Sicce XStream SDC: DIY Battery Backup

[TheHarold]

I've been using SICCE XStream pumps with IOTA Apex control for a while now, and thought I would share a little known secret. Sicce's XStream SDC powerheads are compatible with LiPo battery Backup, including an integrated charger, low output battery-only mode, and alerts when battery mode is triggered!

Using a couple 18650 cells can get you 6-12 hours of flow during an outage depending on pump setting. It's a pretty awesome feature that is mentioned in their manual but nobody seems to utilize it.

 

[Pistondog]

Wish more manufacturers did this.
Integrated charger is awesome feature.

 

[TheHarold]

Wish more manufacturers did this.
Integrated charger is awesome feature.

Totally!

I also like Ecotech Vortechs, that have a simple battery input with no charger. I can DIY a system with any battery (such as a big LiFePO4), add a trickle charger and just connect the battery straight to the controller.

 

[areefer01]

I've been using SICCE XStream pumps with IOTA Apex control for a while now, and thought I would share a little known secret. Sicce's XStream SDC powerheads are compatible with LiPo battery Backup, including an integrated charger, low output battery-only mode, and alerts when battery mode is triggered!

Using a couple 18650 cells can get you 6-12 hours of flow during an outage depending on pump setting. It's a pretty awesome feature that is mentioned in their manual but nobody seems to utilize it.

Thanks for sharing. It is great what Sicce did to be honest. Even better that they integrated with the IoTA layers. Talking about a quality of life improvement. Both parties didn't worry about the other stealing business from wave makers yet made it easy for hobbyist to control. The battery is just icing on the cake.

Thank you again for the information.

 

[Whisnantrider]

I've been using SICCE XStream pumps with IOTA Apex control for a while now, and thought I would share a little known secret. Sicce's XStream SDC powerheads are compatible with LiPo battery Backup, including an integrated charger, low output battery-only mode, and alerts when battery mode is triggered!

Using a couple 18650 cells can get you 6-12 hours of flow during an outage depending on pump setting. It's a pretty awesome feature that is mentioned in their manual but nobody seems to utilize it.

Thanks for this post! I’ve been running these pumps for about a year and half and didn’t realize this was a thing. I suspect most folks, myself included, didn’t read the manual or did and didn’t understand the feature. I am definitely going to put this together.

Would you be willing to post or dm a link for the items you used to make the battery pack? The batteries were easy enough to find but I wasn’t able to find the actual case.

 

[JHSteepat]

I've been using SICCE XStream pumps with IOTA Apex control for a while now, and thought I would share a little known secret. Sicce's XStream SDC powerheads are compatible with LiPo battery Backup, including an integrated charger, low output battery-only mode, and alerts when battery mode is triggered!

Using a couple 18650 cells can get you 6-12 hours of flow during an outage depending on pump setting. It's a pretty awesome feature that is mentioned in their manual but nobody seems to utilize it.

TheHarold,

I have the xstream sdc and would like to add this battery backup. Can you provide a parts list, such as for Amazon? I just want to make sure I’m doing this right as Sicce has some info, but not all.

 

[Gac800]

TheHarold,

I have the xstream sdc and would like to add this battery backup. Can you provide a parts list, such as for Amazon? I just want to make sure I’m doing this right as Sicce has some info, but not all.

Did you end up finding the part?

 

[TheHarold]

Thanks for this post! I’ve been running these pumps for about a year and half and didn’t realize this was a thing. I suspect most folks, myself included, didn’t read the manual or did and didn’t understand the feature. I am definitely going to put this together.

Would you be willing to post or dm a link for the items you used to make the battery pack? The batteries were easy enough to find but I wasn’t able to find the actual case.

TheHarold,

I have the xstream sdc and would like to add this battery backup. Can you provide a parts list, such as for Amazon? I just want to make sure I’m doing this right as Sicce has some info, but not all.

Did you end up finding the part?

What part are you guys looking for? I thought the build was self explanatory. Grab 3 18650s, a 18650 enclosure, and wrap it with electrical tape.

There’s even an off-the-shelf battery bank that works well and features balancing, but it uses lower quality cells. Plug and play.

The cells are Samsung INR18650-35E. You can use any 18650s, but try to get a high capacity. I got them from Here.

 

[Whisnantrider]

What part are you guys looking for? I thought the build was self explanatory. Grab 3 18650s, a 18650 enclosure, and wrap it with electrical tape.

There’s even an off-the-shelf battery bank that works well and features balancing, but it uses lower quality cells. Plug and play.

The cells are Samsung INR18650-35E. You can use any 18650s, but try to get a high capacity. I got them from Here.

The only thing I could not find was a case with the appropriate connector. I will splice one in when I get around to finding one.

 

[Gac800]

What part are you guys looking for? I thought the build was self explanatory. Grab 3 18650s, a 18650 enclosure, and wrap it with electrical tape.

There’s even an off-the-shelf battery bank that works well and features balancing, but it uses lower quality cells. Plug and play.

The cells are Samsung INR18650-35E. You can use any 18650s, but try to get a high capacity. I got them from Here.

I was looking for the power bank that Sicce USA had tested.

 

[JHSteepat]

What part are you guys looking for? I thought the build was self explanatory. Grab 3 18650s, a 18650 enclosure, and wrap it with electrical tape.

There’s even an off-the-shelf battery bank that works well and features balancing, but it uses lower quality cells. Plug and play.

The cells are Samsung INR18650-35E. You can use any 18650s, but try to get a high capacity. I got them from Here.

Thanks for the help.

Correct me if I'm wrong.

Batteries: any 18650. The batteries you suggest are flat top, but can be button. Any mAh, though the higher the better, such as 3500 mAh.

Case: Needs to be parallel, to produce (almost) 12V, correct? Need to make sure the case matches the batteries in terms of ability to work with flat-top vs button top batteries.

Plug: 5.5mm/2.5mm, center positive, correct?

 

[bluecheese]

An update for those who, like me, find this thread through google, but still haven't found a satisfactory solution. I know this is the DIY forum, but Sicce does offer advice on what to buy as a suitable battery back up option for their SDC XStream wavemakers.

This is the batter pack they recommend:

Battery Pack

And this adapter will be needed:

Adapter

Sicce states that you can use the connection between the SDC control box to charge the batteries, or you can use the supplied AC adapter to charge the battery pack.

 

[bluecheese]

Finally got the battery packs from Amazon Friday evening. I went to the office last night and installed them.

I did a quick test, unplugging the control box, and after a few seconds the battery packs kicked in and started running the pumps.

Later this week, I may do a test to see how long the packs will keep the pumps powered.

 

[TheHarold]

Finally got the battery packs from Amazon Friday evening. I went to the office last night and installed them.

I did a quick test, unplugging the control box, and after a few seconds the battery packs kicked in and started running the pumps.

Later this week, I may do a test to see how long the packs will keep the pumps powered.

Very nice! That’s an aesthetic improvement to my more DIY enclosure that’s covered in tape, and likely balances the cells individually. The only limitation here is the unknown quality/capacity of the 18650s.