Re: Choosing the right UPS-BACKUP for my mom's fish tank please help......

[skozzy]

Unless you have a very large battery array a ups will only keep it running
for a short time. It'd be cheaper to buy a small generator to run the pumps.

"Dunny Rummy" > wrote in message
...
> Please advise as to what UPS options for my mom's fish tank. She has a
> 20G tank with a Whisper Power filter 10. The last storm caused a power
> outage and she was worried about her fish. Yes I've heard stirring the
> water will generate oxygen but I'm sure my mom would like all possible
> information so she can make the best choice plus they are so
> affordable. I use a UPS on my PC and I couldn't imagine running my PC
> with out a UPS. My mom don't have a PC but I don't think you need a PC
> to use a UPS.
>
> Thank you.

[Polarhound]

Dunny Rummy wrote:

> Please advise as to what UPS options for my mom's fish tank. She has a
> 20G tank with a Whisper Power filter 10. The last storm caused a power
> outage and she was worried about her fish. Yes I've heard stirring the
> water will generate oxygen but I'm sure my mom would like all possible
> information so she can make the best choice plus they are so
> affordable. I use a UPS on my PC and I couldn't imagine running my PC
> with out a UPS. My mom don't have a PC but I don't think you need a PC
> to use a UPS.

Only put the heater and filter on a UPS. If you need additional
oxygenation, lower the water level slightly to allow the filter output
to do the job.

As for WHICH, the largest you can afford, of course! :)

[Harry Muscle]

"The Outcaste" > wrote in message
...
> On Mon, 31 May 2004 07:47:38 GMT, Dunny Rummy >
> bubbled forth the following:
>
> >But what would be the expectancy of such a UPS in the event of power
> >failure? How much time would the back up provide? Although UPS backups
> >are affordable I'm sure my mom doesnt want to spend a lot of money.
> >P.S. she only uses a Whisper Power filter 10 with no heater.
> >Thank You.
> >
> >On Sun, 30 May 2004 22:51:57 -0400, Polarhound
> > wrote:
> >
> >>Dunny Rummy wrote:
> >>
> >>> Please advise as to what UPS options for my mom's fish tank. She has a
> >>> 20G tank with a Whisper Power filter 10. The last storm caused a power
> >>> outage and she was worried about her fish. Yes I've heard stirring the
> >>> water will generate oxygen but I'm sure my mom would like all possible
> >>> information so she can make the best choice plus they are so
> >>> affordable. I use a UPS on my PC and I couldn't imagine running my PC
> >>> with out a UPS. My mom don't have a PC but I don't think you need a PC
> >>> to use a UPS.
> >>
> >>Only put the heater and filter on a UPS. If you need additional
> >>oxygenation, lower the water level slightly to allow the filter output
> >>to do the job.
> >>
> >>As for WHICH, the largest you can afford, of course! :)
>
> IIRC, a whisper 10 uses about 6 watts, can't find the web site right
> now. Figure 10 VA, so a 500 VA UPS would run the filter for 50
> minutes, 1000 VA for 100 minutes, etc.
>
> For extended outages in cold weather, a generator might be more
> practical as it can power a heater, and provide human comforts as
> well.
>
> HTH
>
> Jerry

Batteries are usually rated in amp hours, and since a UPS is mainly a
battery, you sure the rating isn't 500VA for one hour not one minute? If it
is for one hour, then 10VA could work off that for 50 hours, which would
make more sense (cause according to your calculations, a 300VA computer
would last just under 2 minutes). Then again, I've never used a UPS before.

Harry

[The Outcaste]

On Mon, 31 May 2004 16:01:03 -0400, "Harry Muscle"
> bubbled forth the following:

>"The Outcaste" > wrote in message
...
>> On Mon, 31 May 2004 07:47:38 GMT, Dunny Rummy >
>> bubbled forth the following:
>>
>> >But what would be the expectancy of such a UPS in the event of power
>> >failure? How much time would the back up provide? Although UPS backups
>> >are affordable I'm sure my mom doesnt want to spend a lot of money.
>> >P.S. she only uses a Whisper Power filter 10 with no heater.
>> >Thank You.
>> >
>> >On Sun, 30 May 2004 22:51:57 -0400, Polarhound
>> > wrote:
>> >
>> >>Dunny Rummy wrote:
>> >>
>> >>> Please advise as to what UPS options for my mom's fish tank. She has a
>> >>> 20G tank with a Whisper Power filter 10. The last storm caused a power
>> >>> outage and she was worried about her fish. Yes I've heard stirring the
>> >>> water will generate oxygen but I'm sure my mom would like all possible
>> >>> information so she can make the best choice plus they are so
>> >>> affordable. I use a UPS on my PC and I couldn't imagine running my PC
>> >>> with out a UPS. My mom don't have a PC but I don't think you need a PC
>> >>> to use a UPS.
>> >>
>> >>Only put the heater and filter on a UPS. If you need additional
>> >>oxygenation, lower the water level slightly to allow the filter output
>> >>to do the job.
>> >>
>> >>As for WHICH, the largest you can afford, of course! :)
>>
>> IIRC, a whisper 10 uses about 6 watts, can't find the web site right
>> now. Figure 10 VA, so a 500 VA UPS would run the filter for 50
>> minutes, 1000 VA for 100 minutes, etc.
>>
>> For extended outages in cold weather, a generator might be more
>> practical as it can power a heater, and provide human comforts as
>> well.
>>
>> HTH
>>
>> Jerry
>
>Batteries are usually rated in amp hours, and since a UPS is mainly a
>battery, you sure the rating isn't 500VA for one hour not one minute? If it
>is for one hour, then 10VA could work off that for 50 hours, which would
>make more sense (cause according to your calculations, a 300VA computer
>would last just under 2 minutes). Then again, I've never used a UPS before.
>
>Harry
>
Caught me again -- I left the time rating information out.

