Backup power to Energybar 8
- Thread starter tangstank
- Start date
D
Deleted member 143833
Yes, you could power the EB8 and use 'if power' statements or you could put the backup power into the EB8 then the pump into the backup power and when the EB8 looses power the pump will run off the backup (that way the backup power is only being used for the pumps and not to run the EB8 and Apex (unless you want the EB8 and Apex on backup power).
tangstank
Obsessed Reefer
Thank you for the quick reply. What is the power consumption of Apex (I suppose it is very minor) I'm looking to use computer UPS to run a couple of Tunze pumps in case of emergency power failure.
Also if I were to connect EB8 to UPS, & on power failure how will Apex know about power failure (if power) when the power is never interrupted?
D
Deleted member 143833
If you are looking at running a few items then it does make sense to run the EB8 on backup...
The problem is that you need 'something' to tell when power is lost; if you have a second EB8 that will not be powered then you could use that but if everything if powered then there is nothing that the Apex cal look at to tell there is a failure. If you have a second EB8 then you could use something like this:
If Power EB8_4 Off 000 Then ON
(assuming that the second EB8 is at address 4 and is not on backup).
The problem is that you need 'something' to tell when power is lost; if you have a second EB8 that will not be powered then you could use that but if everything if powered then there is nothing that the Apex cal look at to tell there is a failure. If you have a second EB8 then you could use something like this:
If Power EB8_4 Off 000 Then ON
(assuming that the second EB8 is at address 4 and is not on backup).
swearint
New member
I am facing a similar problem. If you run the UPS off of the EB8, then you lose the ability to control the pumps via Apex programming. They become always ON. One possibility is if the UPS has any digital outputs that could be used with the Apex I/O port (switches). That output would signal when the UPS is on battery backup.
Todd
Todd
Yes, I wish it could work like the AC's did. I plugged one power supply into the UPS and one into a regular circuiut, that didn't run when the generator was on. I had certian devices set to not run if there was a power outage. This worked GREAT!!!
Is there a way to make the Apex work in a similar fashion? I know we can use a 12V transformer to run the Apex, but what purpose does it serve? Can it be plugged into a circuit that will stay off during a power outage to achieve the save results as the AC's? If there is no power to the EB8 nothing will work.
Is there a way to make the Apex work in a similar fashion? I know we can use a 12V transformer to run the Apex, but what purpose does it serve? Can it be plugged into a circuit that will stay off during a power outage to achieve the save results as the AC's? If there is no power to the EB8 nothing will work.
aquamanic
WHO DAT??
Cathy - I think that's what Ken is saying. Plug one EB8 into the UPS. That EB8 should be powering your controller via the USB cable also. Those are your "always on" outlets. Plug another EB8 into a wall outlet that can/will lose power. Those devices will be off during a power failure. The controller, since it's running off the UPS (via the EB8) will be able to control the outlets, send you an email, etc. It will monitor power to the second EB8 (the one plugged into the wall) and when it sees it fail, activate the email alarm.
I have one EB8 and 4 DC8's strung out over 30'. This is not a workable option, as there are devices from 1' to 30' away form the EB8 that need to stay off in a power outage.
I need my controller to be plugged into a power source and the UPS like my AC3Pro was. The AC3 had two power supplies and would detect there was a power outage on the one not plugged into UPS, but the one plugged into the UPS would allow the AC to continue to work. It would turn off/on all devices along the entire series that had power outage programming.
I don't want lights and other electronic equipment running on generator power, only bare necessities. If the Apex is plugged into the 12V power supply, will it work in the same fashion as the AC3 did?
I need my controller to be plugged into a power source and the UPS like my AC3Pro was. The AC3 had two power supplies and would detect there was a power outage on the one not plugged into UPS, but the one plugged into the UPS would allow the AC to continue to work. It would turn off/on all devices along the entire series that had power outage programming.
I don't want lights and other electronic equipment running on generator power, only bare necessities. If the Apex is plugged into the 12V power supply, will it work in the same fashion as the AC3 did?
aquamanic
WHO DAT??
