Ecotech Battery BackUp Question

[VintageReefer]

Does this power station supply DC output? What I have read, DC to AC inverters can be very wasteful.

The one I linked has 2 dc barrel outputs that are 12v each. Plus the usb outlets are also dc

All inverters plus those dc power bricks have some waste, but not enough usually to make them not worth using.

But yes, dc to dc is most efficient

Here is my power station runtime when it’s powering my return pump

Top pic - unplugged from wall. Battery only. 1000gph Return pump on level 40/100. Plugged into ac inverter outlet with the power brick. 35 hour runtime on battery

Bottom pic - same scenario but the power brick is removed, and the return pump is plugged into usb-c for a direct dc to dc connection. 55 hour runtime on battery

Significantly more runtime, but 35 hours of runtime without having to reduce speed is still a lot of runtime and would get through most outages.

 

[SirSaltyNutz]

The one I linked has 2 dc barrel outputs that are 12v each. Plus the usb outlets are also dc

All inverters plus those dc power bricks have some waste, but not enough usually to make them not worth using.

But yes, dc to dc is most efficient

Here is my power station runtime when it’s powering my return pump

Top pic - unplugged from wall. Battery only. 1000gph Return pump on level 40/100. Plugged into ac inverter outlet with the power brick. 35 hour runtime on battery

Bottom pic - same scenario but the power brick is removed, and the return pump is plugged into usb-c for a direct dc to dc connection. 55 hour runtime on battery

Significantly more runtime, but 35 hours of runtime without having to reduce speed is still a lot of runtime and would get through most outages.

Nice test and 20 extra hours is impressive! I could not tell in the other post, what is the brand/name of that power station?

 

[VintageReefer]

Nice test and 20 extra hours is impressive! I could not tell in the other post, what is the brand/name of that power station?

Post 14 has a link for the one I recommended.
Power station link

But that’s not the one I own, or showed in my usb example. I have power stations ranging from 300wh to 2100wh. It’s a hobby of mine, and I have a collection of them that I add to as prices come down.

The one in my example photo is 540wh. I got it about a year ago. It’s a big blue cellpowa 600.

The one from the link above, and that I originally cited, comes in 384 and 665wh.

 

[SirSaltyNutz]

This has been a very good discussion. I like to circle back to the ecotech marine drivers. Do these have a ATS (auto transfer switch) so when 24 volt supply is dropped (power outage) it switches to the 12v supply (battery backup)? From people describing how these work I am thinking that is how they work.

 

[VintageReefer]

This has been a very good discussion. I like to circle back to the ecotech marine drivers. Do these have a ATS (auto transfer switch) so when 24 volt supply is dropped (power outage) it switches to the 12v supply (battery backup)? From people describing how these work I am thinking that is how they work.

Here’s what I found out

So the the ac cord goes in the wall, the powerbrick converts to dc24v and powers the driver

The ecotech battery backup is a lawn tractor lead acid battery that provides 12v dc, and goes in its own jack

When the driver detects the 24v port is without power, it can run off the 12v port at reduced speeds.

Sounds like the driver does has an ats built in

 

[SirSaltyNutz]

Here’s what I found out

So the the ac cord goes in the wall, the powerbrick converts to dc24v and powers the driver

The ecotech battery backup is a lawn tractor lead acid battery that provides 12v dc, and goes in its own jack

When the driver detects the 24v port is without power, it can run off the 12v port at reduced speeds.

Sounds like the driver does has an ats built in

Agree. Also running at 12 volts is smart to extend the battery. Thanks for posting this.

 

[VintageReefer]

Agree. Also running at 12 volts is smart to extend the battery. Thanks for posting this.

This is easy way to do it.

Use powerstation like I posted
Adapt to usbC
Get kit with adapter cable to go from usb c to universal dc tip

Identify correct fitting tip

Connect one side to battery backup port on the driver. Connect other side to the usbc on the power station

Then when power goes out, it the pump
Will then automatically be powered by the powerstation.

This is the cable I used for my dc return pump.

 

[VintageReefer]

Or you could use the cigarette Luther which is also a dc out. And use this step up adapter to go from cigarette lighter 12v to usbc 20v.

Then the setup would be cigarette lighter —> usbc brick —> usbc cable with correct dc plug —> vortech 24v in (regular in. Not the battery backup in)

This should work just fine since the unit is designed for 12-24v and usb c will provide up to 20v. Then the pump is powered by the backup station all the time and in an outage, you won’t get the speed throttled back, as the station + adapter will continue to feed 20v

 

[lbacha]

I power my Vectra L2 closed loops with a dedicated LIFO battery and charger. With them you need a 36v converter (I just bought the one Ecotech sells). Really simple and it will run those pumps for a long time which is my goal as I have a lot of fish and I need to keep the water moving in the display while I hook up a generator (if the outage is extended)

 

[lbacha]

I forgot to post pictures

Charger, battery and Fuse

Ecotech 12v to 36v converters, only needed for Vectra’s

Vectra controllers with their normal 36v power supply and the battery supply plugged in

 

[SirSaltyNutz]

Hello, this discussion has been so helpful. Love the solutions in this thread. So I thought I share the path I probably move forward with. I am gong buy abHydros WaveEngine v2 and hook up a battery backup solution via a ATS (Tunze Safety Connector). So here is how I think it will go: the Hydros waveengine 24v power pack will be connected 120 outlet and the tunze which will pass it to the WE v2 controller for normal operations. Now I can use/control any compatible pump that connects to the drives outlets on the WE v2. When a power outage occurs the tunze will switch to the 12v battery and WE v2 will sense the voltage drop. I will have program the WE v2 to run selected pumps at lower speeds to assure the tank safety and maximum the battery. It's cool the WE v2 monitors power and I can use this feedback on optimizing the battery backup mode.
Does this sound like a good strategy? Please pick a part or point out holes in my logic.