Power generators .... recommendations?

[Len]

I'm thinking about getting a gas-powered power generator just in case of a power outtage, but I'm not sure what I'll need or what's good. Anyone using one that they'd recommend? My tank is situated in my living room, so how would I go about powering the aquarium in the vent of power loss? Long extension cord, I presume

I've been told the UPS power supplies are bad for pumps so now I'm looking for an alternative.

 

[liquid]

I got mine from Lowes last winter when we had a power outage. I got sick and tired of my house sump (not my aquarium sump) backing up on me. I flooded my basement one year because of an 18 hr long power outtage in combination with a massive rain storm. I bet I dipped 200-300 gallons of water out of there during the course of the day. Ugh.

It was a 5500 watt unit but I can't remember the name off the top of my head. I know it used a Briggs and Stratton engine tho. I'll look up the name of it when I get home tonite.

Here's a couple good links on selecting a generator that I found on Lowes website:

http://www.lowes.com/lkn?action=howTo&p ... wToLibrary

Also, did you check thru the back issues of Advanced Aquarist? Durso wrote a very good article on what to do about power outages.

Shane

 

[ChrisRD]

A DC-to-AC power inverter is another handy power back-up gadget. Cheap too. I think Rich discusses them in his article.

I think it was Dave Playfair that built a big auto-backup system out of a few deep-cycle marine batteries and an inverter. Check out his website. Basically just a heavy-duty version of a UPS (only cheaper).

Of course, the generator is your best bet for a long-term outage. The device Playfair made sounds good for a situtation where the power might kick off for a few hours while you're not home (ie. not there to setup your generator and plug stuff in).

I suppose the ultimate is a standbye generator with an automatic transfer switch - tad pricey though. :wink:

BTW, if noise is an issue, I think the small Honda camping generators are about as quiet as it gets. The drawback is I don't think they have a large enough fuel tank to run through the night. <picturing a blurry-eyed Len filling his generator at 3 AM>

 

[Anonymous]

I have the 1000W portable Honda. Its not much bigger than a big toaster and is easily carried around. Also is very quiet. I just carry it outside and run a heavy duty extension cord through a crack in the door. It runs my big Sequence pump and a heater or two.

I intend to trade it in for one that will run for 8 hours, as in my area we have outages that last for days on occasion.

Hondas are nice but expensive. Before that I had a big heavy one from home depot. I could never get it started.

 

[Jeff_S]

I have had good luck with my UPS once I got one that had a true sine wave output and not a step wave output. Powers 2 Ampmaster 3000s fine.
The motors made a humming noise with the step wave output. Got the APC 1100 at Sams club for $130.

Jeff

 

[Len]

Cool. I didn't know such a UPS existed. I thought they were all stepped. I'll definitely look into that. How did you find out the APC 1100 was a sine wave output?

 

[Anonymous]

Good topic Len - I have been considering the same thing!

Jeff -

How long will the APC 1100 run your ampmasters?

 

[Anonymous]

Just wondering, do you guys have running water? :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[madrefkepr]

Hi Len,

When I worked construction I had a Honda generator, and would recommend them to anyone. Never had a problem with it. When I got out of that line of work, I sold it (dumb, dumb, dumb ), so I was without one until just a few weeks ago. I also needed something to power a basement sump pump in case of a power outage. Since the power rarely goes out , I didn't want to spend a lot, so I bought a Coleman 1850 watt. Inexpensive, very portable, and not too loud (although the Hondas are quieter, I think). The drawback, as mentioned earlier, is that it will only run about 3 1/2 hours on a tank of gas.

 

[tomheo]

I'm thinking about getting a gas-powered power generator just in case of a power outtage, but I'm not sure what I'll need or what's good. Anyone using one that they'd recommend? My tank is situated in my living room, so how would I go about powering the aquarium in the vent of power loss? Long extension cord, I presume

I've been told the UPS power supplies are bad for pumps so now I'm looking for an alternative.

Hey Len,

I've been considering this one: http://www.jehmco.com/PRODUCTS_/HARDWAR ... ystem.html

Nice thing is, like a UPS, if you're not there when the power goes out, this thing comes on automatically (as opposed to a generator where you'd probably have to be there?). Read some good reviews on it.

Thomas

 

[liquid]

Len, the generator that I have is a Power Boss 5500. It's rated for a continuous 5500 watts of power with a maximum of 8500 watt power spike when needed.

http://www.generac-portables.com/genera ... erator.cfm

I think I spent like $500 on it at Lowes two winters ago. So far I haven't had to use it yet (fingers crossed).

Shane

 

[fishfarmer]

I've toyed with several types of emergency backup sources and still haven't found the best solution other than buying a generator. I did buy a APC 500 to run a powerhead in my main tank, not sure how long it will run though. I didn't realize until I had bought the unit that it runs the powerhead continuously. I was looking more for a unit that would switch on a smaller powerhead/airstone once the power shuts off so I could use a smaller wattage pump to conserve the battery and switch it off when the main power came back on.

 

[t gallo]

i need more power scotty, i picked this one up last year from home depot for around 700.00 and it has worked great ever since. it saved my tank from melydown twice so far and my wife loves it when i power up the fridge and family room.

 

[Jeff_S]

I started with an APC 650 and had the humming noise so I called their tech support line and explained the application I had and they recommended the larger unit which took care of the humming problem.

I have not done a full "run it till its dead" test but it has lasted over 1 hour with just the 2 amp masters on it. The last power outage we had lasted 4 hours. After we heard the power would not be back for a while I started up the generator after an hour. If you want to hook up a generator to feed several circuits (6) in you home you can wire in a generator transfer switch. I got mine at sears but I have seen them at Home Depot also (about $200). To hook one in you need to open your electric panel and you move the wires from the breakers you want to transfer over to new panel and and hook the leads from the transfer switch up to the old breakers. Its not hard to hook one up if you are comfortable working inside your panel. With a transfer switch you don't have to worry about backfeeding to the power company when the generator is running.

 

[Len]

Thanks everyone. I really need one of these devices for peace of mind. I lost my 50 gallon to a power stoppage a decade age and would kill myself if it happened to my 120 gallon when I was away on a weekend vacation or something.

I thought UPS were unusable, but because of some of your suggestions, I'm going to look into the ones discussed here. A generator might still be handy in case of long power outtages (heaven forbid, a earthquake in LA)

 

[Anonymous]

Len,

Please let us know what you find out!

 

[baseman]

I have an opportunity to get an APC 1000 UPS for free. After I get it hooked up, I can test it and post the results if anyone is interested.

 

[Anonymous]

https://www.refurbups.com/prodallresults.asp

Wow, they are much cheaper than I thought. THe 900 has sine wave output...

 

[Anonymous]

One note about UPSs- I had a small UPS power strip that I connected my main pump into, probably was a mag 12 or similar, it would run the pump for maybe an hour. Anyway, the battery in the thing wore out eventually. One day I came home, and no main pump. Everything else was running fine. So...in this case it wasn't much help.

 

[Apophis924]

Hey Len check this out, I dont know if it is what you are looking for, But it hooks up to your car and runs off the car engine power. I think it runs for a few hours then you just start the car up to recharge it and it provides temp power to a few critical items, I will use it for water movement and temp control, a power outage not going to last so long that my animals will suffer any thing serious going a day without lights.
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product. ... 47%3A96391