Jump to content


Battery Powered Air Pump


21 replies to this topic

#1 Guest_farmertodd_*

Guest_farmertodd_*
  • Guests

Posted 30 January 2008 - 08:01 PM

Hi gang,

Well the wind knocked out power last night at midnight when the weather systems across the midwest were having a little bit of a mosh pit (there was a 7' seiche on Lake Erie today!!!!) Now, I love my fish, but not enough to go try and start a generator in 5 degrees with a wind chill of -20.

Fortunately, I had the room cold conditioned, so there was zero oxygen stress with everything off. That was my rationalization at 3:00 am, and I'm sticking with it.

I went down to see my good friend at the local bait & tackle shop this morning, because if it happens again (this is the 4th outage in 2 years) I'd rather just hook up an air pump in the middle of the night and not run the generator and upset the neighbor lady. But I HATE battery powered air pumps. They're weak. Marine Metal used to make one worth a dang, but those got out sourced to goodness knows where and the quality took a dump.

Now Gary knows transportin' fish. They go down to Lake Fork every year, right, wrong or indifferent, and take tubs of emerald shiners for crappie, because all they seem to get there at the bait shops are fathead minnows, and wouldn't you know, the crappie like that extra glitter from scales falling off and whatnot. Let's not go there... What's important here is that he can get over 1000 emerald shiners to TEXAS from OHIO in OCTOBER without loosing even a dozen. And he's not running O2.

With the background noise of an angelic chorus, he showed me this:

http://www.frabill.c...23?store=spring

It's quiet, it moves as much air as a similarly sized A/C air pump. I'm running it to see when it peters out. Oh, and it's only about $2 more than those crappy Penn Plax ones you get a Wally World where you're cutting the hose so it's still moving A bubble after running for 2 hours (if you got it started in the first place).

I'll use these out in the river, on the way home, camping overnight without electricity. No problem. This is nice, because I never wanted to tank my car battery camping somewhere in the middle of nowhere (my battery has an outlet that I can run without the car on) and if I'm trying to save some gas and take Erika's car, then I can turn it off and still have power (which I think is most people's situation).

Thought I'd pass it along!

I'll update when its killed the batteries. These are just Ray-o-vac cheapies, I plan to get rechargeables later.

Todd

#2 Guest_schambers_*

Guest_schambers_*
  • Guests

Posted 30 January 2008 - 08:36 PM

Cool! I'll be interested to know how long it lasts. I expected our power to go out last night, too, but we got lucky.

#3 Guest_drewish_*

Guest_drewish_*
  • Guests

Posted 30 January 2008 - 09:12 PM

I use this pump when collecting, and it isn't going to last long. I keep extra batteries because I never know when it will die.

I'm in the process of ordering a small electric generator that would be able to power a Luft pump for 2+ days. If you're interested in what I've researched, I can post it.

#4 Guest_pmk00001_*

Guest_pmk00001_*
  • Guests

Posted 30 January 2008 - 09:15 PM

Get at least a couple sets of rechargeables, they can go thru them pretty quick, (and weather extremes can have crazy effects on battery life) and I probably don't have to tell you that the airstones that come with them are lousy but easily replaceable.

Other than that a decent piece of equipment for the $$.

#5 Guest_edbihary_*

Guest_edbihary_*
  • Guests

Posted 30 January 2008 - 09:37 PM

Yes, Drew, I would be interested please.

I use the Hurricane Category 5 air pump:
Posted Image

You can read the specs here:
http://www.marinedep...ofessional.html

I believe it is designed to be a home aquarium air pump, with a battery backup in case of power failure. It plugs in to 110 volt AC and runs off of that when AC power is available, recharging the battery at the same time. When the power is cut or the unit is unplugged, it switches to running on the built-in rechargeable NiCd battery pack. I plug it into an inverter, which is plugged into a power outlet in my van. When I'm driving the van, the inverter receives DC power, powers the pump, and recharges the pump's battery. When the van is parked, and power is cut to the inverter, the pump continues to run off of its built-in battery pack. As you can see in the specs, it runs for 14 hours continuously, or 28 hours intermittently (cycles of 1 minute on and 1 minute off). There will be no collecting trip in which I will be leaving the van and the fish unattended for 28 hours, or even 14, so it is an excellent solution for me.

