Battery backup

[Mark Bianco]

Due to the recent storms I lost power for 4 days on my 210 dt All fish are gone and about 75% of the corals bit the dust.

Ok enough whining. I do plan on getting a backup generator but that will probably be in about three months, in the mean time I will purchase the safety connector and a trickle charger and a good deep cycle battery assuming that's the type of battery I need?

Can you tell me the approximant run time of a 6105 using the 18v setting with this setup?

Thanks in advance
Mark

 

[rvitko]

It would be 12V once you switch to battery unless you set up with an 18V or 24V battery which gets expensive and complicated. In general you will get approx 1 hour of run time for each amp hour of battery life at 12V with the 6105, it is a little less, more like 50 minutes but very close. 4 days would be very tough to manage even with the pumps running due to temperature and other issues so I would probably target 8-12 hours, an 8-12 amp hour SLA battery is generally very inexpensive, compact and readily available.

 

[shaggss]

Rojer. There seems to be ever increasing threads about a DIY battery backup for Tunze pumps. Any chance Tunze is considering releasing an off the shelf product?

 

[rvitko]

No, the logistics just don't work, batteries are way to heavy and shipping becomes too expensive and we cannot buy batteries in the sort of volume that would make it a practical project.

 

[shaggss]

No, the logistics just don't work, batteries are way to heavy and shipping becomes too expensive and we cannot buy batteries in the sort of volume that would make it a practical project.

Ok, thanks for the info!

 

[Mark Bianco]

Thank you sir...

 

[BIGD0G]

Mark what controller will you be using to control the 6105? If using a Tunze controller your setup will work fine however if using an Apex to control it you need to take a couple other things into account.

 

[kenman345]

No, the logistics just don't work, batteries are way to heavy and shipping becomes too expensive and we cannot buy batteries in the sort of volume that would make it a practical project.

What about a bracket or component that basically has a regulator and stuff in it, all you need to do as a consumer is buy an SLA battery. Currently, I am considering the SLA route, but don't like the idea of exposed wiring in my tank area. I would feel much more at ease if I have a waterproof enclosure with a regulator built in that is made from the company selling me the rest of the stuff I am using. Means I have to actually think less to accomplish a goal and that's worth paying money for.

Mark what controller will you be using to control the 6105? If using a Tunze controller your setup will work fine however if using an Apex to control it you need to take a couple other things into account.

So, what are these concerns? I am using my Tunze 6055 with a APC module on my Reefkeeper Elite and want to understand what I may need to do to use the battery backup effectively when I buy the equipment and everything.

 

[shaggss]

Hi again Roger

Would a 12V 18ah sealed lead acid battery and a 12V 1A trickle charger be a good start for this?

Thanks in advance!

 

[rvitko]

As it is the safety connector is extremely versatile, if you had a greenhouse for farming corals you could use solar panels, if you are obsessed with safety you can use rechargable lantern batteries (the type used in a deer feeder for example), though the run time is fairly short, about 1-2 hours. If you need a long run time you can use glass mat deep cycle marine batteries. It may not be ideal for all users as some wiring and DIY interest is required, it is the best way to meet a variety of needs and housings, chargers, etc are readily availble at electronics and battery stores.

The issue Bigdog is referring to is that our controllers are powered by the pump, if the pump has power, so does the controller so everything keeps on working. If you use an aftermarket controller and it is not backed up as well, when the power fails, the pump will not work until the controller cable is disconnected or the controller is backed up as well.

shagss, this would give a roughly 16 hr run time for a 6105, 18 for a 6095 and 19 or so for 6055. This would be a good set up, but smaller is also fine, like 10-12 aH.

 

[shaggss]

shagss, this would give a roughly 16 hr run time for a 6105, 18 for a 6095 and 19 or so for 6055. This would be a good set up, but smaller is also fine, like 10-12 aH.

Great, thanks Roger. I actually got a 1500mA trickle charger....

