Loss of Power reminder

worm5406 · 06/24/2013, 09:54 PM

OK well it is that time of year again.

Just today we had a LARGE storm cell run through our area.

As I was posting a message on here my son called me to say we did not have power for the last 45 or so minutes.

I left a work and drove in the rain at 25mph the whole way.

The good thing is he took the generator from the garage and moved it out back, where we run it.

Yes it is that time of year again here on the east coast. Not only for local storms but for hurricanes.

Here is a picture after I plugged everything back in, the light at the bottom is my flashlight, yes.

I was already prepared anyway, from the hurricane that blew up the coast as a large depression.

Three hours later the power came back on.

A few reminders for those in storm prone, frequent power outage, summer heat brown out areas:

Have a layout/directions set for those at home to plugin / turn on generator, when you are not right there.
CLEARLY label your cables so you know which ones to pull in the dark with a flash light.
Make sure you to put your plugs OFF the floor/ground to prevent any water spills/overflows causing any issues, tripping over, too.
Place your generator in a position AWAY from any air intakes or open windows.
Have ICE, in a bag, in case you need to put it in the sump to cool the tank down slowly, this will help keep it cold in the freezer too. Saltwater/RODI would be best in case you have a bag break.

MOST OF ALL, which I am doing tomorrow, order the UPS/Battery that you promised your self you would do 2 months ago.

Just a friendly reminder, reef safely and enjoy the rest of your day.

I think I will revisit and design a comprehensive/better checklist for power outages, for both hot and cold temperature. One that combines a few of the threads we already have here.

Storm - 0 generator - 2 (yeah last year same thing)

bnumair · 06/25/2013, 01:08 AM

i am glad u and ur son were able to power the tank and keep things going.
i had one of those portable generators 6000 watts which came in handy a few times in Oklahoma tornado valley and bad storms then i got a good deal on a natural gas 17k standby generator that holds a complete load for the entire house.
anyways a generator of any sort that can atleast work some of the basics is in my opinion a MUST for every reefer.

worm5406 · 06/25/2013, 07:33 AM

We do not have access to gas, otherwise I would already be on that..

It is up the street and slowly moving down.

I do not really want to get a XX,XXX gallon propane tank.

fda483 · 06/25/2013, 07:54 AM

Great advice. Over the past 2 1/2 years I have lost power 3 times for a week each time. Having a generator is mandatory these days but I am always amazed by stories from local reefers who suffer total losses during power outages. I have gone from one portable generator, to getting a second as a back up, then after "Sandy" and having to wait on 2 hour gas lines each day now have a 20kw unit piped into the gas line.

I am so crazy about this I even kept one of the portable units as a back up to the whole house unit - just in case. Spent too much time and effort on my tank to have it lost to a power outage.

Joe

cobraz · 06/25/2013, 08:13 AM

I wired the house with a panel - just because of the snow issues up north.
Could not live without a generator. The key is having enough gas.. when the powers out for a week ..

mpsullivan · 06/25/2013, 08:14 AM

What sort of UPS/APC units do you guys recommend? I see some that range from 50 dollars (15 minutes fo backup time) to 500+ with a few hours of backup time. I am guessing having a unit that allows you to best prepare for a possible long term power outtage is all you need as most power outages last for more than an hour and less than 1-2 days.

Also, do you plug in your controller into the unit? Or just a few pumps for air movement and continued filtration?

Fizz71 · 06/25/2013, 08:25 AM

I also have one of these now:
Duracell-DRPP600-Powerpack-Starter-Emergency
Where I live, short 30 minute power outages are more common than outages longer than a few hours. The battery doesn't last long, but I keep my generator in the shed and just don't feel like dragging the generator out every d*mn time the lights go out only to have the lights turn on 20 seconds after wasting the 20 minutes getting it up and running.

So I plug the main powerhead into the duracell just to keep the O2 up and only break the generator out if it goes more than a few hours. I actually bought the unit because I sleep on a bi-pap so I can't sleep without power which includes power outages and tent camping.

06/24/2013, 09:54 PM	#1
worm5406 Not afriad to admit wrong Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: South of WashDC in Maryland Posts: 7,774	Loss of Power reminder OK well it is that time of year again. Just today we had a LARGE storm cell run through our area. As I was posting a message on here my son called me to say we did not have power for the last 45 or so minutes. I left a work and drove in the rain at 25mph the whole way. The good thing is he took the generator from the garage and moved it out back, where we run it. Yes it is that time of year again here on the east coast. Not only for local storms but for hurricanes. Here is a picture after I plugged everything back in, the light at the bottom is my flashlight, yes. I was already prepared anyway, from the hurricane that blew up the coast as a large depression. Three hours later the power came back on. A few reminders for those in storm prone, frequent power outage, summer heat brown out areas: Have a layout/directions set for those at home to plugin / turn on generator, when you are not right there. CLEARLY label your cables so you know which ones to pull in the dark with a flash light. Make sure you to put your plugs OFF the floor/ground to prevent any water spills/overflows causing any issues, tripping over, too. Place your generator in a position AWAY from any air intakes or open windows. Have ICE, in a bag, in case you need to put it in the sump to cool the tank down slowly, this will help keep it cold in the freezer too. Saltwater/RODI would be best in case you have a bag break. MOST OF ALL, which I am doing tomorrow, order the UPS/Battery that you promised your self you would do 2 months ago. Just a friendly reminder, reef safely and enjoy the rest of your day. I think I will revisit and design a comprehensive/better checklist for power outages, for both hot and cold temperature. One that combines a few of the threads we already have here. Storm - 0 generator - 2 (yeah last year same thing) __________________ Stock:LPS/SPS\|1 hippo\|4 OC Clown\|4 Pepp shrimp\|2 Brittle Star\|3000+ Copepods\|10+ MiniBrittle\|8+ Bristle Worm\|2 Anemone\|100+ mini-feather\|4 boys 14,21,22,22 Current Tank Info: Tank:300g Mixed Reef 300+lb LR\|4" LS\|5x MP40W\|75g fuge\|5x RadionPRO\|RO DB250 skimmer\|Apex

