Battery backup

[lostmyz]

I know this topic has been discussed to the end of the earth. But over the wknd ny power went out. Probably for just a few minutes while we weren't home. Only noticed bc of the flashing 12:00.

Anyways... no fish died haha... I currently only have a a few battery powered failsafe air stone pumps. But wanted to get a battery back up for probably the return pump. No more sps so flow fir coral isn't an issue.

Wanna know what you all recommend?

Ecotechmarine or a UPS unit (and which one)?

Thanks

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[Weyrman]

For the most bang for the buck I'd go with a UPS unit. My preference is a unit made by APC. I've had two of them and have been happy with them.

You can google "APC battery back-up" and find out all you need to know. You should calculate the amount of power you need and how long you expect the longest power outage will be. That combination will give you the size of UPS to get.

I have a 900 watt 1500 VA unit that's several years old now. It will power 200 watts for about 40 minutes.

If my power goes out the unit I have will run the MP40 circ. pump, 2 hydor koralia circ. pumps, and cooling fans for about an hour and a half.

I just got an RKL controller and I haven't figured out yet how to combine the controller with the UPS unit so that they're all working in concert.

Fry's Electronics carries a bunch of different UPS units. They go on sale for about 50% off once a year (mail-in rebate). That's when I'd get one.

 

[lostmyz]

40mins is all you get with your APC... with the ecotechmarine just running a mp10 you get 30 hrs....

I know the ecotechs are only for ecotechmarine config products.

Id like to have atleast 24hrs of reserve battery life going to make sure things live. If that means just using my powerhead and not my mag 9.5 than so.be it

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[bugs713]

You have MP10's and 40's as I do -
For my MP's, I bought some used Belkin backups from eBay for $24 shipped. They are enough to keep one MP40 running for 12+ hours and is WAY cheaper than Ecotech's WAY over priced backup at $165! Better and more reliablealso IMO!

Search eBay:Belkin Battery Backup Unit BU3DC001 12V Power Supply (Gray)


I also purchased a Fused Vortech Battery Backup Cable from Echotech (Item#:10427) for $1.50 each, cut the plugs off and spliced them to the Belkin backups. Can probably find these plugs at Fry's or Radio Shack, but I like the inline fuse.

I have MP's on my three saltwater tanks and and a Belkin backup on each. When the 120v supply to the MP's is interrupted, the backup automatically kicks in at 50% power I believe - enough to get some good flow in the tank and keep everything alive for several hours!

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[lostmyz]

Niiiice bugs!!!!! Im going to look onto that. And I agree ecotechs 165 is over priced and hate that about the product. If you don't mind sending me some photos of your online splice that be awesome!

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[bugs713]

I'll do that when I get home tonight.
Also, the name of the seller is chinostor http://myworld.ebay.com/chinostore?_trksid=p2047675.l2559and I have bought 3 of these from them with way fast shipping!
Its a simple cut, splice and heat shrink tubing, just have to get your polarities correct and not follow the the markings on the wires.
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[Weyrman]

Thanks for that info bugs! I'll have to check it out.

FWIW - The UPS I have will go way past the Echotech battery backup. I listed a watt usage way beyond that of what the Echotech does. EchoTech considerably dials down the flow when battery backup kicks in. The UPS doesn't do that and runs full flow.

 

[lostmyz]

Thanks Weyrman!

Yeah im just looking for something to give me 12-30hrs max. I don't foresee anything longer than that in AZ. In FL im buying a generator lol!

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[lostmyz]

.............
Search eBay:Belkin Battery Backup Unit BU3DC001 12V Power Supply (Gray)
....

I wonder could I theoretically buy two and hook them up in series to eachother since they are small and have it give me 24 hours? Sorta like what you are supposedly able to do with the Ecotech ones

 

[evil]

Dyi ups

Dyi ups

The cheapest and longest lasting ups is using a old discarded mid size ups from work or goodwill and hook a 80 to 100 amp hour deep cycle battery to it. Bet you can find a 600 watt 3 year old ups with a dead battery and buy a deep cycle battery from Costco for $70. The deep cycle battery will last 5 to 8 times longer than the 15 amp hour gel cell lead acid battery in the store bought ups.

 

[Weyrman]

I suppose you could buy two and hook them up to two different circulation pumps. In the alternative, I'd check into what the cost of two would be as opposed to buying one with a lot more back-up capacity.

As "evil" points out you can DIY these things to get way more out of them than from the factory.

As a side note. The factory batteries last about 4 to 5 years on these things (UPS). Not all that hard to replace.

 

[lostmyz]

I mean I do have 2 old APC UPS units (with dead batteries) that I used on my old computers down in Tucson at my parents house that I could grab and just attach a deep cycle marine battery to and be done with it.

 

[Weyrman]

I mean I do have 2 old APC UPS units (with dead batteries) that I used on my old computers down in Tucson at my parents house that I could grab and just attach a deep cycle marine battery to and be done with it.

I'd go with it! Hook 'em both up to the deep cycle marine battery! I'd be all over that!

 

[lostmyz]

the only thing that really is weird about my little power outage thing was.... nothing died... but... MY APTSAIA's like exploded 10x what was in there on friday compared to monday and also.... the little bryposis that I had that was being controlled and almost gone... exploded as well and back with a vengeance....luckily all the SPS are out of the tank and being cared for by another reefer.

Thats all thats puzzled me....

 

[bugs713]

I almost did the deep cycle battery backup thing, but really wanted something small.
Further, equally concerning in an extended power outage in the AZ summer would be heat! A few years ago, we lost power for 11 hours in East Mesa. I lost most of my fresh water fish in my 7g Edge tank, did not have SW at that time luckily.
For now, I have a power inverter to power a portable AC from my cars if needed, until I get a gas generator. This would be enough to keep a 185, 55 and 8g alive for an extended outage.
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[Nibrown9]

Frozen water bottles with rodi in them will help combat the heat during the summer outages..def something I keep handy during monsoon season

 

[lostmyz]

That's a great idea!!!!!

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[Weyrman]

Frozen water bottles with rodi in them will help combat the heat during the summer outages..def something I keep handy during monsoon season

I do the same. I keep 4 handy during monsoon season.

1/2 gallon milk jugs 3/4 full of RODI water. RODI is important here. I've had these spring a pin hole leak twice. Not sure why that happens so much.

 

[bugs713]

Yeah, but I don't have room in my freezer due to all the damn fish food!:strange:

 

[lostmyz]

Lol!!!

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