How long will your UPS work - Page 2

SMI · #26 08/03/2005, 10:00 PM

Can someone recommend a good size UPS from Refurbups.com to run a small pump (air or water) for circulation and a small heater (40 gallon tank and a 30 gallon sump). We get power outages here in NewEngland quite a bit. Want to keep everyone happy. Thanks! Steve.

Scuba Dog · #27 08/03/2005, 10:01 PM

UPS work! lol at loosing packages lol....

bgi · #28 08/04/2005, 07:21 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by SMI
Can someone recommend a good size UPS from Refurbups.com to run a small pump (air or water) for circulation and a small heater (40 gallon tank and a 30 gallon sump). We get power outages here in NewEngland quite a bit. Want to keep everyone happy. Thanks! Steve.

Easy. Tell us how many watts these items consume and how long you want it to run on the UPS. Then go here:

http://www.apc.com/tools/ups_selecto...UPS%20Selector

click on "Configure by load" and fill in the blanks.

For example, a minijet 404 consumes 5 watts. A 50 watt heater consumes 50 watts, say it's on 50% duty-cycle, so it's 25 watts average. You need 30 watts - let's say for 1 hour.

APC recommends a Smart-UPS 420, 620, or 750 VA. They make the same recommendation for 5 mins. Hmmm... Perhaps their recommendations are sticking with the sine-wave units? The 420 is $50 from refurbups with $12 UPS ground shipping. Not bad. They are about $200 new.

SMI · #29 08/04/2005, 10:45 AM

Thanks, do you think a 50 watt heater is adequate for a 40 gallon tank? I think I am going to go with the 620. Thanks for the help, Steve.

bgi · #30 08/04/2005, 11:01 AM

Depends on how much the heater has to warm the tank over ambient. I believe IWon has a chart with this info. If you size the heater too big and it sticks on, you'll cook the tank. If your furnace stops working in the winter and your heater is sized to prevent "cooking" then it will get pretty cool. For these reasons, many people install two smaller heaters. That way, if one stick on, it won't cook the tank. If it gets cold, the tank will stay warm. Sorry I didn't really answer your question.

SMI · #31 08/04/2005, 11:09 AM

I justed chated with a rep from APC...

"You are now chatting with 'Deepakshi Puri'
Deepakshi Puri: Thank you for choosing APC's online Technical Support Chat. How may I help you today?

Steve Iacono: Hi, does APC UPS units use a "modified sine wave or a stepped square wave"?

Deepakshi Puri: All the backup units work on stepped sine waves and all the smartups work on pure sine waves

Steve Iacono: I am looking for a "true sine wave output" to run an aquarium pump (to keep the fish alive) when power fails.

Deepakshi Puri: Can you give me the power draw of the pump

Steve Iacono: Pump and heater will draw roughly 50 watts. Would like to support about an hours use.

Deepakshi Puri: ok

Steve Iacono: The Smart-620 perhaps?

Deepakshi Puri: Please visit the following link

Deepakshi Puri: http://www.apc.com/tools/ups_selecto...UPS%20Selector

Steve Iacono: Thanks, Steve.
Deepakshi Puri: Is there anything else I can help you with today?"

Not sure if he (or she) every really answered my question?

SMI · #32 08/04/2005, 11:12 AM

BGI, that does make sense, I am going to move the heater from the sump to the main tank and buy another perhaps 1 @ 50 watts and 1 @ 100 watts.

bgi · #33 08/04/2005, 11:56 AM

It's generally recommended to use two heaters the same size.

So APC endorses their own UPS sizing web page. Heh.

Reef55 · #34 08/04/2005, 12:21 PM

I have this one:

http://www.apc.com/resource/include/...=SU2200RMXLNET

Batteries are from 1999 (original batteries). I have my computer, cable modem and wireless router on it, as well as my return pump (a panworld 100px). Power goes out, and 5 minutes later my computer turns off (with the modem and router attached, so them too). Then it is just my pump. Had a power outage last week... it ran the return pump for 4 hours. Not bad for 6 year old batteries