06/25/2013, 01:08 AM	#2
bnumair Dr. Reef at ur service Join Date: May 2009 Location: Tulsa, Ok, USA Posts: 7,751 Blog Entries: 15	i am glad u and ur son were able to power the tank and keep things going. i had one of those portable generators 6000 watts which came in handy a few times in Oklahoma tornado valley and bad storms then i got a good deal on a natural gas 17k standby generator that holds a complete load for the entire house. anyways a generator of any sort that can atleast work some of the basics is in my opinion a MUST for every reefer. __________________ Water Quality: NO3 0,Phos 0,Cal 440,Alk 7.5,Mag 1300 "Reef Fast, You Crash, Reef Slow, You Pass" Mike's Reef 3:16 Current Tank Info: 350g DT,95g sump, 50g Frag tank, 4800gph return 4x Sea swirls. 6x AI Vega Color. 200# Pukani rock, dual recirculating skimmer, Biopellet, GFO Carbon rx's, Cal rx. Closed loop. 1.5hp chiller, genesis renew. Apex & RKE

06/25/2013, 07:33 AM	#3
worm5406 Not afriad to admit wrong Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: South of WashDC in Maryland Posts: 7,774	We do not have access to gas, otherwise I would already be on that.. It is up the street and slowly moving down. I do not really want to get a XX,XXX gallon propane tank. __________________ Stock:LPS/SPS\|1 hippo\|4 OC Clown\|4 Pepp shrimp\|2 Brittle Star\|3000+ Copepods\|10+ MiniBrittle\|8+ Bristle Worm\|2 Anemone\|100+ mini-feather\|4 boys 14,21,22,22 Current Tank Info: Tank:300g Mixed Reef 300+lb LR\|4" LS\|5x MP40W\|75g fuge\|5x RadionPRO\|RO DB250 skimmer\|Apex

06/25/2013, 07:54 AM	#4
fda483 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: River Vale, NJ Posts: 92	Great advice. Over the past 2 1/2 years I have lost power 3 times for a week each time. Having a generator is mandatory these days but I am always amazed by stories from local reefers who suffer total losses during power outages. I have gone from one portable generator, to getting a second as a back up, then after "Sandy" and having to wait on 2 hour gas lines each day now have a 20kw unit piped into the gas line. I am so crazy about this I even kept one of the portable units as a back up to the whole house unit - just in case. Spent too much time and effort on my tank to have it lost to a power outage. Joe __________________ Joe Current Tank Info: 200gal Reef (in wall/basement sump)

06/25/2013, 08:14 AM	#6
mpsullivan Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: South Orange, NJ Posts: 37	What sort of UPS/APC units do you guys recommend? I see some that range from 50 dollars (15 minutes fo backup time) to 500+ with a few hours of backup time. I am guessing having a unit that allows you to best prepare for a possible long term power outtage is all you need as most power outages last for more than an hour and less than 1-2 days. Also, do you plug in your controller into the unit? Or just a few pumps for air movement and continued filtration? __________________ Acroporaphobic -fear usually involving fear of aiptasia, mantis shrimp, or of having an acro colony melt with no one to turn to.

06/25/2013, 08:13 AM	#5
cobraz Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Lakeland, FL Posts: 151	I wired the house with a panel - just because of the snow issues up north. Could not live without a generator. The key is having enough gas.. when the powers out for a week ..

06/25/2013, 08:25 AM	#7
Fizz71 FragSwapper Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: West Lawn, PA Posts: 5,800	I also have one of these now: Duracell-DRPP600-Powerpack-Starter-Emergency Where I live, short 30 minute power outages are more common than outages longer than a few hours. The battery doesn't last long, but I keep my generator in the shed and just don't feel like dragging the generator out every d*mn time the lights go out only to have the lights turn on 20 seconds after wasting the 20 minutes getting it up and running. So I plug the main powerhead into the duracell just to keep the O2 up and only break the generator out if it goes more than a few hours. I actually bought the unit because I sleep on a bi-pap so I can't sleep without power which includes power outages and tent camping. __________________ --Fizz Current Tank Info: Current system is 8x2x2 240g peninsula setup with a single "chamber" 100g sump in the basement with an RDSB. All corals are 100% home grown from frags of fellow reefers (low natural reef impact).