Powerhead that takes batteries for power outages?

[agoutihead]

I'd like to get a backup for my reef tank when the power goes out.

I'm already looking into battery packs but I'd also like to get a battery powered power head to keep the waterflow/air exchange going.

I could swear I've read about these before, does anyone know who sells them & if they're worth it/quality enough to buy?

[mcgyvr]

ecotech vortech have a battery backup.. They aren't cheap though..
A nice computer UPS can be used though too

[origreefer]

Get yourself an AGM deep cycle battery. They come in many sizes. Get one with an AMP hour capacity that will cover your typical outage timeframe (mine can be 7 days). Then get a 300 watt inverter. This will have enough capacity to power your existing powerhead or return pump during emergencies. A small motorcycle size will run $90, and a inverter for less than $100 as well.

AGMs are great, safe, no maint and they hold their charge sitting idle. After many outages and disasters using generators (they fail) I went solar powered with a large battery backup. I can run my whole tank for a week, heater, skimmer, everything. Plus have lights, make coffee and watch TV. No generators for me.

[Robb in Austin]

@origreefer; any pics of your setup? More details!

[origreefer]

Originally Posted by Robb in Austin

@origreefer; any pics of your setup? More details!

My set up is pretty big, will run my whole house. I have 1700w of panels on the roof, charging 8 huge golf cart size batteries. My inverter is 4000w. Obviously to run my whole house during outages. I lose power about 4 times a year, mostly in winter but the occasional teenager or drunk runs into a telephone pole as well. Before this set up, I lost $2000 in animals and fish due to a 7 day ice storm. Couldn't get gas at first, streets were impassable. Then that generator froze. Got a better generator, first time I had to use that, carb started leaking gas big time. They said, 2 weeks to fix it. At that point I researched batteries and solar and designed my system. What one would need depends on climate, and length of outages and power load. The simple one I described above to run just a pump, an AGM battery and a 300w inverter, both available at your local auto parts store would suffice. Then just use your regular battery charger to keep recharge it when needed. My whole system pull 2.5 amps when everything is on. For calculation illustration, for example a 20AH rated battery would run my entire tank for about 8 hrs. If I just ran the circulation pump, likely could go 7 days.

[Donkeykong]

Simplest way is to setup a UPS designed for a computer and have the one pump on it, with that little of a draw a decent sized UPS can last for a while.

[origreefer]

Originally Posted by Donkeykong

Simplest way is to setup a UPS designed for a computer and have the one pump on it, with that little of a draw a decent sized UPS can last for a while.

My only problem with UPSs is they have 90min-2hr capacities only. For less than the price of a UPS one can get a long capacity AGM battery and an inverter.

[agoutihead]

I found this Duracell Powerpack 600 for $162 shipped:

http://www.amazon.com/Duracell-DRPP6...glink123471-20

What do you guys think? It is that AGM battery & 600w of output. Not sure how long it would last on my tank, but at the very least I could run the power heads & then the lights for a little bit if I needed I think.

I agree solar is the way to go, but I live in an apartment & only have a 24x24x20 tank with 2 Cobalt MJ900 pumps & 3rd main pump that I can't remember how big it is, but its about the size of a brick so I'm sure that powerpack will handle it fine.

My light is a 150w MH & 100w T5 unit that I can turn all on at once or separate. So worse case scenario I could run the T5's for a bit just so the coral can get some light.

My main concern is keeping the pumps running. We don't usually have long power outages where I live, usually back within a few hours. I don't think it's ever been longer than 8-12 hours. Never a day or two and even if it was I still think this Duracell Powerpack 600 would be able to run the pumps at least for a couple of days, don't you?

[origreefer]

Originally Posted by agoutihead

I found this Duracell Powerpack 600 for $162 shipped:

http://www.amazon.com/Duracell-DRPP6...glink123471-20

What do you guys think? It is that AGM battery & 600w of output. Not sure how long it would last on my tank, but at the very least I could run the power heads & then the lights for a little bit if I needed I think.

I agree solar is the way to go, but I live in an apartment & only have a 24x24x20 tank with 2 Cobalt MJ900 pumps & 3rd main pump that I can't remember how big it is, but its about the size of a brick so I'm sure that powerpack will handle it fine.

My light is a 150w MH & 100w T5 unit that I can turn all on at once or separate. So worse case scenario I could run the T5's for a bit just so the coral can get some light.

My main concern is keeping the pumps running. We don't usually have long power outages where I live, usually back within a few hours. I don't think it's ever been longer than 8-12 hours. Never a day or two and even if it was I still think this Duracell Powerpack 600 would be able to run the pumps at least for a couple of days, don't you?

The specs on that unit say it will run a 60w device for 3.5 hrs. Find out how many watts your pump and other devices use and then do the math. For example, if you pump is 30w, that unit will run it for 7 hrs. It sounds like it will work for your situation since you have short outages.

[lhscouchmonster]

I bought an inverter for 40 bucks online. Think it's 700 watts. I have an extra car battery and will hook it up to my car to charge it if I need lights or pumps. Was 100 total but I got the battery with some coupons. Inverter is good for tailgating too.

