Battery Backup

DRThompson · 05/17/2016, 08:04 AM

Battery Backup: Are your battery backups working?

Last night there was a FPL power failure in my neighborhood for about 4 hours starting at 10pm-ish. I have several battery backups for my fish tank.....they all failed

Fortunately I was home and was able to power my MP40s using my computer UPS.

We are in Hurricane season: make sure you check your battery backup products! Mine are about 4 years old so I cant blame anyone but myself for the failure.

Uncle Luke · 05/17/2016, 11:33 AM

Great advice! I think I'm gonna get an Ecotech battery backup. I'm always afraid of the power going off when I'm not home doing some real damage to my tank.

jonnyu · 05/17/2016, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncle Luke

Great advice! I think I'm gonna get an Ecotech battery backup. I'm always afraid of the power going off when I'm not home doing some real damage to my tank.

It's a good idea but they all suffer from same problem batteries go bad. A ups has fairly cheap battery replacement. I would recommend a capacity check of Battery's once a year.

DRThompson · 05/17/2016, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonnyu

It's a good idea but they all suffer from same problem batteries go bad. A ups has fairly cheap battery replacement. I would recommend a capacity check of Battery's once a year.

I agree with Jonny, they use the same batteries as the regular computer UPS produtcs.

Last night I used a small UPS 550 to run one MP40 and it lasted about 5 hours. Had to plug MP40 into AC outlet though vs Ecotech battery back up being automatic and runs them on 12v.

danny1496 · 05/17/2016, 03:49 PM

problem is the ecotech always stay at full charge best thing is to 1or 2 times a moth use them .

McGee10 · 05/17/2016, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by danny1496

problem is the ecotech always stay at full charge best thing is to 1or 2 times a moth use them .

Why it is a lead acid battery!

DRThompson · 06/24/2016, 11:20 AM

Just a quick update; ordered a new battery from Amazon

Installation was easy; drill out rivets, remove old battery, replace and rivet

Alternately, you could use nuts/bolts instead of rivets.
Here are some pics

photo 2016-05-18 07.30.16_zpscuw5xmlb.jpg

photo 2016-05-18 07.32.41_zps0ynhkmbe.jpg

photo 2016-05-18 07.33.04_zpsl5pqqtwl.jpg

nivram · 06/24/2016, 11:23 AM

Great info. I'm sure I need to replace my vortech battery too.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

DRThompson · 06/24/2016, 11:29 AM

Bought the replacement battery on Amazon for $40 with free shipping!!!

Came in the mail inside one of those USPS no weight limit boxes. It's labelled "ExpertPower" and is a 20AH which is slightly better than the stock battery from echotech (18AH).

doggydoc · 06/24/2016, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DRThompson

Bought the replacement battery on Amazon for $40 with free shipping!!!

Came in the mail inside one of those USPS no weight limit boxes. It's labelled "ExpertPower" and is a 20AH which is slightly better than the stock battery from echotech (18AH).

Hey Doc. Can you point me in the direction to get that Amazon deal?
Thank you

Always at sea;

Dr. Antonio Longo

DRThompson · 06/24/2016, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doggydoc

Hey Doc. Can you point me in the direction to get that Amazon deal?
Thank you

Always at sea;

Dr. Antonio Longo

Will text it to you. Be careful not to drill into the battery when drilling out the rivets

AquamanE · 06/24/2016, 03:53 PM

Dr- how do you rerivit? Or even use nuts and bolts when nut is inside and you can't hold?

mlivvy · 06/24/2016, 04:42 PM

The ecotech battery backup is just a regular battery with a fancy metal case.

You can get a used $10-20 (less than $40 new on ebay) belkin model-BU3DC001-12V, splice the cable with a 1.35mm power connector or get a 3.5mm to 1.35mm adapter and you're done. Not only are you spending a fraction of the cost... The Belkin warns you of a low battery.

AquamanE · 06/25/2016, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doggydoc

hey doc. Can you point me in the direction to get that amazon deal?
Thank you

always at sea;

dr. Antonio longo

1+

DRThompson · 06/25/2016, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AquamanE

Dr- how do you rerivit? Or even use nuts and bolts when nut is inside and you can't hold?

Harbor Freight sells a hand rivet gun for $5.

They are easy to use.

