Vortech Battery Backup Repair

fatoldsun · 08/26/2012, 07:15 PM

Anyone have any experience with the older Ice Cap battery backup? It does not seem to hold a charge. If the backup itself is plugged in and I kill power to the pump it will switch to flashing green but if I then kill power to the backup everything shuts down after about 3-4 seconds. The backup hadn't been used in a couple years. Anyone have any experience with these. Is the a way to do dome type of diagnostic? If I open the case (it's riveted) should I look for anything in particular? Given that the pass through works I assume it's the cells and not wiring and I didn't think the backup had any circuitry on board. I guess it could be a wire for the charge lead. Anyway, thought I'd ask and give it a couple days before I open it up. Thanks

kc350twin · 08/26/2012, 09:59 PM

I replaced my battery once already. Drilled out the rivets and googled the part number on the battery. It was about $50 shipped. Super easy and straight forward install.

Kc3

solitude127 · 08/26/2012, 10:23 PM

If you do that, can you take pictures of the inside?

fatoldsun · 08/26/2012, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kc350twin

I replaced my battery once already. Drilled out the rivets and googled the part number on the battery. It was about $50 shipped. Super easy and straight forward install.

Kc3

Thanks. Looks like I'll be trying that.

Quote:

Originally Posted by solitude127

If you do that, can you take pictures of the inside?

Yes, I'll try and remember.

fatoldsun · 08/27/2012, 06:48 PM

Kc350twin: i had a question i was wondering what AC/DC converter you had.
I opened it up and I was surprised to see that there's no float or trickle charger on board. The wallwort is listed as a "switching adapter" and output is 12a---0.5A so I guess that will suffice but needless to say I was under impressed. I guess it does the job as a trickle charger at a 1/2 Amp output.
Here is the process. This took about 5 minutes. (Pics slowed me down)
There were 8 rivets. (4/side)

Drilled out very easily. Aluminum is SOFT.

Sorry it's upside down

Very straightforward hookup

This is literally what all the mystery is all about. A nice case, some RadioShack hook ups and the above described "switching adapter" trickle charger

For posterity. Here is what it had after 60 hours charge:

In case you can't read with my crappy camera that says 0.27 Amps so yeah that's shot

Interesting if you search/google etc a 12v 18Ah sealed lead acid battery u get tons of the same one. None of my searches turned up this power sonic battery. After I opened it I googles the actual model #. I found this which shows that same common find as the "newer" replacement with a warranty. Point is I assume they're interchangeable.

http://www.batteryplex.com/powersonic.cfm/m/PS-12180-F2

Happy fixing.

kc350twin · 08/27/2012, 08:33 PM

Good write up and thanks for taking the time to do so. Yes my box looked the same on the inside. Real simple.
My battery was different and was unavailable but the replacement fit like a glove. It saved my but twice since.

Kc3

geaux xman · 08/27/2012, 10:32 PM

Nice pics and write up. My Vortech battery backup failed before a year, so Ecotech replaced it free of charge. I dont know if it was the plug or the battery itself. I

kc350twin · 08/28/2012, 11:31 AM

fatoldsun

The only thing I question is how you are measuring the capacity of the battery. Are you sure measuring the Amps across the terminals is correct?

I did not test my battery thoroughly. I measured my starting voltage and my battery voltage at the 5min mark. It was very low after only 5 mins.

fatoldsun · 08/28/2012, 11:51 AM

Not sure I follow the question. I'll try to answer.... I was just looking to see how much the battery would put out. This is measuring voltage not amperage (I guess I could use ohms law to get amps...). Anyway all I did was set to 20 DC and measure as I would any 12V battery. If I check a car battery it usually reads ~13.5 Volts. If you put a load on it, etc, you'll see that # drop. so I just did that essentially. I expected to see something closer to 12 (or at least a whole number >1)

solitude127 · 08/28/2012, 12:11 PM

Thanks for the write up. My back up battery is about 4 years old now. I'm thinking I should just replace it as part of preventative maintenance.

kc350twin · 08/28/2012, 12:15 PM

Oh gotcha. I read you post stating .27 amps. I have been doing some research and it seems a little hard to test these batteries for capacity. There are testers out there but I don't think is cost effective to purchase one. I use this type batteries in my Jump boxes as well and never really found a good way of checking them. I have found that they last about 4yrs with a lot of use. I'm going to test mine when I get the chance.

