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What Do People Use for Backup System?
- Thread starter starrfish
- Start date
Clam Man
x reefer
you have air pumps so heat up some water put it in bags or hot water bottles float in tank use stove or gas grill to heat up water try to keep temp up as good as you can good luck.you can also buy a generater to run a couple of power heads and a heater for around 600.00 at home depot not cheep but it will get you buy
seasno
A.K.A. Craig Snow
Daire: Sorry to hear of your power woes. I run a Tripp-Lite APS 1012 on my system, and have my main return pump (Iwaki 70) plugged into it. It allows me to maintain water flow in my 300 gal system for over 5 hours after the power goes out. The Aps 1012 is just one step up from the APS512 you are talking about. While I don't have heaters hooked up to it, it does take care of my system as a short term solution. I am pretty sure Bec has the 512 hooked up on her system. HTH
Craig
Craig
Clam Man
x reefer
ok in that case 4000.00 for generator and someone to wire it up (hope you know a electriction and he or she is family or that alone will run you big dollars)to handle your new tank and lights and big elec sucking motors hope you talk to somone who has a system like the one you want the elec bill is a shocker alone sorry this sounds like such a downer but its the truth i have been spending alot of time on the cost of elec to run a tank in the 210 range and to do it right it isnt cheep 
1000 watt generator
I picked up a cheap 1000 watt generator at a pawn shop for 90.
its enough to power a few pumps, and a heater and a light for the fuge.
Had to use it last week during the heavy rain, lost power for about 2 hrs....
not huge, but it does the job.
Visit your local pawnshop and tell them what your looking for and they will contact you when they have one.
Rob
I picked up a cheap 1000 watt generator at a pawn shop for 90.
its enough to power a few pumps, and a heater and a light for the fuge.
Had to use it last week during the heavy rain, lost power for about 2 hrs....
not huge, but it does the job.
Visit your local pawnshop and tell them what your looking for and they will contact you when they have one.
Rob
Daire,
I can't believe I didn't loose power this time, our street is always the first to loose it and last to get it back. I have broken trees all over my yard and the stainless steel frame that holds my boat canvas collapsed, I'm sure I have some damage, hope it's not to bad. I dodged the bullet this time with my tank and with power outages lasting as long as they do down here the only reliable power source is a generator. I plan to purchase two items a new wood/coal stove and a generator. If you go the generator route I can watch things if your not around.
Jim
I can't believe I didn't loose power this time, our street is always the first to loose it and last to get it back. I have broken trees all over my yard and the stainless steel frame that holds my boat canvas collapsed, I'm sure I have some damage, hope it's not to bad. I dodged the bullet this time with my tank and with power outages lasting as long as they do down here the only reliable power source is a generator. I plan to purchase two items a new wood/coal stove and a generator. If you go the generator route I can watch things if your not around.
Jim
Daire
I think there are a few reefers with backup systems. Might have to dig up some old threads but I do recall either Marco67, yaktop or reefnroll or all the above having a marine battery backup and auto charger. This kicks in when the power goes out automatically. Don't recall how long it would last running min. of air circulation and maybe some heat. Obviously it would last longer without the heat. HTH..
I think there are a few reefers with backup systems. Might have to dig up some old threads but I do recall either Marco67, yaktop or reefnroll or all the above having a marine battery backup and auto charger. This kicks in when the power goes out automatically. Don't recall how long it would last running min. of air circulation and maybe some heat. Obviously it would last longer without the heat. HTH..
Scuba_Dave
Non-member
I think the best bet is multiple backups
I have a generator that I bought in '99 just in case (Y2K)
I've also added a power inverter - so I can run electric from my car if I had to (plugs into cig lighter)
I have quite a few of the battery powered bubblers
Fireplace w/built in heating system that works better then I had hoped Fireplace is near the tank, so it would help keep the tank warm
(2) different UPS to keep a powerhead going for a couple hours
Autostart generator is somewhere in the future...the one I looked at was $2700, plus the generac pack, plus an electrician to wire it all up (I've done a bit of wiring & won't touch one of these hookups). I've already installed a 100a subpanel to use w/generator.
Best backup for a vacation: a friend. One of my friends has watched my tanks for the past few years whenever I go on vacation. I print out a list, label top-off water, make sure he has BRS website & phone number(s) of people to call for help. I bag the food to feed & usually tell him he only has to feed every other day & even every 3rd day is OK
Overfeeding is worse....
I have a generator that I bought in '99 just in case (Y2K)
I've also added a power inverter - so I can run electric from my car if I had to (plugs into cig lighter)
I have quite a few of the battery powered bubblers
Fireplace w/built in heating system that works better then I had hoped Fireplace is near the tank, so it would help keep the tank warm
(2) different UPS to keep a powerhead going for a couple hours
Autostart generator is somewhere in the future...the one I looked at was $2700, plus the generac pack, plus an electrician to wire it all up (I've done a bit of wiring & won't touch one of these hookups). I've already installed a 100a subpanel to use w/generator.
Best backup for a vacation: a friend. One of my friends has watched my tanks for the past few years whenever I go on vacation. I print out a list, label top-off water, make sure he has BRS website & phone number(s) of people to call for help. I bag the food to feed & usually tell him he only has to feed every other day & even every 3rd day is OK
Overfeeding is worse....
Chuck Spyropulos
Non-member
Backup
I use a 7500 W generator and a manual switch for those times when really long power outages occur. I usually have someone watching my tank and give them a beeper that my Octopus 3000 controller will page if the power goes out.
