Power Backup

[Andy]

Does anyone use any type of power backup for their heating for their snakes or lizards? My new job means I will be working away for a couple of nights or so a week and I am paranoid that the power will go off and my snake will get cold and die. I know you can get UPS back up things for PC's and the like which will keep your computer on for a few minutes if there is a power cut to give you time to shut it down and stuff. I am thinking that this would prob keep a heat mat going for a while but dont know how long. Anyone got any ideas/suggestions on this?

[nattyb]

dont tell me you havent got a generator sorted andy? :wink:

[ReptileResort]

the power back ups for pc's will last a fewe hours m8 depeneding on the size of the power of the 1 you buy they are good for pc's , not to sure how long it would last on a viv ? wonder if any 1 on the forum owns 1 they could do a test for you andy m8

[t-bo]

Most of the UPS for computors are in someway intigrated with USB/Network adaptors.. I dont know how they work on thier own, definately worth looking into though.. like you say they should be able to keep a heat mat going for quite a while if they can keep a computer on

[ReptileResort]

my future farther inlaw has 1 but its a few years old and his has just got 2 plug sockets on the side basically so you just plug the comps plugs in , may be worth trying to find an older 1 then on ebay or some thing

[CanIFeedItCats?]

UPS systems (Un-interuptable power supplies) can be configured to do just about anything you want. Whitehall where the MOD are have a system that will keep something like 5000 pcs and the air purification systems running for 24 hours.

All they basically are is a battery pack with a 2 state relay which will trip if the power supply fails. If this happens, the power from the bank of batteries will pass through a transformer to convert it back up to 230v AC and this will then power your kit.

They are generally rated in Amp Hours. Depending on what kit you have, you are likely to be pulling between 1 and 3 amps in your viv.

So, a 2 amp hour UPS will supply a 1 amp viv for 2 hours, or a 2 amp viv for 1 hour.

If I were installing one, I would only put the heat mat on the UPS. this will allow the thing to last as long as possible whilst still giving the animals a warm spot to shelter until the power comes back on.

You can make these yourself for a fraction of the cost of a shop bought one with the plans being available on the internet etc.

Running off of a 6 car battery system, you should be able to get 48 hours power supply out of your UPS if just running the mats.