Tinklez
Active Member
Does anyone know how to set up the hydros to have only the pumps and power heads be on a backup battery? I’m installing a GFCI where my tank will be, but in the event it gets tripped, I want my pumps to be on a backup system
Hydros with backup UPS strip
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What Hydros controller(s) are you using? Probably to do it that way, you'd be better off having at least two (or a controller and an XP8) and then have one on the UPS system and use that for your pumps/power heads. So like, you could have the main controller tied into UPS, and then have an XP8 that is off UPS and powers everything else.
Edit - You could also think about a Hydros wifi plug strip. Some people report connectivity issues with that. Mine has so far always been fine. My understanding is that if it loses connection, the plugs will remain at their current state. So theoretically you could have four pumps/powerheads plugged in there, backed up on UPS, and if somehow you lose connectivity they should remain on.
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Tinklez
Active Member
I have the hydros launch, and the wave engine.
That’s a good idea to get a wifi strip and have that into a different outlet plugged into a UPS. Do you use any UPS device or have any recommendations?
I’ve heard of connectivity issues as well, but I’ve heard of the router is close by it shouldn’t be an issue.
If my power heads are on the wave engine, is there a way to have that on a separate backup battery as well? Or possible just have the return pump on the WiFi strip?
That’s a good idea to get a wifi strip and have that into a different outlet plugged into a UPS. Do you use any UPS device or have any recommendations?
I’ve heard of connectivity issues as well, but I’ve heard of the router is close by it shouldn’t be an issue.
If my power heads are on the wave engine, is there a way to have that on a separate backup battery as well? Or possible just have the return pump on the WiFi strip?
I don't currently have a UPS setup, but that's something I'm looking into now as well. Like you I'm putting in a GFCI receptacle there...and I know power will be down now and then regardless.
I haven't used a wave engine, but I would think you could have that on UPS pretty easily. Another option is to just put an individual backup inline for one of your powerheads, like an Ecotech Vortech battery backup or something.
If you search around R2R and watch some of the BRS videos, there's lots of discussion as to which type of battery back up will do better for pumps. The type of UPS you'd plug a computer into won't necessarily be the most efficient way to run a pump...but if you aren't looking to run for 24 hours that might not matter.
I'm currently getting my dosing set up on my tank, then the next project will be battery backup...I'll add that to my tank thread when I get to it...but probably after Christmas time.
Are all your pumps on the wave engine? or any plugged into the Launch? You could run the wave engine power supply to a UPS and your wavemakers (or any pumps) connected to the WE will run when power goes out. The launch's brain and drive ports will still work as well but AC ports will not provide power.
If you even wanted to trigger a mode during a power outage so you can disable certain pumps, run them at a lower setting, or even program them in a off/on cycle... take a look at my tutorial https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1A69cO9lsvufCSzOLVII-acATU-O3yl33jodsASB5c2c/edit?usp=sharing
If you did this, you could even put the Launch on the UPS and then have the trigger mode disable other things like heaters if power goes out to extend the UPS.
Just one thing to keep in mind with all this too. I am not an electrician...but by plugging a UPS into a GFCI...you may then be relying on the surge protection of the UPS and not on the GFCI.
Tinklez
Active Member
I have the two powerheads plugged into the wave engine LE, and then my return pump is plugged into the launch.
Wow, that’s a great presentation on how to set it up as a backup battery, thank you so much for sending that! That’s a really good idea. I have that set up in that way. I didn’t think about if I plugged the UPS into the GFI, if that negates the GFI…. Maybe it’s worth taking the risk for just the return pump and powerhead?
Wow, that’s a great presentation on how to set it up as a backup battery, thank you so much for sending that! That’s a really good idea. I have that set up in that way. I didn’t think about if I plugged the UPS into the GFI, if that negates the GFI…. Maybe it’s worth taking the risk for just the return pump and powerhead?
GFCI and surge protection are not the same thing. GFCI's do not protect against power surges and surge protectors do not protect against shocks/electrocution.
A thing to remember is that if you have a GFCI outlet at the wall then have a UPS backup that provides 120v power you do NOT have GFCI protection on any equipment that is plugged into the UPS backup.
If the GFCI trips due to a fault the UPS will still provide power and can create a dangerous situation.
The best way to protect your system (and yourself) is by splitting up your equipment among several circuits with several GFCI outlets on each circuit so that if one trips (due to fault or nuisance trip) the entire system does not go offline.
Well, now that we've been thinking about this today, what I'll personally probably do is this. Maybe not what I would do in a perfect world, but works with what I have.
