?!?DC Pumps?!?
- Thread starter Diesel
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I will be looking for a new return pump soon. Not 100% sold on DC pumps. The expensive ones seem nice, but when it's such a critical part of the system and many ac pumps lifespan is measured in decades I'm just not sure. Never wanted the ability to control the flow of the return, nor do I like an extra controller to have sitting around. I hear mixed reports of just how efficient and quiet they are. Otherwise leaning to a sicce 4.0.
OP
OP
Diesel
ME=1, CANCER=0.
Where did the Australian rock band AC/DC get their name from?
Why, Alternating Current and Direct Current, of course! Both AC and DC describe types of current flow in a circuit.
In direct current (DC), the electric charge (current) only flows in one direction. Electric charge inalternating current (AC), on the other hand, changes direction periodically.
The voltage in AC circuits also periodically reverses because the current changes direction.
Most of the digital electronics that you build will use DC. However, it is important to understand some AC concepts. Most homes are wired for AC, so if you plan to connect your Tardis music box project to an outlet, you will need to convert AC to DC. AC also has some useful properties, such as being able to convert voltage levels with a single component (a transformer), which is why AC was chosen as the primary means to transmit electricity over long distances.
A real question. Not trying to be a pain, but it's what I am looking at. Why would I buy a DC pump over the sicce 4.0? I have a 3.0 and I can't hear it at all so noise isn't an issue. I want around 1000gph at the pump (~700-800 at the tank). I have no reason to vary the return speed and am not thrilled at another thing under the stand with more cables. The 4.0 runs at 80w and it's not unreasonable to think this pump should run well over 10 years. It's $170. The other pump I have been looking at is a Fluval SP2. 950gph, 58w, $140.
I honesty have been looking at DC pumps, but I can't convince myself they are better for my setup especially with how critical a rerun pump is.
I honesty have been looking at DC pumps, but I can't convince myself they are better for my setup especially with how critical a rerun pump is.
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mfinn
likes zoanthids
The Sicce Syncra pumps are excellent pumps Fluvals are too. You can't go wrong with either.
If you don't see any benefit to go with a DC pump, that's fine.
I went with a Vectra L1 for my closed loop. It replaced a Reeflo Dart/Snapper which did create some noise.
So when the Vectras came out and I saw the reviews on how quiet they were, for me it was a no brainer.
I love it. Dead silent.
But then I heard my supposedly quiet Eheim 1262 making noise. Not much, but some. So back to the store and I got a M1 for the return.
To me silence is golden. It's important to me.
Not everybody is the same, and not everybody has the same budget.
You are looking at some pretty decent pumps.
Closed loop seems like a pretty good use. I wanted to ask the question with the OP statement that DC is a no brainer and to see if I was missing something. I can understand if my post seems a bit contentious, but it really isn't. I have been asking myself those questions I listed. I like new tech and I want one, lol, but for my system I am just not sure...
OP
OP
Diesel
ME=1, CANCER=0.
Don't get me wrong, you're not missing anything.
As I said it should be a no brainer, doesn't mean it is.
I can bring up tons of examples and statements made in this hobby based on one review but I didn't do that.
If you run a octopus skimmer and I run a life reef ( which I do) and say there's nothing better than that is based on my experiences.
Does your experience count in that case...... Yes it does!
Same counts for your view on the AC vs DC pump.
As I mentioned too that the AC is a proven work horse and it will be for many years to come as long they stay on the market.
What I'm afraid for is that the choice will be less over time as many manufactures will switch to the DC pump.
TylerS
Active Member
. I am not qualified to debate the conversion loss from ac/dc power etc. What i do know is if a AC pump pushing 90 watts of power is throttled back 25% that pump will continue to use 90 watts. A DC pump in the same scenario could simply be throttled back by the driver and only use 70. Huge gains in efficiency? not really?!?! but cool none the less
Just FYI i dont think this statement is accurate. I can't find a good reference right now for this though. The power consumption is more directly related to the amount of water that is moved, less water moved = less power in general, but it's not linear. You're usually best off buying a pump with twice the flow you need and operating it at 50% or so.
If I find a good reference I'll post it later
You are correct! That statement was not accurate. If more people measured the actual wattage their return pumps consumed, that myth could be dispelled. If that were the case, they might also find that many DC pumps list the wattage that actually goes into the pump and don't report the wattage that is lost in the controller and power supply which could be an additional 10-15%.
evmibo
Active Member
Fwiw I've used a jebao DC9000 on a SVS3-30 (at 6/6) for about 1.5 years, no problems. A lot of people are using DC pumps on life reefs.
The pressure ratings on DC pumps are still pretty good, not as good as mags, but then again the equivalent mag24 uses 265 watts, while the dc9000 uses 70. Less heat, less noise, and less power consumption with excellent results.
Here's my kill a watt meter measuring watts on the dc9000 as it's pushing water through the venturi at setting 6/6. Even if you add 10-15% to it you're talking <80wattts.
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charleslotz
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Perhaps I need to be more specific a jeboa 12000dc at full blast does not perform as well as a mag12/18 on a 36 inch life reef skimmer. This is just based on observation - eg I have to close the gate valve more when using the dc, than directly compared on the mag to me this = less water being pumped into the skimmer chamber by the dc. I also have a red dragon 80w and can test this on the weekend to be fare to dc but am pretty sure the red dragon will do much better. Point being not all dc's are made equally.
So let's see the mag 24 on the kill-a-watt while running that skimmer. I know for a fact that it isn't consuming 265 watts. I used to run a Mag 36 on an AquaC that I used to have and it only pulled 175w. I would bet the Mag 24 would be down around 125w or possibly even less. Of course that's not less than 80w, but a whole lot less than 265w. The bigger thing is it will be pushing a whole lot more water than the DC9000 which will equate to better skimmer performance.Fwiw I've used a jebao DC9000 on a SVS3-30 (at 6/6) for about 1.5 years, no problems. A lot of people are using DC pumps on life reefs.
The pressure ratings on DC pumps are still pretty good, not as good as mags, but then again the equivalent mag24 uses 265 watts, while the dc9000 uses 70. Less heat, less noise, and less power consumption with excellent results.
Here's my kill a watt meter measuring watts on the dc9000 as it's pushing water through the venturi at setting 6/6. Even if you add 10-15% to it you're talking <80wattts.
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I have a vectra m1 as a return pump and love it. My 75 I set up 15 years ago used probably 3 times the power I use now on a 150. Dc pumps and led lights allows me to spend my savings on making my tank better. To bad heaters will most likely not change do to the power that needs to be consumed to create enough heat to warm our tanks.
Heat is just a byproduct of energy consumption
Heat is just a byproduct of energy consumption
Testing the Red Dragon 80w is not really helping the DC's case. The Red Dragon 3 pumps have more closely related with an AC pump than they are with DC pumps.
charleslotz
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Interesting Greg on the red dragon , I did not know that....
