Daniel Posted October 28, 2020 Share Posted October 28, 2020 Here is a experiment that I didn't intend to run today. My power just went out. My entire fishroom is on couple of large(ish) uninterruptible power supplies (UPS). One is an APC Smart-UPS 2200 and one is an APC Smart-UPS 3000. I have always wondered how long will they keep the whole room running during an outage? You can see all the equipment plus my computer are still up and running as of now. But for how long? 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Smith Posted October 28, 2020 Share Posted October 28, 2020 Oooh, taking bets? My testing suggests maybe an hour or two? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Ellison Posted October 28, 2020 Share Posted October 28, 2020 I'm thinking 2 hours? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Posted October 28, 2020 Author Share Posted October 28, 2020 3 minutes ago, Bill Smith said: Oooh, taking bets? My testing suggests maybe an hour or two? I hope you’re not right, Duke Power says they think the power will be back on in about 5 hrs. I got $1 on the UPS’s lasting six hours. I might as well be optimistic right? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Smith Posted October 28, 2020 Share Posted October 28, 2020 I think if you want six hours, you should consider turning that computer off. One PC power supply is like 10 tanks, probably. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Ellison Posted October 28, 2020 Share Posted October 28, 2020 (edited) Well one super big thing in your favor is it isn't cold! I think the heaters running is one of the biggest factors. So if the temperature in your house is rising especially in that room I think 6 might be reachable? And as bill said I'd turn off any extra power drawls. Edited October 28, 2020 by Ben Ellison Bill responded first 😉 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Posted October 28, 2020 Share Posted October 28, 2020 I had a 17kw generac installed about 6 years ago. Mine goes down for 5 seconds, then cuts over. Best 7K I've spent. I do need a UPS for my Mac Pro and FIOS box though, then I won't even notice! Still haven't gotten around to that. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drenon88 Posted October 28, 2020 Share Posted October 28, 2020 Can't wait for the final number - I'm guessing under 3 hours! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheDukeAnumber1 Posted October 28, 2020 Share Posted October 28, 2020 https://www.apc.com/shop/us/en/products/APC-Smart-UPS-2200VA-LCD-120V/P-SMT2200 They have a neat runtime calculator in the key features tab. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Posted October 28, 2020 Author Share Posted October 28, 2020 Experiment over, power came back on. Result of this trial was - it will run at least 1 hour. And the 1930s tank of course didn't miss a beat. 🙂 I just checked the available storage on the 2 UPS's APC Smart-UPS 2200 was at 68% APC Smart-UPS 3000 was at 61% Only 1 tank has a heater, 2 tanks have filters. So the the primary consumer of power was the computer. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randy Posted October 28, 2020 Share Posted October 28, 2020 Oh, I like this thread!! I have considered getting a UPS several times as we get frequent power outages where I live late-Fall through Spring. I do have a Honda inverter generator, but it would be great to have a UPS power the linear piston air pumps while I futz around with getting the generator outside, connected to the outdoor outlet, and flipping circuits from line to gen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Streetwise Posted October 28, 2020 Share Posted October 28, 2020 You could unplug the UPSs from the wall if you wanted to continue testing. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Posted October 28, 2020 Author Share Posted October 28, 2020 It looks like it would have gone at least 2 hours but likely not have made it to the 3rd hour. I could have shutdown the computer and switched over to a laptop. And the 3 40 breeders in the bottom row didn't need to have lights on. If it were in danger of getting cold I have a wood stove that would keep the downstairs warm. If I whittled it down to just air pumps needing power, I bet I could keep the USB nano air pumps going for quite a long time. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Errk25 Posted October 28, 2020 Share Posted October 28, 2020 I do love the tool chests as tank stands. Nice way to organize all your aquarium stuff. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AtomCatMatt Posted October 28, 2020 Share Posted October 28, 2020 @Daniel What state do you live in? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Posted October 28, 2020 Author Share Posted October 28, 2020 North Carolina 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveSamsell Posted October 28, 2020 Share Posted October 28, 2020 @Daniel, Glad to to see the power came back on for you. We have been receiving power dips (brown outs) & temporary outages (less than 5 seconds), here in PA, lately. Just off long enough to require me to check all my aquariums, lol. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Posted October 29, 2020 Author Share Posted October 29, 2020 That big storm that is moving across the East coast is moving hard through our area right now. Power went out again at 11:22 am. The 2200 Va was at 78% and the 3000 Va was 91%. So one more opportunity for an experiment. I have figured out what I really care about....Brine shrimp! I am about to move the cones over to where I can run USB nano air pumps. I didn't even think about the BBS yesterday, but the power outage didn't kill it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Posted October 29, 2020 Author Share Posted October 29, 2020 USB nano pumps save the day! Brine shrimp cones bubbling away! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AtomCatMatt Posted October 29, 2020 Share Posted October 29, 2020 Just now, Daniel said: USB nano pumps save the day! Brine shrimp cones bubbling away! Love my USB air pump, the best thing @Cory sells besides his awesome plants! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Posted October 29, 2020 Author Share Posted October 29, 2020 Both dead now. One lasted 90 minutes, and the other lasted 2 and 1/2 hours. Experiment was a success! (Sort of like the doctor joke: The surgery was a success! But the patient died.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Ellison Posted October 29, 2020 Share Posted October 29, 2020 Well that's a fair bit of run time. Was that with lights on or off? I bet with some insulation you could extend it a good bit. I'm guessing filters and heaters are the biggest draw by a huge margin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Posted October 29, 2020 Author Share Posted October 29, 2020 1 minute ago, Ben Ellison said: Well that's a fair bit of run time. Was that with lights on or off? I bet with some insulation you could extend it a good bit. I'm guessing filters and heaters are the biggest draw by a huge margin They would be if I had any...2 out 14 have sponge filters. 1 heater. None of the rest have heaters or filters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Ellison Posted October 29, 2020 Share Posted October 29, 2020 Oh wow. Was you running lights? That could be a factor especially if you had non less lights Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Posted October 29, 2020 Author Share Posted October 29, 2020 I let lights run because I just wanted to see how long everything would last. Still no power, but no problem. The brine shrimp is still bubbling away on a single USB Nano pump Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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