Anybody ever thought of running there entire system on a marine battery?

DGlove904 · 08/16/2009, 10:16 AM

I'm not a very good diy person or very smart, it's just a thought.

Mouse · 08/16/2009, 10:26 AM

For what reason? As a backup power supply? or all the time? There are a few threads on battery backups, as for all the time it would be more of a hassle than any savings you could see.

DGlove904 · 08/16/2009, 10:39 AM

I was thinking more as all the time, but if it is more of a hassle then nevermind. Just a thought I had.

Sisterlimonpot · 08/16/2009, 11:09 AM

What would be the power source to keep the battery charged? I would suggest using it as a back-up but can't seem to understand the reason to use it all the time.

Mike31154 · 08/16/2009, 04:06 PM

I think it could be feasible for a nano set up, but anything larger than 20 gallons would require a sizeable bank of batteries with a well designed charging system. You could even go the solar panel/wind generator route to charge the batteries and essentially run the system virtually for free as far as electrical costs go. Keeping the batteries charged and running the equipment at the same time would be the crux of the biscuit. Even a good deep cycle marine battery only has so many 'cycles' in it. Something with a sump, large return pump, MH lighting would require a high powered charging system, so no real advantage over simply using your household power. Not sure what the threshold would be, but I'd hazard to guess if you can keep the total system wattage to under 1000 watts, it's worth looking into.

A sumpless nano with LED lighting, a DC powerhead such as a VorTech MP10 and a small heater could well be worth it. What you want to do is try to keep all the equipment DC (direct current) powered instead of AC or alternating current. That way you wouldn't need an inverter to convert the battery DC voltage to AC. So far the only thing I see on my list of gear that might be tricky to find as DC is the heater. The VorTech runs on DC power and LEDs are also DC devices. You might even be able to diy a small counter current, air stone skimmer to run on a small system. Battery powered air pump and a very small pump to move the water. Living in Florida, you may be able to take further advantage of the sun in actually lighting the tank, solatubes come to mind. With a large enough bank of photoelectric panels and a wind generator, the batteries would simply be a 'buffer' to pick up the slack when there's insufficient wind and overnight when the sun goes down. The biggest power draw will likely be the lighting, so that works well with the lack of sun at night.

I don't have a nano, but all this thinking in an attempt to answer your question makes me want to give this a try!!

08/16/2009, 10:16 AM	#1
DGlove904 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Jacksonville,Florida Posts: 733	Anybody ever thought of running there entire system on a marine battery? I'm not a very good diy person or very smart, it's just a thought.

08/16/2009, 10:26 AM	#2
Mouse UnRegistered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Rio Linda CA Posts: 739	For what reason? As a backup power supply? or all the time? There are a few threads on battery backups, as for all the time it would be more of a hassle than any savings you could see. __________________ Somedays it just isnt worth gnawing through the straps...... Current Tank Info: 125g > < this close to being set up

08/16/2009, 11:09 AM	#4
Sisterlimonpot R.C. Fraternity President Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Litchfeild Park AZ Posts: 11,490 Blog Entries: 2	What would be the power source to keep the battery charged? I would suggest using it as a back-up but can't seem to understand the reason to use it all the time. __________________ Jimmy MASVC President Dishes are done man! Current Tank Info: 300 in progress

08/16/2009, 04:06 PM	#5
Mike31154 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: B.C. Canada Posts: 1,555	I think it could be feasible for a nano set up, but anything larger than 20 gallons would require a sizeable bank of batteries with a well designed charging system. You could even go the solar panel/wind generator route to charge the batteries and essentially run the system virtually for free as far as electrical costs go. Keeping the batteries charged and running the equipment at the same time would be the crux of the biscuit. Even a good deep cycle marine battery only has so many 'cycles' in it. Something with a sump, large return pump, MH lighting would require a high powered charging system, so no real advantage over simply using your household power. Not sure what the threshold would be, but I'd hazard to guess if you can keep the total system wattage to under 1000 watts, it's worth looking into. A sumpless nano with LED lighting, a DC powerhead such as a VorTech MP10 and a small heater could well be worth it. What you want to do is try to keep all the equipment DC (direct current) powered instead of AC or alternating current. That way you wouldn't need an inverter to convert the battery DC voltage to AC. So far the only thing I see on my list of gear that might be tricky to find as DC is the heater. The VorTech runs on DC power and LEDs are also DC devices. You might even be able to diy a small counter current, air stone skimmer to run on a small system. Battery powered air pump and a very small pump to move the water. Living in Florida, you may be able to take further advantage of the sun in actually lighting the tank, solatubes come to mind. With a large enough bank of photoelectric panels and a wind generator, the batteries would simply be a 'buffer' to pick up the slack when there's insufficient wind and overnight when the sun goes down. The biggest power draw will likely be the lighting, so that works well with the lack of sun at night. I don't have a nano, but all this thinking in an attempt to answer your question makes me want to give this a try!! __________________ Mike Current Tank Info: 77g sumpless sw with rock, sand, a few critters, fishes & polyps. Lights, pumps..... Last edited by Mike31154; 08/16/2009 at 04:13 PM.

08/16/2009, 10:39 AM	#3
DGlove904 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Jacksonville,Florida Posts: 733	I was thinking more as all the time, but if it is more of a hassle then nevermind. Just a thought I had.