I need help with hooking up a backup battery

Evil McToast · 09-26-2006, 11:24 AM

Well, I think it's time for me to protect my tank from power outages. I have a car battery and just got a trickle charger. How do I get the battery to supply power automatically to the return pump when the power goes out? If my pump is on the same strip as everything else, how do I get the battery power soley to the pump?

Wiskey · 09-26-2006, 12:22 PM

It is far far better to use a UPS in this instance, but lets see what we can do.

You are going to need two relays, inverter and a goat.

The Relay is a 110V coil, with very high amp rated contacts.

The relay gets hooked up so the coil is pluged into your wall, NO is connected to nothing, but NC is connected between the inverter and battery. A second relay is used to switch the power to the pump, you will need a pigtail here, relay, NC to inverter, NO to normal power.

The Trickle charger right to the battery.

The idea being,... Charger always charging, when the power is on the Battery is not connected to the inverter, and the return pump's power is being supplied by your outlet.

If the power goes out, both relays flip to their NC position, this connects the battery to the inverter, and the inverter to the pump, it also disconnects the inverter and pump from the supply line, this is important for safty reasons.

The goat is for entertainment.

Much easer and much cheaper to use a UPS IMHO. Or you can cut some money out, the inverter out, and one relay out, plus use lower voltage if you use a 12V bilge pump. I think it would run longer too.

Whiskey

Evil McToast · 09-26-2006, 12:32 PM

A UPS does seem to be easier. As a matter of fact, I have one, but when I tested it, I pulled the plug, and it only supplied power to the pump for a split second. The UPS was given to me, so I don't know if it's broken or I'm just an idiot. It supplies power just fine when the power is on, but as soon as I pull the plug it beeps without giving power.
I also have a 5500W generator, but I only want to break that out if the power is out for several hours or more.

And a UPS doesn't seem cheap either, I was looking around, and most run a couple hundred dollars, just to keep a pump running for an hour.

Wiskey · 09-26-2006, 12:38 PM

The batteries in a UPS only last a couple years, you'll need to replace those probably.

Whiskey

afbengochea · 09-26-2006, 12:43 PM

Im in the middle of planning my setup for power outages. So far I think im going to go with a 12v bilge pump (I think it runs at 1.8 amps) that I found at wallyworld. Hook it up to 2 6v deep cycle batteries rated at 235 AH and call it a day. I figure that should last me about 5 days on a single charge. Anything wrong with my calculation?

afbengochea · 09-26-2006, 12:44 PM

of course the 2 batteries will be in series.... just in case u wondered

Wiskey · 09-26-2006, 12:55 PM

Looks about right, why 2 6V batteries rather than one 12 though? Does that Bilge pump have any metal parts? Have you had it apart?

Thanks,
Whiskey

afbengochea · 09-26-2006, 01:00 PM

well i cant find a good 12v battery that has a large AH so 6v is the way to go. I really havent taken it apart but it is made for marine use so I figure it should be ok. Espcially since it would only be used for emergency purposes.

afbengochea · 09-26-2006, 01:01 PM

I had looked down the intake of the pump and it did have a plastic impeller.

Evil McToast · 09-26-2006, 01:32 PM

How would a bilge pump be incorporated into an aquarium. I don't have any experience with these, so excuse my noobiness.

I have a high amperage car battery I used for my cutlass, that I could use to power the bilge pump, and a triclke charger to keep the battery charged. But how what is the bilge pump's function?

Wiskey · 09-26-2006, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by afbengochea

I had looked down the intake of the pump and it did have a plastic impeller.

How much did this thing run you? What is Wally's world, is that like Wallmart?

Your right, that is good power from those 6V batteries, I will probably use a Car battery, but they are not rated in AH unfortnitally, they are rated in CCA which is usless for our purposes.

Whiskey

Wiskey · 09-26-2006, 02:40 PM

Just a pump, but battery powered. You would wire it up so that when power went off the pump kicked on VIA a relay.

Whiskey

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evil McToast

How would a bilge pump be incorporated into an aquarium. I don't have any experience with these, so excuse my noobiness.

I have a high amperage car battery I used for my cutlass, that I could use to power the bilge pump, and a triclke charger to keep the battery charged. But how what is the bilge pump's function?

wharyat · 09-26-2006, 02:45 PM

Hey Armando, do you have a link for thos 6v batteries? I think I need some of those.

Most deep cycle car batteries will only do around 60AH.

afbengochea · 09-26-2006, 02:49 PM

heres what Ive found so far, Im still looking for a better price but this is what I have so far. http://store.hamiltonmarine.com/browse.cfm/4,11841.htm

afbengochea · 09-26-2006, 02:52 PM

Ive come to the conclusion that a regular car battery just doesnt cut it. Ive been looking into boat/RV/wheelchair/golf cart batteries. They are designed to be continous use, unlike car batteries that are for quick cranking. Sorry about the confusion on wallyworld, thats what my friends and I call walmart, it ran me just under 20 bux. the way I figure, this type of setup would be a good alternative for anyone that lives in an apartment and cant get a generator. itll be a bit pricey to start up, but atleast u dont have to hunt for gas like we do here in Miami, FL with all the hurricanes.