what are u guys using for power outages?

[Abengochea]

Ive been cooking up a plan on what to do when theres a power outage. This is what Ive got so let me know what u think. I know a generator is the best thing but this would work well if its a short outage during the day while u are not home or to use at night after a hurricane when u turn off the generator. I found a 12 volt bilge pump that pump at 750 gph with 0 head. I am going to connect it to a trickle battery charger that will keep the battery charged at all times. Next Im going to hook up the battery and charger to relays so that when the power goes out, itll switch to battery power and power the bilge pump. As far a battery Im thinking of using 2 a 6volt golf cart batteries wired up in series. These batteries have an amp hour of 235 so it should last me almost 5 days of continous use. I could probably get a cheaper battery like a motorcycle battery but I kinda like having the extra juice on hand. Soooooo what do u guys think?

 

[Rogger Castells]

That is a good idea, a few people do similar things here in the club.
There is actually devices that do that, for example a computer ups connected to power heads or tunzes pumps, there is also a small air pumps that are battery operated and connect to an outlet and will get trigger with a power outage.
My only concern with using a bilge pump is that the components may not all be safe to use in a salt water tank.
I have a device that was designed by naturereef that is exactly what you are looking to do, I will take a picture if you like and post them tomorrow.

 

[Abengochea]

Yeah definitely post a pic. Ive thought about the ups but it wont work for very long when hooked up to a return pump, its better for a low consumption powerhead. I would prefer to have a pump circulating water in both my tank and my sump/refugium so the oxygen levels stay up. I have those battery operated air pumps but they dont do much for circulation. Im still drawing up the plans and hope to get as much input as I can. Thanks for yours Rogger

 

[Ryanqk]

I am a hurricane chaser and let me tell you be prepared for at least up to a week of no power, thats the worst case senario besides having a really bad storm and living in a section of town that just gets slammed (yes FPL is doing better after learning its lesson here last year) I have at least 4 2xD battery operated air pumps as well as a "sharper Image brand smart charger" which does 3 methods of charge for both 6 and 12 volt batts. I am getting a 12v Deep Cycle Marine Battery (designed to use up all power and then recieve a full charge and run a long time again) which will cost 90 bucks. This battery will keep my 12v dual live well airator i got from bass pro shop ($40) going for at least a week along with using a car or generator to help charge it. We have inverters in out chase vehicles and a couple small generators ($200 each) that i will be able to use from our NFP equipment stockpile. All in all ill be able to power the airator and a maxijet for weeks on end. In worst case i'd put everything in my display and keep the equip concentrated on the one tank. For a few hour outage i'd just use the little battery operated air pumps in short term.
Good Luck
Ryan

 

[jeffbrig]

I have a good sized UPS (APC brand, 1400VA, ~$125) providing backup power to my Tunze Streams 24/7. That's for any random daytime outages, and provides enough movement to oxygenate the water. For hurricanes and extended outages, I have a 7kW generator ready to go. That's plenty to power all of the tank's pumps, chiller, and whatever lighting I want to run. Then, if my 45g stockpile of gas runs out, I have battery powered airpumps to fall back on.

 

[ReefRatz]

Armando,
6V golf Cart or any Deep cycle batteries connected in series is the best way to go for inverters or 12V DC pumps. Last season I had a generator running 24/7 just for chiller, lights and the circulation and after the 3rd day and 30+ gallons of gas I was not able to keep the genny working cuz of the availability of gas and long lines. The back up was my Motorhome batteries. Its got 4- 6V battery bank and I used a Vector 2400VA power inverter for the pumps. That setup ran fine for 1 1/2 days. UPS are not designed for long durations. Inverters are.

 

[Abengochea]

thats what I was thinking, but I dont know how much power I would lose due to the inverter. Thats why I figure a 12 volt bilge pump would work as well.

 

[jeffbrig]

ReefRatz, I understand your point about gas for the generator being hard to come by (that's why we stockpile so much). You really need to have 4-5 days' worth on hand to get through the initial aftermath.

The problem with any battery system, be it a modest UPS or a deep cycle/inverter combo, is that is has a finite run time. Larger capacity batteries will help extend that run time, as will reducing the load you place on it. But when that battery runs down, you're dead in the water. A generator is the only true solution to long-term power outages. You can run the generator indefinitely, as long as you find a way to resupply your gas (and can burn $25-$30 a day).

IMO, a generator is pretty much mandatory in this hobby if you live in hurricane central. I had one on my equipment list before I even ordered the tank.

 

[Data]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8248963#post8248963 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jeffbrig
A generator is the only true solution to long-term power outages.

I have to strongly disagree with that statement.
I ran a small pump on a battery with inverter for a whole week.
I recharged the battery by running my truck for 1-2 hours a day.

my next backup solution is very simple.
solar tubes for lighting, solar panels and/or wind generator that charge a battery bank and an inverter that runs a pump.
that is the only true solution in my book.

 

[dpdash]

I bought a Honda 2000 genny primarily to run the fish tank and it ended up running, lights, all pumps for tank, complete 50g tank setup, TV, several lights, two freezers and a fridge. All on about 2 gallons of gas for 24hr period. It is quiet, not annoying at all, can have a conversation next to it and was about $850 delivered.

 

[ReefRatz]

Data, You have to realize that the sinewave produced by a inverter/ups VS. a generator is two different things. Might be close but not same. A pure sinewave and a modified sinewave the loads will act differently. I have to agree with Jeff cuz if you have to run chillers and ballasts for MH you need a genset.
If you have a small system you can get away with battery operated pumps and bubblers. Large systems thats got pumps that turn over 2000+ gallons of water needs some serious juice.
I have a 6.5KW genny that pushed my refrigirator, TV, 1100Watts of tank lighting, pumps and a chiller still had some power to spare for the house. (I did the suicide wiring, to the dryer plug shhhh....)

 

[45commando]

I,like Jeff,rely on a generator & having more than enough fuel to power for at least several days.I think for the cost of even a modest solar panel-that might get lost in a storm anyway-you can get a good quality generator/transfer switch & fuel to run it.

 

[Ryanqk]

I just plan on not having lights for a while in a long term outage cuase i cant afford anything powerful enough to run the lighting and ALL my pumps so i'd rather have my canister filter and airators running to provide flow and O2. I figure most stuff will survive for a bit without lighting in an emergency. To cool the tank i have tons of bottles with frozen drinking water in em, i can put one in the tank and once its melted i have a bottle of clean drinking water....