Hurricane prep question - urgent

[Subbedout]

I'm in Florida and thinking of setting up an inverter with marine battery to run my Icecap 3k Gyre only if power goes out. My gyre is listed at 8-40 watts depending on speed.

Would a 400 watt AC/DC power inverter be sufficient? Also, what size battery would you recommend, and how long should I expect it run the gyre for?

I do have a battery powered air pump and 12 D batteries, and the pump uses 2 D batteries at a time...would this suffice for a few days?

Thanks in advance!

 

[CodyRVA]

Doesn't really answer your question, but depending on your tank size I would take my livestock with me if you're bailing. Otherwise, I would use air pumps/stones to maintain life support. They'll draw very little power and you can run multiple air lines off of one pump and evenly space them in your display... just a thought.

 

[Matthew Dambra]

The inverter will be more than sufficient, as big a battery as you can get. only way to test how long would be to try it now and recharge it before the storm....

Sounds like you should be set up for at least a few days

Heres my battery bank, i will be running my entire system

 

[Subbedout]

Doesn't really answer your question, but depending on your tank size I would take my livestock with me if you're bailing. Otherwise, I would use air pumps/stones to maintain life support. They'll draw very little power and you can run multiple air lines off of one pump and evenly space them in your display... just a thought.

I'm staying put. Thanks for your answer. For the price of an inverter I could buy a ton of D batteries....if I can find more than the 12 I have.

 

[CodyRVA]

The inverter will be more than sufficient, as big a battery as you can get. only way to test how long would be to try it now and recharge it before the storm....

Sounds like you should be set up for at least a few days

Heres my battery bank, i will be running my entire system

BEAST!

 

[Subbedout]

The inverter will be more than sufficient, as big a battery as you can get. only way to test how long would be to try it now and recharge it before the storm....

Sounds like you should be set up for at least a few days

Heres my battery bank, i will be running my entire system

Impressive set up!

 

[vlangel]

I bought a 1200 watt power inverter for my tank a few years ago. Now I have seahorses and may need to run a chiller which has a big draw but the price difference between a 400 and 1000 or 1200 is not so much really and it might be nice to have the extra.
I also have 3 battery operated pumps.

 

[Subbedout]

I bought a 1200 watt power inverter for my tank a few years ago. Now I have seahorses and may need to run a chiller which has a big draw but the price difference between a 400 and 1000 or 1200 is not so much really and it might be nice to have the extra.

What type/size battery are you using?

 

[vlangel]

What type/size battery are you using?

Each of my battery back up pumps takes 2 D batteries and they are Penn plax.

I actually never bought the marine battery for the power inverter. I live near Pgh, PA and have not had a need for the inverter yet. I figured most likely I would have warning of a dangerous storm but in the event that I don't, I would use the car batteries or motorcycle batteries.

 

[Matthew Dambra]

The batteries that I'm using are MK Gel Deep cycle batteries, these are very expensive however i get them for free because my dad replaces new ones for people and they give him the old ones

 

[vlangel]

That is great that you can get them from your Dad. I worried if I bought one now that even if it were on a trickle charger it might be old when I need it and it would not perform well, and like you said they are expensive.

 

[Matthew Dambra]

The best thing to do to keep the batteries in good shape is to run them down at least once a month and recharge them, this will ensure longevity.
These batteries are mainly used for motorized wheelchairs so they are able to handle being run from full to empty thousands of times before they go bad

 

[vlangel]

The best thing to do to keep the batteries in good shape is to run them down at least once a month and recharge them, this will ensure longevity.
These batteries are mainly used for motorized wheelchairs so they are able to handle being run from full to empty thousands of times before they go bad

O wow, ok, thanks for the tip. I did not know that.

 

[RobertP]

Probably too late but get yourself a generator. I know as soon as a hurricane THINKS about coming to Houston they sell out of them fast. Best thing about generators is they dont go bad like batteries. Yes, you still need to run the carb out of fuel when not in use and fuel goes bad but I have had my Yamaha genny for many years and it keeps rocking. I will say you get what you pay for with generators as well. Those cheapo harbor freight might run a power saw but I would never put my sensitive electronics on them. Hmm you could run some battery chargers with those cheapos and let the batteries and inverters run your equip.