ANFPO · 06/25/2016, 11:51 AM

Tunze battery back up gadget and a trickle charger does the same thing with ANY DC powerhead and ANY 12V plus battery. Using a Tojan, Marine, or any other deep cycle battry you can run a 6055 for DAYS. ANd it will do the automatic switching and charging.

jduck · 06/25/2016, 03:00 PM

Cheaper you can just buy a bigger battery and a battery tender. Make your own cables. Will run them for days

05/17/2016, 08:04 AM	#1
DRThompson 2018 FMAS President Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Coral Springs, Florida Posts: 2,082	Battery Backup Battery Backup: Are your battery backups working? Last night there was a FPL power failure in my neighborhood for about 4 hours starting at 10pm-ish. I have several battery backups for my fish tank.....they all failed Fortunately I was home and was able to power my MP40s using my computer UPS. We are in Hurricane season: make sure you check your battery backup products! Mine are about 4 years old so I cant blame anyone but myself for the failure. __________________ dave Current Tank Info: 180gal mixed reef, asm g4xx, LED lights, apex, 65gal sump, 2x mp40's, methanol denitrator

06/24/2016, 11:20 AM	#7
DRThompson 2018 FMAS President Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Coral Springs, Florida Posts: 2,082	Just a quick update; ordered a new battery from Amazon Installation was easy; drill out rivets, remove old battery, replace and rivet Alternately, you could use nuts/bolts instead of rivets. Here are some pics __________________ dave Current Tank Info: 180gal mixed reef, asm g4xx, LED lights, apex, 65gal sump, 2x mp40's, methanol denitrator

06/24/2016, 11:29 AM	#9
DRThompson 2018 FMAS President Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Coral Springs, Florida Posts: 2,082	Bought the replacement battery on Amazon for $40 with free shipping!!! Came in the mail inside one of those USPS no weight limit boxes. It's labelled "ExpertPower" and is a 20AH which is slightly better than the stock battery from echotech (18AH). __________________ dave Current Tank Info: 180gal mixed reef, asm g4xx, LED lights, apex, 65gal sump, 2x mp40's, methanol denitrator

06/24/2016, 03:53 PM	#12
AquamanE Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 6,544	Dr- how do you rerivit? Or even use nuts and bolts when nut is inside and you can't hold? __________________ Eddie Soler FMAS BOD Member MACNA 2013 Chairman "I'd rather die living than live to die" Current Tank Info: 200G mixed reef with 60G sump, Radion LED’s , Bubble King skimmer, blah blah blah.

06/25/2016, 03:00 PM	#17
jduck Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Michigan Posts: 389	Cheaper you can just buy a bigger battery and a battery tender. Make your own cables. Will run them for days __________________ 240 gal. Miracles, 2x150g Frag tanks, 120 gal sump, SRO XT5000 EXT, Abyzz a200, , SRO CR5000D Ca reactor. 4x Ati 8x54w, 4x250w Radiums, Apex. 45g QT

05/17/2016, 11:33 AM	#2
Uncle Luke Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: South Florida Posts: 1,011	Great advice! I think I'm gonna get an Ecotech battery backup. I'm always afraid of the power going off when I'm not home doing some real damage to my tank.

05/17/2016, 03:49 PM	#5
danny1496 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Plantation FL Posts: 322	problem is the ecotech always stay at full charge best thing is to 1or 2 times a moth use them .

06/24/2016, 11:23 AM	#8
nivram Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: S. FL Posts: 6,194	Great info. I'm sure I need to replace my vortech battery too. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

06/24/2016, 04:42 PM	#13
mlivvy em-lee-vee Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: central florida Posts: 2,910	The ecotech battery backup is just a regular battery with a fancy metal case. You can get a used $10-20 (less than $40 new on ebay) belkin model-BU3DC001-12V, splice the cable with a 1.35mm power connector or get a 3.5mm to 1.35mm adapter and you're done. Not only are you spending a fraction of the cost... The Belkin warns you of a low battery.

06/25/2016, 11:51 AM	#16
ANFPO Registered Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: Doral, FL Posts: 188	Tunze battery back up gadget and a trickle charger does the same thing with ANY DC powerhead and ANY 12V plus battery. Using a Tojan, Marine, or any other deep cycle battry you can run a 6055 for DAYS. ANd it will do the automatic switching and charging.