Rich Willbanks writes in a message to all
  
 RW> It happen again. I was sitting here on the computer working 
 RW> and listening to the scanner and for no apparent reason poof 
 RW> no power. (...)
 RW> What I'm hoping is that someone here can suggest a small, almost 
 RW> self contained, self charging (but not overcharging), fairly 
 RW> CHEAP, 12VDC back up system that can be made by someone who 
 RW> burns himself every time he uses the soldering iron.
  
Why not kill 2 birds with one stone - get a "UPS" for your computer and plug 
your scanner into it.  A UPS will run you a couple of hundred - depending on 
the size of your computer.  However, you will end the dreaded "corrupted HD" 
computer errors and have power for your scanner too.
  
I suggest UPS boxes by American Power Conversion (APC).  They make a quality 
product that has worked well for me for many years.
 
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