Go

fkshiu · #1 10-21-2009, 04:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by medhatreefguy

I was checking out the NOMA at Canadian Tire on the weekend. I am in the same position and I am thinking a generator would probably be the most bang for the buck. Any recommendations on a nice compact and powerful generator?

Honda. But I doubt you'd want to put in that much $ for a back up generator unless you plan on using it all the time. CanTi and Costco sell a bargain brand call Champion which is affordable.

Don't forget to run the generator OUTDOORS. It's something a lot of people forget about when they're in a panic setting one up.

The other consideration is "what happens if the power goes out and you're not home"? A generator is useless in this scenario unless you have it hooked up to your household power with an auto-start. Using one of those Noma units purely as a life support system (i.e. just your return pump - which will last for hours and hours) is probably the best, most economical bang for your buck.

Coleus · #2 10-21-2009, 04:57 AM

is Champion a good brand when needed? Won't use much only when powertage is out.

Noma unit is $400 at CT and Champion generator is 400 at Costco

Don';t have budget to get both right now. Hmmm
________
Strawberry cough

fkshiu · #3 10-21-2009, 05:11 AM

Don't know much about Champion but I have heard of at least one person who bought one from CanTire and it didn't work. Then when he tried to return it they told him he couldn't because he already put gas in it! It took a lot of complaining before they allowed him to exchange it I think.

Anyway, it'll probably work fine. But like all bargain equipment the chances of it not working fine or not being very reliable are worse than with other, more established brands.

One more thing - cheap generators are very loud. Since you have to run them outdoors, be wary of local noise ordinances especially at night. Some dude in the neighbourhood a while ago decided to do some renovating late at night with various power tools. Somebody actually called the cops (not me) who came and told him to STFU. Needless to say that was the end of his reno work that night.

mr.wilson · #4 10-21-2009, 05:13 AM

The nice thing about an air pump backup system is it will cost you less than $20 and it comes on automatically when the power goes out. The air lift is more effective than a powerhead because it moves just as much water but does so from the bottom to the top rather than the less efficient side-side pattern of a powerhead. You can hide a few air lines within your rock work. When the power goes off, the ac plug switches the battery operated air pump on. You will get many hours out of the battery. The B10 model is just an air pump, while the B11 model has the auto-activation when the power goes out.
http://www.mops.ca/pdf/2007cat_p01.pdf

fkshiu · #5 10-21-2009, 05:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr.wilson

The nice thing about an air pump backup system is it will cost you less than $20 and it comes on automatically when the power goes out. The air lift is more effective than a powerhead because it moves just as much water but does so from the bottom to the top rather than the less efficient side-side pattern of a powerhead. You can hide a few air lines within your rock work. When the power goes off, the ac plug switches the battery operated air pump on. You will get many hours out of the battery. The B10 model is just an air pump, while the B11 model has the auto-activation when the power goes out.
http://www.mops.ca/pdf/2007cat_p01.pdf

Has anybody tested how long these puppies last before the batteries die?

mr.wilson · #6 10-21-2009, 05:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fkshiu

Has anybody tested how long these puppies last before the batteries die?

Someone told me once but I forgot. It was well over 12 hours though. This model may last longer than the B11. http://www.bigalsonline.com/BigAlsUS...ybackupairpump

This one claims about 72 hours of battery life (two x D). http://www.seaquestmarine.com/Life_A...p/won_la50.htm

Snaz · #7 10-21-2009, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fkshiu

Has anybody tested how long these puppies last before the batteries die?

I have one of the double-D cell air pumps running my ATO and I am using the original batteries since I installed it early last summer. Typically it runs for 2 minutes every hour and certainly more on hot days. I think the 72 hour run time is probably accurate with a new set of duracell. Damn things are loud as hell though as they are piston driven and not diaphragm.

mike31154 · #8 10-21-2009, 04:31 PM

Ha, ha, yeah, I have the "SilentAir" B-11. It's anything but silent, however, that can be a good thing, alerts you right away when the circuit trips.

mr.wilson · #9 10-21-2009, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike31154

Ha, ha, yeah, I have the "SilentAir" B-11. It's anything but silent, however, that can be a good thing, alerts you right away when the circuit trips.

Yeah, it may not have an iphone ap, but it lets you know you have a problem

freddy · #10 10-27-2009, 07:38 PM

Bought a noma 400 from canadian tire.Power was out for 6 hours,it ran my 500 aquaclear,skimmer,heater and one powerhead,no problems,one thing I like about battery backup is that when the power goes out,it dosen't skip a beat everything keeps running as of the power never went out,well worth the money.