• Power outages

  • Marie5348

Rumors and so on suggest that the lights will be turned off as a way to save electricity. Let it be rumors, maybe it will happen, maybe not, but usually rumors tend to be true. Since I "tend" to a marine aquarium, I have a lot of questions, and maybe it will be useful for someone else too. What is important to keep running, even during a power outage? Lights - we turn them off, air pump, lift pump, water flow, heaters/coolers, it's clear. How to save the aquarium if there is a power outage for 3 hours a day? I'm not panicking, but it's better to be prepared. Thank you.

Rachael

I'm scared of this moment... Regarding the emergency and long-term maintenance of the aquarium in case of a power outage, I wrote in the neighboring thread about the sea. There are several separate topics about UPS. I'm also struggling with this issue (of rolling blackouts). So far, I've only stocked up on two 1 kW UPS units with 60 Ah batteries. But that's not enough for me... I really think it will be a disaster if this starts happening again...

Cheryl9296

So, to stay on topic: they can also turn off the heating...

Amanda5586

Heating is nonsense) There are plenty of firewood (just kidding) but the question is what equipment needs to be critically considered for the UPS so that the aquarium survives.

Charles

I apologize for jumping into this topic. Will a computer UPS work if I use a car battery???

Steven757

As the Maidan showed, we have a lot of wheels... We need to attach "dynamo" to them to spin. I'm joking for now, and I'm scratching my head over the question myself.

John3432

A computer power supply won't work. There are many reasons: the output signal shape is not suitable (it's not a sine wave), it's not designed for prolonged use (it can burn out), and it won't be able to charge a car battery. You need an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) with an external battery and a pure sine wave output. As for calculations, it's already been discussed - I have a Luxeon-1500-ZX and a 190 Ah battery. Essential equipment includes a foam generator and a return pump. If the power allows, you can add another flow pump (rear), and the rest is up to your taste and capabilities.

David953

Maybe someone has done it themselves, a little diagram would be nice. Sorry for the off-topic.

Brian7092

Who did it? The UPS by itself? It's easier to buy...)

Jeanne

And much cheaper.

Joe

1982, Schematics magazine No. 12 for 2005 and No. 1 for 2006. Article - S. Kalyuzhny "Converter with sinusoidal output voltage."

Kimberly

A full UPS with charge control, battery charging, and automatic switching is needed, not just a converter.

Andrea8397

As a compromise option (purchase vs manufacturing), a scheme can be used to refine the output of a simple UPS (meander) to a pure sine wave.

Deborah2682

I have never had any problems with the return pump. In such cases, it's important not to invent devices, but to monitor the pump and clean it regularly, at least once every six months. The pump's rotation speed can be changed, but only within very small limits (as experience has shown). It practically does not affect performance.

Julie

I suspect that there is a strong influence on weak pumps like mine in the mini. The tubes need to be cleaned every two months. The difference in flow at night and during the day is noticeable (for overflow), and the voltage in the outlet fluctuates by 20 volts. I meant changing the frequency of the sine wave (the amplitude also needs to be adjusted a bit), as the amplitude alone has almost no effect on the flow.

Matthew1280

I meant frequency, not amplitude. When the frequency is increased to 75 hertz, the pump does not start at all (it cannot synchronize with the supply frequency). Adjusting within 10-20% does not improve performance. So this is a dead end. It works well with three-phase motors.

Larry9400

I understand, I have a simpler task, to maintain a steady flow of water so that the drain is always filled with water and there is no excess noise. Therefore, a 10% adjustment is sufficient. However, if we are making a wave generator, then there is no range at all.

Kevin262

I will share my adventures. Recently, there was no electricity for two days. After 3 hours, I set up a dual-channel compressor with a capacity of 4 liters per minute for two aquariums - 450 and 58 liters, while the sump was left without anything. After 20 hours without power, I started to prepare to withdraw money from my credit card and go buy a generator, but then it happened, the electricity came back!!! No losses were found in the aquariums!!! The compressor worked for 20 hours in intermittent mode.

David3217

Good evening. I have already encountered this problem. Power outages for 2-3 hours every day, on Monday it was off for 7 hours. So far, all the animals are fine. I'm already thinking about a UPS. I will look for a used one + car battery.

Christopher1774

I have power outages twice a day for 2-3 hours. The soft corals and LPS (large-polyped corals) are doing fine. The wrasse Tor and the pajama wrasse have passed away. The other fish (zebrasoma, chromis, chrysiptera, yellow wrasse, solaris dogface, shrimp...) are indifferent.

Joseph

And how did you lose the gobies? Did they jump out in fright when the light was turned on?