Backup Power

[smmiller506]

My $0.02 - the inverter that you originally posted would work for a little while as it is an inverter and charger in one unit. I've been looking at that exact same unit as we don't have many power outages, but we did have one for 6 hours or so in town (transformer went out). The newer standby generators have a weekly auto-test and require an oil change about once every two years. If it is not a whole house generator (like the one linked to earlier), then you get a second panel, which connects to the first through a supplied two-pole circuit breaker. When the power is normally on, service entrance power flows through the main breaker, the 50 amp two-pole breaker, through the normally ON contacts of the automatic transfer switch, and finally to the aux breakers that your very important equipment is.connected to (HVAC, fridge, fish tank, etc). In the event of a power outage, the transfer switch has a sensor that reads power has been lost from the 50 amp two-pole breaker, and kicks the generator on, which then supplies power through the normally off contacta of the transfer switch. Power cannot go from the service or the generator to each other, and the aux breakers are fed from only one source at a time. A small UPS good for 10 minutes max would still be a good investment at this point as the generator takes about 10-30 seconds to supply power after the service has lost it. A UPS would bridge this gap so that there are no true interruptions in power.

 

[jonwright]

Very Reasonable

Very Reasonable

We lose power often because we live in the county. I do have a generator to use when I'm home. The problem is when I'm not home.

To solve my power outage issue, I purchased the Tunze 1073.050 pump which can run on battery (or other power source) when the power goes out. I bought two 12v deep cycle marine batteries so it can run on 24v power. I also added a 24v battery tender to keep the batteries charged. I can get about 2.5 days of run time with this set up. My longest power outage has been 2 days three winters ago.

When the power goes out (and it has), my main pump keeps flowing and when the power comes back on I don't have to worry about my skimmer overflowing and putting all that junk back into my tank. Plus I get the oxygen exchange, filtration, and piece of mind when I'm not home.

This is a very reasonable and efficient approach. This covers the heart of the tank very simply. Really - IMO for a short duration you don't need lights, all the ancillary stuff, skimmer, doser etc.

 

[Raul-7]

We don't lose power too often; that's why I'm leaning away from a whole house generator.

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200623983_200623983

 

[uncleof6]

We don't lose power too often; that's why I'm leaning away from a whole house generator.

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200623983_200623983

That will give you around 13.3amps, (don't load it over 10.4amps; 80% rule.) which should cover your needs. The trick will be to get it to auto-start. If you want to hook it into the house electrical, you will still need a transfer switch. (NEC code requirement.)

 

[jonwright]

That one is like some Hondas. You hook two together for increased power to a circuit.

If you don't want a bunch of noise that's the way to go.

 

[cincyjim]

If it's important to you, for a $100 more you can get a Troy Bilt 6,250 watts with 8,500 starting watts at Lowe's. This is the one I have and I can run 2 refrigerators, a freezer, coffee pot, couple of lamps, toaster, and at one time 2 75g aquariums, and one 56g aquarium. I actually believe I had more power to use but this was all I needed plugged in.

I was reading on the one you mentioned and it states it's super quiet. The Troy Bilt is anything but quiet. Yours seems to be more portable than the Troy Bilt as well.

 

[Gorgok]

Nice thing about units directly hooked up to gas lines is not having to store bunch of fuel in the garage, not having to go outside to fuel it, and never running out... It would take some serious damage for buried gas lines to break, which in some parts of the country might actually happen but in most not really.

 

[uncleof6]

Nice thing about units directly hooked up to gas lines is not having to store bunch of fuel in the garage, not having to go outside to fuel it, and never running out... It would take some serious damage for buried gas lines to break, which in some parts of the country might actually happen but in most not really.

That would be something of a problem here in California! However, the codes permit flexible gas piping these days, which cuts down on that some. NG is the most economic to run, but I often think that propane might do just as well, considering utility lines still have a lot of iron pipe in them. But then one could argue the explosion would not be so close to your house, if it was utility line that went instead of a propane tank in your back yard...