Vortech with battery back up anyone?

W

Wes

Premium Member
If you use a battery back up with your vortechs, I learned something interesting about them tonight. The vortech can apparently detect the voltage coming from the battery so you know if it is holding a full charge or not. I have had three batteries since starting with vortechs years ago and never knew there was a way to check this. Last time I found out the battery was dead simply because when power went out my pumps did not stay on, luckily melevs reef was able to get me a new one quickly.

To check yours, all you have to do is disconnect the power to a vortech hooked up to an Ecotech battery. If all 12 LEDs on the eco smart controller light up then the battery is supplying a full 13.5 volts. Any fewer LEDs and the battery is supplying only a percentage of the power. So if half the LEDs are on you are getting 50% out of the battery, 9 and you get 75%, etc.

Another line item for my maintenance chore list! We but these things to try and prevent disaster, gotta keep up the maintenance on them so they work when we need them.
 
Any way to check this on the old driver?

I've had my battery back for 5 years now and have never had a problem. It's had to kick in a few times but I've never noticed any issues.
 
@kthomas wrote:
Any way to check this on the old driver? I've had my battery back for 5 years now and have never had a problem. It's had to kick in a few times but I've never noticed any issues. said:
Most every sealed type gel cell used in battery back ups will only last 3-5 years depending on use, having used these in my job for decades I can say at 5 years you need to replace.
I just use a off the shelf UPS to power my vortechs, alot cheaper and batteries are $20
Click to expand...
 
A regular UPS is cheaper, but won't run nearly as long. The Vortech Battery Backup provides low voltage power directly to the pump. A UPS provides power to the DC power supply, converting the 110v power to low voltage to feed the driver and the pump. The conversion wastes a lot of power and thus provides less run time.
 
@Marc wrote:
A regular UPS is cheaper said:
My ups is a 1500va that can run them for day , more than enough time
To get my generator up and running. I have
2 12v 50ah batteries on my ups.

No matter what you do so long as you have pease of mind. I don't worry about
Power outages at all.
Click to expand...
 
@kthomas wrote:
Any way to check this on the old driver? I've had my battery back for 5 years now and have never had a problem. It's had to kick in a few times but I've never noticed any issues. said:
No, it's an eco smart feature
Click to expand...
 
The battery inside the ecotech can be replaced too with a little DIY. Tanners usually has them in stock.
 
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