Back-up power sources....

RED SEA
Jump to Last
Nurse Payne

Nurse Payne

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Mar 19, 2014
Messages
146
Reaction score
4
Location
Huntsville
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
With all of these storms that are supposed to be coming through Monday, I remembered something I've forgotten to buy for the tank--back-up power. I was wondering what all of you use? I need a huge generator, but I don't think it's allowed in my subdivision if it's one of those loud ones (aren't most loud?)

What are our options?

As always, thanks in advance.
 
ReefBot Lab, Automated Water Tester
I bet if you let your HOA board members charge their cell phones during the power outage they'd give you a pass.
 
Haha. Perhaps they would. Or just give them some booze when they walk up?

Tim says we will buy a large generator and deal with the consequences. That doesn't help me this week tho. I am considering making my own "rig" with a large battery and converter. Have any of you tried this?
 
I would have to agree with Tim. If I had the money to have a whole home generator I would take my chances with the HOA. The only time it would be noisy is when it cycled on each month for a few minutes and if there was a power outage. And let's face it, when you are the only home with power you will be pretty popular!
 
I purchased a small gas generator at Harbor Freight for under $100.00 on sale. The current price is $129.00. It is small but should be more than enough to run my pumps and heater.
 
Your return pump or power heads? I was hoping to get something that would run a heater and my tunze turbelle 6255. I think the tank would survive if I could keep those two going. Would the generator you're talking about handle that?
 
Tidal Gardens
We paid about $325 for our 3,800 watt (4,200 peak) portable generator. With one that size you can power anything you will need for your aquarium. My husband said that if you shop around online you could probably pick one up for around $250 to $300. He purchased from generatorsdirect.com. With ours I can power my tank necessities and our two refrigerators.

It's easy to do the math: The tunze has a maximum consumption of 58 watts and if you have a 500 watt heater that is only 558.
 
I have a 3650 watt generator from Home Depot and a lot of extension cords. When the tornadoes came through several years ago it saved everything. I ran the return pumps, refrigerator, microwave, phone, router, modem, televisions, and computers. We cooked on the gas grill and microwave. It was about this time of year so it was not hot or cold. We also took some of my son's in-law's frozen food for safekeeping. We had to send to Birmingham to get gas for the first day or so and then one of the convenience stores near us got a big generator so we had gas. I had to refill the gas tank twice every 24 hours. It is noisy but nobody complained (at least not to me). I've got about 25 gallons of gas on storage now just in case. Had I not had the generator there's no telling what I would have lost, as it was I lost nothing.

I wouldn't worry about the HOA. Whatever penalty they assess would be less than you would have if you didn't have a generator.

Good luck.
 
Tidal Gardens
A very good temp solution is to use your car and an inverter. You can pick up an inverter anywhere like harbor freight or walmart and then connect it to your vehicle, run an extension cord to your tank. Of course you should run your car engine during this. The main risk is someone steals your car, or carbon monoxide if you leave your car in the garage. Same risks as running a portable generator.

Perhaps that can help, good luck!
 
TheClark said:
A very good temp solution is to use your car and an inverter.
Click to expand...

We did this in June 2012 in VA. That was the Friday thru Saturday before our generator arrived on Monday :) An inverter will power the powerhead but I don't think it will power a heater. I say this because it definitely will NOT power a blender.
 
These are great! Thank you all so much. Tim is out of town so it's up I me to pick a generator. *evil grin*. I will go by tractor supply and lowes later on today.

I didn't think about the penalty for having a loud generator. You're right Harry! What's a $200 penalty compared to losing the tank?

How do you store 25 gallons of gas?? I don't have a gas can that large. I guess I will go by advance or somewhere and get two or three large ones.

Do you guys think it will get that bad here?
 
BRS
I sure hope not, but I think the opportunity for bad weather is always with us in this part of Alabama. The way I look at is that eventually I will have a power outage and any gas I purchase can be used in the cars or lawnmowers if it is reaching the point that it is in danger of becoming old.
 
I use 5 gallon plastic gas jugs and we have a storage building that is not connected to the house. I use Sta-Bil additive to keep it from getting old or settling out or gelling or whatever old gas does. A couple of years ago I got the idea that it would also be good to "rotate" my stored gas through the cars every so often as an added measure to insure that the gas doesn't get "stale". I put 5 gallons in my car and it started to miss a little bit so I decided that while Sta-Bil would be good for small engines with a carburetor, cars with injectors don't like it so much.
 
Oops. Got it. I will just rotate monthly and it shouldn't get old, right? Or use sta-bil, but not both.

I don't have an unattached shed, so will it be ok in the connected garage?
 
Yea those Margaritas are a must when the power goes out... LOL


TrishW said:
We did this in June 2012 in VA. That was the Friday thru Saturday before our generator arrived on Monday :) An inverter will power the powerhead but I don't think it will power a heater. I say this because it definitely will NOT power a blender.
Click to expand...
 
I have the coupon for the sale if you cant find it online.


http://www.harborfreight.com/4000-Peak3200-Running-Watts-65Hp-212Cc-Generator-Epa-Iii-69729.html[/URL]
 
Top Shelf Aquatics
Nurse Payne said:
Oops. Got it. I will just rotate monthly and it shouldn't get old, right? Or use sta-bil, but not both.

I don't have an unattached shed, so will it be ok in the connected garage?
Click to expand...

I think if you just used Sta-Bil you'll be OK. The reason I put the gas in the storage building was if it caught on fire maybe it wouldn't burn the house down. If you don't have that option, just put it in the safest place you can think of, away from sources of heat, sunshine, or flame and make sure it doesn't leak. Garage would probably be fine.

Also, not to suggest that you would, but just to make sure you understand; when the generator is running make sure it is outside the house for carbon monoxide safety. Mine is on the screened in back porch. I run the extension cords in the door and them close the door as much as possible with a chair behind it to keep it from blowing open.
 

IF YOU HAD TO TAKE A REEFING EXAM, WOULD YOU PASS?

  • Yes!

    Votes: 32 45.7%

  • Not yet, but I have one that I want to buy in mind!

    Votes: 9 12.9%

  • No.

    Votes: 26 37.1%

  • Other (please explain).

    Votes: 3 4.3%
See comments…

New Posts

Fiji Cube
World Wide Corals
Nutramar Foods
Chewy.com
TCK Corals
Top Shelf Aquatics
Deltec
Tidal Gardens
Dinkins Aquatic Gardens
New Posts
Back
Top