What size ups for back up power?

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I powered my Nano Stream and a 150W heater for about 4 hours during the power outage using a 3kVA Liebert UPS. I imagine it would have gotten a much longer runtime on a 50W.

That said, that's a fairly expensive UPS, you're better off getting a generator.

-Dylan
 
Genset is a brand name, specializing in big generators for homes to skyscrapers. For around 10k you can get 10K fully installed and automated. You can also add a 8d battery system that will handle the full 10K for an additional 15K. 25g's is a bit much to swallow. A 5k generator and transfer switch is enough for almost anyone to get through a prolonged power outage.

Don
 
Wow, thanks for the input, I was debating on this or the gell cell battery system

This looks like it may work for a 4-6 hour backup given my power demands, I found it online for about 175 shipped. They also have a much larger unit for sale, but at $400+ a little pricey.

http://www.xantrex.com/web/id/204/p/2252/pt/32/product.asp

I think it is what scytale is getting.


Some day I hope to get a 15 -20K home backup genset, but it just isn't in the cards now :cry:

-Bret
 
inreef said:
This looks like it may work for a 4-6 hour backup given my power demands, I found it online for about 175 shipped. They also have a much larger unit for sale, but at $400+ a little pricey.

http://www.xantrex.com/web/id/204/p/2252/pt/32/product.asp

I think it is what scytale is getting.


Some day I hope to get a 15 -20K home backup genset, but it just isn't in the cards now :cry:

-Bret
Click to expand...

Thats the same one we have at the shop. Got it at Tiger direct for $130. Only thing connected to it is low voltage alarm system, and telephone also low coltage. Lasted all of about 10 hrs with no use of the phone. Will not supply enough power to run the visa/mc printer.:mad: Probably modified sine wave.

Don
 
inreef said:
This looks like it may work for a 4-6 hour backup given my power demands, I found it online for about 175 shipped. They also have a much larger unit for sale, but at $400+ a little pricey.

http://www.xantrex.com/web/id/204/p/2252/pt/32/product.asp

I think it is what scytale is getting.


Some day I hope to get a 15 -20K home backup genset, but it just isn't in the cards now :cry:

-Bret
Click to expand...

Yup, that's the one!
As I said, haven't got it yet--so I can't vouch for it.
Ordered it last week before the storm ($140 w/taxes and shipping @ Costco.com) but Costco is still "processing" the order (hopefully it's not on back-order!!):confused:
 
Last edited:
cwby416 said:
what did you run, and for how long??
Click to expand...

If you are going to run an air pump and a submersible pump. It can go for hours. But in my case, I have a 200 watt heater for a 40g. It lasted for 3-4 hours. But on a side note. When using heaters on a UPS or an Inverter. They dont put out their realy wattage. It looks like just 50% of it is being used. So this means that it takes longer.

Just a note. I just found a generator. 4000 watts at Schucks Auto Supply for $299.00
http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductDetail.aspx?categorycode=3483C&mfrcode=CPE&mfrpartnumber=C46540
 
scytale said:
(that's similiar to the model I had--how did you connect the car battery???)
Click to expand...

I bought these clip/calipers or whatever you call it. Then modified the ends to have these connectors. You can easily buy these from radio shack or Schucks.... You will notice that the end of these are similar to the UPS battery connections or poles.... so i remove them and connect these instead. Just make sure that red connects to red and black connects to black and then positive and negative poles of batteries....

To be honest, I used these and connect the UPS inside my car. How I did it? Well, I have the car jumpers connected a running car battery. Then the other end of the jumper goes thru the car windows to the inside of the car. Then connect my DIY calipers with the UPS inside the car so I can lock my car running and not worry someone will steal the UPS. Of course you are going to close your windows as much as you can and leave a crack so that the wires will go through.

This will give you unlimited power supply. You can turn off your car for several hours then run it again to charge the battery then turn off again.

Hope this helps.


_UPS.jpg
 
Last edited:
inreef said:
This looks like it may work for a 4-6 hour backup given my power demands, I found it online for about 175 shipped. They also have a much larger unit for sale, but at $400+ a little pricey.

http://www.xantrex.com/web/id/204/p/2252/pt/32/product.asp

I think it is what scytale is getting.


Some day I hope to get a 15 -20K home backup genset, but it just isn't in the cards now :cry:

-Bret
Click to expand...

Bret, did you get that Xantrex battery backup unit yet?
I finally got mine and ran some "field-tests"
(if you haven't bought it, and want some more real-time feedback/info about it--let me know.....)
 
Yes, It came. I ran a 10 hour test and it dropped to 60% with 2 pumps and a 50 watt heater attached. Pump wattage was 18 total. What did you find? I am quite suprised how well it did. I think I could get 24 hours out of it if needed.

-Bret
 
Good, but still not big enough.

My results were less impressive, but I tried to simulate the "worst case scenario" first, running max wattage in a cold environment.

I tested it on a 55 gallon tank in my garage, where the ambient temp was about 55 degrees. (but trying to maintain the tank @ 79 degress required at least 2 heaters.....)