#6 Guest_tglassburner_*

Guest_tglassburner_*
  • Guests

Posted 30 January 2008 - 09:40 PM

I use this pump when collecting, and it isn't going to last long. I keep extra batteries because I never know when it will die.

I'm in the process of ordering a small electric generator that would be able to power a Luft pump for 2+ days. If you're interested in what I've researched, I can post it.

Please post this please I am curious.

#7 Guest_drewish_*

Guest_drewish_*
  • Guests

Posted 30 January 2008 - 10:02 PM

I just purchased the Super Luft Pump SL-65 (brand new on ebay) : http://www.aquariumg...rluftpump1.html
and looking at purchasing this : http://www.amazon.co...s...3217&sr=1-1
or something similar.
It is a slightly costly investment but I'm going to be powering 10+ sponge filters in my fish room. So if you have a similar setup, it will be worth the investment. At the same time I'm removing power filters as the fish I'm keeping don't need the water movement.

The generator is multi-functional as well, so it isn't just for fish.

Anyway, doing the math, the generator fully charged will power the luft pump for around 48 hours if the pump truly uses .6 amps. That single pump is plenty to serve all my tanks.

Again, this is more beneficial if you have a number of tanks.

#8 Guest_edbihary_*

Guest_edbihary_*
  • Guests

Posted 30 January 2008 - 10:09 PM

I just purchased the Super Luft Pump SL-65 (brand new on ebay) : http://www.aquariumg...rluftpump1.html

When it arrives, I would be interested in a report. Let us know, please, how well it moves air, and how quietly. I was under the impression that pumps like that are very noisy. If you report that it is very quiet, I just might get one.

#9 Guest_teleost_*

Guest_teleost_*
  • Guests

Posted 30 January 2008 - 10:09 PM

Last major power outage I had little time and was desperate so I went to every walmart in a 20 mile radius and purchased every single "D" cell battery operated air pump. I now have well over a dozen and have used them many times to haul fish over 1000 miles. Like all diaphragm pumps they have a limited life (and yes these $6 air pumps don't last as long as units twice the price). I get over 24 hours of operation on a single "D" cell and they really fit the bill for power outages. I don't have a central air system at home and this seems to be most cost effective for my situation.

#10 Guest_Irate Mormon_*

Guest_Irate Mormon_*
  • Guests

Posted 30 January 2008 - 11:07 PM

Don't be a minnow murderer when for just a few cents a day (399 days) you too can save a minnow from a life of overheated, oxygen deprived existence.



Kinda gets you right there, doesn't it?

I would think a UPS (of the computer sort) would do a decent job of running an air pump, and cheaper than a generator.

#11 Guest_drewish_*

Guest_drewish_*
  • Guests

Posted 30 January 2008 - 11:20 PM

I would think a UPS (of the computer sort) would do a decent job of running an air pump, and cheaper than a generator.


Find me a UPS with a light!

The generator is pretty heavy but still portable and like I said serves multiple purposes.

I've done the running around the house looking for batteries bit. But I have too many tanks to aerate so it fits for those that don't need a gas powered generator but want some sort of backup plan.

#12 Guest_truf_*

Guest_truf_*
  • Guests

Posted 31 January 2008 - 12:24 AM

Last major power outage I had little time and was desperate so I went to every walmart in a 20 mile radius and purchased every single "D" cell battery operated air pump. I now have well over a dozen and have used them many times to haul fish over 1000 miles. Like all diaphragm pumps they have a limited life (and yes these $6 air pumps don't last as long as units twice the price). I get over 24 hours of operation on a single "D" cell and they really fit the bill for power outages. I don't have a central air system at home and this seems to be most cost effective for my situation.

I did the same thing (walmart panic ride) last year ended up with four of 'em. They last quite a while; 24 hours isn't uncommon for these things. (yellow ones?)