[Rybren]

If you want a cheap, yet effective solution to water movement during power failure, grap a couple of these: http://www.petmountain.com/product/a...-air-pump.html

They automatically turn on during a power failure and run for a very long time on a pair of D cells.

[flixxx]

Originally Posted by origreefer

My set up is pretty big, will run my whole house. I have 1700w of panels on the roof, charging 8 huge golf cart size batteries. My inverter is 4000w. Obviously to run my whole house during outages. I lose power about 4 times a year, mostly in winter but the occasional teenager or drunk runs into a telephone pole as well. Before this set up, I lost $2000 in animals and fish due to a 7 day ice storm. Couldn't get gas at first, streets were impassable. Then that generator froze. Got a better generator, first time I had to use that, carb started leaking gas big time. They said, 2 weeks to fix it. At that point I researched batteries and solar and designed my system. What one would need depends on climate, and length of outages and power load. The simple one I described above to run just a pump, an AGM battery and a 300w inverter, both available at your local auto parts store would suffice. Then just use your regular battery charger to keep recharge it when needed. My whole system pull 2.5 amps when everything is on. For calculation illustration, for example a 20AH rated battery would run my entire tank for about 8 hrs. If I just ran the circulation pump, likely could go 7 days.

7 day ice storm? are you located in Montreal?

your setup sounds very much like something I've been researching, it's still pretty expensive to get solar panels. how do your fair in the winter? do you need to clean the snow off the panels?

[zachts]

For short outages like you have the simplest and safest solution is to use a computer UPS, get a fairly large one capable of running a computer for several hours. Then only plug in one of your powerheads to it. DC power heads like the Tunze and the Jeboa work best on the UPS backups as AC pumps run really noisy off of most of them when on battery power. You don't need a very large pump to keep your system alive for a day or two. Light and heat are only a concern if power is out for a long time, but circulation is a must.

A small Jeboa WP-10 would work well, I've used koralia nano's but they are AC pumps like your MJ900 and run noisy on the UPS, which is bad for the pump but they are cheap insurance.

UPS is good since it is automatic and if power is out for a long time you can swap out the battery.

[Robb in Austin]

Can anyone recommend a good UPS?

[zachts]

Just about anything made by APC. I've had mine for more than 10 years now on the original battery. Runs my computer most of the time and I put it on my Reef tank power head (now a Jeboa wp-10) whenever I'm out of town. I only get about 15 min. on the PC now down from the original hour, but still a day worth on the tank. Power outs here are only a few hours normally. and my neighbors know to call in case of long outages. (I keep a small $100 harbor freight generator and gas on hand just in case but have never needed it)

I think I only paid $80 for the UPS but that was quite a while ago - APC Back-UPS-ES-750

[agoutihead]

Ok so if I put the Duracell Powerpack 600 & looked at a DIY option, let me ask these details

If I was going to DIY something, can it be done with lithium batteries & an electronic transfer switch that will automatically use the battery backups upon power failure? In the event that I am not home to manually connect/turn on the battery backup, this automatic transfer switch will take all of the worries away.

I know they have them for the home, but those are usually attached to generators. Surely something like that should be available for a reasonable price for a battery bank setup?

I don't need much, but the more battery storage the better. Only a 150w Metal Halide light & a few small pumps. Probably less than 10amps total - but I would like to be able to run these things for a couple of days, including the lights if I had to so building a beefed up DIY lithium setup would be ideal.

Is this at all possible?

[zachts]

Doing a large lithium pack like you suggest will be very expensive to do it safely. I would not even consider it. Stick with systems designed for providing backup power. If you need to run everything for a day or two then start looking iinto home backup systems, or something like the triplite and a bank of batteries and enclosures.

along these lines http://www.tripplite.com/inverter-ch...tlets~APS1250/

but now your talking some serious $

[malady]

you can build an exact copy of ecotechs battery backup for around $50

been using mine for about a year now with no issue

[scottwhitson]

You do not need to worry about running the light. Your corals will not suffer at all for periods up to a week. I often do 5 day lights out periods to kill off algae.

[kenman345]

Originally Posted by zachts

Doing a large lithium pack like you suggest will be very expensive to do it safely. I would not even consider it. Stick with systems designed for providing backup power. If you need to run everything for a day or two then start looking iinto home backup systems, or something like the triplite and a bank of batteries and enclosures.

along these lines http://www.tripplite.com/inverter-ch...tlets~APS1250/

but now your talking some serious $

With just the item you linked to, how long do you think that would last running a Jebao WP10, and a Hydor 425 GPH, and a 200W heater. maybe a small air pump as well.

[zachts]

Originally Posted by kenman345

With just the item you linked to, how long do you think that would last running a Jebao WP10, and a Hydor 425 GPH, and a 200W heater. maybe a small air pump as well.

Pick some batteries and do the math, run time will depend on the battery capacity and efficiency of the inverter.

[FlyPenFly]

DC powered pumps. Tunze has a safety connector that works on the Jebao WP series.

Should last 2-3 days with a $50 car battery.