Emergency backup systems - ideas?

[DaveOponic]

We have recently had a couple of blackouts here in Brunei. Fortunately both that affected us were in my school holidays so I was able to stay up till 3 am making sure my fish had oxygen by running the garden hose into the tanks from a great height to aerate the water.

I also have a 12 Volt marine bilge pump that I connect to a solar charged car battery that keeps the Koi pond aerated nicely.

As I plan to buy 100 more Barramundi in the coming weeks, i need to have a reliable emergency backup system. Like most of my systems, it will need to be DIY. there are few suppliers here and I think I am only one of a handful of AP hobbyists operating in the country.

I am tossing up between a generator set and expanding my solar + battery setup. I now have three separate AP systems running and have just taken delivery of a third 1000 litre plastic tank to grow Barra exclusively.

I'd be interested to hear what other people are doing for emergency backup, particularly those of you who DIY.


Dave

[Tsaphah]

Hi Dave,

Keep it simple. Match your relay for the size of 12V pump you are running.
I disconnect my solar charger when the power drops out as I destroyed the last one due to back EMF from the pump.
Can use a mains power relay, or use a old power plug and just get a relay with a coil voltage to match. low voltage around water is a better option!

[GaryD]

Hi,

On the matter of back up systems.....an earlier discussion that I thought was interesting............here.

Gary

[DaveOponic]

Thanks guys ...

hadn't thought of using the plug pack ..... I have lots of these lying around my w/shop. In conjunction with a 12V car relay it's a neat and easy solution and avoids the 240V wiring.


I have also recently acquired a lot of 2nd hand gear from a local chinese friend who "liquidated" his Koi hobby after losing most of his Koi in a recent blackout .... hence my current attention to backup systems!


One neat thing he gave me is an air pump with a 12V sealed lead acid battery on board that keeps running when the power goes off.

We had a four hour blackout this morning again and I managed to keep my fish alive with this air pump and running water into my other two systems.

Dave