Battery backup??!

[islandgirl]

Can anyone suggest a good (and cheap but not a piece of crap) battery backup that I can use for my tank? I lost power last Friday night and let me tell you....what a STRESS-ful experience I couldn't go sleep till the power came back on! I decided it would be a good idea to invest in one cause that would really suck to loose everything that I've put in there! Help me out guys. I know you can give me some suggestions.

 

[elan]

any pump you put on a battery backup will drain it pretty quick... you can try adding an air pump to the backup.. those dont take as much energy to run...
any battery backup that will power a powerhead for a length of time will be costly...
but, you can try to get an old one that somone is throwing away and just replace the battery in it..... most people dont bother just replacing the battery, but that is the only thing that goes wrong with em.

 

[benrock]

Well, I bought a car battery and a high output inverter that converts dc to ac. It won't run everything but it sure will run a couple of the powerheads. The whole thing cost about 120.00 I don't know what's cheap to you but it's cheaper than a generator.

 

[elan]

how long will your powerheads run? never thought to use a car battery... how do you keep it charged? do you have a trickle charge that always runs? do you have a deep cycle battery (like for boats? i know they last forever but are a bit more expensive and heavy)
if you could.. please list the spects and model numbers of your charger, battery, and converter..
Also, did you do a test to see how long your setup will run a powerhead? maybe just putting it on a powerhead to agitate the top can be the most efficient and let your bettery last the longest.....
great idea!

 

[benrock]

Hi elan,
Well, Like Kipass said it won't last 6-7 days but it should last a good day w/o power. I have one of those boat 20 hour trolling motor batteries. It was about 60 bucks at a Bass pro shop and then the inverter came from best buy.
Jensen 300-Watt Power Inverter
Model: JP30
With 300 watts continuous power output (600 watts peak) you can power anything from a laptop to a TV/VCR combo. Ideal as an alternative power source for boats and RVs.
I've never had to test it yet due to powerfailure, (KC Power) has been good) but I do have a boat I use it on and when I camp it's great. Since i use that for camping I thought it was a great idea incase I'd lose power here as a back up for my reef tank. As far as keeping it charged I just use a standard car battery charger and try to keep it fully charged at all times. I think it'll get me by. Best of luck (and yes, I do need to test it when I get some time to see how long it will go... that's a great idea that I should have done long ago; I'm such a procrastenator sometimes.. It can't take more amps than a trolling motor though and that's 20 hours)

 

[islandgirl]

OK...you guys are talking stuff WAAAYYY over my head! I won't be messin' with any kind of batteries cause I don't know what I'll be doing! Like Kip said "dont buy gadgets, and dont buy UPS computer backups... they just arent worth it... get a generator.... you may can even find a used one... trust me... i was without power in dec for 7 days!!!!". Hey Kip what did you pay for your generator and where did you purchase it? I remember that ice storm....what a nightmare!

 

[benrock]

I think this is up to everyone's preference and what works best for them. I'm quite content with what I have. Everything has pros and cons. A generator can run out of fuel, a battery can go dead. Just be prepared

 

[islandgirl]

And what do YOU have, benrock? Help me...I'm trying to get prepared

 

[benrock]

Hi Island Girl,
I have the heavy duty battery back up with an ac power inverter (converts battery to electric). There are a ton of options to concider when you're buying a power supply. For me I also chose this method because I'm in an apartment complex and I'm afraid neighbors wouldn't appreciate the sound of a Generator running at night when the power is out. (They already have to put up with me being a musician) Either that or I'd have a heck of a lot of company as I"m the only one with power. It seems a lot of people put down any option besides a generator but it should be a case by case basis; what works the best for you and what can you afford? I honestly don't like when it's recommended you only do things a certain way and that's the only way (which I see a lot on this board). My advice is to look at all the variables in your situation and then use deductive reasoning and you'll have your best option.

 

[javatech]

I have both a battery backup ups (3) and a Generator. the battery backup will run my pumps and one heater for 1 hr giving me time to start the Generator. i have a lot of power outages that only last a min or two and that way the pumps don't stop

 

[benrock]

very impressive javatech!

 

[javatech]

Thanks it's saved me a lot of problems

 

[beth]

I need to get a generator that will last thru tropical storms. Keep procrastinating. However, you can get a generator hooked up directly to your house, thus no need to run plugs out of your house when the juice goes off...particualarly handy for night-time black outs, while you are away from the house or during storms.

 

[bdhough]

Your tank is small. Try a computer backup. I know the whole Carolina thing and thankfully never lost power during that ice storm. BUT when will you loose power??? Usually during the winter... SOOOOO get a battery backup for a heater and a battery powered air pump to keep the water oxygenated. Hell test the ups backup on whatever you want. You have 14 days no questions asked on returns from Best Buy and Circuit City.

 

[elan]

nice setup javatech.

 

[plum70rt]

I use 2 UPS 1000 watts a piece, has kept my pump running 4 hrs no problems and keeps timers on for gliches, got them for 100 bucks on ----, long term you cant beat a generator,

 

[shep]

all said and done I have seen alot of setups. the most impressive was a go cart engine turning a GM alternator charging two batteries running powerinverters, which inturn powered the tank's flow. Sad thing was the dude spent all this money on a low buck system (400). Had he checked, he would have found that generators are not all that expensive. I got 300 amp generator/welder off of ---- for 700. It will run my entire house except for the a/c unit. I don't know how much you have invested into pets, but everyone has to have power in my house and the 700 was great for me....even keeps the beer cold and the wife happy. I am sure you can find a small generator or just lights and tank cheap on ----.

 

[shep]

hey island I seen you are in charlotte, you want to play coral trader? only great trades i have right now are the xenia that are growing like crazy. give me 3 months and i will start doing cuttings again. right now i have xenia trying to take over and im chucking it about every month or so if i cant find buyers or traders.

 

[richard rendos]

I just learned that a generator is the way to go. I bought a used 5000 watt gasoline generator for $300.00...it ran my 2 refrigerators, my 3 tanks and my television for almost 3 days. Tornadoes/ice storms/etc. in this area made me decide to get one...it paid for itself just during this one storm...I could have lost 2 refrigerators full of food, and countless fish and corals if I didn't have it.