Back up power methods

[Fly Guy]

Originally Posted by tims

Bill the only thing i see missing is the battery back up in case you lose power...

On the back up power concept........

I would LOVE to hear who here DOES have a power back up and how they do it.


I only really need to back up the heater and one pump, i think my system could live for weeks if it had to like that. Under the current system i dread to think of how little time it really would take to kill everything if we happened to be gone and their world stopped turning.


???????

[KG]

Here's an easy DIY power back up you might find helpful.

KG
http://saltaquarium.about.com/od/eme...t/ht_aqups.htm

[Fly Guy]

Originally Posted by KG

Here's an easy DIY power back up you might find helpful.

KG
http://saltaquarium.about.com/od/eme...t/ht_aqups.htm

THANKS!!

I had come up with several other ways to do it, but that idea is pretty ingenius. I hadnt come up with any ways that were even close to feasible financially


That is what i was looking for and a great idea. Im going to do a little experiment and when i get done ill post the results.

I just so happen to have 2 high dollar deep cycle marine batteries that get used very seldom. I am going to charge them as much as possible and daisy chain them together and hook up the tank basics and see how much time it buys us.

[whatevva]

Hmmmmmmm..Should I jump in on this? Or let it slide? I'll let you folks decide...

[Fly Guy]

Originally Posted by whatevva

Hmmmmmmm..Should I jump in on this? Or let it slide? I'll let you folks decide...

by all means.....i, for one am listening

[darthteddy]

Well i know for computers they make back up boxes so they wont loose information. Cost like 80 bucks. Only last for a few hours but if you didnt leave stuff on all the time and got a few...might work well.

[Geoff]

i believe i generators. if you can not afford a generator than get yourself an inverter for the car. a car and a tank of gas will last several days. the deep cycle thing will work, but you will need to recharge it at some point. as long as the car has gas you are good to go.

G~

[KG]

You're welcome Fly Guy. I have a generator since I live in Hurricane country, but have always wanted to see how one turned out. Good luck!

KG

[Caoineag]

Well, having lost my first tank to an 18hour power outage in the winter time (drafty apartment, one really sensitive fish, one very slow and massive crash), this is definitely an important topic for me.

Currently I have a battery backup for oxygenization purposes but am well aware that I need one for my protein skimmer before too long passes as well as a backup to run the two heaters for my tanks (I only need one, but I have learned redundancy is a good thing). Personally, as soon as I can find a decent UPS battery backup, my protein skimmer and heaters are going on it, just need to find one that lasts a long time...May even buy one for the skimmer and one for the heaters.

Temperature, fortunately isn't as big an issue in my current location as it was in my last (New city average about 15degrees warmer than old place) and my apartment is better at maintaining temperature but still...I am more than a little paranoid now.

[Teeka]

As I too live in hurricane alley I have a generator. But I do plan on getting a small one too just for the tank.

[whatevva]

i believe i generators. if you can not afford a generator than get yourself an inverter for the car. a car and a tank of gas will last several days. the deep cycle thing will work, but you will need to recharge it at some point. as long as the car has gas you are good to go.

I'm with Geoff on this one. If you ABSOLUTELY cant afford a generator, then get the biggest inverter that you can afford. A UPS just isn't the way to go. Maybe for an hour or so, but if the power's going to go out long enough to be worried, then a UPS won't help.

Now, there's 3 ways to go with a generator:

1. If you live in the back woods and lose your power for 8 hours every
week, then you should have a 15,000 Watt Diesel sitting on a pad in your back yard with auto start and automatic transfer switch.

2. If you live where you rarely lose power, but it can go out for 4 hours or more once or twice a year, or if you have a well, sewerage ejection, cold weather or any kind of life support, then a portable 7500 Watt ELECTRIC START generator with manual transfer switches is the way to go.

3. If you just want to go "Ghetto", then get a 5000 Watt "Disposable" generator from Home Depot or Blowes, and run extension cords. Just remember that pulling that rip cord in the winter sux, and after the first year you'll be pulling quite a few times!!

Number 2 is the way to go for most people. Have the transfer switch installed by a licensed electrician. (preferably Me)

Use Sta-Bil in ALL the gas that you put in the generator, and do a FULL generator test at least every couple months.

Not all generators (or transfer switches) are created equal. PM me if you need specifics or suggestions.

Make sure these things run off the generator transfer switches:
Microwave
Refrigerator
Smoke Detectors
Alarm System
Computer
Television
Well Pump
Furnace
Sewerage Ejection Pump
Coffee Pot Recepticle (may be optional, usually not)
and of course Reef Tank Life Support

[Caoineag]

Only one problem with that, I would have to do portable generator because I rent. Landlord would not be thrilled if I started bolting things to the wall and having an electrician mess with the electrical boxes. I have looked at portable generators but have yet to find one appropriate for my situation. I simply don't use them enough, power outages do occur in my area but usually for 15 min or less and only once or twice per year.

Now I realize that it is possible to get a major power outage and that is why I want one but it really needs to be the kind that can charge from being plugged in and then kick on. I only need it as backup to my heaters and protein skimmer and frankly, if you have seen one that you would think to be appropriate for my situation, let me know! It needs to be small and pluggable and act as a UPS whether its one or not. Money isn't the issue here, situationally appropriate and lack of ability to build myself one despite the DIY plans out there is( I really should never play with batteries and electricity). Anyone want to build me one?

[whatevva]

Now I realize that it is possible to get a major power outage and that is why I want one but it really needs to be the kind that can charge from being plugged in and then kick on. I only need it as backup to my heaters and protein skimmer and frankly, if you have seen one that you would think to be appropriate for my situation, let me know! It needs to be small and pluggable and act as a UPS whether its one or not. Money isn't the issue here, situationally appropriate and lack of ability to build myself one despite the DIY plans out there is( I really should never play with batteries and electricity). Anyone want to build me one?

Then you need one of these:
http://www.backuppower.com/rightmodel.html

I'm not sure which model, but you'll figure it out.

[Clownfishman]

Yeah i have the "ghetto" version, a 5KW pull to crank unit, im sure even with the electric start its frustrating if the battery goes dead..

I test it monthly it usually cranks w/ two pulls.... i just need to be home to hook it up...

I thought about getting a ATS and somehow just getting someone to add me a brkr box and run the fridge, TV, computer and tank at the same time, maybe add a remote electric start that works with a certain transfer switch and I'll be set..

I still need a outside enclosure for mine, right now its extremely "ghetto" with some plastic protecting it from the elements..

[funi42]

I dont know if this is considered "ghetto" or not but i have a coleman 6k generator that I have setup to backfeed the whole house 110 system(no xfer switch) and it kept my tank alive for just under a week last hurricane season when we were without power along with fridge, freezer, fans, and basically everything but 220 power. It was a simple install of a twist lock recepticle but you can also arrange it to plug in to your dryer recepticle. As always, proper equipment and install are recommended. PM me with any ?s