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siskiou
11-21-2006, 04:33 PM
I came across two older Hewlett Packard UPS units, and wonder if they can be used as back-up for aquariums in case of power outage.

Are there any instructions (with pictures!) online that would help me figure out if these are usable and what to do to get them ready?

-Susanne
vanz
11-21-2006, 05:30 PM
Cool. Let me know how yours go!
Nyles linked me to this site.
http://saltaquarium.about.com/od/eme...t/ht_aqups.htm

Good luck! I heard it was easy so go for it! By the way, can you tell me the specs of the UPS units you have?
H20cooled
11-21-2006, 05:46 PM
Susanne,
What are you trying to run with them? I have a UPS that I use to run 2 of my Tunze Streams with. They are low power draw so they should run for a long time on there.
siskiou
11-21-2006, 06:23 PM
I haven't looked into it at all (the units are still in the back of the car), but I'll get to them this weekend, I hope.

H2Ocooled, I was planning on running the Tunze, and possibly the heater in case of a power outage.
Do you have any pics of your setup? I can't really see how to connect anything to the UPS without some kind of adapter.
siskiou
11-21-2006, 06:25 PM
Cool. Let me know how yours go!
Nyles linked me to this site.
http://saltaquarium.about.com/od/eme...t/ht_aqups.htm



The link didn't work for me.
Can you send it to me per email please?
siskiou@vcem.com
H20cooled
11-21-2006, 06:29 PM
I would avoid plugging the heater in unless you have a separate UPS just for it, the heater will kill the battery really quick.

As for my setup, its just a UPS and it has plugs in the back and I plug the Tunze right into the plug.
vanz
11-21-2006, 06:54 PM
http://saltaquarium.about.com/od/emergencypowersources/ht/ht_aqups.htm

I tried clicking on the link I posted earlier and it went somewhere else....but the above should work, I hope. Hey Rich, what's the spec on your UPS? How long can it run the tunze for in a power outage?

Siskiou, I think you need to use an old UPS or any UPS that can run a computer for 15 to 30 mins on full load. Is yours a tower? I think maybe 700 VA is the minimum? But I don't know, that's what I take from what Nyles was telling me.
siskiou
11-21-2006, 06:55 PM
I would avoid plugging the heater in unless you have a separate UPS just for it, the heater will kill the battery really quick.

As for my setup, its just a UPS and it has plugs in the back and I plug the Tunze right into the plug.

Maybe mine is the wrong kind of UPS then.
All I saw were computer type plug-ins, nothing like a regular one. :(
siskiou
11-21-2006, 07:17 PM
Here is a picture of the UPS with the plug-ins.
It's a 24volt battery. I don't think I can use these, right?

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b331/siskiou/120G/P1030245.jpg
Nyles
11-21-2006, 07:39 PM
yes you can!!! I want one!!! You need to wire 2 batteries in parellel wiring if I remember correctly.
Nyles
11-21-2006, 07:41 PM
actually series wiring. so hot off UPS to hot on first battery, neg on same battery to pos on second ,and neg on second to neg on UPS. DONE you have 24 volt battery out of 2 12 volters..

Wanna trade for the second one? PLEASE!!!!! LOL

Don't forget you HAVE to have 2 batteries. No mucking about.
siskiou
11-21-2006, 07:47 PM
But where do you plug in your pump, or whatever you want running on this back-up?
The plug-ins are all wrong! :)

I need help with this!
Nyles
11-21-2006, 07:48 PM
nah you will rewire that to a dco outlet (Standard 2 plex from jerrys) I can get the plugs for that, pretty sure.
siskiou
11-21-2006, 07:56 PM
So, what all would I need to get this little venture under way?

Obviously I have no clue when it comes to this! :D

The tower takes up a bit of space, too.
Nyles
11-21-2006, 07:58 PM
well you will need two deep marine batteries some batterie terminals, 12 ga wire or better. a dco and more wire. and a little luck in figuring out how and where to put the 2 batteries. Doubt they will fit in the unit.

That will make one, and the other you could donate to a guy that helps you. LMAO.
impur
11-21-2006, 08:02 PM
LOL funny stuff.

Thats a good score Susanne. I think i have an old UPS laying round somewhere. Man that SOB is heavy.
Nyles
11-21-2006, 08:40 PM
ya note the ones she has has 4x 6v batteries. all wired in series.
siskiou
11-21-2006, 09:17 PM
Hey, Nyles, can I use one of these to plug in a pump instead of splicing something together?
http://www.cablesdirect.com/prodimages/CC334_LR.jpg
vanz
11-21-2006, 10:23 PM
Eh Nyles...I thought you have a UPS laying around? What makes this one so much more desirable?
vanz
11-21-2006, 10:25 PM
Hey, Nyles, can I use one of these to plug in a pump instead of splicing something together?
http://www.cablesdirect.com/prodimages/CC334_LR.jpg

Yeah, I would use that.
Nyles
11-22-2006, 08:08 AM
Eh Nyles...I thought you have a UPS laying around? What makes this one so much more desirable?

A friend found one for me but I haven't heard back if he really got it, so Im assuming not, and its in portland.
Nyles
11-22-2006, 08:31 AM
Hey, Nyles, can I use one of these to plug in a pump instead of splicing something together?
http://www.cablesdirect.com/prodimages/CC334_LR.jpg

Yup thats what I was planning on making from a pc extension. So in short. YES thats perfect!
siskiou
11-22-2006, 08:53 AM
Good! :)

Anyone have an idea who might be selling these locally (Eugene)?
Staples doesn't have a huge selection of cords, but I'll check there.
VOS computers, maybe?
Nyles
11-22-2006, 09:02 AM
Norvac electronics.
siskiou
11-22-2006, 09:04 AM
Thanks, I'll look them up in the phone book!
vanz
11-22-2006, 09:10 AM
I'm pretty sure all computer stores should have them in stock, Fry's have them for about 5 bucks I think.

I gotta hunt me down a UPS, I found one, but it's the size of an end table and it's very old! Where the hell am I going to put that?
Nyles
11-22-2006, 09:32 AM
There about cheapest in town, they sell to alot of local shops. When I was in network consulting business I purchased a lot of stuff from them.
ReefStarrBow26
03-16-2007, 09:42 AM
Would this work for what you guys want? I use one to power my rv when I am dry camping. I can run off it for up to 7 days running tv's dvd's ps2's lights at night a microwave and small power tools . I got it at Costco for $85 You can even find them from Horbor Freight tools for under $100. I bet this setup would power a whole tank for a day or so other then MH lighting. it would probly even run pc's or T5's and a small chiller.

http://www.directdepot.net/product_info.php?products_id=3513

And the batteries from thrifty auto for $105 Ea.

http://www.eastpenn-deka.com/default.aspx?pageid=550

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=44768

O yeh I almost forgot to say, I have a friend that lives in bend off grid that uses 12 6v batteries a few soler panels and one of the same costco inverters to run is whole house.

starr
reefgeek84
03-26-2007, 11:36 PM
I am considering going away from my vortech's and going with the new koralia's and would like to set up a battery back unit...the big ones only draw 8.5 watts...So I am wondering what I need to set it up in case of a power outage...Any help would be awesome.
andy
03-27-2007, 10:31 AM
Don't like the Vortechs? I thought they were the cat's meow...
reefgeek84
03-27-2007, 11:30 AM
Don't like the Vortechs? I thought they were the cat's meow...

No they are great for many applications...but for mine and how my crowded rock work is, they are not what I am wanting...If I had more height in my tank and it was more of a cube, I think they would be much more beneficial...But they are great, and I would use them over the tunze's or seios in a second...