I don't know much about the AC3. The Apex controller has 2 power sources - the EB8 its attached to and a supplemental 12v which can come from a UPS via a transformer. This is how it knows there's been a power interruption - the EB8 fails but since the controller has the 12v power coming from the UPS, it continues to function.
I don't know how you can keep both the EB8 and the controller on a UPS AND sense a power failure. If the AC3 was able to do that, then that's something different from the Apex.
I don't know how you can keep both the EB8 and the controller on a UPS AND sense a power failure. If the AC3 was able to do that, then that's something different from the Apex.
I don't want the EB8 to run on the UPS. I think you may have given me a solution though. If the supplemental 12V is plugged into a UPS, it will keep the controller running, but the controller will know there is a power outage if the EB8 is plugged into a dead outlet. So possibly if all the other DC8's are plugged into the generator power, the controller will continue to run them as if there were a power outage?
aquamanic
WHO DAT??
That's correct. With 2 EB8's you're gold. The EB8 on the UPS powers critical outlets, the other EB8 is connected to the controller and not on the UPS. The controller also has a 12v supplemental power which is on the UPS. Make sure your PC, router and modem are also on the UPS if you expect to get email notifications.
D
Deleted member 143833
If any EB8 is powered then you don't need the 12v supplimental for the Apex; it gets its power from any EB8 that has power.
It will. See post 4 on how that is done.
roktsintst
New member
I have also been looking into this.
My problem is finding a UPS That will power any device for a few hours. Does anyone have suggestions???
My problem is finding a UPS That will power any device for a few hours. Does anyone have suggestions???
WaterbugJenn
New member
OH crud, I was thinking I had my back up power all planned out. I figured I would be all set to get my text messages alerting me to a power failure.
Now I have to figure a way of getting backup power up stairs where the cable modem and router are, or buy another UPS, geez.
I had already planned on plugging my network hub into the UPS with the apex's alternate power and 1 EB8.
Thanks for the good info though!
edit: also just realized I do not need the alternate power if at least one of my EB8's is plugged into the UPS.
If the EB8 is on a dead circuit, but the 12V adapter is plugged in to power, with the rest of the DC8's (not EB8's) work?
So, what purpose does the 12V serve then, only to let the router send you an email?
I thought the 12V would be plugged into the dead circuit to serve the same purpose as the second (battery) 9V power supply on the AC's?
So, basically nothing that needs to be kept running during a power outage can be used on the first EB8 in the series?
If this is how it works, this is not a good plan. Can a device be made that will work like the AC3 power supply system did, and plug the EB8 into this? My UPS is small and only runs my controller and computer long enough to get things switched over to generator power. It will not power high amp devices on an EB8 for any length of time.
So, what purpose does the 12V serve then, only to let the router send you an email?
I thought the 12V would be plugged into the dead circuit to serve the same purpose as the second (battery) 9V power supply on the AC's?
So, basically nothing that needs to be kept running during a power outage can be used on the first EB8 in the series?
If this is how it works, this is not a good plan. Can a device be made that will work like the AC3 power supply system did, and plug the EB8 into this? My UPS is small and only runs my controller and computer long enough to get things switched over to generator power. It will not power high amp devices on an EB8 for any length of time.
I thought this was what the 12V back up was for?
Hi,
I experienced a power outage yesterday and I'm also looking for a solution.
I found this in the product description :
Alternate power port on Apex Base Unit
In power failure situations Alarm emails can still be sent
Can detect power failures in EnergyBars
Internal rechargeable backup battery retains clock
So I guess a 2nd EB8 is not required. Am I wrong ? I may miss something since I'm french speaking.
Thanks
Charles
I experienced a power outage yesterday and I'm also looking for a solution.
I found this in the product description :
Alternate power port on Apex Base Unit
In power failure situations Alarm emails can still be sent
Can detect power failures in EnergyBars
Internal rechargeable backup battery retains clock
So I guess a 2nd EB8 is not required. Am I wrong ? I may miss something since I'm french speaking.
Thanks
Charles