I am planning on getting a large battery backup that will run my Tunze Stream pumps for around 4 hours. There are many to chose from and they are automatic....here is a link to the one I am lookin at:
battery backup
I use a 7500 W generator and a manual switch for those times when really long power outages occur. I usually have someone watching my tank and give them a beeper that my Octopus 3000 controller will page if the power goes out.
I am planning on getting a large battery backup that will run my Tunze Stream pumps for around 4 hours. There are many to chose from and they are automatic....here is a link to the one I am lookin at:
battery backup
Thanks everyone for the info. Jim - I can't believe you didn't lose power. There were 20,000 on the cape without power for an extended period of time - you were lucky! Thanks for the offer to watch things for me. I would be happy to do the same for you. My sister-in-law (who knows nothing about reefs) comes in and feeds the fish and checks on things when I'm gone, but I would love to be able to give her an "emergency" number if anything goes wrong.
The question I have about generators - aren't they huge, need a good deal of circulation and generate a gas smell? I'm not sure I want to go the generator route because of these issues. Andy, Marc did tell me about a marine battery backup that he created. He said he would help me build one, but I thought I'd see what everyone else is doing too.
Thanks again for everyone's replies.
Daire
The question I have about generators - aren't they huge, need a good deal of circulation and generate a gas smell? I'm not sure I want to go the generator route because of these issues. Andy, Marc did tell me about a marine battery backup that he created. He said he would help me build one, but I thought I'd see what everyone else is doing too.
Thanks again for everyone's replies.
Daire
Daire,
The smaller generators that would keep your pumps and heater running could be kept in your garage and run if near the open door. The problem with battery backups is the length of time they provide running pumps and a good size heater as likely you will have no heat. I'm not sure how long they last with a couple of good deep cycle batteries but I can be without power for more than 24 hrs.
Please give your sister-in-law my number I would be glad to help if needed (508 540-8557).
Jim
The smaller generators that would keep your pumps and heater running could be kept in your garage and run if near the open door. The problem with battery backups is the length of time they provide running pumps and a good size heater as likely you will have no heat. I'm not sure how long they last with a couple of good deep cycle batteries but I can be without power for more than 24 hrs.
Please give your sister-in-law my number I would be glad to help if needed (508 540-8557).
Jim
Jim - thanks so much for giving me your number for emergencies. I will always let you know when I'm going away.
As for the generator - I would have to keep it in the unfinished side of my basement where there are no windows and my hot water heater and gas furnace are back there. It's not that big of a space. Just sounds too risky. I've never been without power for 24 hrs - I can't imagine. But I just heard on the news that there are still 18,000 cape residents without power and they probably won't get it back until tomorrow morning. I hope Marc isn't one of them at the store.
As for the generator - I would have to keep it in the unfinished side of my basement where there are no windows and my hot water heater and gas furnace are back there. It's not that big of a space. Just sounds too risky. I've never been without power for 24 hrs - I can't imagine. But I just heard on the news that there are still 18,000 cape residents without power and they probably won't get it back until tomorrow morning. I hope Marc isn't one of them at the store.
lost power at 4am, the clock started buzzing noises. good thing. Now I want a no power alarm. used a power pack on a mag 24 that ran about two hours, then switched over to a generator for a heater and the mag24 (runs upstairs) power back on at 8am. sorta glad it did, gives me a chance to re-arrange things to make it easier to switch over if I'm not home. an automatic system would be grand but would be about 5 grand and wont be doing that, yet.
bummer was my electric start arien snowblower wouldnt start even with the generator. heavy stuff this morning.
suggest everyone trys a power failure run and figure out what you'll do in the event of the real thing. how about a 8, 12, 18 hour power failure ???
bummer was my electric start arien snowblower wouldnt start even with the generator. heavy stuff this morning.
suggest everyone trys a power failure run and figure out what you'll do in the event of the real thing. how about a 8, 12, 18 hour power failure ???
Scuba_Dave
Non-member
Yes, you need to run a generator outside, it has an exhaust, just like a car, the fumes can kill you.
Another option is to "pipe" the exhaust gas outside, but shouldn't be a long run.
Mine will go under a deck, protected & semi-sealed area w/exhaust pipe going outside the ventilated enclosure
Another option is to "pipe" the exhaust gas outside, but shouldn't be a long run.
Mine will go under a deck, protected & semi-sealed area w/exhaust pipe going outside the ventilated enclosure
Chuck Spyropulos
Non-member
Generator and Transfer Switch
I keep my generator outside in one of those Rubbermaid Trash Can Bins. The bin has two front doors and the top opens as well. My generator, as most, come with a thick power cable that I ran into my garage through a hole I drilled through my garage wall. I also have a manual transfer switch so I don't have to run power cords.
I can go 8 hours with heaters, chiller, tunze streams, main pump, etc....everything is on one of the 6 switched circuits on my transfer switch except lights . After 8 hours, I need to refill the gas tank.
I keep my generator outside in one of those Rubbermaid Trash Can Bins. The bin has two front doors and the top opens as well. My generator, as most, come with a thick power cable that I ran into my garage through a hole I drilled through my garage wall. I also have a manual transfer switch so I don't have to run power cords.
I can go 8 hours with heaters, chiller, tunze streams, main pump, etc....everything is on one of the 6 switched circuits on my transfer switch except lights . After 8 hours, I need to refill the gas tank.
