Battery Back-up

Hi, I've been lurking for a few months now, READING alot. I've learned large amounts of information that has made my growing easier and less stressful.

I live in south Florida and we have many power outages. Not outages that last hours or even many minutes but 1-10 seconds. Enough time to shut off the HPS and the power to the timer, which now thinks it's 'off time' (NOT GOOD).

I wondering if I can use a battery back-up, as used to protect TV's, computers and sometimes the entire home? It would ave to be able to maitain the total amount of wattage on the protected electrical line and I believe there are some 'time per watt' that the battery would maintain. Lets say a particular back-up battery would maintain 900 wats for 15 minutes before the lights, and everyting else on the line goes out for example.

Gotta go, any input will be appreciated, be back in a few hours for replies.

Some digital timers have a 9v battery backup built into 'em that will retain the programming if the power goes off. These are usually about $30 at Casa De Pot or Wally world.

there are also devices that will prevent a "hot start" of your HID ballasts/lamps. these delay the power to the system for 15 minutes to keep the lamp from reciving power before it has cooled and can be refired again.
I'd recommend something like this if you have a lot of those 10 sec outages. Such events can really hammer on yer lamp/ballast's life.

good luck

bt dt

beenthere donethat said:

Some digital timers have a 9v battery backup built into 'em that will retain the programming if the power goes off. These are usually about $30 at Casa De Pot or Wally world.

there are also devices that will prevent a "hot start" of your HID ballasts/lamps. these delay the power to the system for 15 minutes to keep the lamp from reciving power before it has cooled and can be refired again.
I'd recommend something like this if you have a lot of those 10 sec outages. Such events can really hammer on yer lamp/ballast's life.

good luck

bt dt

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Hey, thanks bt dt, good info, but it still leaves my timer thinking its supposed to be OFF. Even when the electro comes back on it doesn't return power to the light, till the next 12 ON time.

get one of those computer back up things from BEst Buy. theyre about 100 bucks. i think i saw them on sale for Fathers day for like 70. anyway, buy it, try it, if it doesnt work take it back, tell em its broke and u want ur money back...simple.

So I bought the 850watt battery backup, plugged it in (after charging it for 16 hours. Remember to connect the positive wire B4 you charge it!) and have had no issues since.

We still get the 5 second to a minute outages (my clocks tell me when by blinking the wrong time and I have to reset them) but all stays bright in the box.

My timers have built in backup battery so the timer is always going doesnt mess up on and off times.Its complete digital with 1 minute interval settings for 30 day times.Cost like $25.I also keep a large spare car battery charging by my site.If power goes I have a dc converter on it so I can pop my pump into it and keep plants going til power comes on.Wouldnt help if light stay off too long or for like 10 hours when in veg but will keep the pump going a few hours.Cost about $70 for battery and converter

The best thing to use is a UPS as a good one can keep your setup running for up to an hour,a basic model that will keep a 400watt setup running for about 20 minutes if your lucky will only cost you about 60-80 dollars

natmoon said:

The best thing to use is a UPS as a good one can keep your setup running for up to an hour,a basic model that will keep a 400watt setup running for 1 hour will only cost you about 60-80 dollars

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I hour might be pushing it even with a premium UPS. I have about 5 of these badboy's, work buys them, and IMO a 400w light would last about 15-25min.

Yeah sorry a basic model wont power them for 1 hour,youll need a more expensive one for that.
An APC RS800VA will deliver over 500watts for 51 minutes but costs about 200 dollars or so,i is half asleep lol