I ran 280-290 watts total, which was:

1 mini pump (>10 watts)
1 maxijet1200 PH (20 watts)
1 50 watt heater (50 watts)
1 250 watt Stealth heater (200 watts)

With all that juice going to the heaters, I only got about 40 minutes of run time!!

I'm running another test now (this time I'm removing the heaters from the equation.)
Now I'm running approx 30-40 watts w/:

1 Prizm Skimmer
1 maxijet1200
1 Aquacclear PH

I expect at least 8 hours of run time in this config.....

I also just picked up a small, portable 1000W gasoline generator for about the same price ($190) at my local Costco --Alton Generator model #04141 -- I'm going to try to field-test this as well.

Currently I can't find any solid info on it's run-time (it only has a 1.1 gallon tank) but it looks like somewhere between 3-6??? hours per tank, based on a couple of short, online reviews.

If the generator preforms better--I may just keep it, return the Xantrex battery unit (and then find a device to call me @ work when the power goes out @ home....)

I like the Xantrex unit, and if I had a smaller tank it would probably be ideal...
but my tank is an 80 gallon glass tank and it just requires too much heat to maintain via battery....
 
--Don W
"I would use marine batteries and a small inverter. UPS supplies are not really all that great. We what we thought was top of the line for our shop security system which is low voltage, needless to say I was pretty disappointed. I ended up hacking in a inverter and a regular car battery to get through the last 24 hrs."

I am wanting to set up one of these. What kind of run time do you think you can get with one of those deepcell batteries if your running 50W's worth of pumps and a 100W heater?
How do you recharge it once its been used up?
Is it easily wired and set up?
Specifically what battery and inverter you would recomend and do you know of a website to get them from at a fair price?

I live an apartment so the generator is out. I also live on the third floor so hooking up anything to my car is also out. This looks to be my only option. Would you recomend two batteries or just one Don?

Thanks,
Jesse
 
jezzeaepi said:
--Don W
"I would use marine batteries and a small inverter. UPS supplies are not really all that great. We what we thought was top of the line for our shop security system which is low voltage, needless to say I was pretty disappointed. I ended up hacking in a inverter and a regular car battery to get through the last 24 hrs."

I am wanting to set up one of these. What kind of run time do you think you can get with one of those deepcell batteries if your running 50W's worth of pumps and a 100W heater?
How do you recharge it once its been used up?
Is it easily wired and set up?
Specifically what battery and inverter you would recomend and do you know of a website to get them from at a fair price?

I live an apartment so the generator is out. I also live on the third floor so hooking up anything to my car is also out. This looks to be my only option. Would you recomend two batteries or just one Don?

Thanks,
Jesse
Click to expand...

First off. There are two types of inverters. True sine wave and modified sine wave. Alot of pumps will not run on the modified but the true sine wave are usually much more expensive. True sine wave will also consume less power.
I would get as many batteries as you can store and afford.
You can hook them up to a battery tender so that when not in use they will always be charging without overcharging.
If your battery bank is close to the tank you can easily make a auto switch that will turn on battery power when the power goes out.
Yes, this is a easy project but the cost will add up fairly quick.

Don
 
Your not kidding.
So Id be looking at:
142~ fora 300W inverter http://www.invertersrus.com/inv300ps.html
540~ for a 8d battery http://www.invertersrus.com/gpl-8da.html
47~ for a crappy charger(or would that one even work?) http://www.invertersrus.com/vec1087cbd.html

So thats 730 + tax and shipping.

And after I hook all that up I will have enough juice to run 150W's for 255Amp hours, which would be 18 hours? Or would it only be 9 because your not supposed to run the battery to 0 charge?


So 730+ for 18 hours? Seems like kind of a raw deal /sigh
 
For that amount of money I think Im better off buying one of the "quiet" honda generators(eu1000i) and paying off my neighbors to be quiet in the unlikely event of a power outtage. I have a balcony on my apartment.. Think I could get away with it? hehe
 
Don,

I have tried 3 brands of pumps so far on the xantrex, all have run without problems. Tunze, Maxijet, and Rio. For my application, an Acrylic 25g nano, the xantrex seems to fit the bill. However when I get the 300g I have been dreaming of.......

-Bret
 
After my second test, I'm going to bump up my vote to positive on the Xantrex as well.

I ran a less-power-hungry test (40-50 watts of skimmer & pumps) and got a total run-time of 9 hours, 15 minutes.

This is enough to get my 80 gallon through the short-term outages (during the 1-2 times/mnth my power goes out for no apparent reason....) and it'll save me the hassle of having to readjust my skimmer everytime the power goes out!

If you've got a small tank, and/or can't use a generator (in an apartment/townhouse....) then I think the Xantrex is a pretty good unit.

You get 20 aH of battery power, a built-in meter to show the amount of current used/remaining battery capacity left, and even a little LED emergency light so you can fiddle with the tank hands-free!
 
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