I decided instead of an apex or chiller the next piece of equipment I'll buy will be some sort of generator where I can use it for emergency power outages. I'd like some recommendations on what's the best sort of sytem to use for power outages. I'll be saving up to buy it so I don't mind if its expensive as long as it's worth the extra $$. I'd like to know names, how to use, price, and the amount of time it will run your tank for during power outages. Figured I should protect my precious SPS reef for unexpected occurances. Thanks in advance!
generators for emergencies advice
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I won't make specific recommendations but I will give you some advice. Frankly, a generator is a generator. They all do the same thing. Now it's a matter of paying for a name (or not) like Honda as an example. They claim to be the best out there. I have two "no-name" generators...one produces 1350w (about 15 amps) and is small enough to carry while the other is cart mounted and produces 4500w (about 50 amps) and can be wheeled in to place. They both do the same job but just produce different amounts of power. I have never had to use the larger one but the small one gives me about 8 hours run time on a tank of gas (less than a gallon).
So it depends on how much you want to run. Only the fish tank or whole house or somewhere in between? That determines your power requirement. Go through a decide how many things you want to power, look at the draw rate on the name tag and calculate how many watts or amps you will be pulling. That will tell you how big a generator you will need.
I can't provide you pricing as both of mine were free from a relative that no longer needed them (he spent $3500 and did a whole house generator) however they range from a couple hundred dollar to several hundred dollars. You can even go the really cheap route and buy a deep cycle battery with a power converter and you have instant battery backup.
I know none of that was specific but I hope it gives you food for thought.
So it depends on how much you want to run. Only the fish tank or whole house or somewhere in between? That determines your power requirement. Go through a decide how many things you want to power, look at the draw rate on the name tag and calculate how many watts or amps you will be pulling. That will tell you how big a generator you will need.
I can't provide you pricing as both of mine were free from a relative that no longer needed them (he spent $3500 and did a whole house generator) however they range from a couple hundred dollar to several hundred dollars. You can even go the really cheap route and buy a deep cycle battery with a power converter and you have instant battery backup.
I know none of that was specific but I hope it gives you food for thought.
Sounds like the smaller generator would be what I need, I'm only looking to power my Fish tank and probably my pc to so I can look at the forums and post how gald I am that I bought a generator for my tank during a 12hour+ time of power outage =) My tank is a 75g tank.
And your saying that all the generators are more or less the same? The pricing is dependant on wattage/amps and what name it carries? And I've never used a generator before so I'm guessing that you just fill it with gas and it can power whatever, so essentially I could get a 1350w generator and each tank of gas will provide my tank with 8 hours of power (estimating time).
And with battery backups, don't they typically have a short lifespan when powering a tank?
I was always under the impression that generators>battery back ups.
Please correct me on the above.
And your saying that all the generators are more or less the same? The pricing is dependant on wattage/amps and what name it carries? And I've never used a generator before so I'm guessing that you just fill it with gas and it can power whatever, so essentially I could get a 1350w generator and each tank of gas will provide my tank with 8 hours of power (estimating time).
And with battery backups, don't they typically have a short lifespan when powering a tank?
I was always under the impression that generators>battery back ups.
Please correct me on the above.
Generators are like cars. Not all are built the same. But since you would run it a couple times a year you don't need a BMW.
Running one is like running a lawn mower. Just be sure the exhaust does not migrate back into the house.
Biggest problem people have is starting them after they have sat for 6 months. Best thing you can do is not use the kill switch to turn it off. Instead, turn off the gas valve so it burns up all gas left in the carb.
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Running one is like running a lawn mower. Just be sure the exhaust does not migrate back into the house.
Biggest problem people have is starting them after they have sat for 6 months. Best thing you can do is not use the kill switch to turn it off. Instead, turn off the gas valve so it burns up all gas left in the carb.
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I really like my honda generator. It makes the same power as others, but it is very very quiet. It also has a built in system that adjust the RPW to the amount of power being used to save gas. I have the eu2000, but I've heard others run and they are all quiet. Just figure out what your power needs are. It'd be smart to consider family power needs as well and you can get a bigger one that fills them all.
So do generators typically run outside or inside the house? sorry for the dumb question, I've never seen/used one. I'm guessing outside since they emit fumes, and if they do sit outside the house while running are they water proof so if it's a storm that causes the power outage are they okay getting rained on?
And it seems like a generator that is about 1000-1400w would be the way to go and at about 15 amps. And if I need it longer than the run time I can essentially just re fill it with gas and start her back up and bingo we have power again?
And it seems like a generator that is about 1000-1400w would be the way to go and at about 15 amps. And if I need it longer than the run time I can essentially just re fill it with gas and start her back up and bingo we have power again?
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Thanks for the advice. I am betting thats why every few years I have to take my generator to get a tune up and they clean the carb and it runs like a champ:thumbs:.
I just pulled it out of the garage yesterday and cranked and let it run for about 15 mins to make sure I keep it in running order.
Also a few things to keep around when you have a gas generator a can of starter spray and a extra spark plug. I have a Coleman powermate 5000 . and I use it when we go camping and when the power goes. I keep a 5 gallon bucket with a powerstrip and a few 50 ft extention cords next to the generator and call it Power Pail. ( Painted on the side so anyone can crank and set up tanks quick) I did add 4 old lawnmower wheels to it so I can move it pretty easy in and out.
