Choosing Ups

Koh23 · Jul 22, 2023

Ok, last few days storms hits here, and result in several power failures. So, naturaly, i think of ups....

But for the love of god(s), i cannot get clear answer, what type, how much W, how many VA.... I need to run single return pump, 40w. I need as much authonomy as i can get....

Help!

rja · Jul 22, 2023

Koh23 said:
Ok, last few days storms hits here, and result in several power failures. So, naturaly, i think of ups....

But for the love of god(s), i cannot get clear answer, what type, how much W, how many VA.... I need to run single return pump, 40w. I need as much authonomy as i can get....

Help!

Not sure what you mean ups, like back up power supply?

I just use a $400 gas generator from harbor freight with an extension cord running straight to my power strips.

Koh23 · Jul 22, 2023

Sorry, ups or apc, or uninterrupted power supply here - UPS.

Generator is not an option, with storm comes a lot of rain, flood and stuff, no safe place to put one into....

KStatefan · Jul 22, 2023

What is the voltage of the 40 watts?

dangles · Jul 22, 2023

BRS did a few informative tests/videos on battery backup. I’d check them out first.

Koh23 · Jul 22, 2023

Pump power suuply is 24v 3a, and connected to 220v wall socket.

fangelillo01 · Jul 22, 2023

I go through the same thing living in southwest Florida. Lost the whole tank during Ian. Bought two Ecotech battery backups and bought gas/propane genny to run as emergency. They are must haves if you go through power outages.

mike550 · Jul 22, 2023

Generally speaking I like APC and Tripp Lite for their UPS backups. Not sure what brands you have in Croatia. Your pump is only drawing 40W so it’s not a big load. Don’t be fooled by the 3A on your power supply, that’s what the power supply is rated for, not how much current your pump is drawing.

So your biggest question will be how long do you want it to run? That will define the size of your battery backup. Check out the APC website. You can enter your power needs and it will suggest backups long with estimated run time

Koh23 · Jul 24, 2023

Ok, it seems that easiest (but not the best) option is simply 12>220v converter, hooked up to car battery.

Not backup per se, no automatization, but great authonomy depending on car battery....

jda · Jul 24, 2023

I got an APC UPS with dual batteries for one flow pump - Tunze at like 20something watts. It ran for 24 hours and was still going. I have no idea about the specs, sorry. They make all kinds of models so you can find one that fits your needs.

If you do get a UPS, just remember that the batteries need changed so test them after the first few years.

The_Paradox · Jul 24, 2023

You can get a cyber power ups off Amazon pretty cheap. They will run most power heads 5+ hours on a modest setting. Even if you have a generator you should still have an ups unless your generator is sine which a 400 dollar one won’t be.

paragrouper · Jul 24, 2023

Koh23 said:
Ok, it seems that easiest (but not the best) option is simply 12>220v converter, hooked up to car battery.

Not backup per se, no automatization, but great authonomy depending on car battery....

If you choose that route look for an inverter, which converts DC to AC.

if your total load is only 40 Watts, I would go with a UPS.

Koh23 · Jul 24, 2023

I'd rather use UPS, and avoid fiddling with bukly and heavy car battery, BUT...

So far, every one that i find, and in acceptable price range are only 800,900 and maybe 1000 VA UPS, they cannot provide any meaningfull authonomy for my pump.

Hour, two, three - too little, nothing is gonna happen in that time if i dont have backup or any pump running.

Aim is minimum 10-12 hours, and i strongly believe there is no ups in any reasonable price range that is capable of that.

So, for longer authonomy, simple solution is like i said - converter, inverter from 12v to 220v, and 45,60,75 or 100 car battery. PRO is that this solution is relatively cheap, about 40 euros (or usd) for converter, and up to 100 euro for battery.

Con is that there is zero automation, if power goes out, one should manualy unplug pump from wall, connect car battery to converter and plug pump in.

Alternative is using same converter, but one that is automated and created for using is central heating for powering pump(s), that is fully automated, when there is power, pump runs from wall, converter charge battery as needed, when power goes out, pump continue to run on car battery, when power is back, battery is charged back.

Cons are price, around 150-200e for converter + car battery.

Now, for now, there was 2-4 power outs yearly, lasting from 2 to 8 hours. Not a big deal, so cheaper solution is sufficient, but recent storms causes more frequent power outs, and they last longer. In some parts, for days. Of course in that worst case scenario, no battery is gonna hold, genny is solution.

But i'd rather not go there...

C_AWOL · Jul 24, 2023

Have you considered looking into something like an ecoflow? A lot of the newer models double up as a ups with passthrough current to not over cycle the battery.

Being an lfp battery, they have extremely long cycle life without needing to change it out often like the lead batteries in a regular ups.

Just look into the appropriate size for what you will power and you can generally calculate how long it will last via watt/hours (1500wh = can generally power run 1500 watts for 1 hour)

Alternatively if you're a little handy, you can shuck an old cyber power and wire a new 12v battery to it quite safely (if using an lfp battery then one with a built in battery management system is recommended)

Koh23 · Jul 24, 2023

Thanx!

For now, i'll go cheapest route. So far, power outs were rare, really not a problem. So for survive this summer, existing battery from car will suffice, if situation with power outs gets worse, then i will invest is some serious equipment.

The_Paradox · Jul 24, 2023

Koh23 said:
Thanx!

For now, i'll go cheapest route. So far, power outs were rare, really not a problem. So for survive this summer, existing battery from car will suffice, if situation with power outs gets worse, then i will invest is some serious equipment.

Just know it’s very lossy to go DC-AC-DC. If I were going to go the car battery route I would run a dedicated power head direct DC. If needed two batteries in series with a buck converter could run a power head a very long time.

Koh23 · Jul 25, 2023

Ok, i found in garage 12v air compressor, air pump used to power several sponge filters, not really sure of output, i need to check.

So idea is, in first hand, to hook it to car battery, put few lines in tank, with air stones or without....

Will it provide enough aeration and water movement on 500 l tank? Fir short period at least? Or is it futile try with air pump?

Boreas_SA · Jul 25, 2023

You can also look for the Jebao backup batteries, as far as I'm aware they replace your 24v PSU, and has some battery capacity in case power fails. I do think it switches to 12v when power fails, so return pump will run at less power, but battery should last a while: