to connect the transformer with the main circuit. Its very easy.Out of four wires, (Two bunches of wires, and two individual wires, Its the same for all transformers), two (bunches) of wires end in sockets. So just by looking at the sockets, you can figure out where they are going to end up.

For the individual wires, they go side by side just above the two metal-things. The white wire goes to the right, the black one to the left. In almost all circuits its like that. For additional help, you can consult the computer-workshop guys or you can send me a message. The two individual wires are connected just in between the two metal-things and three black-colored stuffs. I have seen many circuits, and in all of them its like that. All the transformer wires are always connected in the lower part of the circuit.

Step 6: Step 6: Necessary Wiring for Output

For the output supply, you can use simple wires( make sure its thick enough). But a much simpler and recommended way is to take out the plugs and wires out of an Ups. Carefully, without damaging the plugs, take out the plugs out of the plastic body of an old Ups. In my case I didn't have to get into so much trouble. I got it readily available at the computer workshop.

If you can't manage the Ups wiring, you can use wires of same thickness and attach it with the circuit in the same way. I used the Ups wiring because I will get three plugs(sockets) with that. In case of ordinary wires, you'll have to attach the wires directly with the input plug of an appliance.

I'll explain the wiring on the next step.

Here's how the wiring will go like:(in case you aren't using Ups wiring, use the same color wires as I have used)

First, attach The red-wire to the socket that is in the extreme right corner of the circuit.

Second, attach the violet wire in the socket just below the red wire.

Third, attach the blue wire on the right side socket of the main transformer plug.(see the picture)

Fourth, attach the orange wire just below the coil in the circuit.

Fifth, attach the first green wire on the left socket of the main main transformer plug.

Sixth, attach the second green wire on the socket just on the left of the red wire. The second green wire socket is on the top of the circuit.

Seventh, the last one, attach the black wire on the left of the second green wire, just above the orange wire.

Step 7: Step 7: Explaining the Wiring

If you know the standard color codes, you already know which wire is for what. Green is always the earthing wire, blue is always the neutral wire, and brown, is the live wire.

Apart from those three colors, the other two used here are violet and orange. I have used an Ups circuit. There were three sockets for output, for which one is a direct output(not connected to the battery), and other two were for battery back-up.

So, in the whole wiring, orange and violet are the live and neutral for the direct output. And the first green wire that is attached to the circuit(see the previous step) is the earthing for this direct output.

The second green wire is the earthing for the two sockets which will provide the battery back-up. And the blue is the neutral for the two sockets, and brown is the live wire for the two sockets.

If you haven't used an old-Ups wiring, you will have to arrange without the sockets accordingly. But as you can see, you can of course manage without Ups wiring.

Step 8: Step 8: the Source of All Energy

You are going to need a 12 V battery. It isn't hard to find. You can get it at a cheap price at ebay. Make sure you use proper colored wires for the battery.Also the wires must be thick enough.

To connect the battery, the red terminal of the battery is to be connected with the thick red wire coming out of the transformer.

The black terminal ends up in the mother circuit. See the picture for locating.

If you are using the battery for the first time, it might take some time to get charged up.

Step 9: Step 9: Lets Fire It Up!

Once you have finished the previous steps, its time to fire it up. This is what I've done. To get maximum back up, I have used a 5-socket extension. Before you switch it on, check all the wiring carefullly.