In this show i get into equipment, supplies, and various methods you can use to prepare your self and your tank for a power outage. make sure you check it out, and if you have further questions or want more information, simply reply here, and we can discuss other items

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This is timely as hurricane season is just around the corner. I'm about 100 miles inland but we still can be affected.

Carmie

perfect...
i think i could have added more info, but wasn't sure how deep and technical people wanted to go. so i highlighted many things, and we can always go back and do more.. :)

Rob, do they have any solar power backup options that you are aware of?

Rob, do they have any solar power backup options that you are aware of?
i am sure somethign could be setup with solor panels and batteries, however i haev not seen it done.

if you could get and store the energy there is no reason why it wouldnt work.

i am sure somethign could be setup with solor panels and batteries, however i haev not seen it done.

if you could get and store the energy there is no reason why it wouldnt work.

Yes! I'm going to electricute myself in the process. :smile: Maybe I can rig something up and post the plans in the forum.

Yes! I'm going to electricute myself in the process. :smile: Maybe I can rig something up and post the plans in the forum.
that would be awesome.. :)

i would be prepared for a bit of expense, i had a house way out in the boonies when i was living in queensland that was hooked up with solor power only. it cost close to $13,000 to run everything without the need for cutbacks on power during cloudy days. of course u dont need to run a house, just a tank, (besides i think photo cells have dropped in price alitte). just ask an electrician how much power ur drawing from your tank, factor in any add-on figures in the future, and add at least another 10% on top of everything for a tank completely relieant on solor!
something else to note, and it might be different in america, but the equiptment voltage might need addressing also! & u need space for inline battery cells to boot!

The bright side is its going to pay itself off eventually and your next biggest expense the phone bill will take its place up the ladder. lol

if someone has more up to date info, tag, ur in!

and then i read the post more carefuly, and its for back up systems only,lol could be majorly cheap, im interested to see what u come up with, good luck buddy!

Yes! I'm going to electricute myself in the process. :smile: Maybe I can rig something up and post the plans in the forum.
Rig something up to electrocute yourself? http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/12/12_1_22.gif Hmm, I think that saltwater is a pretty good conductor.

Yeah CarmieJo and I are in the same neighborhood, at least as far as huricanes go, cept I'm right on the coast.

So Friday afternoon I had a power outage. Some idiot drove his car into a pole and blew up a transformer. Needless to say the power was out for about 6 hours. Luckily I was home when it happened and was able to take care of things. I have a battery powered air pump that I hooked up to an air lift to get flow going in the tank. It worked fine. No losses.

Now after that experience I have to say that those D-cell powered air pumps last a LONG time. I didn't have to change batteries at all during that time. GO DURACELL!

Actually there's a thread somewhere on here that I posted a link to a site that had plans for a wind powered generator and also a solar one. It was on the ideas for podcasts board.

When I powered up the computer after the outage this podcast downloaded. How's that for timing? LOL

Found the thread: http://www.talkingreef.com/forums/showthread.php?t=213

Rig something up to electrocute yourself? http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/12/12_1_22.gif Hmm, I think that saltwater is a pretty good conductor.

CarmieJo, do you think a toaster that's plugged in and me sitting in the tank would do the electrocution bit? LOL :)

When I powered up the computer after the outage this podcast downloaded. How's that for timing? LOL

Found the thread: http://www.talkingreef.com/forums/showthread.php?t=213

That Marine Gods work in mysterious ways! :-)

The only thing that will make you mad, is when you spend (if you chose too) almost a $1000 and the power NEVER goes out!

I bought a generator and a switching panel last year after a 36 hour outage. I can run my tank, 'fridge, well, furnace and TV at the same time if needed. Since then, however, not a blip, flicker or anything.

My power used to go out all the time, and now....nothing! Darn you Murphy!

lmao.. no kidding.. since the big power outage a few years back, i have never had a blip either.. but the generator is still sitting in the garage...lol

CarmieJo, do you think a toaster that's plugged in and me sitting in the tank would do the electrocution bit? LOL :)

LOL! It'll be easier if you leave the toaster on the counter and stick a fork in it!:eek:

Good show Rob, got me thinking anyway,

One idea is that instead of using those large solid sheets of foam to insulate your tank try bubble wrap instead. Its much easier to store, harder to damage and easier to wrap around !

Rob

Good show Rob, got me thinking anyway,

One idea is that instead of using those large solid sheets of foam to insulate your tank try bubble wrap instead. Its much easier to store, harder to damage and easier to wrap around !

Rob
Great idea...
i hadnt thought of that. but im sure that could work well also

You know what else may be easier than foam sheets but have more R value than bubblewrap would be a water heater blanket.

except that they run on electricity, and you wont have any during a power outage... :)
and want to concerve what every you are generating...

No, I meant an extra one just for your aquarium. Although in an emergency the water heater may have to take one for the team!