Thanks again for sharing.

Kc3

kc350twin · 08/28/2012, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by solitude127

Thanks for the write up. My back up battery is about 4 years old now. I'm thinking I should just replace it as part of preventative maintenance.

I think that's a good idea. If you have a Battery specialty place around like "Battery Warehouse" Maybe swing in and see if they have a tester. I recycled mine or I would. Food for thought................

KC3

solitude127 · 08/30/2012, 09:53 PM

What did you use to close up the case again? rivets?

geaux xman · 08/30/2012, 11:25 PM

on an MP60, I think the backup battery only last about 12-14hrs.

if I wanted to, could I rig it up to a car battery so it would run for several days? I have a generator too, but I rather not have it running when no one is at home. Then I have to worry about gas fill-ups. I'm at work up to 12-16hrs.

I didnt lose any power during this hurricane, but the previous big one(Gustav), we lost power for almost 2 weeks.

kc350twin · 08/31/2012, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by solitude127

What did you use to close up the case again? rivets?

I used screws on mine just in case it needs to be taken back apart. Gotta watch the depth of them though.

KC3

fatoldsun · 08/31/2012, 11:05 PM

I used rivets. Figured I drilled them out once, I can always do it again. As luck would have it I found white (too bad you never get this lucky when it matters and it's something where you actually care how it looks. I guess the other equipment under my stand will be very impressed)

Anyway, here's what came.

Unfortunately they sent the wrong one with the bolts. This was actually more money so I guess they thought they were doing me a solid.

I made up these jumpers.

It's all hooked up and it's charging. I'll let you know if it holds now.

pecan2phat · 09/20/2012, 01:37 PM

Great tutorial and pics, thanks for sharing.
One note that I would like to mention, unassemble your Battery Backup first before ordering the replacement battery. I just drilled out the rivets and found mine to be terminal connections:

pecan2phat · 09/20/2012, 01:40 PM

Also, anyone know where I can get a charger for the IceCap Backup? Person that gave me this dead Battery Backup didn't have the charger either. Not sure if any universal wall wort that can do 12v~.05a will cut it.

TIA

fatoldsun · 09/20/2012, 06:11 PM

Is that pic your original or replacement? My original is the top pictured (gray w/ blue top) the terminal was sent by mistake. I ordered what I took out.
As for the wall wort I tried to take a pic but something happened to the lens on my cell and the pics suck. It's just a regular old wall wort. It does have a small green LED that stats lit if the battery has juice - even when it's unplugged.

I wrote down all that I thought you'd need to order one
Switching Adapyer
Model no DP06-120500du
Input:100-240V-50/60Hz
Max 0.48A
Output: 12V --- 0.5A
Here's the pic -not that you can read anything...

pecan2phat · 09/20/2012, 08:45 PM

Yes that is the original battery that I just pulled out today. Goes to show you that IceCap probably used multiple vendors for their batteries.
Thanks for the pics on the charger. Just didn't know if any charger with those specs would work since it says: switching adapter.
It's interesting that Ecotech changed up their charger when they started producing their own Battery Backups to 14v~1.6a

08/26/2012, 07:15 PM	#1
fatoldsun Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 449	Vortech Battery Backup Repair Anyone have any experience with the older Ice Cap battery backup? It does not seem to hold a charge. If the backup itself is plugged in and I kill power to the pump it will switch to flashing green but if I then kill power to the backup everything shuts down after about 3-4 seconds. The backup hadn't been used in a couple years. Anyone have any experience with these. Is the a way to do dome type of diagnostic? If I open the case (it's riveted) should I look for anything in particular? Given that the pass through works I assume it's the cells and not wiring and I didn't think the backup had any circuitry on board. I guess it could be a wire for the charge lead. Anyway, thought I'd ask and give it a couple days before I open it up. Thanks

08/26/2012, 09:59 PM	#2
kc350twin Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Severn, MD Posts: 1,579	I replaced my battery once already. Drilled out the rivets and googled the part number on the battery. It was about $50 shipped. Super easy and straight forward install. Kc3 __________________ 112g Cube 36x36x20= Custom 12x39wPower Module (Par Monster)= Neptune Apex=ATB 840v2=BM Doser= 2 MP-40's