#13 Guest_tglassburner_*

Guest_tglassburner_*
  • Guests

Posted 31 January 2008 - 07:48 AM

I would think a UPS (of the computer sort) would do a decent job of running an air pump, and cheaper than a generator.

They do a great job a small one will last for ~24 hours or so depending on pump size and other factors

I use one, and I also use an inverter in my truck to use my air pumps.

#14 Guest_nativeplanter_*

Guest_nativeplanter_*
  • Guests

Posted 31 January 2008 - 12:33 PM

Low tech: I've used hydrogen peroxide to relieve stressed darters during a power outage. Worked great.

#15 Guest_farmertodd_*

Guest_farmertodd_*
  • Guests

Posted 31 January 2008 - 12:41 PM

Low tech: I've used hydrogen peroxide to relieve stressed darters during a power outage. Worked great.


Hmmm... That's another idea. So you'll add O2 and bump redox at the same time. Very cool idea.

They do a great job a small one will last for ~24 hours or so depending on pump size and other factors

I use one, and I also use an inverter in my truck to use my air pumps.


Tom are you running these in-line so that the UPS kicks on when the car is turned off? That's a GREAT idea.

Well... As predicted, the batteries were barely going this morning. So you can expect about 8 hours of excellent life... but probably not much more. It was still running as well as the crappy Walmart units though. That was at hour 12. So you'd get overnight. I'm sure with a high grade rechargeable, you'll get a better length of running time.

I'm going to drain another set when I'm at home on Saturday so I can see what the final hours look like. Or maybe others can add something here. Does it crank until the battery waviers, or do it go down at a gentle rate, slower and slower?

Todd

#16 Guest_drewish_*

Guest_drewish_*
  • Guests

Posted 31 January 2008 - 12:56 PM

I'm going to drain another set when I'm at home on Saturday so I can see what the final hours look like. Or maybe others can add something here. Does it crank until the battery waviers, or do it go down at a gentle rate, slower and slower?


I've had one die in route home from a site. I believe that was the second time using it. Since it is so quiet, I do not know exactly when it died and if it slowly died. I've started using an inverter in my vehicle now to run an air pump.

I also would be careful about using rechargeables. I know some devices aren't compatible with them.

#17 Guest_ashtonmj_*

Guest_ashtonmj_*
  • Guests

Posted 31 January 2008 - 01:05 PM

Is a pump with a 12 v plug going to draw enough power over say 8 hours to kill a good condition car battery? Worst case is you fire up the vehicle for a few minutes before you go to bed, first thing in the morning or in the middle of the night.

Visit My Website

Kinda fond of this model. Works in a wall, in the car outlet, and has alligator clips. Moves quite a bit of water and has kept fish alive on long trips across the smokies sloshing fish back and forth.

#18 Guest_farmertodd_*

Guest_farmertodd_*
  • Guests

Posted 31 January 2008 - 02:15 PM

I've run 60 watts of pumps overnight on my car battery without it making a dent. Just don't plug in your cell phone!

I may not have made this clear enough in my original post. I will only use an inverter unless I am unable to. I thought these pumps were a good, inexpensive back up for unique situations. That's why I made the post.

Drew, that's a good point about the rechargeables. I'll get some of the higher quality batteries and try those out.

Todd

#19 Guest_tglassburner_*

Guest_tglassburner_*
  • Guests

Posted 31 January 2008 - 02:18 PM

Tom are you running these in-line so that the UPS kicks on when the car is turned off? That's a GREAT idea.

I have.
I have also just used it as a big battery and it still lasts 24 hours or so with 2 dual outlet AC air pumps on it.
My 12v outlet stays on all time so I only bring the UPS if i plan on not running the battery in my truck down.

#20 Guest_farmertodd_*

Guest_farmertodd_*
  • Guests

Posted 31 January 2008 - 02:26 PM

I have.
I have also just used it as a big battery and it still lasts 24 hours or so with 2 dual outlet AC air pumps on it.
My 12v outlet stays on all time so I only bring the UPS if i plan on not running the battery in my truck down.


I think this is the best planned idea. This spring, I'll have to start watching for a UPS on Ebay.

Todd



Reply to this topic



  


0 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users