Skeptic_07
New member
Does anyone use some kind of battery backup for their pumps in case the power goes out? something other than vortech.
battery backup?
- Thread starter Skeptic_07
- Start date
Skeptic_07
New member
Nice, but that isn't going to work because its going to have to fit in my stand next to my sump. I think that setup would get wet eventually and short out. Does anyone use anything like this? will it work? any idea how long that will run a few koralia pumps for?
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3260290&CatId=234
sorry, i'm electrically challenged
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3260290&CatId=234
sorry, i'm electrically challenged
Skeptic_07
New member
anyone?
I am not familiar with that unit, but it will depend on how much power you are running off it. It says it will last 9 minutes at half power (400 watts or so) which leads me to believe that this unit is mainly to give you time to shut your system (computer in this case) down more than keep it going for any length of time. If you are just running a couple of low wattage powerheads it might work for a while, but I am betting not much more than a couple of hours.
Skeptic_07
New member
how did you figure that out?
lets say my pumps are going to use about 50 watts of power (a couple koralia magnums and an eheim return pump) and i want to be able to run them to run for a day or so off the battery if it comes to that.
here is a better bang for the buck:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16842106008
1200w but it still says Battery Run Time 70 - 80 minutes but they're assuming i'm running a computer off of it. since 1200/50 = 24 , can i just assume that it will run the pumps for 70 x 24 = 1680 mins = 28 hours. or is that not how it works
lets say my pumps are going to use about 50 watts of power (a couple koralia magnums and an eheim return pump) and i want to be able to run them to run for a day or so off the battery if it comes to that.
here is a better bang for the buck:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16842106008
1200w but it still says Battery Run Time 70 - 80 minutes but they're assuming i'm running a computer off of it. since 1200/50 = 24 , can i just assume that it will run the pumps for 70 x 24 = 1680 mins = 28 hours. or is that not how it works
Skeptic_07
New member
Also what is VA rating referring to?
Skeptic_07
New member
bummmmmpuhh..
Skeptic_07
New member
cool, how much did that cost? where did u get it?
unbreakable
D:
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14959269#post14959269 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by old salty
I use a 12v battery on a Tunze 6201; you have to purchase the "safety connector" but it works like a champ. I also have a charger hooked up to the battery to keep it at peak charge.
could you run one more than one thing off this battery? like a skimmer, return pump and one powerhead?
lombard0
New member
@unbreakable: The tunze 6201 if I'm not mistaken are DC pumps, so that means you can connect it straight to a battery (DC power source). Return pump, and the likes are AC-based, which means you need some sort of inverter (converts DC power from battery to AC).
@Skeptic_07: I dont think those type of UPS have enough "power storage" to keep pumps running for more than 10 hours. It boils down to the internal battery (usually measures in AH or Ampere-Hours) that comes with the UPS unit. But if you can find a UPS that can also be hook up to an external battery, that would be a good alternative.
Also, the UPS supplies "simulated sine wave" when it's running on battery (see the tech spec "output voltage wave form"). Make sure that your pumps wont get damaged since most pumps/wavemakers we used in the hobby requires "true sine wave" AC power.
And VA means Volt-Ampere. It is a unit in measuring the total power used/required by a certain load.
Cheers!
@Skeptic_07: I dont think those type of UPS have enough "power storage" to keep pumps running for more than 10 hours. It boils down to the internal battery (usually measures in AH or Ampere-Hours) that comes with the UPS unit. But if you can find a UPS that can also be hook up to an external battery, that would be a good alternative.
Also, the UPS supplies "simulated sine wave" when it's running on battery (see the tech spec "output voltage wave form"). Make sure that your pumps wont get damaged since most pumps/wavemakers we used in the hobby requires "true sine wave" AC power.
And VA means Volt-Ampere. It is a unit in measuring the total power used/required by a certain load.
Cheers!
Macimage
Active member
I don't remember where I bought it, however, while looking today I found a reconditioned one for 63% off here:
http://www.icd.com/ups/
I believe these are true sine wave based on a prior thread.
Joyce
http://www.icd.com/ups/
I believe these are true sine wave based on a prior thread.