08/26/2012, 10:23 PM	#3
solitude127 Proud user of IO Salt! Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Torrance, CA Posts: 9,136	If you do that, can you take pictures of the inside? __________________ Mike <)))>{ <)))>{ <)))>{ <)))>{ ReefKeeping.com TOTM Nov 2012 Socalireefs Featured Reef Oct 2011 Current Tank Info: 603020, 8x54 ATI Powermodule, ReefBrite XHO, ATB Elegance 200, Aquamaxx CTech CaRx, Ecotech Vortechs, Apex Controls, WM Ecobak powered. RedSea Reefer 170, MP10, Apex Jr, Ecotech Radion XR15, Aquamaxx WS-1

08/27/2012, 08:33 PM	#6
kc350twin Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Severn, MD Posts: 1,579	Good write up and thanks for taking the time to do so. Yes my box looked the same on the inside. Real simple. My battery was different and was unavailable but the replacement fit like a glove. It saved my but twice since. Kc3 __________________ 112g Cube 36x36x20= Custom 12x39wPower Module (Par Monster)= Neptune Apex=ATB 840v2=BM Doser= 2 MP-40's

08/27/2012, 10:32 PM	#7
geaux xman Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Baton Rouge, LA Posts: 3,279	Nice pics and write up. My Vortech battery backup failed before a year, so Ecotech replaced it free of charge. I dont know if it was the plug or the battery itself. I __________________ - Miracles 180g 60x30x23" rimless FOWLR - Youtube video: Miracles 180g March 2013

08/27/2012, 06:48 PM	#5
fatoldsun Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 449	Kc350twin: i had a question i was wondering what AC/DC converter you had. I opened it up and I was surprised to see that there's no float or trickle charger on board. The wallwort is listed as a "switching adapter" and output is 12a---0.5A so I guess that will suffice but needless to say I was under impressed. I guess it does the job as a trickle charger at a 1/2 Amp output. Here is the process. This took about 5 minutes. (Pics slowed me down) There were 8 rivets. (4/side) Drilled out very easily. Aluminum is SOFT. Sorry it's upside down Very straightforward hookup This is literally what all the mystery is all about. A nice case, some RadioShack hook ups and the above described "switching adapter" trickle charger For posterity. Here is what it had after 60 hours charge: In case you can't read with my crappy camera that says 0.27 Amps so yeah that's shot Interesting if you search/google etc a 12v 18Ah sealed lead acid battery u get tons of the same one. None of my searches turned up this power sonic battery. After I opened it I googles the actual model #. I found this which shows that same common find as the "newer" replacement with a warranty. Point is I assume they're interchangeable. http://www.batteryplex.com/powersonic.cfm/m/PS-12180-F2 Happy fixing.

08/28/2012, 11:31 AM	#8
kc350twin Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Severn, MD Posts: 1,579	fatoldsun The only thing I question is how you are measuring the capacity of the battery. Are you sure measuring the Amps across the terminals is correct? I did not test my battery thoroughly. I measured my starting voltage and my battery voltage at the 5min mark. It was very low after only 5 mins. __________________ 112g Cube 36x36x20= Custom 12x39wPower Module (Par Monster)= Neptune Apex=ATB 840v2=BM Doser= 2 MP-40's

08/28/2012, 11:51 AM	#9
fatoldsun Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 449	Not sure I follow the question. I'll try to answer.... I was just looking to see how much the battery would put out. This is measuring voltage not amperage (I guess I could use ohms law to get amps...). Anyway all I did was set to 20 DC and measure as I would any 12V battery. If I check a car battery it usually reads ~13.5 Volts. If you put a load on it, etc, you'll see that # drop. so I just did that essentially. I expected to see something closer to 12 (or at least a whole number >1)

08/28/2012, 12:11 PM	#10
solitude127 Proud user of IO Salt! Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Torrance, CA Posts: 9,136	Thanks for the write up. My back up battery is about 4 years old now. I'm thinking I should just replace it as part of preventative maintenance. __________________ Mike <)))>{ <)))>{ <)))>{ <)))>{ ReefKeeping.com TOTM Nov 2012 Socalireefs Featured Reef Oct 2011 Current Tank Info: 603020, 8x54 ATI Powermodule, ReefBrite XHO, ATB Elegance 200, Aquamaxx CTech CaRx, Ecotech Vortechs, Apex Controls, WM Ecobak powered. RedSea Reefer 170, MP10, Apex Jr, Ecotech Radion XR15, Aquamaxx WS-1