A VA/watts rating doesn't consider time. In your example, 500VA for 1
hour would work as you said. I based my info on the one UPS I had for
a while about 4 years ago. It was rated 500 VA/300 watts, and would
run a 300 watt load for only 1 minute. The sales brochure says if you
cut your load in half, you'll double your time, so I assumed it was
linear.

I did some more looking, and they've made some improvements in the
last 4 years. The data sheet for APC's BE500U (500VA/300W) says it can
run 300 watts for 2 minutes, and 50 watts for 57 minutes. one-sixth
the power but nearly 30 times the time. The data sheet is here:

http://www.apcc.com/products/runtime_for_extendedruntime.cfm?upsfamily=21

I don't know if running only 10 watts(50/5) would give 285 minutes
(57*5). I suspect it would be somewhat less, as the internal circuitry
that monitors the battery to shut the UPS down when it is discharged
will also drain the battery.

\Jerry

[Jimmy]

UPS's work very inefficently on small loads. They just werent designed for
what you are trying to do. You will do good to get 2 hrs out of one of them.
This is not enough to be practical. What you need is something that will
give you about 12 hrs of protection and that is going to cost some big
bucks. I f you are just bent on doing this I would suggest geting the
smallest UPS youcan find. I have seen some for 75 watts. Then add some
really big batteries to them, like a couple of 100 amp/hr deep discharge
batteries. Something like this could be done for about $500 USD.

"The Outcaste" > wrote in message
...
> On Mon, 31 May 2004 16:01:03 -0400, "Harry Muscle"
> > bubbled forth the following:
>
> >"The Outcaste" > wrote in message
> ...
> >> On Mon, 31 May 2004 07:47:38 GMT, Dunny Rummy >
> >> bubbled forth the following:
> >>
> >> >But what would be the expectancy of such a UPS in the event of power
> >> >failure? How much time would the back up provide? Although UPS backups
> >> >are affordable I'm sure my mom doesnt want to spend a lot of money.
> >> >P.S. she only uses a Whisper Power filter 10 with no heater.
> >> >Thank You.
> >> >
> >> >On Sun, 30 May 2004 22:51:57 -0400, Polarhound
> >> > wrote:
> >> >
> >> >>Dunny Rummy wrote:
> >> >>
> >> >>> Please advise as to what UPS options for my mom's fish tank. She
has a
> >> >>> 20G tank with a Whisper Power filter 10. The last storm caused a
power
> >> >>> outage and she was worried about her fish. Yes I've heard stirring
the
> >> >>> water will generate oxygen but I'm sure my mom would like all
possible
> >> >>> information so she can make the best choice plus they are so
> >> >>> affordable. I use a UPS on my PC and I couldn't imagine running my
PC
> >> >>> with out a UPS. My mom don't have a PC but I don't think you need a
PC
> >> >>> to use a UPS.
> >> >>
> >> >>Only put the heater and filter on a UPS. If you need additional
> >> >>oxygenation, lower the water level slightly to allow the filter
output
> >> >>to do the job.
> >> >>
> >> >>As for WHICH, the largest you can afford, of course! :)
> >>
> >> IIRC, a whisper 10 uses about 6 watts, can't find the web site right
> >> now. Figure 10 VA, so a 500 VA UPS would run the filter for 50
> >> minutes, 1000 VA for 100 minutes, etc.
> >>
> >> For extended outages in cold weather, a generator might be more
> >> practical as it can power a heater, and provide human comforts as
> >> well.
> >>
> >> HTH
> >>
> >> Jerry
> >
> >Batteries are usually rated in amp hours, and since a UPS is mainly a
> >battery, you sure the rating isn't 500VA for one hour not one minute? If
it
> >is for one hour, then 10VA could work off that for 50 hours, which would
> >make more sense (cause according to your calculations, a 300VA computer
> >would last just under 2 minutes). Then again, I've never used a UPS
before.
> >
> >Harry
> >
> Caught me again -- I left the time rating information out.
>
> A VA/watts rating doesn't consider time. In your example, 500VA for 1
> hour would work as you said. I based my info on the one UPS I had for
> a while about 4 years ago. It was rated 500 VA/300 watts, and would
> run a 300 watt load for only 1 minute. The sales brochure says if you
> cut your load in half, you'll double your time, so I assumed it was
> linear.
>
> I did some more looking, and they've made some improvements in the
> last 4 years. The data sheet for APC's BE500U (500VA/300W) says it can
> run 300 watts for 2 minutes, and 50 watts for 57 minutes. one-sixth
> the power but nearly 30 times the time. The data sheet is here:
>
> http://www.apcc.com/products/runtime_for_extendedruntime.cfm?upsfamily=21
>
> I don't know if running only 10 watts(50/5) would give 285 minutes
> (57*5). I suspect it would be somewhat less, as the internal circuitry
> that monitors the battery to shut the UPS down when it is discharged
> will also drain the battery.
>
> \Jerry

[NaCl]

My APC Back-UPS 650 ran my Fluval 403 for about 4.5 hours during a recent
power outage.

