Using a UPS for aquarium

bwilly · July 1, 2004

any of the stated UPS below can use for aquarium purpose??

I remember vaguely that certain UPS is not suitable due to

different waveform or something.

http://dellware.sg.dell.com/dellware/sg/pwr002a003.html

jc85 · July 1, 2004

Roidan has tested APC UPS before. He found that the Smart UPS can be used due to the waveshape been some Low-distortion sine wave. The cheaper backup UPS does not run his tunze. On-battery

Me also thinking of getting the APC Smart UPS700VA.

990_7020C7_en.pdf

bwilly · July 1, 2004

u meant the cheaper ones cannot run cause of the sine wave??

got one $170+ model, got some wave one leh.

dunno can use or not.

run tunze bo eng. does not provide water exchange.

must can run the return flow + skimmer.

roidan · July 1, 2004

this is the true sine wave that APC SMART UPS uses

jc85 · July 1, 2004

My plan is to run my eheim 1262 return which uses ard 80W. Based on APC website, can at least run 1hr when power fails. May even consider the 1000VA if price is good.

roidan · July 1, 2004

modified looks like this....

although the slightly better modified sine wave forms take the shape of HDB staircase...it goes up...at staggered edges...

this non smooth waveform cause problems with my eheims and tunzes...

i can only run them smoothly on pure sine wave UPS

if your tunze is near the water surface....the wave action will both improve oxygen exchange and movement in the tank to prevent some corals from suffocating in their own slime...

definitely beats battery operated air pumps

DaY · July 1, 2004

i'm using the APC 500es. Got no problem running my return pump and tunze during power cutoff. But does not last long enough for my liking...

hee..but no $ to buy the larger capacity UPS.

jc85 · July 1, 2004

i'm using the APC 500es. Got no problem running my return pump and tunze during power cutoff. But does not last long enough for my liking...
hee..but no $ to buy the larger capacity UPS.

Wat return pump u using? :thanks:

roidan · July 1, 2004

yeah...

as i said...some models and brands of modified sine wave forms are better than others as they emulate the pure wave better.....the more intrinsic the steps...the more closely it follows the pure wave lor...

some of the cheaper ones use stepped wave forms as crute as big staircases if you look from an oscilloscope...

so....to be safe..get the pure wave if you have the budget...otherwise you can try the modified wave ones...

jc85 · July 1, 2004

modified looks like this....
although the slightly better modified sine wave forms take the shape of HDB staircase...it goes up...at staggered edges...

this non smooth waveform cause problems with my eheims and tunzes...

i can only run them smoothly on pure sine wave UPS

if your tunze is near the water surface....the wave action will both improve oxygen exchange and movement in the tank to prevent some corals from suffocating in their own slime...

definitely beats battery operated air pumps

I think these are also known as "stepped sine wave" that is used in the backup RS series?

weileong · July 1, 2004

How abt a bulk order, sure can get good pricing

jc85 · July 1, 2004

Gd idea but must know exact series that can be used 1st.

roidan · July 1, 2004

yeah..stepped wave or modified sine....just means not pure waveform that is smooth and gradual....

since Day say that the nonSMART APC UPS can drive his pump and tunze with no problems...maybe bros here can try that series

jc85 · July 1, 2004

Some info on Sine wave created by UPS.

Sine Wave: This is the best waveform, as it is the shape of an (ideal) AC electrical signal from the wall.

Square Wave: The least desirable output waveform type, a square wave is sort of a "flattened-out" version of a sine wave. Instead of the voltage smoothly increasing from the negative maximum to the positive maximum and back again, it shifts suddenly from negative to positive, stays there for half a cycle, and then jumps to full negative and stays there for half a cycle, then repeats

Modified Square Wave: This waveform is a compromise between the sine wave and the square wave. The positive and negative pulses of the square wave are thinned, separated and made taller, so the peak voltage is much closer to that of a sine wave, and the overall shape of the wave more closely resembles that of a sine wave.

bwilly · July 1, 2004

in a layman term means what??

sudden upz n down is oki for computer usage but not for marine??

so funni..

roidan · July 1, 2004

from what i experienced...maybe some pumps do need a cleaner waveform to work properly

but definitely some bros here will have some normal PC UPS around...take it to try to run some pumps lor...if it works...then can let us know also

weisoon · July 1, 2004

I think the input to the PC if its not so sine wave is not a problem as the PC's power supply is running on switched mode and further rectification into various DC outputs is done inside the switched mode power supply.

For pumps/powerheads, the wave is run straight into the motor coil and with these kinds of square wave, tendency is to burn the coils as they are quite like DC (at the top portion and bottom portion of the wave) IMO.

roidan · July 1, 2004

weisoon,

i think you are right

weisoon · July 1, 2004

I think basically an UPS is an DC-AC inverter. It converts the power from the battery's DC wave into an AC wave at a specific frequency. So better invest in a as pure sine wave output model as possible as there will be no more circuits to refine the output wave form. If there are slight square waves it will kill your pumps in no time.

jc85 · July 2, 2004

There's also another UPS brand, MGE UPS system. I actually wrote in to enquire about their Pulsar Evolution series UPS. According to Mr Robin in MGE Asia, its give Sinewave output whon on battery. 2 years warranty and the MGE Pulsar Evolution 1500VA tower UPS cost $900+.

Wonder if anyone here knows how to get these UPS cheaper.

JC

roidan · July 2, 2004

as long as it is pure sine wave....will surely work for our stuff

bwilly · July 2, 2004

bloody X.. can get a good skimmer..

surfedelic · July 2, 2004

Maybe alternative is to buy DC pump and a DC operated skimmer using wooden air stone but again leh chek lah ..

So far I never anything come across any water pump operate via batt ! air pump yes.

Anybody ?

weileong · July 2, 2004

bloody X.. can get a good skimmer..

When extended power failure and all your LS up lorry, you will regret you never spend that $$$ on a reliable UPS

It's like buy insurance for power failure

weisoon · July 2, 2004

bloody X.. can get a good skimmer..

Think if get a small capacity generator is cheaper.

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