2 Day Powershut Down ~ Suggestions?

[scopus tang]

Ok, so my principle informed me that the power to the high school will be shut down this summer two different times, and each time could be for as long as two days. As you may or maynot know, I have about 20 tanks running, ranging in size from 15 to 100 gallons. Considering consolidating all the Freshwater (mainly cichlids into a single 100 gallon tank). This would be a pretty heavy bioload, but only for two days each time. Saltwaters are only lightly stocked, so between my home tank and the 65 gallon at school, I think I can consolidate all living organisms into two tanks. Obviously I will need to rent some type of generator to run the two tanks (100 gallons and 65 gallons) both have eight or more electrical things in/on them. Any suggestions on the size of generator I will need (also has to be able to run on a single tank of fuel for at least 8 hours)? Any thoughts, suggestions, or input will be greatly appreciated!

 

[scsinet]

There is no way to size your generator without a complete equipment list, but there is an easier way.
Go purchase yourself a device known as the Kill-o-watt. You can use that to determine the power requirements of your tanks. You can almost certainly get away without heaters, so that will help significantly. Either run cords so everything runs off one plug and measure, or measure multiple plugs and add up the numbers. Then I'd get a generator rated for at least 25% more than your draw.
Keep in mind that most generators that are set up for 120/240v require the 120v loads to be evenly distributed across both 120v circuits (most 120/240v units have two) to be able to fully load the machine, so you'll need to divide your equipment up across two circuits.
While I'm thinking about not needing heat, keep in mind that the two day shutdown almost certainly includes air conditioning, so you may need to keep that in mind as well, depending on what you have. The easiest solution would be to rent or otherwise obtain one or more portable AC units that vent out openable windows, doors, etc with hoses. Of course, these will have to be figured into your load requirements as well.
Also, I assume you will have to be there at the school to babysit the generator for the entire 2 days, so you probably ought to figure in a load for some lights, perhaps a TV, etc to entertain yourself.
By the way, does the school not have a backup generator? It's almost certainly electrical work they are doing, does this mean the school's generator will be unavailable? If it is going to be running, perhaps you can run cords to a nearby area in the building where there is an emergency circuit (computer room wiring closet... ? lab with refrigerators? Cafeteria??) and just hang off that.

 

[fishfreak1242]

ALOT of 9 volt batteries.

 

[scopus tang]

Originally Posted by SCSInet
http:///forum/post/2616961
There is no way to size your generator without a complete equipment list, but there is an easier way.
Go purchase yourself a device known as the Kill-o-watt. You can use that to determine the power requirements of your tanks. You can almost certainly get away without heaters, so that will help significantly. Either run cords so everything runs off one plug and measure, or measure multiple plugs and add up the numbers. Then I'd get a generator rated for at least 25% more than your draw.
Keep in mind that most generators that are set up for 120/240v require the 120v loads to be evenly distributed across both 120v circuits (most 120/240v units have two) to be able to fully load the machine, so you'll need to divide your equipment up across two circuits.
While I'm thinking about not needing heat, keep in mind that the two day shutdown almost certainly includes air conditioning, so you may need to keep that in mind as well, depending on what you have. The easiest solution would be to rent or otherwise obtain one or more portable AC units that vent out openable windows, doors, etc with hoses. Of course, these will have to be figured into your load requirements as well.
Also, I assume you will have to be there at the school to babysit the generator for the entire 2 days, so you probably ought to figure in a load for some lights, perhaps a TV, etc to entertain yourself.
By the way, does the school not have a backup generator? It's almost certainly electrical work they are doing, does this mean the school's generator will be unavailable? If it is going to be running, perhaps you can run cords to a nearby area in the building where there is an emergency circuit (computer room wiring closet... ? lab with refrigerators? Cafeteria??) and just hang off that.
School does indeed have a back up generator, but I was told that its load would be taken up by other things ~ not sure what, so they wouldn't be able to run any power for my tanks. Since I'm running two separate tanks, should be pretty easy to split the load, figured one power cord for one tank and a second for the other (don't tell, but obviously I'll be plugging a powerstrip or two into the end of my drop cords. Figured to place generator outside and run cords up to the second floor. Hadn't thought about the entertainment issue or the AC, good point. Course the salt tank has a chiller and the 100gallon has made it through summers previously with no AC, so should be ok. I'll be setting up an emergency freshwater at home as well, just to move a few males and females into so that If something does go wrong I won't lose everything. I'll check on the Kill-o-watt. Thanks.

