UPS ?

[blueboy]

i've been wanting to put a UPS on my tank, with the frequent power outages we have. and we're going on vacation in a couple of weeks, so it looks like it's time to do this. my ? is, if i get a UPS rated at 450W, does that mean it will run 450W for one hour? or 100W for~4hr10mns?or 50W for 9 hours?(you get where i'm going with this?) or is it more complicated than that? i'm really just wanting to run one of my tunzes, and the skimmer pump to keep the water moving, and oxygenated. i'm looking at a 390W, which i figure should power that for quite awhile.

[alton]

It depends on how large the battery is? My 1100 watt UPS will run my 50 PXX over an hour and it contains 2 - 12 AMP 12 volt batteries. I have been told that motors are tough on UPS systems. I think it is a 10% rule, motor=45 watts UPS = 450 watts because of the start up.
http://www.apc.com/resource/include/techspec_index.cfm?base_sku=BE650R

[caferacermike]

All I know is that the UPS in my neighborhood has really squeaky brakes at 8:30pm.

I had been looking at them myself with the same sort of questions. My problem is when I lose power it's generally for several hours, 6 or more, I figured and was told that a UPS wouldn't help at all in my situation. I bought large generator instead. Of course it doesn't help when I'm at work or asleep but if the power has been off for say 2 hours when I get home, at least it won't be off for another 6 hours. Plus I can run most of my system with the additional power.

[erikharrison]

I have seen 1100 watt UPSs run several servers (3 or so) for around ten minutes, including all of the switches, a firewall, lcd, and kvm switch.
I had a chart that I had found surfing the web but I lost track of it. It basically told you what would work for how long, based on wattage. Try googling it.

[erikharrison]

I have seen 1100 watt UPSs run several servers (3 or so) for around ten minutes, including all of the switches, a firewall, lcd, and kvm switch.
I had a chart that I had found surfing the web but I lost track of it. It basically told you what would work for how long, based on wattage. Try googling it.

[Headless_donkey]

I have a 1500 watt UPS and it will run a mag 9.5 for about an hour. It lasted alot longer with the Mag 5, but it just wasn't enough flow. I there is a special switch that will start a generator when the power turns off. There is a thread on RC about it. Supposedly any electrician should be know what you want and be able to install it.
I asked the same question last year. Here is the thread
http://www.austinreefclub.com/index.php?showtopic=792&b=1&st=0&p=&#entry

[captexas]

Whatever UPS you look at should have some kind of chart or info with it. I'm not a sparky, but the wattage does not equal how long it will last, it's just a measure of how much power the device you have plugged in uses. To figure up how many watts you are using, watts=volts x amps. So if you are using a 1/2 amp 120volt pump you are using 60watts of power. Now you just need to find out how long the UPS will support that much of a draw.