I just had this crazy thought concerning the solar energy battery backups. Since were putting out so much light anyway why not install some small solar panels to soak up some of the spectrum coming from our huge and powerful lighting fixtures. I mean if mother nature can use it why can't we. This in turn would hopefully make the tank self-sufficient in the event of a power outage. Damn the mind is a wonderful thing. I have to go replace the light bulb that burnt out in my head just now.

it is an idea..
but there are two problem...
first sloar panels are not effecient enough to convert all the energy they recieve
the second, and bigger issue is the first law of thermal dynamics.
which states that the increase in the energy of a closed system is equal to the amount of energy added to the system by heating, minus the amount lost in the form of work done by the system on its surroundings.
and where this comes in is the "lost by work"

your lights generate light from electricity. the work to do that takes energy, and then the solar panels would have to "work" to convert light to to energy.

so here is an example of what i mean (these numbers are pretend and not exact but will get you to the point)

150 watts goes into the lights
25 watts lost in the generation of that light
the solar panel will not receive ALL the light.
so lets say it get 50% of the light energy
62.5 watts is received by the solar panel
25 watts lost in the conversion of that light to energy
leaves you will 32.5 W of energy to now feed your lights and everything else
needless to say thats not enough

we can use solar panels with the sun because it generates more energy, and with the loss we still have enough left over to be productive

(physics is another one of my "hobbies.. :) )

someones had time to think about it over a beer or two though!
Thermo Dynamics hey! u never cease to amaze me with your memory buffer!:o

it is an idea..
but there are two problem...
first sloar panels are not effecient enough to convert all the energy they recieve
the second, and bigger issue is the first law of thermal dynamics.
which states that the increase in the energy of a closed system is equal to the amount of energy added to the system by heating, minus the amount lost in the form of work done by the system on its surroundings.
and where this comes in is the "lost by work"

your lights generate light from electricity. the work to do that takes energy, and then the solar panels would have to "work" to convert light to to energy.

so here is an example of what i mean (these numbers are pretend and not exact but will get you to the point)

150 watts goes into the lights
25 watts lost in the generation of that light
the solar panel will not receive ALL the light.
so lets say it get 50% of the light energy
62.5 watts is received by the solar panel
25 watts lost in the conversion of that light to energy
leaves you will 32.5 W of energy to now feed your lights and everything else
needless to say thats not enough

we can use solar panels with the sun because it generates more energy, and with the loss we still have enough left over to be productive

(physics is another one of my "hobbies.. :) )

Why not attach a battery backup to store energy this way you have an extended battery backup system that would charge and when its time to go into effect last longer then just the battery backup alone! ;-)

you "could" use it as a backup, but you wouldn't want to power your lights with it.
the lights use ALOT of electricity, and you not gain anything by powering lights to charge the battery VIA a solar panel. the battery would die quicker that with out this method

you would get more having a battery that changed view electrical outlet when not in use but would kick in when the power went out. (a UPS) or having two UPS/batteries instead of one and the solar battery.

you could have one that was powered by the Sun, but on a cloudy day (likely if its a storm) you would not get a charge

This is what I'm thinking for a long term backup solution. i.e. after a hurricane. A couple of deep cycle marine batteries with an inverter. Trickle charged by normal AC power from the outlets. The batteries would power a HOT protien skimmer and maybe a Seio pump. Then when the batteries die I'd have a solar panel or two that I could put up on the roof after the storm passes to charge the batteries. It always seems like after a hurricane blows through you have at least a few days of clear skies. I'm also wondering about exercise bikes. You know the ones that have generators in them to run their displays. I wonder how much they put out and if it could be used to charge the deep cycle batteries (Get fit while keeping your corals alive)? They use the motor-generators out of treadmills for wind powered generators. And I could always charge them with the alternator on my car.

yes, using a power inverted hooked to your car is a good way to charge.
if it you can get clear sunny skies a solar panel would work, if used with the sun..

I'm also wondering about exercise bikes. You know the ones that have generators in them to run their displays. I wonder how much they put out and if it could be used to charge the deep cycle batteries (Get fit while keeping your corals alive)?

now we're talking!! :-)http://www.websmileys.com/sm/sport/sport08.gif

if you guys get alot of wind from your storms, why dont u consider wind generators instead!
the worst it get the more power you produce yes!

:confused:

Hi Rob
Just want to say that I've enjoyed your podcast and find them informative and entertaining. Now i've just listened to your podcast on Power Outage Prep and you mentioned using deep cycle batteries or even your car battery hooked up to an inverter. I just found this site that explains how to build your own generator using a lawnmower engine, a car alterator, deepcycle battery/s, and an inverter. It sure beats wasting the gas in your car to keep the battery charged.
For those who would like to go to the site it's http://theepicenter.com/tow02077.html
Thx and keep up the podcasts...Steve

Welcome keswickian (Steve) to TR! What's our is yours!

Thanks for sharing the info on DIY generator! Feel free to set up your own thread in the member's tanks forum...

does anyone realise how cheap a generator from big orange is?

its as cheap as a bottle of vitamin C

awesome link.. thanks..

walrus, not just from the "big orange" but Costco.
they are sure coming down in price, even for big ones..
less than what most of us pay for lighting.. :)

I was just reading about folks in Seattle who have been without power for several days and it made me think that this is a good topic to revisit at this time of the year.

I too am starting to worry about this happening. My wife said she is not buying a generator for my fish tank. I tried to explain the generator cost would be much cheaper than replacing 2 reef tanks.

Its not just the cost in the tanks. Think about all the other stuff that would cost a lot to replace if you didn't have power for several days. How much money would it cost to replace everyhthing in your refrigerator? What about the cost to clean up and repair from frozen pipes?

For a few hundred bucks you can avoid all these potential losses... and still watch tv while neighbors get jealous.

I think that generators are pretty cheap insurance. Be sure you know what you are doing if you are hooking them up to your home's electrical system. If you are unsure it is better to spend the money for an electrician to make a connection. This is not a problem if you are just going to connect things to the generator by drop cords.

How much money would it cost to replace everyhthing in your refrigerator?

Haha it honestly wouldn't cost that much. There is very little inside my refrigerator. We just keep it around so we have some where to put the kids homework. ;)

We lost about $2500 of food in our freezer during the power outage from Hurricane Fran in '96. We didn't have a generator and once the hurricane hit us, 100 miles inland, there wasn't one to be found within 200 miles. :)