 

[scopus tang]

Originally Posted by fishfreak1242
http:///forum/post/2616978
ALOT of 9 volt batteries.

Can't even begin to imagine how many that would take

.

 

[scsinet]

Originally Posted by Scopus Tang
http:///forum/post/2617029
School does indeed have a back up generator, but I was told that its load would be taken up by other things ~ not sure what, so they wouldn't be able to run any power for my tanks. Since I'm running two separate tanks, should be pretty easy to split the load, figured one power cord for one tank and a second for the other (don't tell, but obviously I'll be plugging a powerstrip or two into the end of my drop cords. Figured to place generator outside and run cords up to the second floor. Hadn't thought about the entertainment issue or the AC, good point. Course the salt tank has a chiller and the 100gallon has made it through summers previously with no AC, so should be ok. I'll be setting up an emergency freshwater at home as well, just to move a few males and females into so that If something does go wrong I won't lose everything. I'll check on the Kill-o-watt. Thanks.
Well frankly I doubt that there would not be enough spare capacity to handle your tanks... commercial standby generators are pretty big... mine at work is 250,000 watts... I can't imagine how I couldn't come up with a couple thousand watts for a couple tanks.. oh wait, I did... I ran a circuit to my office... it pays to be in charge of the building.

Regardless, arguing with them won't do any good so I guess you're stuck there. If you have a chiller, you'll probably be in good shape. I'd suggest however planning to have a fan in the classroom doorway and maybe one or two in the windows, just to keep air moving so at least the room doesn't get stuffy and stagnant. Fans draw next to nothing, so that should be no issue.
If you don't want to go the kill-o-watt route, I bet that a simple 5000w generator would provide MORE than enough juice.
Generators run better on gas at lower loads. For example, a full tank may run for 6 hours at full load, but for 15 hours at half load, so try to oversize as much as possible, you'll save on fuel and not have to go out and fill it up (which the manufacturer says must, and I must recommend at least should be done with the engine stopped).

 

[wattsupdoc]

See if you can contact the electricians. Contrary to popular belief we are nice people.

I'll bet if they are working in house, and it's not co-op work, they'll hook you up with some juice. Just be willing to bring your own cords. Talk to the supervisor if you can. Also, it never hurts to bribe with a little brew.

Or maybe some ribs.

Of course, you need to have a back up plan at the ready. Rent(or have a line on one for the day of shut down) a 5500 to 7500 watt generator. This should do what you need. Look for other methods of cooling. The window A/C probably wont be something that works out for your situation. FANS though can do the job. IMO, your not going to get 8 hours out of one tank, especially with it loaded. You might get 6 hours, but I dont think you'll get 8. Also, relying on an untried, rental generator for an extended period of time IMO, is risky. You need to be able to check on it every hour or so, even if it's just, "yep it's runnin'". Again, those ribs can go along way. But if you're askin' for someone else to check on things like that, you better have the meat up front.

And they better be good one's.

 

[wattsupdoc]

Actually, now that I think about it, if you show up with the ribs in hand, and they're warm and steamy, then probably the linemen(co-op electricians) would hook you up too!

Hell if theyre good enough anybody will.

 

[natclanwy]

Randy, you may find your tanks don't use as much energy as you think I was pretty suprised to find out I could run both my tanks including my MH lights off of a 600w inverter during a power outage we had last summer. I think I had a couple of lamps plugged in too. So you might find that you can run all of your tanks without transfering livestock, you might have to shut down any non-essential equipment to make it work like lights and maybe only run one pump per tank.
Wyoming rents has some good generators that should be pretty reliable not sure about the other venders in town.

