Generators and reef keeping

[Divedog]

Just an observation....

One would think that all the money, time, and energy that we invest in this hobby that we would have the foresite and take the necessary precautions to prevent such disasters due to lack of electricty. We have no issues spending thousands of dollars to construct our tanks yet when it comes time to drop a few more dollars to insure that these catastrophic disasters do not occur we skimp out. We are doing the hobby and the creatures we choose to keep an injustice.

That being off my chest. Does anyone have a used generator for sale?

I wish everyone and their tanks the best to make it through yet one more extended power outage.

 

[Baron]

My thoughts exactly! I had to learn the hard way this summer did not get a generator in time from work and lost a lot.

Since then I have been a proud owner of a generator since I lost more than the generator cost me.

Can't help you on the used generator though.

Brad

 

[tetra9999]

pm sent

 

[Reggae Fish]

I agree.

I think Roy and Clark said it best though...the LAST time we went through this.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8723276#post8723276 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DrBDC


I guess everyone w/o a generator or inverter would rather come post about everything dying.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8723324#post8723324 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by stlouisguy
At this point, is there anyone without a backup plan?

 

[Im Lon 2]

I really need to do this!! I keep saying I'm going to, but have yet to do it. I made it 6 days during the summer and didn't loose a thing.. I did have a power inverter running a few power heads.. My problem now is the Heater that I thought I was getting was a 300 and it turns out to be an 800w which will not run on my invert anymore and with these temps, and with the sump in the basement now I need something better than a inverter.

 

[Reggae Fish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8992417#post8992417 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Im Lon 2
I really need to do this!! I keep saying I'm going to, but have yet to do it. I made it 6 days during the summer and didn't loose a thing.. I did have a power inverter running a few power heads.. My problem now is the Heater that I thought I was getting was a 300 and it turns out to be an 800w which will not run on my invert anymore and with these temps, and with the sump in the basement now I need something better than a inverter.

Well, certainly with your size tank, that would be a good idea. However with that large of a heater, do you have a controller? Would be more likely to have a problem and a controller would be cheaper.

 

[DrBDC]

My $500 generator saved me everything this weekend. It would be at least 10X that and probably closer to 20X. Plus the years of finding and swapping. Plus it allowed us to stay home with the furnace blower running, the fridge on, lights, and some television. Last summer when I borrowed Clarks for the last 6 hours and ran a window a/c was all it took after sitting for 2 days in the heat and juggling extension cords from the inverter to make me get a generator. Inverters are a MINIMUM but the generators are awesome!

 

[pewter_jean]

For me a generator is out of the question, and anvertor is not like possible either, Being up on the third floor I can't run extersion cord down to a generator, Same with an inverter. I don't have a balcony, and from what I am told they don't make any safe to run indoors. And if I did try to run one in the back of the building where I am. my cords would have to reach up to the third floor.Heck the people down stairs would cut me off and use my juice.

 

[DrBDC]

You probably need to use an inverter off of a marine battery then.

 

[pewter_jean]

At one time I thought I saw a DIY thread on something like that, Didn't a guy build them in his basement or something, Anyway I never could find it again, and many people told me that couldn't be done. Something about gasses from the batteries, So you couldn't put them in the apartment either. So I thought I missread something.

 

[MayoBoy]

http://mistressreef.homestead.com/files/diy/diy.html#UPS

 

[DrBDC]

That's a fancy setup! I guess it auto switches like a ups does on computers. Probably cost almost as much as generator!

 

[pewter_jean]

That is it, Thanks, I know what I am haveing my brother do now. I will have to check out the whole thing, But that is the same picture I saw before.

 

[tetra9999]

i dont know why you couldnt set a generator on a balcony? Can't be any worse than a BBQ pit or grill going could it? I have 2K watt generator small enough that I pick it up to put in my van, heck it doesnt even have wheels on it.

 

[Im Lon 2]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8994395#post8994395 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MayoBoy
http://mistressreef.homestead.com/files/diy/diy.html#UPS

Thanks Steve..

Question on this? My uncle just bought a new boat that has two Marine batteries link together.. Some how I believe they are suppose to be setup where one charges the other so the batteries never go dead... I know with the draw we use 2 batteries would not be enough but what about 3 or 4? And only having them run a few thing needed durning a power out.

 

[stlouisguy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8994762#post8994762 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Im Lon 2
Thanks Steve..

Question on this? My uncle just bought a new boat that has two Marine batteries link together.. Some how I believe they are suppose to be setup where one charges the other so the batteries never go dead... I know with the draw we use 2 batteries would not be enough but what about 3 or 4? And only having them run a few thing needed durning a power out.

My boat has the two battery thing. There is a switch under one of the boat seats so you can set to draw from either/or or both if your charge is down in both.

The idea is you can sit in a cove and drain your battery all day with the radio/blender/air pump etc and switch to the fresh battery to start the motor, at which time both will be recharged so it wouldnt be an unlimited draw

 

[Hobbes8017]

I got my generator during the summer power outage. I have been without power during all three storms and certainly would have lost many or most of my living creatures in my tanks.

When power was restored yesterday, my generator is showing 110 hrs of use on the meter. No way I could have kept things alive that many hours without a generator.

The Marine Battery with inverters is a great solution for anyone in apartments that cant run cords down to a generator.

 

[oldsaltman]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8994407#post8994407 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DrBDC
That's a fancy setup! I guess it auto switches like a ups does on computers. Probably cost almost as much as generator!

Here is a simple auto inverter transfer switch I built this weekend.

It has one $8 relay and two lights.

 

[Im Lon 2]

Does anyone know of a good generator out there for say 3000-5000 watts. I'm just looking for something to run the tank, for now. Not to worried about my lights, Main thing is Heater (800 W) / fan (for summer ? W) and my Hammerhead (350W). Lights would add another 440w (VHO's) or 1050w (MH's) if power outage was longer than a couple days. I would also Like to run the Fridge on this too, so all food is not wasted again. PC and TV would be nice but not necessary.

 

[DrBDC]

I have a Troy-built 3550 with 5250 max(for the extra surge during startup of certain electrical devices like pumps, refridgerator compressors, etc.). They run 499 at Lowe's. 599 get the 5500 with about 7000 max. I had thought about getting the larger but didn't and this has worked just fine. I would love to get one of those 7-15K watt ones that run on LP and auto switch on/off.