power back-up

I was reading a post about a power failure and the resulting drop in temps. This situation is something that really scares me. I am very sorry for pombikiball whom this happened to! Is there a power back-up system available? I use a herpstat and I know it requires a puresinewave power supply is there a power or heat back up system out there? Do keepers have 12 hour heat packs on hand in case? Where I live it is currently -12.5ºF outside and my place will cool down REALLY fast.

Yeah, its called a generator or about 15 car batteries and a power inverter. Those are about the only real options.

And how long do you expect the car batteries to last? That's also not a very cost effective method.

A standby generator is bet, either it be portable or a whole whose standby.

Some people also will use "indoor safe" propane heaters in a pinch. These should probably only be used for a short period of time. This also wouldn't be a good idea if you had an incubator up and running.

Generator is your best bet.

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Originally Posted by steveboos

Yeah, its called a generator or about 15 car batteries and a power inverter. Those are about the only real options.

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A generator is not an option at this point will this work? http://www.innovatronix.com/detailpa...and%20Services

That looks like it's for photographers, I dont know if it would hold up.

What about this?

http://www.safetycentral.com/mrhebigbupoi.html

personally I get a 550 w gen at least. this would power somethinglike the lights, a space heater ( with reptile heaters if needed) and could possible be used to help keep otheritems running if needed ( summer time frigs and even an ac unit ) and the winter a couple space heaters. as well as keeping small items charge for long outages , cell phones, laptops, o2 gens and such.


the only real problem with a gen you must start it at least every month to keep it usable from what I am told.

Me I'l get the gen and some solar panels lol then I got plenty of juice ( just someone give me the winning power ball lol soI can set up a large reptile haven on 40 acres at least lol .

40 hour heat packs. This will keep the snakes warm. Can't say the same for the mammals in the house.

Jim Smith

We have a generator, but I also have a good supply of the heat packs just in case.

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Originally Posted by 2kdime

That looks like it's for photographers, I dont know if it would hold up.

What about this?

http://www.safetycentral.com/mrhebigbupoi.html

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I am a photographer so double duty and yet another excuse to buy one. That small propane heater looks great I'll check them out I had not given thought to one.

I'll likely order 40hr packs if it is longer than that I am heading to my brother's place anyway! He has a 8000 wt Gen. :D

A generator may or may not work with a proportional thermostat. I have one of those cheap two cycle 1000 watt generators that Lowes sold and decided to see what kind of sinewave it put out. With a light load it was all over the place and the voltage was sometimes as high as 150 volts. If you put 100 watts on it then it would settle down but the sinewave again was much more jagged than what you see from the wall. Proportional thermostats rely on the AC wave hitting zero volts for a short time in between phases and this was hit or miss with my generator so the triacs that control the AC output on a proportional thermostat would not always shut off which could cause overheating or just poor results. Again, this is a cheap (but new) generator. If I were to do it I would have a bank of marine deep cycle batteries wired in parallel with a good "pure" sine wave power inverter. Then I would use the 12VDC output of the generator to charge/maintain the deep cycle batteries. Or use solar cells for the charging. The more batteries the longer the run time between needing to charge. For just a few enclosures a single battery would do.

Or if you want to spend less you can get a Ranco/Johnson controls thermostat and use it with the generator because those are relay based and can still work on poorly regulated power. During a power outage just swap thermostats. Your temps won't be as regulated but it should keep things going. :D

Dion Brewington
Owner, Spyder Robotics

40 hour heat packs if you can't get a generator (live in an apartment or other reasons).

two packs per animal keeps 'em warm for 3 days.

If a blackout is going to last longer than 3 days, you can possibly plan for a temporary relocation.