 

[scopus tang]

Originally Posted by SCSInet
http:///forum/post/2617185
Well frankly I doubt that there would not be enough spare capacity to handle your tanks... commercial standby generators are pretty big... mine at work is 250,000 watts... I can't imagine how I couldn't come up with a couple thousand watts for a couple tanks.. oh wait, I did... I ran a circuit to my office... it pays to be in charge of the building.

Regardless, arguing with them won't do any good so I guess you're stuck there. If you have a chiller, you'll probably be in good shape. I'd suggest however planning to have a fan in the classroom doorway and maybe one or two in the windows, just to keep air moving so at least the room doesn't get stuffy and stagnant. Fans draw next to nothing, so that should be no issue.
If you don't want to go the kill-o-watt route, I bet that a simple 5000w generator would provide MORE than enough juice.
Generators run better on gas at lower loads. For example, a full tank may run for 6 hours at full load, but for 15 hours at half load, so try to oversize as much as possible, you'll save on fuel and not have to go out and fill it up (which the manufacturer says must, and I must recommend at least should be done with the engine stopped).
Any chance you want to fly out and do a little work for me (LOL)? Yah, tried the whole arguing thing, didn't do me any good, so I'm stuck. I'll figure on the fans, already have a couple so no big deal there. Sounds like I'm going to have to camp out at the school for both those days. Thanks for all the help/suggestions.

 

[scopus tang]

Originally Posted by wattsupdoc
http:///forum/post/2617211
See if you can contact the electricians. Contrary to popular belief we are nice people.

I'll bet if they are working in house, and it's not co-op work, they'll hook you up with some juice. Just be willing to bring your own cords. Talk to the supervisor if you can. Also, it never hurts to bribe with a little brew.

Or maybe some ribs.

Of course, you need to have a back up plan at the ready. Rent(or have a line on one for the day of shut down) a 5500 to 7500 watt generator. This should do what you need. Look for other methods of cooling. The window A/C probably wont be something that works out for your situation. FANS though can do the job. IMO, your not going to get 8 hours out of one tank, especially with it loaded. You might get 6 hours, but I dont think you'll get 8. Also, relying on an untried, rental generator for an extended period of time IMO, is risky. You need to be able to check on it every hour or so, even if it's just, "yep it's runnin'". Again, those ribs can go along way. But if you're askin' for someone else to check on things like that, you better have the meat up front.

And they better be good one's.

Originally Posted by wattsupdoc
http:///forum/post/2617226
Actually, now that I think about it, if you show up with the ribs in hand, and they're warm and steamy, then probably the linemen(co-op electricians) would hook you up too!

Hell if theyre good enough anybody will.

Thats a good idea, have to see if I can find out who is doing the work ~ been so busy with the principle/school electrician, never even thought of the contractors. Brew and ribs I can do! Thanks Doc!

 

[scopus tang]

Originally Posted by natclanwy
http:///forum/post/2617235
Randy, you may find your tanks don't use as much energy as you think I was pretty suprised to find out I could run both my tanks including my MH lights off of a 600w inverter during a power outage we had last summer. I think I had a couple of lamps plugged in too. So you might find that you can run all of your tanks without transfering livestock, you might have to shut down any non-essential equipment to make it work like lights and maybe only run one pump per tank.
Wyoming rents has some good generators that should be pretty reliable not sure about the other venders in town.
Hey John, wasn't so much worried about the amount of juice the tanks would pull off the generator, as I was the number of powercords I would have to run. Be just my luck that the fire marshal would show up when I have 20 cords and pigtailed powerstrips all over the place

. Figured I'd check with Wy. Rents, if the ones my dad has aren't big enough to do the job ~ was kind of hoping they would be, so I wouldn't have to rent. Thanks

 

[natclanwy]

Didn't think about all of the cords and having to deal with the fire marshall, not sure what the policy would be on that may not hurt to check with them though and see what would be acceptable in that situation. My line of thinking though was that a small household backup generator may be enough to power the tanks. Let me know if you need some help when the time comes.