Battery backup?

[wbeavers]

In the new catalog there is a Safety Connector 6105.500 Can you tell us more about this? I gather that I can plug this in to a newer controllable turbella pump with a battery, and get battery backup without an inverter. This only works with pumps using the new multi-voltage transformer right?

 

[rvitko]

Yes, it is basically an autoswitching junction block. The transformer, pump and alternative power supply all connect to the block. If the main power is interupted it automatically switches to the back up. Any supply of 12-24V is acceptable, including solar panels. For a battery you will need some sort of charger be it a solar trickle charger or a maintenance trickle charger. We recommend gel cell batteries and keep in mind all the precautions of working with lead acid batteries. They do only work with the 6101, 6201, 6301 and 6212 with new power supply as well as the 6055. It works best with the 6101 and 6055 in terms of battery life.

 

[wbeavers]

I just bought a pair of 6055s for my nano tank.

 

[invincible569]

Do you have a picture?

 

[wbeavers]

Is the Safety Connector 6105.500 currently availiable?

 

[kfick]

Any plans in the future to make your own battery backup like the Vortech pump?

 

[rvitko]

No. This solution is far more economical and versatile. The connector is $50, a small gel cell and trickle charger can be had for under $100, it also adds the versatility of being able to have a solar powered pump as well as the battery capacity of your choice.

wbeavers, I checked on availability yesterday and was told that the packaging and instructions are not yet ready. I expect we will recieve these with the salt and RO Systems in late January.

 

[wbeavers]

I will place one on order. Any suggestions on a battery capacity for running a single 6055 for twelve hours.

 

[rvitko]

Let me work on that some more.

 

[rvitko]

OK, I think I have this calculated correctly- this battery should do the job

http://www.batteriesasap.com/44.html

 

[wbeavers]

So to run a 6055 on this I would need a 1.5 Amp hour rating for each hour of back up?

18 watts/12 volts = 1.5 amps

To get the twele hours of backup I would need a 18 AH battery?

 

[rvitko]

No, the pump uses 4w at 12V so that is .3Amps. I was factoring in some overkill since batteries tend to get weaker with age and I wanted to hedge on the side of caution since in the real world things don't always equal what the logical calculation is.

 

[wbeavers]

So it would default to the lowest speed?

 

[rvitko]

Yes, it is only getting 12V, you would need 24V to get the highest speed.

 

[wbeavers]

Oh, so the pump works by varying voltage between 12-24 VDC? So If I want more speed I could use a higher voltage battery?

 

[46bfinGA]

Is there pictures or Diagrams that would help explain this a little better?

 

[rvitko]

Yes, or a bank of batteries connected in series. The manual is not finished yet so I have no diagrams or pictures.

 

[tgunn]

I will be VERY happy when these are available.
I was just thinking of building something similar for use with my 6101s. Something premade is a LOT easier.

 

[wbeavers]

Any word on the availability of these? I already placed one on order.

 

[rvitko]

I get 20 of them later this week.