Battery Backup

[DRThompson]

Battery Backup: Are your battery backups working?

Last night there was a FPL power failure in my neighborhood for about 4 hours starting at 10pm-ish. I have several battery backups for my fish tank.....they all failed

Fortunately I was home and was able to power my MP40s using my computer UPS.

We are in Hurricane season: make sure you check your battery backup products! Mine are about 4 years old so I cant blame anyone but myself for the failure.

 

[Uncle Luke]

Great advice! I think I'm gonna get an Ecotech battery backup. I'm always afraid of the power going off when I'm not home doing some real damage to my tank.

 

[jonnyu]

Great advice! I think I'm gonna get an Ecotech battery backup. I'm always afraid of the power going off when I'm not home doing some real damage to my tank.

It's a good idea but they all suffer from same problem batteries go bad. A ups has fairly cheap battery replacement. I would recommend a capacity check of Battery's once a year.

 

[DRThompson]

It's a good idea but they all suffer from same problem batteries go bad. A ups has fairly cheap battery replacement. I would recommend a capacity check of Battery's once a year.

I agree with Jonny, they use the same batteries as the regular computer UPS produtcs.

Last night I used a small UPS 550 to run one MP40 and it lasted about 5 hours. Had to plug MP40 into AC outlet though vs Ecotech battery back up being automatic and runs them on 12v.

 

[danny1496]

problem is the ecotech always stay at full charge best thing is to 1or 2 times a moth use them .

 

[McGee10]

problem is the ecotech always stay at full charge best thing is to 1or 2 times a moth use them .

Why it is a lead acid battery!

 

[DRThompson]

Just a quick update; ordered a new battery from Amazon

Installation was easy; drill out rivets, remove old battery, replace and rivet

Alternately, you could use nuts/bolts instead of rivets.
Here are some pics
<a href="http://s1072.photobucket.com/user/pharmd99/media/forum/2016-05-18%2007.30.16_zpscuw5xmlb.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w362/pharmd99/forum/2016-05-18%2007.30.16_zpscuw5xmlb.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 2016-05-18 07.30.16_zpscuw5xmlb.jpg"/></a>
<a href="http://s1072.photobucket.com/user/pharmd99/media/forum/2016-05-18%2007.32.41_zps0ynhkmbe.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w362/pharmd99/forum/2016-05-18%2007.32.41_zps0ynhkmbe.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 2016-05-18 07.32.41_zps0ynhkmbe.jpg"/></a>
<a href="http://s1072.photobucket.com/user/pharmd99/media/forum/2016-05-18%2007.33.04_zpsl5pqqtwl.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w362/pharmd99/forum/2016-05-18%2007.33.04_zpsl5pqqtwl.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 2016-05-18 07.33.04_zpsl5pqqtwl.jpg"/></a>

 

[nivram]

Great info. I'm sure I need to replace my vortech battery too.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[DRThompson]

Bought the replacement battery on Amazon for $40 with free shipping!!!

Came in the mail inside one of those USPS no weight limit boxes. It's labelled "ExpertPower" and is a 20AH which is slightly better than the stock battery from echotech (18AH).

 

[doggydoc]

Bought the replacement battery on Amazon for $40 with free shipping!!!

Came in the mail inside one of those USPS no weight limit boxes. It's labelled "ExpertPower" and is a 20AH which is slightly better than the stock battery from echotech (18AH).

Hey Doc. Can you point me in the direction to get that Amazon deal?
Thank you


Always at sea;

Dr. Antonio Longo

 

[DRThompson]

Hey Doc. Can you point me in the direction to get that Amazon deal?
Thank you


Always at sea;

Dr. Antonio Longo

Will text it to you. Be careful not to drill into the battery when drilling out the rivets

 

[AquamanE]

Dr- how do you rerivit? Or even use nuts and bolts when nut is inside and you can't hold?

 

[mlivvy]

The ecotech battery backup is just a regular battery with a fancy metal case.

You can get a used $10-20 (less than $40 new on ebay) belkin model-BU3DC001-12V, splice the cable with a 1.35mm power connector or get a 3.5mm to 1.35mm adapter and you're done. Not only are you spending a fraction of the cost... The Belkin warns you of a low battery.

 

[AquamanE]

hey doc. Can you point me in the direction to get that amazon deal?
Thank you


always at sea;

dr. Antonio longo

1+

 

[DRThompson]

Dr- how do you rerivit? Or even use nuts and bolts when nut is inside and you can't hold?

Harbor Freight sells a hand rivet gun for $5.
They are easy to use.

 

[ANFPO]

Tunze battery back up gadget and a trickle charger does the same thing with ANY DC powerhead and ANY 12V plus battery. Using a Tojan, Marine, or any other deep cycle battry you can run a 6055 for DAYS. ANd it will do the automatic switching and charging.

 

[jduck]

Cheaper you can just buy a bigger battery and a battery tender. Make your own cables. Will run them for days