pbennett657
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What's the best way to backup your tank incase the power goes out when your not home?
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Power outage
- Thread starter pbennett657
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A small generator
I wondered the same thing. I was thinking of checking into a small battery backup that could handle the load of the pump and heater for a period of time. I assume it would be better to have those things and not have lights than to have nothing at all.
As a side note, I have home Depot coming out soon to give me a price for a whole house propane generator (planned that outside of consideration of the tank). It would have a transfer switch that automatically fires up the generator if the power goes out so in that case I wouldn't need a battery backup to last long and would likely have the whole system on it
As a side note, I have home Depot coming out soon to give me a price for a whole house propane generator (planned that outside of consideration of the tank). It would have a transfer switch that automatically fires up the generator if the power goes out so in that case I wouldn't need a battery backup to last long and would likely have the whole system on it
Battery backups are good ways to have an "auto" start system. They aren't terribly expensive however, they are only good for about 3 years. After that point in time, don't count on them. You also have to make certain you size it properly for the amount of draw that you'd have. I would suggest that you only have one circulation pump and a heater as the load. This would give you the maximum amount of usable time. You'd have to do the math on the load as well as whether or not it's a per year cost that you can live with......as an example...let's say that the battery backup (most commonly branded as APS) would be the one you use and the size appropriate unit was $100...that's $33 per year in "insurance" cost just have it in the event of the emergency and that doesn't include the electricity it will pull for those 3 years.
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You will overpay like crazy going through them. Source the generator and a transfer switch and find a good electrician you can trust to install it.
Say I bid a roof for $10,000. Home Depot bids the same roof for $16,000. Too many hands in the pot trying to get their money in their service divisions. Plus quality of installation is such a crap shoot; some of their sub contractors are great, some are disasters. I know a guy who installs roofs for them with a few felonies and a history of scamming people when he had his own business. That's why he doesn't have his own business anymore.
Yea, I have to see what they quote and go from there. The primary reason I want to buy there (even if I had someone else install it) is because I have literally millions of Amex points that can be turned into Home Depot gift cards. I own a business and we build up points like crazy. It's practically like getting stuff from Home Depot free (and other places Amex points can be redeemed for gift cards).
I ordered sod from them for my new place and was surprised that they were actually cheaper than all the sod farms (and they just order from the sod farm). Volume pricing I guess.
So we shall see. I think if the price of the install is reasonable I will go for it. If not I will buy it from them and use someone else to install.
Craig
I ordered sod from them for my new place and was surprised that they were actually cheaper than all the sod farms (and they just order from the sod farm). Volume pricing I guess.
So we shall see. I think if the price of the install is reasonable I will go for it. If not I will buy it from them and use someone else to install.
Craig
Whole house can get pretty spendy. May want to identify the highest priority items to help save a little money. For instance, running Air Conditioning on a generator will require a very large generator costing a ton. If you can live with the house being hot for a while you can save a ton. Range is another. Cook on a grill out back and save thousands.
Figure out exactly what you "have" to have ahead of time. Also, HD is in the business of selling generators. Might be smart to talk to a contractor before you purchase. Where do you live?
Yea I figure I will let them calculate load and give me options. Heat is just the heat pump so I would want that covered in case of ice storm or something. Range is propane... Did that on purpose (only reason we have propane now)
Jefferson, GA
Jefferson, GA
Heat pump is a huge load. Because it will run in defrost mode there are times that both the compressor and the heat strips will run simultaneously. I would look at other options for emergency heat in an ice storm. Several grand is a lot to pay on the remote chance you will lose power for more than a few hours. A $100 can get you a nice kerosene heater.
I see what you are saying, but if a few grand difference gets me "set it and forget it" I'm down for that.
Will have to just see what the options are and the prices. I don't want to ridiculous but don't mind spending money for what I want if it's the right thing (ask the people at the aquarium store hahaha)
Will have to just see what the options are and the prices. I don't want to ridiculous but don't mind spending money for what I want if it's the right thing (ask the people at the aquarium store hahaha)
Unless you have a history of extended power outages, I would get two things, a small portable generator, and in-tank pumps with a battery backup.
I have an EcoTech battery backup on the MP40 in my 100 and two on my 465 (one each on an MP60).
I have not had the need for a whole house generator where I live. I think the longest we have ever been without power (since moving there in 2003) is like 6 hours. All others outages have been less than an hour or so, and very, very few outages in the first place.
I have never needed more than the battery backups so far.
I have an EcoTech battery backup on the MP40 in my 100 and two on my 465 (one each on an MP60).
I have not had the need for a whole house generator where I live. I think the longest we have ever been without power (since moving there in 2003) is like 6 hours. All others outages have been less than an hour or so, and very, very few outages in the first place.
I have never needed more than the battery backups so far.
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I built a battery back up for my jebao, cost ~10 bucks aside from the battery cost. I have it set up to run at 12 volt when on battery. I can get >48 hours from it. I dont know that it has "saved my tank", but I have felt much better the few times we were without power for a few hours.
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