08/28/2012, 12:15 PM	#11
kc350twin Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Severn, MD Posts: 1,579	Oh gotcha. I read you post stating .27 amps. I have been doing some research and it seems a little hard to test these batteries for capacity. There are testers out there but I don't think is cost effective to purchase one. I use this type batteries in my Jump boxes as well and never really found a good way of checking them. I have found that they last about 4yrs with a lot of use. I'm going to test mine when I get the chance. Thanks again for sharing. Kc3 __________________ 112g Cube 36x36x20= Custom 12x39wPower Module (Par Monster)= Neptune Apex=ATB 840v2=BM Doser= 2 MP-40's

08/30/2012, 09:53 PM	#13
solitude127 Proud user of IO Salt! Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Torrance, CA Posts: 9,136	What did you use to close up the case again? rivets? __________________ Mike <)))>{ <)))>{ <)))>{ <)))>{ ReefKeeping.com TOTM Nov 2012 Socalireefs Featured Reef Oct 2011 Current Tank Info: 603020, 8x54 ATI Powermodule, ReefBrite XHO, ATB Elegance 200, Aquamaxx CTech CaRx, Ecotech Vortechs, Apex Controls, WM Ecobak powered. RedSea Reefer 170, MP10, Apex Jr, Ecotech Radion XR15, Aquamaxx WS-1

08/30/2012, 11:25 PM	#14
geaux xman Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Baton Rouge, LA Posts: 3,279	on an MP60, I think the backup battery only last about 12-14hrs. if I wanted to, could I rig it up to a car battery so it would run for several days? I have a generator too, but I rather not have it running when no one is at home. Then I have to worry about gas fill-ups. I'm at work up to 12-16hrs. I didnt lose any power during this hurricane, but the previous big one(Gustav), we lost power for almost 2 weeks. __________________ - Miracles 180g 60x30x23" rimless FOWLR - Youtube video: Miracles 180g March 2013

08/31/2012, 11:05 PM	#16
fatoldsun Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 449	I used rivets. Figured I drilled them out once, I can always do it again. As luck would have it I found white (too bad you never get this lucky when it matters and it's something where you actually care how it looks. I guess the other equipment under my stand will be very impressed) Anyway, here's what came. Unfortunately they sent the wrong one with the bolts. This was actually more money so I guess they thought they were doing me a solid. I made up these jumpers. It's all hooked up and it's charging. I'll let you know if it holds now.

09/20/2012, 01:37 PM	#17
pecan2phat Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Wallingford, CT Posts: 4,990	Great tutorial and pics, thanks for sharing. One note that I would like to mention, unassemble your Battery Backup first before ordering the replacement battery. I just drilled out the rivets and found mine to be terminal connections:

09/20/2012, 01:40 PM	#18
pecan2phat Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Wallingford, CT Posts: 4,990	Also, anyone know where I can get a charger for the IceCap Backup? Person that gave me this dead Battery Backup didn't have the charger either. Not sure if any universal wall wort that can do 12v~.05a will cut it. TIA

09/20/2012, 06:11 PM	#19
fatoldsun Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 449	Is that pic your original or replacement? My original is the top pictured (gray w/ blue top) the terminal was sent by mistake. I ordered what I took out. As for the wall wort I tried to take a pic but something happened to the lens on my cell and the pics suck. It's just a regular old wall wort. It does have a small green LED that stats lit if the battery has juice - even when it's unplugged. I wrote down all that I thought you'd need to order one Switching Adapyer Model no DP06-120500du Input:100-240V-50/60Hz Max 0.48A Output: 12V --- 0.5A Here's the pic -not that you can read anything...

09/20/2012, 08:45 PM	#20
pecan2phat Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Wallingford, CT Posts: 4,990	Yes that is the original battery that I just pulled out today. Goes to show you that IceCap probably used multiple vendors for their batteries. Thanks for the pics on the charger. Just didn't know if any charger with those specs would work since it says: switching adapter. It's interesting that Ecotech changed up their charger when they started producing their own Battery Backups to 14v~1.6a