 

[kenman345]

As it is the safety connector is extremely versatile, if you had a greenhouse for farming corals you could use solar panels, if you are obsessed with safety you can use rechargable lantern batteries (the type used in a deer feeder for example), though the run time is fairly short, about 1-2 hours. If you need a long run time you can use glass mat deep cycle marine batteries. It may not be ideal for all users as some wiring and DIY interest is required, it is the best way to meet a variety of needs and housings, chargers, etc are readily availble at electronics and battery stores.

The issue Bigdog is referring to is that our controllers are powered by the pump, if the pump has power, so does the controller so everything keeps on working. If you use an aftermarket controller and it is not backed up as well, when the power fails, the pump will not work until the controller cable is disconnected or the controller is backed up as well.

shagss, this would give a roughly 16 hr run time for a 6105, 18 for a 6095 and 19 or so for 6055. This would be a good set up, but smaller is also fine, like 10-12 aH.

Okay, I see what you're saying now.

If I do not want to use a separate controller though, do I just change out the voltage connector on the power supply to control the speed? What is the cheapest controller that would work for the 6055 in the case of a power outage. I really liked the idea of having everything controlled through the reefkeeper controller. Seems like to use it I would at least need a UPS that can handle the long haul I am trying to set the bump to work for.

 

[rvitko]

If you use a UPS you will just change the pump voltage on the power supply. If you use the safety connector, typically the battery is 12V so the flow will be minimal, it is just supposed to be enough to keep things alive.

 

[kenman345]

If you use a UPS you will just change the pump voltage on the power supply. If you use the safety connector, typically the battery is 12V so the flow will be minimal, it is just supposed to be enough to keep things alive.

But I would need to not have the pump connected to a controller unless it gets powered through the same power supply, correct? What is the cheapest Tunze controller that would fit the bill for two basic powerheads that only serve normally to supplement the rest of the water flow in my tank minimally and 1 of them is always aimed at the surface to help aeration

 

[rvitko]

Correct, if you have no controller connected it will work. The issue will be that if you are away and a power failure occurs and a non Tunze controller is connected, the pump will not run until someone disconnects the controller unless the controller also has a UPS or battery backup. The 7092 is the most basic controller, but you can also use none.

 

[kenman345]

Correct, if you have no controller connected it will work. The issue will be that if you are away and a power failure occurs and a non Tunze controller is connected, the pump will not run until someone disconnects the controller unless the controller also has a UPS or battery backup. The 7092 is the most basic controller, but you can also use none.

So if i go controller-less, the voltage on the power supply or battery controls the speed / GPH?

 

[rvitko]

Correct.

 

[kenman345]

Correct.

Wonderful. I think I'll go controllerless then and let them run at a low rate. These are just meant to supplement the flow or cause aeration so it's not a big deal for them to be run this way. I can use the outlet on my Reefkeeper. Only issue is if i want to shut off one of the pumps for a feeding timer.....hmmm.....maybe the aeration pump would be good enough for life support needs.

Thanks for the help.

 

[d2mini]

I'd like to bump this thread, as I'm still a bit confused.

I just got my first Tunze 6105, and hooked it up to my Profilux controller with the Tunze 1 cable.
It's working great.
But I need a battery backup solution.

Right now, the 6105 is plugged into a regular power strip, not a Profilux Powerbar.
I know I need the safety connector and a battery of my choice, but how do I get this to work if the house loses power and I'm not at home?

 

[rvitko]

The Profilux has to backed up as well. The problem with non Tunze controllers is they only send a control signal to the unit and are powered by their own power supply, once the power to the controller is gone, that signal is gone and the pump is waiting for a signal. A Tunze controller is powered by the pump, so if the pump has power, the controller has power.

You will need a safety connector, battery and suitable charger for the battery you select as the connector does not maintain the charge of the battery. Typically you will need a very small trickle charger which just looks like a standard wall wart adapter. The profilux would need a small APC to stay running.