I think the Generator was around 400$ new and will run 10 hrs on 5 gal gas . The Coleman is a little loud but it works and I have power but my neighbors are probly not happy campers : )
It runs a freezer, 2 refrigerators, and 7 tank pumps and heaters, and a couple lights no problem.
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While you're at it, to protect your investment, get yourself a padlock and a length of heavy duty chain. This will stop the generator from "running away".
Nope... just slow it down. It's noise ans u will never here the sawzall plugged up to it. I was on a job site on the other side of the house. I was told someone drove up. Put it in the back of the truck cut the chain and drove off. U think it ran out of gas or just quit. U get around the house and its gone
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That's why I said heavy duty. A sawzall won't cut through 3/8 stainless. That easily anyway. Besides, it's only a deterant.
I have a little generator from harbor freight. It's nothing fancy, expensive or big. Rated at like 850w and is the size of a big tacklebox. They recently redesigned the little blue one and it has a supposedly more reliable engine and changed it to red. I really only have it in case of a power outage. I've run it a few times to play with it and break it in and it has done great. It will run my main pump, a heater, and 180w LED lights no problem on my 92g and haven't tried to max it out yet. It may not be a honda but I don't need it all the time either. I got it on sale for a whopping bank busting $90.
RUN IT OUTSIDE!!! Seriously, or you stand a GREAT chance at making it on the news as the household of people found dead.
Honda EU-2000. You WILL NOT regret this generator. Where as you may very well regret another. They are virtually silent, light, ridiculously efficient and VERY powerful. If it's POURING rain, just find a spot that you can have a bit of shelter for it. While racing, we ran generators outside in the pouring rain and never had a problem. Did this every single weekend without fail, and it's still done today. If it concerns you, buy a very small pop up tent and throw the genny in it with the door/window open. That's a cheap & good shelter.
Also, yes, run the genset DRY (fuel wise) or you can use sta-bil, and run it monthly. When you do run it as a test run, run it for an hour or two and run it under LOAD. Don't just idle it.
The absolute best thing you can do for it is to run it regularly, regardless of what you do with the fuel.
I don't suggest running any electronics (like an Apex/controller or Vortech for example) from a generator.
All of the cheaper generators may have very 'noisy' electrical output waveforms (harmonics) and can wreak havoc on sensitive devices (mostly digital types).
You can buy a 'noise' filter, but good ones aren't cheap either (why they don't include them with the generator).
Most pumps and heaters will do fine.
A generator with a larger fuel reservoir (~5 gal+) will save refueling as often. You will also have to change the oil frequently with an air cooled engine. So consider that and have the oil needed as well.
The wattage rating is typically about double what you will really get during continuous use, so look for ~2x what you really need on watts. Read all of the fine print before you buy one.
I thought about a generator. I have other options ready for a power outage (after researching the topic).
I would opt for the Apex
(something you will wonder how you did without)
My $0.02
All of the cheaper generators may have very 'noisy' electrical output waveforms (harmonics) and can wreak havoc on sensitive devices (mostly digital types).
You can buy a 'noise' filter, but good ones aren't cheap either (why they don't include them with the generator).
Most pumps and heaters will do fine.
A generator with a larger fuel reservoir (~5 gal+) will save refueling as often. You will also have to change the oil frequently with an air cooled engine. So consider that and have the oil needed as well.
The wattage rating is typically about double what you will really get during continuous use, so look for ~2x what you really need on watts. Read all of the fine print before you buy one.
I thought about a generator. I have other options ready for a power outage (after researching the topic).
I would opt for the Apex
(something you will wonder how you did without)
My $0.02
For the pop up tent idea suggested above, I use an army shelter half (2 set up for the hotel luxuries provided by the army) which you can find dirt cheap online and I feel they are less fire hazard from heat. I have been in a regular tent then the wind blew it over (ok, it was a tropical storm, but isn't that exactly the time you need a generator?!?)
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Family Handyman Magazine just reviewed several. You may want to take a look at they had to say. Obviously, the reveiw was not addressed in the context of powering aquarium equipment. Good luck!
Wait do apex's have some sort of generator service or am I reading this incorrectly? If apex's can power my tank for 6-9 hours during power outages then I'm sold on the apex, but for some reason I think I took what you said out of context.ichthyoid;850052 wrote: I don't suggest running any electronics (like an Apex/controller or Vortech for example) from a generator.
All of the cheaper generators may have very 'noisy' electrical output waveforms (harmonics) and can wreak havoc on sensitive devices (mostly digital types).
You can buy a 'noise' filter, but good ones aren't cheap either (why they don't include them with the generator).
Most pumps and heaters will do fine.
A generator with a larger fuel reservoir (~5 gal+) will save refueling as often. You will also have to change the oil frequently with an air cooled engine. So consider that and have the oil needed as well.
The wattage rating is typically about double what you will really get during continuous use, so look for ~2x what you really need on watts. Read all of the fine print before you buy one.
I thought about a generator. I have other options ready for a power outage (after researching the topic).
I would opt for the Apex
(something you will wonder how you did without)
My $0.02
Edit: And I appreciate all the info guys! I really do. Gotta love ARC
No the apex does not have any sort of generator or backup power. It does have a provision to detect power outages and run on UPS power but a generator would be a better idea. The inverter generators like the Honda EU series provide clean power that is safe for electronics.
i was going to build one of these last year. i had all the parts and found a good deal on generator at HD so i never bult this but its a no brainer if you got the stuff already.
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