UPS Backup, The Definitive Thread to UPS!!!

[RobWein83]

So, I'm hoping to get an easy clear cut dry answer to UPS.

If I want to power just one powerhead, for about 12 hours, is there a True Sine wave UPS unit that can do this????!!!!!

I am not an electrician, so I can't get into figuring out how much power a wavemaker would draw, and how to figure then run time on a UPS. Even if I tried to get into figuring this out, I think I would still wind up making some mistakes anyhow.

Upon reading into this post....
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...y&pagenumber=1
......it pretty much seemed like a lot of trouble.

So, I was hoping someone with experience could help me with this matter. If you could just point me to a UPS unit with True Sine wave that will do this, that would be fantastic!

[danorth]

This is what I got to run 2 Koralia 4's incase I need it.

http://www.provantage.com/cyberpower...w~7CYPR034.htm

Best price.

[RobWein83]

Originally posted by danorth
This is what I got to run 2 Koralia 4's incase I need it.

http://www.provantage.com/cyberpower...w~7CYPR034.htm

Best price.

Thanks, I really appreciate the reply! Roughly how long does this power them for?

[bergzy]

i use the costco one they sell in their warehouse.

it is their 1000av model that sells for about $100.

Tripp Lite UPS

i am guessing the 1000va model gives about 600 watts.

i have mine hooked to three modded tunze 6025's that each use 7 watts and pumps out 1200 gph. this is for pure circulation. no skimming, no lights.

thus, 600watts/21watts=about 28.5 hours.

if the black out goes further than that...i have a 4000 watt gas generator that can power my tanks.

[danorth]

Originally posted by RobWein83
Thanks, I really appreciate the reply! Roughly how long does this power them for?

Not sure that I remember. It should be enough for 8+ hours....but I will have to check. If you're gone for days, it won't help, but if you have someone checking daily it could make all the difference.

[RobWein83]

Yes, just looking for something to run at least one wave maker for at least 12 hours.

[uhuru]

I have 2 of these, they have true sine wave according to the specs:

http://www.apcc.com/resource/include...total_watts=50

[yeldarbj]

Which powerhead are you trying to run? If the pump runs on a dc motor you don't need a true sine wave output. Even some ac powerheads will run on a UPS without a true sine wave. It may not be good for them, but in an emergency it might work.

I have a Xantrex Powersource 400 that produces a modified sine wave. I've tested it on a MJ 900 and it ran for about 36 hours, and a Tunze 6055 Nanostream, set to 12V, ran for about 40 hours.

[sjm817]

UPS's are not very efficient. My 750VA UPS would only run a Tunze 6100 for maybe 2 hr. Large sine wave UPS's get expensive. I found it more economical to replace one of my Tunze 6100's with a 6101. The 6101 can be run directly off a battery. I have a 30AH battery connected which will last ~ 30 Hr.

[bergzy]

Originally posted by sjm817
UPS's are not very efficient. My 750VA UPS would only run a Tunze 6100 for maybe 2 hr. Large sine wave UPS's get expensive. I found it more economical to replace one of my Tunze 6100's with a 6101. The 6101 can be run directly off a battery. I have a 30AH battery connected which will last ~ 30 Hr.

yep!

that is why i only use ups' as an immediate source of energy cut off and to power emergency nanostreams. anything more than that, i spark up the generator that was mentioned here on rc and cost $125 after all the rebates.

the ups is awesome only when the power goes off and i am not home.

for vacations, i...wait a sec, i have reef tanks...i dont go on vacations!

[Indyws6]

What generator costs $125 after rebates???

[jefathome]

Originally posted by Indyws6
What generator costs $125 after rebates???

DITTO!!!

tagging

[thysrof]

It's a Kragen Generator bought through their web site and picked up at the store. it's a little noisy, but inexpensive.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...4125+generator

[Mark426]

All that is great...but the power never fails when you are in town

[xtm]

I tried a 350VA UPS hooked up on a Tunze 6000 and it ran for 7 mins.

[RobWein83]

Originally posted by yeldarbj
Which powerhead are you trying to run? If the pump runs on a dc motor you don't need a true sine wave output. Even some ac powerheads will run on a UPS without a true sine wave. It may not be good for them, but in an emergency it might work.

I have a Xantrex Powersource 400 that produces a modified sine wave. I've tested it on a MJ 900 and it ran for about 36 hours, and a Tunze 6055 Nanostream, set to 12V, ran for about 40 hours.

SEIO M1100 115volts 21watts

I have two of them hooked up to a SEIO superflow pump controller.

How do you set up a UPS to run just 1 powerhead, without the controller in the event of a power failure?

or

do you recommend just getting an extra power head to run just straight off the UPS?

[yeldarbj]

I just have a Tunze single controller for the 6055 Nanostream, so that was the only thing I had plugged into the UPS for testing. You can also change the voltage input on the Tunze from 12v up to 24v depending on the flow you need, so I set it to the lowest voltage for testing. At the lowest setting, the Tunze 6055 is supposed to only draw 5 watts.

I think to get the longest flow from duration from a UPS, you are better off running an extra powerhead from it. I think you will have to buy a really big unit to run 2 21watt pumps for up to 12 hours.

I used to have a Seio 620 that I plugged into the Xantrex unit just to see if it worked, and I'm pretty sure that it did just fine although I didn't test it for any length of time.

[IndyReefMan]

I would listen to yeldarbj. I too lived in Pensacola for a few years and since power goes out down there about every other day, he should be an expert at this... LOL.

[jefathome]

Originally posted by thysrof
It's a Kragen Generator bought through their web site and picked up at the store. it's a little noisy, but inexpensive.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...4125+generator

Unfortunately, that is no longer the price.
It is looking more like $300 (after $100 rebate)

[FranktheTankTx]

I'm very curious about back up batteries as well.
I would like to put 2xKoralia 3's on a battery back up in case of power outages. This way I continue flow (the most important thing) during power outages.

I have a few questions...

(1) Am I doing the math right when I say 2xK 3's consume a total of 20w... and a back up battery that has 450w of back up power will run 20w by calculating it like this.... 450/20= 22.2hrs of run time???

(2) Is this an acceptable option? http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1188559784051

[yeldarbj]

Unfortunately the math doesn't work like that. You need to find out the amp-hour rating of the battery in the backup and determine the amps that your pumps use.

[FranktheTankTx]

Oh. Ok... could someone help me out. If I were to hook 2 x K3's to a battery back up such as the one on the Best Buy link above... what would be my run time?

Anyone care to do this math for me?

[edwar050]

A company really needs to come out with an affordable power generator that will run two large pumps that draw about 30 watts for two days.

[frank2926]

I use an inverter . Not as convenient as a generator but a lot smaller and easier for me to deal with. I keep an old camper battery and the inverter close , just run an outdoor extension cord to my tank.


http://www.invertersrus.com/

[FranktheTankTx]

This was interesting...

I found a tool on APC that told me run time for specific power draw. The lowest option was 50w... which 2 K3's would only be 20w total.

Anyways, the run time is really weird to figure out. It's hard to assume what it would be if I cut it from 50w to 20w. But I feel safe that the 390w version would give me 2 - 3 hours of run time during a power outage.

If I were to increase this to a 500w+ back up... I might get 4 hours. But again, it's difficult to tell when I don't understand the math.