DC answering machine [RE-wrenches]

[Steve Willey, Backwoods Solar]

Your description of using a timer to power up an answer machine on inverter
(when the phone rings it starts AC and holds power on for an adjustable
length of time and then off again) woke me right up. Actually, I designed
and make such a product that we market for FAX machines only, and which has
a manual override ON switch to allow sending faxes. It includes external
plug-in lamp loads if needed to start and hold inverter on. I'm not trying
to advertise here, what woke me up was your application of the idea to a
message machine. I only marketed this as a fax timer because I had found,
perhaps wrongly, that it would not work with answer machines, because the
ones I tried would lose their message count and sometimes rewind the tape
and overwrite messages when powered up the next time.

But after reading your message, I am thinking I tested it only with our old
Code-a-Phone units in the office here that have no back-up battery.
Apparently at least message machines will work
better than that?  Are there any particular types of answer machine you find
are required for that method to work?  Do they all have battery back-up now,
or are you using all tapeless type message machines? Great idea if it works
without data loss. But I am not sure a product made close to UL standards
would be a reasonable price. We can't get retail below $115 with the listed
outdoor 4-plex box its built in, and heavy 3 wire cord, SSAC timer module
and paid asembly. Not sure that price would make a good product for answer
machines, whereas there isn't much choice when a person wants to run a fax
and save power. (I am sure homebrew can be done for lower cost).



Steve Willey   www.backwoodssolar.com
Backwoods Solar Electric Systems
----- Original Message -----
From: R. Sparks Scott <sharkey at mrsharkey.com>
To: <RE-wrenches at topica.com>
Sent: Friday, September 08, 2000 7:08 PM
Subject: Re: DC answering machine [RE-wrenches]>
> I have used an AC powered answering machine for the last ten years,
> powering it from a Trace 812. The key to eliminating the phantom load is
to
> only have the machine connected to the inverter when it is needed to
answer
> the phone. To this end, I created a 'Homebrew' project that senses
incoming
> ring voltage, pulls in a rely to connect the answering machine's wall cube
> to the inverter, which then wakes up from sleep mode. A timer circuit
keeps
> the machine alive for 6 minutes (this can be adjusted), then disconnects
> the inverter power from the wall cube. The inverter goes back to sleep,
the
> circuit waits until the phone rings again, and no unnecessary drain on the
> batteries. A bypass switch lets the user connect the machine to the
> inverter for checking messages.
> The beauty of this circuit is that you can use any answering machine. I
> even have my fax hooked up to it. Works like magic! The downside is that
> you have to construct it, or have one built if you don't have the skills
to
> do it yourself, and of course, there's no UL listing on homebrew
projects.....
> I'd be glad to share my schematics if you're interested.
> -S



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