What to do when powerless

Drix · 11/02/2011, 06:29 PM

Saturday night the lights blinked out during a freak snowstorm, and they diddn't return for 96 hours. I am pleased to report I did not lose a single thing

but was wondering about suitable long term power management plans for reefers.

Delemmas faced:
1. No power for 96 hours
2. No heat for 96 hours
3. Outdoor tempreture: 54* day, 20* night; indoor 55 day, 38-40 night.

My solution:
I got my hands on a power inverter, 4 Batteries and a pair of chargers. By the time this was all rounded up and things were charged my tank had dropped into the mid 50's- it was so cold my clown fish were cuddling eachother for warmth.

Anyway (when charged) each battery powered my 250w Jager for 7 hours, I also managed to foot 1 of my 120w LCD lamps at the same time for 45 minutes at a time to feed my fish, but the cost was insane. How do other people cut down on costs? I would assume theres a lot of generator users out there, hows the feedback for tank upkeep?

Dustin1300 · 11/02/2011, 06:53 PM

I'd say a standby house generator running on natural gas is the best option but not cheap. Google Generac generators and you'll find some good options.

Southreef · 11/02/2011, 06:57 PM

The natural gas house generators are awesome if you can swing the bill. A much less expensive option is a coleman or some sort of portable generator for about $500.

00Warpig00 · 11/02/2011, 09:42 PM

How much would a generator need to put out to run a 300W heater and a 1/2 HP reeflow dart pump and a dimmable LED driver with 20 or so 3 watt LED's dimmed so they are just putting out enough light to make the fish come out to eat. The refrigerator would be a nice thing to have running too. I live in a condo and would need something small I could fire up on my balcony even if for only a few hours at a time.

Nick

tkeracer619 · 11/02/2011, 09:51 PM

If you have the cash this one can run without waking up the neighbors. The 2000w version could run pretty much anything you need or want.

http://www.hondapowerequipment.com/p...elid=EU1000IKN

mtlreeffreak · 11/02/2011, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tkeracer619

If you have the cash this one can run without waking up the neighbors. The 2000w version could run pretty much anything you need or want.

http://www.hondapowerequipment.com/p...elid=EU1000IKN

thats sick!

dzfish17 · 11/02/2011, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tkeracer619

If you have the cash this one can run without waking up the neighbors. The 2000w version could run pretty much anything you need or want.

http://www.hondapowerequipment.com/p...elid=EU1000IKN

+1 I use the 2000w... starts on the first pull and is very quiet.

tkeracer619 · 11/02/2011, 10:18 PM

Yeah. They are pretty amazing little generators. It uses about 2 gallons of fuel per 24 hours and will be no louder then a normal conversation...

sqwat · 11/03/2011, 07:51 AM

i tried to start apost they could sticky with different ideas for power outages.you can get a converter for you cig lighter in youre car to take plugs and you get a extension cord and run it threw a wnidow and a full tank of gas.

11/02/2011, 06:29 PM	#1
Drix Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 590	What to do when powerless Saturday night the lights blinked out during a freak snowstorm, and they diddn't return for 96 hours. I am pleased to report I did not lose a single thing but was wondering about suitable long term power management plans for reefers. Delemmas faced: 1. No power for 96 hours 2. No heat for 96 hours 3. Outdoor tempreture: 54* day, 20* night; indoor 55 day, 38-40 night. My solution: I got my hands on a power inverter, 4 Batteries and a pair of chargers. By the time this was all rounded up and things were charged my tank had dropped into the mid 50's- it was so cold my clown fish were cuddling eachother for warmth. Anyway (when charged) each battery powered my 250w Jager for 7 hours, I also managed to foot 1 of my 120w LCD lamps at the same time for 45 minutes at a time to feed my fish, but the cost was insane. How do other people cut down on costs? I would assume theres a lot of generator users out there, hows the feedback for tank upkeep?

11/02/2011, 06:53 PM	#2
Dustin1300 Reefaholic Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Carmel, IN Posts: 5,135	I'd say a standby house generator running on natural gas is the best option but not cheap. Google Generac generators and you'll find some good options. __________________ INDMAS President Check out my tank in the Large Tank Forums, "A Reefaholic's 1000+ Gallon Mixed Reef System Build"! Current Tank Info: 600 Gallon DT, 140 Gallon Grow Out Tank, 125 Gallon Sump, 90 Gallon Fuge, 200 Gallon Fish QT, 15 Gallon Frag QT

11/02/2011, 09:42 PM	#4
00Warpig00 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Schaumburg, IL. Posts: 621	How much would a generator need to put out to run a 300W heater and a 1/2 HP reeflow dart pump and a dimmable LED driver with 20 or so 3 watt LED's dimmed so they are just putting out enough light to make the fish come out to eat. The refrigerator would be a nice thing to have running too. I live in a condo and would need something small I could fire up on my balcony even if for only a few hours at a time. Nick __________________ 180G - 5 Yellow Tail Blue Damsels, Two Lined Sleeper Goby, Royal Gramma, Flame Angel pair, Yellow Stripe Maroon Clown, Pearlscale Butterfly, Australian Harlequin Tuskfish, Magnificent Foxface, Yellow Current Tank Info: 180G FOWLR Established 10/2010

11/02/2011, 09:51 PM	#5
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	If you have the cash this one can run without waking up the neighbors. The 2000w version could run pretty much anything you need or want. http://www.hondapowerequipment.com/p...elid=EU1000IKN __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

11/02/2011, 10:18 PM	#8
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	Yeah. They are pretty amazing little generators. It uses about 2 gallons of fuel per 24 hours and will be no louder then a normal conversation... __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

11/02/2011, 06:57 PM	#3
Southreef Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Lake Worth, FL Posts: 188	The natural gas house generators are awesome if you can swing the bill. A much less expensive option is a coleman or some sort of portable generator for about $500.

11/03/2011, 07:51 AM	#9
sqwat Registered Member. Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 653	i tried to start apost they could sticky with different ideas for power outages.you can get a converter for you cig lighter in youre car to take plugs and you get a extension cord and run it threw a wnidow and a full tank of gas.