Tunze DC skimmers
- Thread starter mordibv
- Start date
We expect them in Nov/Dec. Eventually the pumps will be available to "upgrade" AC models. I say "upgrade" because I realize DC is trendy but I ask that people keep perspective on the pros and cons-
Pros-
1)More adjustable
2)Easy to pause the skimmer for cleaning the cup or feeding
3)Adapts to any voltage or frequency (this is the main reason we are making them, many countries have erratic power mains with frequent dips and spikes, and Japan has half 50Hz and half 60Hz)
4) Safety
Cons
1)DC pumps have shorter life spans, an AC pump is simple, mechanical, very little can fail. A DC pump has electronics with a finite life span. If you care for an AC pump, their is no reason it won't last 10+ years, DC pumps can expect roughly half that life span and that is for a well made one, just like you rarely see working 10+ year old computers if they were used that whole time, you are unlikely to see working old DC pumps, capacitors and other circuit elements fail due to use and age.
2) More expensive, the DC versions will be roughly $40 more than the AC versions.
3) External electronics susceptible to water damage
4) In this case, no real gains in performance or energy efficiency and it should be noted that when their are gains in energy efficiency they are almost never enough to offset the higher entry price over the life span. The 9001 uses 2.5W of power now, the DC version won't use any less, the AC pumps we make are so efficient that any gains are trivial.
We actually were the first to ever offer a DC skimmer, the 240 skimmer came out in 1994, we stopped making them in 2004 because skimmers are installed in an area where flooding is possible if not probable, water damaged drivers and power supplies were a common issue. My honest opinion on DC pumps is that unless they are needed for safety/liability reasons or serve a need for controlling flow and creating currents, they are trend, and not a necessity or benefit. We are really making these primarily for markets with inconsistent voltage or multiple frequencies/voltages in the same country.
Pros-
1)More adjustable
2)Easy to pause the skimmer for cleaning the cup or feeding
3)Adapts to any voltage or frequency (this is the main reason we are making them, many countries have erratic power mains with frequent dips and spikes, and Japan has half 50Hz and half 60Hz)
4) Safety
Cons
1)DC pumps have shorter life spans, an AC pump is simple, mechanical, very little can fail. A DC pump has electronics with a finite life span. If you care for an AC pump, their is no reason it won't last 10+ years, DC pumps can expect roughly half that life span and that is for a well made one, just like you rarely see working 10+ year old computers if they were used that whole time, you are unlikely to see working old DC pumps, capacitors and other circuit elements fail due to use and age.
2) More expensive, the DC versions will be roughly $40 more than the AC versions.
3) External electronics susceptible to water damage
4) In this case, no real gains in performance or energy efficiency and it should be noted that when their are gains in energy efficiency they are almost never enough to offset the higher entry price over the life span. The 9001 uses 2.5W of power now, the DC version won't use any less, the AC pumps we make are so efficient that any gains are trivial.
We actually were the first to ever offer a DC skimmer, the 240 skimmer came out in 1994, we stopped making them in 2004 because skimmers are installed in an area where flooding is possible if not probable, water damaged drivers and power supplies were a common issue. My honest opinion on DC pumps is that unless they are needed for safety/liability reasons or serve a need for controlling flow and creating currents, they are trend, and not a necessity or benefit. We are really making these primarily for markets with inconsistent voltage or multiple frequencies/voltages in the same country.
me too, but I bet many will be excited about the additional control. DC is the in thing these days.
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