Power-Outage Contingency

OK---
been getting LOTS of great advice.

Is there a power-outage contingency? What if you go away for a week and the
circuit breakers go? I guess the Live-Rock continues to do some work for a
while---but are there battery systems out there that kick-in in case of
power outage?

"StringerBell" wrote in message news
Is there a power-outage contingency? What if you go away for a week and the
circuit breakers go? I guess the Live-Rock continues to do some work for a
while---but are there battery systems out there that kick-in in case of
power outage?

Go get yourself a Sump Pump and Furnace Fan Backup System
http://www.thermotechs.com/Sump%20Pump.htm
http://hometips.com/help/bac1.html
http://www.sump-pump-info.com/batter...mp-system.html

Connect a skimmer and the return pump to it only
to provide necessary water circulation and aeration
during the power outages...

If you are handy, you could build such backup
system yourself with a marine type battery,
12V-120VAC inverter and a simple relay...

The concept is very easy and will last long
hours during power outages... Connect only
minimum neccesary equipment to make battery last.

Some people use UPS Backup systems, and hook a car battery
to them for long running, then hook this to a pump.

Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets



StringerBell wrote on 8/26/2006 12:24 AM:
OK---
been getting LOTS of great advice.

Is there a power-outage contingency? What if you go away for a week and the
circuit breakers go? I guess the Live-Rock continues to do some work for a
while---but are there battery systems out there that kick-in in case of
power outage?

Yeah I hooked and inverter up to my car and ran it off of the battery
whenever I have power issues. I lived in SF when the power was out for
6 days and once my GFI recipticle went bad. I was only able to run the
essenatials due to the inverters limitations but it got me through it.

A UPS is not always a good idea since the draw of pumps and various
equipment can change and trip the UPS on power surge. The APC 1500 VA
would be the only one I recommend since it can be eaxpanded to 3000VA
with the extra battery pack.

If you are looking for the long run a small geneterator is the most
reliable and longest running. Honda makes the cheapest, quietest, and
most effiecent for its size.

If you are looking to have an ATS (automatic transfer switch) that is a
good deal more work and requires an experienced, liscenced electrician
to install.

"Sandbag" wrote in message ps.com...
A UPS is not always a good idea since the draw of pumps and various
equipment can change and trip the UPS on power surge. The APC 1500 VA
would be the only one I recommend since it can be eaxpanded to 3000VA
with the extra battery pack.

Could you explain above? I would have to disagree...

Adding an extra battery pack DOES NOT increase maximum current
the inverter or UPS can deliver. This current limit is based on the inverter
internal design and electronic parts (transistors, fuses) used to build it...
Adding extra battery pack will increase TIME the inverter will work from
the battery with the same load, but will not increase the maximum load.

Sandbag wrote:

A UPS is not always a good idea since the draw of pumps and various
equipment can change and trip the UPS on power surge. The APC 1500 VA
would be the only one I recommend since it can be eaxpanded to 3000VA
with the extra battery pack.

How long would one of those last? I checked into one to drive the basics for my
125 gallon (mainly the heaters), and the ones I saw wouldn't last long. The
local electric company ran a "rolling blackout" one winter, and I remember
watching the temperature fall in my tank and being unable to do anything. Not a
good feeling.

If you are looking for the long run a small geneterator is the most
reliable and longest running. Honda makes the cheapest, quietest, and
most effiecent for its size.

I was able to buy a generator from Sportsman's Guide for around $200 (including
shipping), but they've gone up a bit. Mine only has enough gas to run for 4
hours, but it will drive all my aquarium equipment. I also use it in my handyman
business. Seemed like a good deal to me.

If you are looking to have an ATS (automatic transfer switch) that is a
good deal more work and requires an experienced, liscenced electrician
to install.

Very true. A whole-house backup generator with ATF would set me back about
$3,000, and the hookup would cost nearly as much. Labor costs in your area might
be lower, however, and you don't *have* to have a generator that can run your
whole house. The Home Depot sells these around here.

George Patterson
Coffee is only a way of stealing time that should by rights belong to
your slightly older self.

"George Patterson" wrote in message newso1Ig.1432$XD1.1328@trnddc01...
How long would one of those last? I checked into one to drive the basics for my
125 gallon (mainly the heaters), and the ones I saw wouldn't last long. The
local electric company ran a "rolling blackout" one winter, and I remember
watching the temperature fall in my tank and being unable to do anything.
Not a good feeling.

Interesting...
What temperature drops have you observed and how fast ?
How long this blackout usually lasted ?

The idea with backup power is NOT ment for the heaters - they consume
too much power and the battery will exhaust very quickly...
They are ment to sustain water movement/aeration becuse the lack of
oxygen will kill your animals much faster than a slow temperature drop.

Pszemol wrote:

What temperature drops have you observed and how fast ?

This was years ago, but, IIRC, the outside temperature was in the single digits.
The drop of temperature in the house went from the low 70s to the low 50s or
high 40s in the space of 45 minutes. My tank was either 100 gallons or 125 (I
upgraded during that period). The temperature drop was about 6 degrees, maybe more.

How long this blackout usually lasted ?

They were selectively cutting power to neighborhoods for 45 minute stretches. I
don't remember the details anymore, but they had pulled certain plants off line
to do yearly maintenance (electricity demands are typically less during the
winter), then we had a cold snap. Possibly something else also went wrong.

George Patterson
Coffee is only a way of stealing time that should by rights belong to
your slightly older self.

"George Patterson" wrote in message news:%S2Ig.1420$pX3.1301@trnddc07...
Pszemol wrote:

What temperature drops have you observed and how fast ?

This was years ago, but, IIRC, the outside temperature was in the single digits.
The drop of temperature in the house went from the low 70s to the low 50s or
high 40s in the space of 45 minutes. My tank was either 100 gallons or 125 (I
upgraded during that period). The temperature drop was about 6 degrees, maybe more.

I had no idea a whole house can cool down 20F or more in 45 minutes...
But the 100 galons tank going down 6 degrees in the same 45 minutes is a real mistery.

However, even if your termometer was not broken and these numbers are real,
I would still not use the back up power to run heaters... they are not that critical.

One can heat the water up to 84 degrees, and then a 6
degree drop down to 78 would be not a problem. Or 82
degrees and drop 6 degrees down to 76, still not a
problem. Even dropping down to 72 is not too bad.

Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets



George Patterson wrote on 8/26/2006 5:16 PM:
Pszemol wrote:

What temperature drops have you observed and how fast ?

This was years ago, but, IIRC, the outside temperature was in the single
digits. The drop of temperature in the house went from the low 70s to
the low 50s or high 40s in the space of 45 minutes. My tank was either
100 gallons or 125 (I upgraded during that period). The temperature drop
was about 6 degrees, maybe more.