UPS's

tbittner · 06-05-2007, 11:20 PM

Just curious but I did a search and didn't find any (not obvious at least) conversations about having a UPS on your system. Do people use UPS's to keep their equipment protected and working even when the electric goes out? I have a 1500a on my 120g and it keeps everything running for up to 12 hours. I paid $175 for it but you can get 1500a for less now.

DaveK · 06-06-2007, 03:25 AM

You get 12 hours out of a 1500 (I think that's va, not a) system on a 120 gal tank?

Not to doubt you, but that sounds like an extraordinary long time for a UPS that size. What do you keep running when the power goes off?

mps9506 · 06-06-2007, 06:43 AM

My tank handled 12 hours with no power just fine. Just some battery powered air pumps.
If had tanks any larger I'd probably consider investing in a generator, but I don't own a house yet, so that's not happening anytime soon.

tbittner · 06-06-2007, 06:43 AM

Yes, you're right, it is va. The only thing I'm pretty sure that gets run is the two cannister filters and the protein skimmer. I don't have the light on it as I don't have corals yet and even if I did, I don't think I would run the light. My wife likes it warm in the house so I don't think the heater runs either.

Frankie · 06-06-2007, 07:38 AM

I have a back up generator. Best way to go imo. I can also run the house lights on this one.

tbittner · 06-06-2007, 08:20 AM

Hi Frankie, I've thought about that especially when I first moved out to where I am now. If the wind started to blow, out goes the lights. They must have done something to fix it though because the electric has been pretty dependable as of late.

Do you have automatic failover? Does it have any kind of battery filtering of the electric? Our power company sells systems like that but they aren't BIG enough for me.

boozeman · 06-06-2007, 09:45 AM

JFK had posted a description of his system here:

Battery Backup?

other options, which have also been discussed here on RS, are battery powered air pumps, deep cycle marine batteries, small dedicated generators and ultimately whole house backup power.
also the vortec pumps come with thier own backup battery. The Elos controller has a neat feature called 'aqua rescue' that will sense a power interuption and automatically switch your main pumps to a deep cycle battery system.

BigAl07 · 06-06-2007, 12:48 PM

Right now I use PC style UPS for my tanks (both are 12g or less). They work splendidly for a few hours with just a power head and heater on.

tbittner I see where you aren't worried about heater being on UPS because wife likes the house very warm. If you lose power do you NOT lose heat too?

We sell large residentail generators here where I work and they aren't very expensive for a minimal unit to run essential house items and your tank essentials. But you gotta pay an electrician to come hook them up. And even with a generator there is still some type of lag (depends on the unit) between power out and generating full power (could be a few secodns up to 45+ seconds depending on the unit). I would still use a battery back-up system to filter and cover that momentary lag. Just my 2 cents

Allen

jhnrb · 06-06-2007, 03:27 PM

I use a guardian 880 for the main pump (dolphin 3000 ampmaster) and then have a whole house generator if power stays out for any extended time.

06-05-2007, 11:20 PM	#1 (permalink)
tbittner Watch this Ma! Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Northern VA Posts: 5,562 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	UPS's Just curious but I did a search and didn't find any (not obvious at least) conversations about having a UPS on your system. Do people use UPS's to keep their equipment protected and working even when the electric goes out? I have a 1500a on my 120g and it keeps everything running for up to 12 hours. I paid $175 for it but you can get 1500a for less now.

06-06-2007, 03:25 AM	#2 (permalink)
DaveK Neon dottyback Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Philadelpahia, PA Posts: 648 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: UPS's You get 12 hours out of a 1500 (I think that's va, not a) system on a 120 gal tank? Not to doubt you, but that sounds like an extraordinary long time for a UPS that size. What do you keep running when the power goes off?

