Anyone using Battery Backup ?

[IMAGINEER]

I am thinking of running a Geek squad 900watt 100minute backup for those power glitches and short outages. Anyone do the same or know of a better source for backup supply.

Its gotta be a good safety feature to invest into this for 1-200.

John

[FunkieReefJunkie]

Many people do what you are speaking of. I own Tripp Lite's. Are you able to change out the batteries on the Geek Squad? My experience is they need to be replaced often with regular outtages. And they are not all equal. Some may underpower the pump you plan to hook it up to. Do a search for "battery back-up."

For longer outtages think of a coverter and maybe a generator.















Dont click on my little red house. You may find pretty pictures and video of my 600 gallon reef system.

[IMAGINEER]

FRJ , Yea

I got a generator , but this would just fix those little storm outages etc especially when im not home
Thanks for the input

[IslandCrow]

There are many people who use deep cell batteries (like for boats). I use one of those standard computer UPS, but I've found they really won't power something like a powerhead for very long. I was only getting a bit over 2 hours out of a maxijet 2000. . .so, not much longer than it's supposed to power my entire computer. Someone explained to me once why this was, but I can't remember. Most of the power outages where I live are short lived, so I consider this acceptable, but there are other options out there. Hopefully someone smarter than me will chime in.

[sjm817]

I have an APC 750W UPS. The only thing connected to is is one of the 6100 Tunze Streams. Power outages here are extremely rare, so just a little extra insurance.

[Jace18]

I have a rack mountable Compaq server backup unit now and natural gas backup generator in the works. I have had to many outages here.

[PhilOlsen]

I also run a back up generator, priceless for me. it runs all 12 of my tanks, furnace, about 40% of my lights and the fridge.

[Tarkus70]

Best thing I ever did was get a generator. when I lived in a condo I used a ups to keep critters warm.

[Zestay]

if you know what your doing, a simple UPS from best buy combined with a few deep cycle marine batteries = days of power

[reeftanker04]

Originally posted by IslandCrow
There are many people who use deep cell batteries (like for boats). I use one of those standard computer UPS, but I've found they really won't power something like a powerhead for very long. I was only getting a bit over 2 hours out of a maxijet 2000. . .so, not much longer than it's supposed to power my entire computer. Someone explained to me once why this was, but I can't remember. Most of the power outages where I live are short lived, so I consider this acceptable, but there are other options out there. Hopefully someone smarter than me will chime in.

Backup UPS's for PC's and servers are meant to power the system long enough for it to be shut down safely. In other words instead of all the servers going off as soon as the storm hits, they'll have an extra hour or so to give the IT staff enough time to safely shut them down. They're not really meant to keep a company (or reef tank) going for 3 days.

[alizarin]

When I was reading about this topic I thought a diy setup using a deep cycle battery and car battery trickle charger and a power inverter would work best. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...threadid=64918

But I ended up just getting a couple Penn Plax Silent Air B11 Air Pump for $10 each. Keeps minimal circulation on 2 D batteries for quite awhile and turns on automatically when the power goes out. I live in Florida where in summer the lightning takes out the power for a few hours all the time but there's no heating issues.

[murfman]

I have a 300w inverter that is powered by the car battery. All I need to do is run a 100' extention cord and plug into the inverter. This will power my return pump from my fuge but not my 1/4 HP CLM pump. The pump and heater should work on the same circuit, if not, I can always turn on the fireplace.

[IMAGINEER]

I was mainly thinking of the UPS so that things dont shut down and then have to restart. I am sure of other ways to power a tank for atleast a day without a Generator, plus im worried about not being home for a few hours etc. The generator is NO good if the thing cant be turned on!!

I am interested in the Deepcycle batteries at WALMART . If I got 2 of them and ran them in series I could possibly create 4 days of backup , No gas or loud generator noise , trips to get more fuel etc.............

[Jace18]

Originally posted by reeftanker04
Backup UPS's for PC's and servers are meant to power the system long enough for it to be shut down safely. In other words instead of all the servers going off as soon as the storm hits, they'll have an extra hour or so to give the IT staff enough time to safely shut them down. They're not really meant to keep a company (or reef tank) going for 3 days.

My rackmountable server backup will run my 32" TV and Sat box for 4 hours. But that is a mute point as soon as i finish hooking up the generator it will kick in when the power fails. Look at the size of the UPS when shopping for them the bigger the better.

[sjm817]

Originally posted by IMAGINEER
I was mainly thinking of the UPS so that things dont shut down and then have to restart. I am sure of other ways to power a tank for atleast a day without a Generator, plus im worried about not being home for a few hours etc. The generator is NO good if the thing cant be turned on!!

I am interested in the Deepcycle batteries at WALMART . If I got 2 of them and ran them in series I could possibly create 4 days of backup , No gas or loud generator noise , trips to get more fuel etc.............

Run them in parallel, not series. When you run batteries in series, the voltage is additive.