Joyce
Skeptic_07
New member
Ok thanks. thats more than I was looking to spend. I guess I will have to look at using a 12V battery and tunzes like old salty. I would be using 2 6085s to give me ~4000 gph in a ~60 gallon, that'll put me up to $320 plus that UPS puts me way over the simple plug and play vortech. I really just want to run two pumps instead of one and have them still run when the power is out and have it all cost ~$500. I guess I'd need a trickle cahrger but i have no idea where to find a battery like that.
Ruben,
No, I cannot run anything else on this battery; batteries are DC and most pumps are AC. Tunze pumps come with transformers to convert house AC to DC. This is why the battery works with them; there is no conversion. No conversion means less loss. This is why a large UPS only works for such a short while. The DC from the battery must be converted to AC to run things; not very efficient.
Also remember that on battery, the Tunze pumps will run at a maximum of 50%. This extends battery life in emergency situations.
Skeptic,
I purchased the charger for $20 at an electronics outlet. 12V lead acid batteries can be found anywhere. A motorcycle battery can be had for less than $100.
Let's add this up:
$100 for the battery
$50 for the Tunze safety connector
$20 for the battery charger
$XX.XX for a Tunze (I use a 6201)
Peace of mind is worth a lot, so are the animals in my care.
No, I cannot run anything else on this battery; batteries are DC and most pumps are AC. Tunze pumps come with transformers to convert house AC to DC. This is why the battery works with them; there is no conversion. No conversion means less loss. This is why a large UPS only works for such a short while. The DC from the battery must be converted to AC to run things; not very efficient.
Also remember that on battery, the Tunze pumps will run at a maximum of 50%. This extends battery life in emergency situations.
Skeptic,
I purchased the charger for $20 at an electronics outlet. 12V lead acid batteries can be found anywhere. A motorcycle battery can be had for less than $100.
Let's add this up:
$100 for the battery
$50 for the Tunze safety connector
$20 for the battery charger
$XX.XX for a Tunze (I use a 6201)
Peace of mind is worth a lot, so are the animals in my care.
Nickinsandy
New member
Can this also be done with koralias or are they AC or DC ? do they have a converter?
Skeptic_07
New member
you said it old salty. The main reason I'm doing this is because of a bad experience in the past. I think I'm going to build an extra compartment in my stand to keep this in.
It says "Tunze Safety Connector for 6055 (NanoStream), 6101, 6201 & 6301 Turbelle" Think it ONLY works on those models? Or will it work on some of the less expensive ones?
This thing is pretty damn cool. You can use it to connect it to any DC power source like solar panels. neato! I wonder how long I could get a 6055 to run on fully charged battery.
It says "Tunze Safety Connector for 6055 (NanoStream), 6101, 6201 & 6301 Turbelle" Think it ONLY works on those models? Or will it work on some of the less expensive ones?
This thing is pretty damn cool. You can use it to connect it to any DC power source like solar panels. neato! I wonder how long I could get a 6055 to run on fully charged battery.
jefathome
New member
Ok... sorry if I'm way off here, but why would you want to run 4000gph on a 60g in "emergency" situations? Even if you had a full SPS tank?
All you are trying to do here is keep your stuff alive till the juice comes back on. You could do that with 1 Tunze 6045 and that would only draw about 8w of juice. You could run that on a UPS for at least a day I would think. Plus the cost is WAY less than what you list above.
Skeptic_07
New member
yeah you're right, i would only need to have one of the pumps running in an emergency. In that situation i only need to keep gas exchange going and keep the water from becoming septic from being stagnant.
Sorry I'm electrically stupid when it comes to watts and formulas and stuff. Macimage said he can run his ampmaster 3000 which is 170 watts for 6-7 hours off of a really expensive UPS. If i was running a 10w pump (just to make the math easier) on the same UPS, would it run for 17 times longer? that really doesn't seem right. Maybe a better question what specs should i look for when shopping for a UPS to run a ~10w pump for 24 hours?
Sorry I'm electrically stupid when it comes to watts and formulas and stuff. Macimage said he can run his ampmaster 3000 which is 170 watts for 6-7 hours off of a really expensive UPS. If i was running a 10w pump (just to make the math easier) on the same UPS, would it run for 17 times longer? that really doesn't seem right. Maybe a better question what specs should i look for when shopping for a UPS to run a ~10w pump for 24 hours?
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