power backup

[jrzymuscle21]

So I was at best buy the other day and walked by the batter backup units for computers, and was wondering, could I use that for my setup? not sure how many watts everything is that I have... but it sure would be nice to have if the power blinked or if it did go out to know that my tank was good for electricity for a while...

Question is though, does anyone have a batter backup for there tank? If so, what kind and how many watts/VA?

Thanks!

 

[james734]

I know that people do use them, What size etc. I'm not sure. I prefer to just have a small little generator, of course this requires me to be home when the power goes out.

 

[jrzymuscle21]

I know that people do use them, What size etc. I'm not sure. I prefer to just have a small little generator, of course this requires me to be home when the power goes out.

i'd love to have a generator, but I live in a condo.. no generator yet till i get a house-(great idea)

I just would like to know that if the power goes out my filters aren't going to all stop and especially now that I'm adding corals- I want to know there's stil light on... hmmmm--

anyone else?

 

[james734]

I wouldn't worry about trying to keep the lights on so much. The basic thing is you need to keep water circulating. Just a simple batter powered air pump with air stone can and does work in a pinch. The corals will be fine for up to a day or so without light. Look at how they're shipped here, in plastic bags with no light.

 

[DonW]

I think if you want to power tank pumps and heaters your better off with a bank of marine batteries and an inverter. I wouldnt try lights.

Don

 

[c0yote]

I just read this article and UPS's & invertors are discussed towards the end
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-05/gh/index.php

Also check out the first part on emergency air pumps, I plan on adding some shortly before the fall/winter weather hits

 

[Meche]

powering lights would be too expensive.

 

[Slickdonkey]

I agree with Don. You really want to use something like a deep cycle battery and a power inverter to run your pumps and other large equipment. I'm planning to rig one of these up myself one day, as soon as I have some spare time. In the meantime I have a generator.

Here are some nice DIY projects to use as a model:
http://jean.yen.tripod.com/id75.htm
http://www.petsforum.com/personal/trevor-jones/backup_power.html

 

[jrzymuscle21]

ok- so maybe too much with the lighting.. but It seems I can purchase a relatively inexpensive UPS unit for computers that can power my filters, pumps,protein skimmer and heater... I'll keep the lights out...

But you know what? I have a 300watt heater... does that mean it consumes 300 watts only when its needed?

 

[Slickdonkey]

ok- so maybe too much with the lighting.. but It seems I can purchase a relatively inexpensive UPS unit for computers that can power my filters, pumps,protein skimmer and heater... I'll keep the lights out...

But you know what? I have a 300watt heater... does that mean it consumes 300 watts only when its needed?

Well I assume the heater is always going to draw at least a minimum amount of current if it has a thermostat, but the 300W is going to be when it's actually "on" and heating.

I think you'll find a regular UPS is not going to provide much reserve capacity to run all the equipment you've listed above. A good deep cycle battery should be able to run for hours and hours depending how much equipment you hook to it, obviously.