Get a LiFePO4 UPS and plug it directly into a non-GFCI circuit. Get a GFCI plug adapter.
Now personally, I have a Hydros START and a Wifi Plug Adapter.
So, I'll put the following on the Wifi plug adapter:
1 and 2) 2x MP10
3) Refugium LED
4) Main display light
On my START I'll have my main return pump, as well as everything else that is either in the water, or that I don't want dependent on maintaining wifi continuity to operate properly (dosing, level sensors, ato pump, etc.).
I'll plug the Wifi adapter strip directly into the the UPS. Nothing on that strip should ever have contact with water. (And all cables have drip legs).
I'll plug the START into the GFCI plug adapter and then into the UPS.
General flow of that logic....
1) Things that go in the Wifi adapter won't cause problems if it loses connectivity (which it never has but just in case.)
2) I'm pretty maxed out on plug space. There's no reason that my lights would need to be on UPS really...but I need somewhere to plug them in.
3) Everything that touches water will be protected by GFCI.
4) If the GFCI adapter needs to be reset after power loss, the tank still functions...still have flow.
I'm sure I'll make changes over time when I can afford to upgrade some things. But at least this way, nothing that is in contact with water can get power without GFCI protection, and I should have at least 8-10 hours during a power outage before things go bad. And, if I'm home when the power goes out I can make adjustments to buy more time.
Get a LiFePO4 UPS and plug it directly into a non-GFCI circuit. Get a GFCI plug adapter.
Now personally, I have a Hydros START and a Wifi Plug Adapter.
So, I'll put the following on the Wifi plug adapter:
1 and 2) 2x MP10
3) Refugium LED
4) Main display light
On my START I'll have my main return pump, as well as everything else that is either in the water, or that I don't want dependent on maintaining wifi continuity to operate properly (dosing, level sensors, ato pump, etc.).
I'll plug the Wifi adapter strip directly into the the UPS. Nothing on that strip should ever have contact with water. (And all cables have drip legs).
I'll plug the START into the GFCI plug adapter and then into the UPS.
General flow of that logic....
1) Things that go in the Wifi adapter won't cause problems if it loses connectivity (which it never has but just in case.)
2) I'm pretty maxed out on plug space. There's no reason that my lights would need to be on UPS really...but I need somewhere to plug them in.
3) Everything that touches water will be protected by GFCI.
4) If the GFCI adapter needs to be reset after power loss, the tank still functions...still have flow.
I'm sure I'll make changes over time when I can afford to upgrade some things. But at least this way, nothing that is in contact with water can get power without GFCI protection, and I should have at least 8-10 hours during a power outage before things go bad. And, if I'm home when the power goes out I can make adjustments to buy more time.
How many watts do you plan on running on that UPS continuously? 153 wh will only be able to provide about a 15 watt draw @ 120v if you want it to last 10 hours.
I have an Apex with 4 eb832 energy bars. When one loses power, it indicates a power outage, pushes an alert my phone and shuts everything off except one of my COR20 return pumps which is on my UPS. I have about a 70 watt draw when power goes out and about a 6-hour backup time before I need to get the generator out if need be.
Heres a handy calculator, Google AI can also give you an idea of run time-just get more than one opinion as it's not always correct
Portable Power Station Runtime Calculator - Estimate How Long Your Devices Can Run
Use our Portable Power Station Runtime Calculator to easily estimate how long your appliances will run on a portable power station. Simply input the power consumption of your device and the capacity of the power station to get an accurate runtime estimate. Ideal for campers, emergency...
udpwr.com
Realistically, I'd mostly want it to ride my whole system through quick blips, like a few minutes. Then if there's a sustained outage I'd get an alert and be able to shut down the noncritical systems and leave it with my mp10s running and maybe the return pump. Luckily my home stays at a similar temperature to the tank (lost that battle with my heat loving wife years ago) so the heater isn't even really needed in the short term. My MP10's I run at about 30% (small tank) so with the UPS I listed I could run one of them for about 12-13 hours or I could run both for about 6 hours or so. Anything longer than that and I can potentially bust out the car battery and inverter if I can't rustle up a generator somewhere.
Thanks for the calculator link!
Thanks for the calculator link!
Just in case anybody is reading this thread that hasn't ready the electrical thread that is going around...worth having a careful read through here:
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/aquarium-and-electrical-safety.1134417/post-14029458
In a nutshell, slapping a GFCI plug adapter on a UPS might not do anything in many cases due to the nature of most UPS.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/aquarium-and-electrical-safety.1134417/post-14029458
In a nutshell, slapping a GFCI plug adapter on a UPS might not do anything in many cases due to the nature of most UPS.
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