Power inverter.

[Paul31733]

Hey everybody!
My power is being cut for 6 hours and my plan is to get a power inverter to keep my heater and return pump running.
I have a 50 watt heater and a sicce 1.0.
Do I need a pure sine wave inverter or will a modified sine wave be ok?
And what size is required. I would like to get at least a 1000 watt inverter. Possibly bigger if I can use a modified sine wave.
Thanks.
Paul.

 

[Ranjib]

bump

 

[JumboShrimp]

Yes, someone please explain this in plain English. I have a decent size generator in the garage in case of a power failure— and my whole life I thought ‘plugs are plugs and power is power.’ Now that I have a tank, it’s ‘inverter this’ and ‘sine wave that.’ It has me confused and worried. Thanks.

 

[Paul31733]

Bump. Where's all my intelligent electrical people!!

 

[JumboShrimp]

Bump, bump, and more bump! (LOL!!)

 

[brandon429]

I just bought one/ igen 2200 off amazon it allows you to partial pay it out wo credit check in many cases look that one up

pure sine wave is what you want, the others fry sensitive electronics with peaks and troughs and distortion. its only a little more to get the good ones

that being said, I couldnt find specifically on the westinghouse where it said pure sine/just that it can charge phones so by inference lol i jumped. that, and bezos' fine marketing skills he knows I dont want credit w them but he can split payments no prob.

 

[BlennyTime]

Yes, someone please explain this in plain English. I have a decent size generator in the garage in case of a power failure— and my whole life I thought ‘plugs are plugs and power is power.’ Now that I have a tank, it’s ‘inverter this’ and ‘sine wave that.’ It has me confused and worried. Thanks.

The power that is delivered to your house is alternating current (AC) power. This basically is power that alternates voltage in a smooth (sine) wave between negative and positive peaks 60 times a second. This is what your generator produces as well. This power is easy to transmit, but difficult to store.

Most electronics use direct current (DC) power. This is at a steady voltage that doesn’t change. Batteries also store power as DC. The electronics convert the AC power provided by the outlet to DC (which is why so many have separate power bricks). This power is more difficult to transmit, but easier to store.

An inverter simply changes DC power to AC power. When people say “pure sine”, that means it does a better job of imitating the AC power alternating wave coming from the wall. Some electronics are more sensitive to this than others.

To put it simply, wattage is a measure of how much peak power is available. Amp-hours is a measure of how much energy is stored.

 

[KStatefan]

Some equipment does not like modified sine wave.

 

[malacoda]

This...

An inverter simply changes DC power to AC power.

When you hear people say the use an inverter in a back up system for their aquariums, it is usually because they are using a DC power source -- such as a car batter or deep cell marine battery -- as their back up power source ... and an inverter is needed to change it to AC.

When it comes to using a generator for backup power, things can be a little more complicated: is it an AC or DC generator? If AC, what frequency or number of phases does generate power at, etc. I don't have enough familiarity with generators to offer detailed input, so hopefully some electricians will chime in with a clear, simple explanation...

 

[JumboShrimp]

Thank you! It’s slowly becoming clearer. So would it be fair to say that unlike a delicate/sophisticated piece of electronics, your run-of-the-mill aquarium heater, return pump, wave maker, skimmer, etc., are all safe to just plug into a generator the way you would a lamp or cube refrigerator?

 

[infinite0180]

Thank you! It’s slowly becoming clearer. So would it be fair to say that unlike a delicate/sophisticated piece of electronics, your run-of-the-mill aquarium heater, return pump, wave maker, skimmer, etc., are all safe to just plug into a generator the way you would a lamp or cube refrigerator?

I would think a heater and return pump would be fine without an inverter generator. Its the Apex controllers and lights that id be concerned about. Because i have those things ill be purchasing a inverter type generator thats rated with low harmonic distortion, aka, safe for cell phones, laptops, ect...

 

[Paul31733]

Ok thank you guys for the replys!
So from what I've read here I should be fine with modified sine wave for one heater and one return pump as long as they are not controlled by delicate controllers.

 

[infinite0180]

Ok thank you guys for the replys!
So from what I've read here I should be fine with modified sine wave for one heater and one return pump as long as they are not controlled by delicate controllers.

Yea you should be fine. The pump is a standard ac pump right? Its not a dc controllable pump is it?

 

[Paul31733]

Yea you should be fine. The pump is a standard ac pump right? Its not a dc controllable pump is it?

Ya return pump just a sicce 1.0...

 

[KStatefan]

Ok thank you guys for the replys!
So from what I've read here I should be fine with modified sine wave for one heater and one return pump as long as they are not controlled by delicate controllers.

An AC pump will draw about 20% more power on a modified sinewave

 

[JumboShrimp]

Would a DC controllable pump "not" be able to be just plugged into a standard gas powered generator? (Now I think I'm getting confused all over again ;Dead)

 

[infinite0180]

Would a DC controllable pump "not" be able to be just plugged into a standard gas powered generator? (Now I think I'm getting confused all over again ;Dead)

I wouldnt risk it if it were me but then again if my tank was about to crash i might consider it if that was my only option. An ac pump on the other hand i wouldnt think twice about..

 

[infinite0180]

Ya return pump just a sicce 1.0...

Should be fine!

 

[Roosterjack]

Does anyone have a good resource on how to use multiple marine batteries in series for a bigger tank? I am in my build now and want to plan such a unit. Thanks in advance.

 

[zachj7]

Hey everybody!
My power is being cut for 6 hours and my plan is to get a power inverter to keep my heater and return pump running.
I have a 50 watt heater and a sicce 1.0.
Do I need a pure sine wave inverter or will a modified sine wave be ok?
And what size is required. I would like to get at least a 1000 watt inverter. Possibly bigger if I can use a modified sine wave.
Thanks.
Paul.

As already mentioned, an inverter is only converting DC to AC. I think it would help everyone help you if you first told us what your power supply is. Generator? Battery? Because you are talking about an inverter people will assume you are using some kind of DC power source (battery, solar). Let everyone know what your power source is first so it is known and people can help. Size (kW)/ Energy (kWh) would also be helpful.