Generators - The one important piece we always miss

[AllSignsPointToFish]

At this point, a day or two sounds good ! Can you recommend a particular product I should look at ?

You can get a MinnKota 24 or 36V charger with 2-3 deep cycle batteries, depending on the design voltage. Total cost will be in excess of $500.

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

A twin back Minn Kota MK212PC is $200. Two 100Ah+ deep cycle batteries will be about $125 each. A 400w inverter is around $50. FWIW.

 

[Brew12]

At this point, a day or two sounds good ! Can you recommend a particular product I should look at ?

Well, not sure how practical it is, but you would need a charger along these lines so you can have them safely fully charged all the time.
http://www.basspro.com/ProMariner-ProSport-Gen-3-Onboard-Battery-Chargers/product/1308090616366/
You would use batteries like this.
http://www.basspro.com/Bass-Pro-Sho...olt-Marine-DeepCycle-Battery/product/2045405/

You would then need a 12VDC to 120VAC inverter

Doing some rough math, the bigger of the two would do 300 watts for 185 minutes or 3 hours. If you used a 150 watt heater it would last around 7 hours. 4 batteries in series would last 28 hours of continuous heater run time.

It's an expensive option, but it is an option.

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

Well, not sure how practical it is, but you would need a charger along these lines so you can have them safely fully charged all the time.
http://www.basspro.com/ProMariner-ProSport-Gen-3-Onboard-Battery-Chargers/product/1308090616366/
You would use batteries like this.
http://www.basspro.com/Bass-Pro-Sho...olt-Marine-DeepCycle-Battery/product/2045405/

You would then need a 12VDC to 120VAC inverter

Doing some rough math, the bigger of the two would do 300 watts for 185 minutes or 3 hours. If you used a 150 watt heater it would last around 7 hours. 4 batteries in series would last 28 hours of continuous heater run time.

It's an expensive option, but it is an option.

That's some REAL rough math, boss. :) I'd bet a little more than two hours is the maximum runtime for a 300W load before the voltage drops low enough for the inverter to cut out.

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

One more note of caution. If you're going to store these in your apartment, you want to make sure you have sealed lead acid or AGM batteries. Charging batteries can produce hydrogen gas which is highly explosive if allowed to build up.

 

[Finatik]

One more note of caution. If you're going to store these in your apartment, you want to make sure you have sealed lead acid or AGM batteries. Charging batteries can produce hydrogen gas which is highly explosive if allowed to build up.

Oh... That sounds dangerous. :eek:

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

Oh... That sounds dangerous. :eek:

It can be managed with proper ventilation and the selection of the right battery type.

 

[sbash]

Sorry for my ignorance, but what is an AVR, and what is line conditioning ? And what exactly will this product provide in an unexpected power outage ?
I've got a 120 gallon, and I live in an apartment, so I can't go the generator route. Is there something else I should look for to get me thru an extended power outage in an emergency situation ?

Basically, this is a UPS. Battery backups are extremely expensive for what you get. I ran the numbers on my 65 gallon (300 watt heater, no lights, no powerheads, just a Mag 7 return pump, totalling 360 watts) A 1500 VA UPS will get you about 40 minutes of run time. Not particularly useful; unless you manually dole out said 40 minutes over the course of a few hours. However, a power outage over the course of a few hours will not likely be harmful to your tank. (Depends on the size, of course). I have left my 65 gallon go for several hours without issue. I would not want my tanks to go overnight, and I feel four or five hours is pushing my luck.

However, if you are in a location where you cannot have a generator. You either need to buy a big battery backup, or hedge your bets...

Count up the wattage on your tank devices and use this calculator:

http://www.apc.com/us/en/tools/ups_selector/home/load

Keep in mind, in an 'emergency' situation, you only need minimal flow, heat and air to keep everything alive for a few days. Also note, your heater (hopefully) will not need to be on full time...

 

[Brew12]

That's some REAL rough math, boss. :) I'd bet a little more than two hours is the maximum runtime for a 300W load before the voltage drops low enough for the inverter to cut out.

Yeah, you couldn't do it with a 300W load. The 150W would be about the most I would put on it since batteries gain capacity at slower discharge rates.

And I'll remind you that I didn't say this was a good option. This is more of a brainstorm concept idea. Right up there with hanging an inverter generator out the window on a rope so you can use it in an apartment kind of idea.

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

Yeah, you couldn't do it with a 300W load. The 150W would be about the most I would put on it since batteries gain capacity at slower discharge rates.

And I'll remind you that I didn't say this was a good option. This is more of a brainstorm concept idea. Right up there with hanging an inverter generator out the window on a rope so you can use it in an apartment kind of idea.

I know man...I was only poking :)

Besides, what do you have against ropes? ;)

 

[sbash]

Right up there with hanging an inverter generator out the window on a rope so you can use it in an apartment kind of idea.

I could see this working with steel aircraft cable and a pulley system... Just slip the super a 20; what could go wrong?

 

[Brew12]

I could see this working with steel aircraft cable and a pulley system... Just slip the super a 20; what could go wrong?

Not much I guess. Maybe just this

or maybe this

But nothing too bad. :p