Uninterruptable Power Systems (UPS)
- Thread starter Suntzu
- Start date
You can buy a UPS according to output life. From a few seconds to several hours. Try an electrical store or a computer store.
I use an APC 1500. Two Fluval 405 run about 2 hours. That is enough time to get the generator set up.
I have 2 of the APC smartups 900... 1 with a C-360 and a fluval 405... the other with a C-160 and a fluval 305 ... they both run a little over 2 hours.
If you get a UPS, you want one that either outputs a true sine wave or a close approximation stair-step waveform. The cheaper UPS output a square wave and will cause your filter or anything with a motor to click and run loud... that also shortens the life on the motor by causing it to overheat.
I have my filters on UPS because I loose power several times a year for several hours. I am probably going to get larger ones in the near future because my power outages keep running me down to the last bar of power meaning only 15 minutes or of power left.
If you get a UPS, you want one that either outputs a true sine wave or a close approximation stair-step waveform. The cheaper UPS output a square wave and will cause your filter or anything with a motor to click and run loud... that also shortens the life on the motor by causing it to overheat.
I have my filters on UPS because I loose power several times a year for several hours. I am probably going to get larger ones in the near future because my power outages keep running me down to the last bar of power meaning only 15 minutes or of power left.
A basic UPS will run any filter with a magnetic impeller just fine.
The only time you run into issues with motors is when they are the beefier ones like used in sumps and higher volume/output filters.
The only time you run into issues with motors is when they are the beefier ones like used in sumps and higher volume/output filters.
1oooop
int x; if {x>1} {std::cout
well... I suggest getting a conventional one and modding it to hold a car battery... hehe just take the contacts and hook em up... if you want you can make a ghetto one... http://www.flickr.com/photos/casaluma/sets/72157608355866840/ for some pics of what it should look like... only danger is if you don't get the contacts right(lets just say poof 
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)All Thanks for your input to my question.
I’ve taken your input and decided to contact APC. Through their website I was able to upload my Eheim Pro # 2080 user manual to them. I asked them for a solution and the following was their respone was: “ An aquarium pump requires a pure sine wave at all times. For this reason, you would need a Smart-UPS which outputs a pure sine wave while on battery. The smallest Smart-UPS we have is the SUA750. I will place a link to it here:
http://www.apc.com/resource/include/techspec_index.cfm?base_sku=SUA750
Because the pump only uses around 30W, you should see around 1 hour and 45 minutes of runtime when the UPS is on battery. “
Also they informed me of their Trade-UPS program where you can take advantage of APC's Trade-UPS program, (Customers may trade in old UPS(s) regardless of brand, for new APC UPS(s), with a full 2 year warranty at up to a 25% discount!. As a benefit to our customers, now you can also buy additional APC accessories including Netbotz, at a significant discount, if purchased along with your Trade-UPS.), You can also view weekly specials, purchase replacement batteries for both UPS units and laptop computers, and also purchase from APC's Factory Outlet Store.
I’m going to look into acquiring a pure sine wave UPS and may rig it if possible with a larger battery like user 10000p did.
I’ve taken your input and decided to contact APC. Through their website I was able to upload my Eheim Pro # 2080 user manual to them. I asked them for a solution and the following was their respone was: “ An aquarium pump requires a pure sine wave at all times. For this reason, you would need a Smart-UPS which outputs a pure sine wave while on battery. The smallest Smart-UPS we have is the SUA750. I will place a link to it here:
http://www.apc.com/resource/include/techspec_index.cfm?base_sku=SUA750
Because the pump only uses around 30W, you should see around 1 hour and 45 minutes of runtime when the UPS is on battery. “
Also they informed me of their Trade-UPS program where you can take advantage of APC's Trade-UPS program, (Customers may trade in old UPS(s) regardless of brand, for new APC UPS(s), with a full 2 year warranty at up to a 25% discount!. As a benefit to our customers, now you can also buy additional APC accessories including Netbotz, at a significant discount, if purchased along with your Trade-UPS.), You can also view weekly specials, purchase replacement batteries for both UPS units and laptop computers, and also purchase from APC's Factory Outlet Store.
I’m going to look into acquiring a pure sine wave UPS and may rig it if possible with a larger battery like user 10000p did.
1oooop
int x; if {x>1} {std::cout
yeah, sad isn't it? It's VERY hard to make a sine wave with any electronics, so, a smart UPS will work fine. Mains AC is a modified sinewave, it is basically smoothed out with the massive capacitance billions of miles of wires has to offer. You may be able to do the same thing with a large(not that large) poly. capacitor or a talatium maybe even a large ceramic. The problem with that is that it will slightly turn it back into DC or have some capacitive resistance therefore lowering the voltage of the electricity or the max. current. I am still fairly new to this and I prefer DC because it is much easier to work with and doesn't hurt as much, just burns. The reason why an aquarium pump requires a sine wave is the same reason a bell requires a sine wave, because it is built for a sine wave. If it was a square wave, then that may be a problem because it may cause the impeller to spin the other way. This is because the impeller in most if not all pumps and AC motors will follow the wave. The electromagnet will go from north to neutral to south and the impeller will follow. If it was a square wave, the impeller may not be able to "catch up" and when the polarity changes again, then the impeller may go backwards, therefore possibly doing an erratic dance. It really depends on your equiptment, the mass of the impeller, the resistance of the water, the form of the wave... really hard sometimes...
oh yes, and by the way.... I just found that on the web, I did not actually do that...
oh yes, and by the way.... I just found that on the web, I did not actually do that...