DIY Ecotech Battery Backup for $60

[FishKeeper01]

Thank you, this is awesome. Thinking to build my own too!

 

[Kjlife]

Cool idea

 

[intricate_reefer]

If I didn't need it to be float charged could I just cut the connector off the ecotech cable, put terminal connectors on and hook them to the battery. Also how would I be able to tell positive and negative on the cut cable?

Thanks

 

[JasonC80]

Great tutorial, I used this info to build my own battery backup and it works great.

On ebay I found 2.1mm plugs that had about a 5' wire, so got those for a bit less soldering.
Group 31 marine battery locally and battery box from amazon
Battery tender for charging
One inline ATO main fuse
A 4 fuse ATO fuse block from ebay
Some Chicago nuts to secure the fuse box and battery tender to the top of the battery box
Heatshrink around all the electrical connections

This should run my two MP10's and the Vectra pump for days.

 

[DBR_Reef]

If I didn't need it to be float charged could I just cut the connector off the ecotech cable, put terminal connectors on and hook them to the battery. Also how would I be able to tell positive and negative on the cut cable?

Thanks

You kindof have to have a battery float charged, otherwise it will self drain. But all you need to figure out which wire is positive/negative is a multi-meter- which are free at harbor freight. set it to resistance and place one probe on the outside of the dc plug, and the other on the wires- whichever wire has zero resistance is the negative. to double check the positive place the probe inside the dc plug (can be hard to do) and touch the wires- the zero resistance wire is now the positive.

 

[intricate_reefer]

You kindof have to have a battery float charged, otherwise it will self drain. But all you need to figure out which wire is positive/negative is a multi-meter- which are free at harbor freight. set it to resistance and place one probe on the outside of the dc plug, and the other on the wires- whichever wire has zero resistance is the negative. to double check the positive place the probe inside the dc plug (can be hard to do) and touch the wires- the zero resistance wire is now the positive.

Thanks I ended up finding an old dc transformer power cord with the 1.3mm jack and did exactly like you said to find the positive. I then cut it, wired a fuse into the positive and then wired it up to a 105 amp hour deep cycle battery. The tank is in my small bedroom and I’m not to comfortable charging a battery in my room, especially in a confined space under my stand with other electronics. I heard that they gas when they charge and it’s flammable. I figure I’ll check the voltage with a multimeter every month or two and charge it when it goes down to 12.4-12.5 volts, is this ok? Dorian hit last week and I was out of power for two days and it worked great.

 

[funk]

I can't get hold of the ecotech fused cable, googling around they appeared to be recalled at one point too because there were circumstances they could overheat in?

Has anyone used inline fuse holders instead, if so what rating of fuse did you use between the battery and pump controller? I've seen some tidy inline mini blade fuse holders in a few different ratings.

Presume you have just used a single fuse on the positive rail between the battery and pump controller?

 

[funk]

What size are the connectors on the vortech battery backup cable?

 

[ccrabtree]

What are the precautions you took with off-gassing?

 

[TheHarold]

Thanks for the connector sizes @DBR_Reef !

I just finished my rendition of this. I do like how you have the battery sealed up, but my battery is well separated (behind a wall) so it wasn't necessary. I also threw in a voltage meter to monitor the remaining battery life as well as whether the trickle charger is functioning.

Cables from left to right:
Trickle charger
12v battery
Ecotech Output #1
Ecotech Output #2

The battery cable is short just so I could fit it into the photo. In use that cable will be 6ft, and screw directly to a 100ah deep cycle battery.

 

[Macdaddynick1]

Thanks for the connector sizes @DBR_Reef !

I just finished my rendition of this. I do like how you have the battery sealed up, but my battery is well separated (behind a wall) so it wasn't necessary. I also threw in a voltage meter to monitor the remaining battery life as well as whether the trickle charger is functioning.

Cables from left to right:
Trickle charger
12v battery
Ecotech Output #1
Ecotech Output #2

The battery cable is short just so I could fit it into the photo. In use that cable will be 6ft, and screw directly to a 100ah deep cycle battery.

I am still waiting for the battery meter on mine, and should be done.

 

[TheHarold]

I am still waiting for the battery meter on mine, and should be done.

I have a bucket of those meters if you need one

What charger is that? I haven’t found any in that form factor on amazon. Would be perfect

 

[Macdaddynick1]

I have a bucket of those meters if you need one

What charger is that? I haven’t found any in that form factor on amazon. Would be perfect

PeleusTech® Battery Charger, 12V...

 

[TheHarold]

PeleusTech® Battery Charger, 12V...

Oh darn, I was hoping it came standard with that DC 5.5*2.1 jack

 

[Macdaddynick1]

Oh darn, I was hoping it came standard with that DC 5.5*2.1 jack

Oh darn, I was hoping it came standard with that DC 5.5*2.1 jack

Yeah, that one has to be modded.

 

[MikeTheNewbie]

I understand that the non sealed batteries like the one used in the video produce gas when charging. What are the risks, how did you address them?

 

[InvaderJim]

Thanks for the connector sizes @DBR_Reef !

I just finished my rendition of this. I do like how you have the battery sealed up, but my battery is well separated (behind a wall) so it wasn't necessary. I also threw in a voltage meter to monitor the remaining battery life as well as whether the trickle charger is functioning.

Cables from left to right:
Trickle charger
12v battery
Ecotech Output #1
Ecotech Output #2

The battery cable is short just so I could fit it into the photo. In use that cable will be 6ft, and screw directly to a 100ah deep cycle battery.

Would you mind sharing some more details about your rendition? I'd love to try and mimic your design.

 

[TheHarold]

Would you mind sharing some more details about your rendition? I'd love to try and mimic your design.

What details do you need? The jack connector sizes are on the first page of this thread. It is an off the shelf voltage meter and battery charger, and the vortech cables are from ecotech. Wiring is simple: all positives chained, all negatives chained.

 

[Zoaologist]

Something I’ve been wanting to do for awhile now thank you

 

[InvaderJim]

What details do you need? The jack connector sizes are on the first page of this thread. It is an off the shelf voltage meter and battery charger, and the vortech cables are from ecotech. Wiring is simple: all positives chained, all negatives chained.

Sorry guess I should have been more specific. I was mainly interested in where you got the little project box and voltage meter but you answered most of my questions.