06-06-2007, 06:43 AM	#3 (permalink)
mps9506 They misunderestimated me Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Wilmington, NC Posts: 7,143 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: UPS's My tank handled 12 hours with no power just fine. Just some battery powered air pumps. If had tanks any larger I'd probably consider investing in a generator, but I don't own a house yet, so that's not happening anytime soon. __________________ Mike "The Bandwith Bandit" Help Build Reefpedia Premium Membership Available! Support Reef Sanctuary Sponsors

06-06-2007, 06:43 AM	#4 (permalink)
tbittner Watch this Ma! Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Northern VA Posts: 5,562 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: UPS's Yes, you're right, it is va. The only thing I'm pretty sure that gets run is the two cannister filters and the protein skimmer. I don't have the light on it as I don't have corals yet and even if I did, I don't think I would run the light. My wife likes it warm in the house so I don't think the heater runs either.

06-06-2007, 07:38 AM	#5 (permalink)
Frankie Angel Girl's Daddy Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: The End Of The World Posts: 7,128 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: UPS's I have a back up generator. Best way to go imo. I can also run the house lights on this one. __________________ Bruce: Today's meeting is Step 5: Bring a fish friend. Everyone brought a fish friend? DIY=DO IT YOURSELF! If we ignore the environment maybe it will just go away....

06-06-2007, 08:20 AM	#6 (permalink)
tbittner Watch this Ma! Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Northern VA Posts: 5,562 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: UPS's Hi Frankie, I've thought about that especially when I first moved out to where I am now. If the wind started to blow, out goes the lights. They must have done something to fix it though because the electric has been pretty dependable as of late. Do you have automatic failover? Does it have any kind of battery filtering of the electric? Our power company sells systems like that but they aren't BIG enough for me.

06-06-2007, 09:45 AM	#7 (permalink)
boozeman The CodFather ~ Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: new york Posts: 8,800 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: UPS's JFK had posted a description of his system here: Battery Backup? other options, which have also been discussed here on RS, are battery powered air pumps, deep cycle marine batteries, small dedicated generators and ultimately whole house backup power. also the vortec pumps come with thier own backup battery. The Elos controller has a neat feature called 'aqua rescue' that will sense a power interuption and automatically switch your main pumps to a deep cycle battery system. __________________ ...and when I'm old and wise little things mean little to me like autumn winds they'll blow right through me and someday, in the mist of time when they ask you if you knew me remember that you were a friend of mine

06-06-2007, 12:48 PM	#8 (permalink)
BigAl07 Reef Addict (hopeless) Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Waynesville, North Carolina Posts: 10,619 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: UPS's Right now I use PC style UPS for my tanks (both are 12g or less). They work splendidly for a few hours with just a power head and heater on. tbittner I see where you aren't worried about heater being on UPS because wife likes the house very warm. If you lose power do you NOT lose heat too? We sell large residentail generators here where I work and they aren't very expensive for a minimal unit to run essential house items and your tank essentials. But you gotta pay an electrician to come hook them up. And even with a generator there is still some type of lag (depends on the unit) between power out and generating full power (could be a few secodns up to 45+ seconds depending on the unit). I would still use a battery back-up system to filter and cover that momentary lag. Just my 2 cents Allen __________________ Allen Allen's testimonial . . ."Let Me help you help YOURSELF" (Click Here) with a SW set up there is one basic fundamental rule that we ALL should follow *When in doubt... wait it out. This means take it slow and let the tank "develop" and don't rush it. Time is your friend Ask me about how to increase your REEF budget without going without FOOD!!* Big Al's 10g Julie's (BigAl's Gal) 6g NanoCube BigAl's Slow 90g Tank Chronicle Allens OFFICE 12g Nano-Reef Reef Balls & Cakes Debt Free & Change your Family Tree!!

06-06-2007, 03:27 PM	#9 (permalink)
jhnrb Scopas Tang Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Eureka, CALIF. Posts: 477 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: UPS's I use a guardian 880 for the main pump (dolphin 3000 ampmaster) and then have a whole house generator if power stays out for any extended time.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)