IIRC the 403's power consumption is 17 Watts.


"Jimmy" > wrote in message
...
> UPS's work very inefficently on small loads. They just werent designed for
> what you are trying to do. You will do good to get 2 hrs out of one of
them.
> This is not enough to be practical. What you need is something that will
> give you about 12 hrs of protection and that is going to cost some big
> bucks. I f you are just bent on doing this I would suggest geting the
> smallest UPS youcan find. I have seen some for 75 watts. Then add some
> really big batteries to them, like a couple of 100 amp/hr deep discharge
> batteries. Something like this could be done for about $500 USD.
>
> "The Outcaste" > wrote in message
> ...
> > On Mon, 31 May 2004 16:01:03 -0400, "Harry Muscle"
> > > bubbled forth the following:
> >
> > >"The Outcaste" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > >> On Mon, 31 May 2004 07:47:38 GMT, Dunny Rummy >
> > >> bubbled forth the following:
> > >>
> > >> >But what would be the expectancy of such a UPS in the event of power
> > >> >failure? How much time would the back up provide? Although UPS
backups
> > >> >are affordable I'm sure my mom doesnt want to spend a lot of money.
> > >> >P.S. she only uses a Whisper Power filter 10 with no heater.
> > >> >Thank You.
> > >> >
> > >> >On Sun, 30 May 2004 22:51:57 -0400, Polarhound
> > >> > wrote:
> > >> >
> > >> >>Dunny Rummy wrote:
> > >> >>
> > >> >>> Please advise as to what UPS options for my mom's fish tank. She
> has a
> > >> >>> 20G tank with a Whisper Power filter 10. The last storm caused a
> power
> > >> >>> outage and she was worried about her fish. Yes I've heard
stirring
> the
> > >> >>> water will generate oxygen but I'm sure my mom would like all
> possible
> > >> >>> information so she can make the best choice plus they are so
> > >> >>> affordable. I use a UPS on my PC and I couldn't imagine running
my
> PC
> > >> >>> with out a UPS. My mom don't have a PC but I don't think you need
a
> PC
> > >> >>> to use a UPS.
> > >> >>
> > >> >>Only put the heater and filter on a UPS. If you need additional
> > >> >>oxygenation, lower the water level slightly to allow the filter
> output
> > >> >>to do the job.
> > >> >>
> > >> >>As for WHICH, the largest you can afford, of course! :)
> > >>
> > >> IIRC, a whisper 10 uses about 6 watts, can't find the web site right
> > >> now. Figure 10 VA, so a 500 VA UPS would run the filter for 50
> > >> minutes, 1000 VA for 100 minutes, etc.
> > >>
> > >> For extended outages in cold weather, a generator might be more
> > >> practical as it can power a heater, and provide human comforts as
> > >> well.
> > >>
> > >> HTH
> > >>
> > >> Jerry
> > >
> > >Batteries are usually rated in amp hours, and since a UPS is mainly a
> > >battery, you sure the rating isn't 500VA for one hour not one minute?
If
> it
> > >is for one hour, then 10VA could work off that for 50 hours, which
would
> > >make more sense (cause according to your calculations, a 300VA computer
> > >would last just under 2 minutes). Then again, I've never used a UPS
> before.
> > >
> > >Harry
> > >
> > Caught me again -- I left the time rating information out.
> >
> > A VA/watts rating doesn't consider time. In your example, 500VA for 1
> > hour would work as you said. I based my info on the one UPS I had for
> > a while about 4 years ago. It was rated 500 VA/300 watts, and would
> > run a 300 watt load for only 1 minute. The sales brochure says if you
> > cut your load in half, you'll double your time, so I assumed it was
> > linear.
> >
> > I did some more looking, and they've made some improvements in the
> > last 4 years. The data sheet for APC's BE500U (500VA/300W) says it can
> > run 300 watts for 2 minutes, and 50 watts for 57 minutes. one-sixth
> > the power but nearly 30 times the time. The data sheet is here:
> >
> >
http://www.apcc.com/products/runtime_for_extendedruntime.cfm?upsfamily=21
> >
> > I don't know if running only 10 watts(50/5) would give 285 minutes
> > (57*5). I suspect it would be somewhat less, as the internal circuitry
> > that monitors the battery to shut the UPS down when it is discharged
> > will also drain the battery.
> >
> > \Jerry
>
>