Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Maybe it's covered somewhere else, but I'd like to understand what methods people use to do either or both of the following:

1. setoff an alarm when a pump or power fails. (Battery backup ?)
2. auto failover on pump failure to a backup air pump ?
Also any other ideas people have worked out

As in Power Failure? or as in an actual Pump Failure?

with a Mains Failure, i believe there is a unit available that has a relay powered by mains that will switch on a Battery Backup Unit if mains fails Simple to install and fail safe.

*NB. a relay is a power operated switch if the mains fails it will switch on the Battery Pump.

With a Battery Backup unit, you would need a Car battery or similar with a Charger that is Regulated as to not over charge the battery, then you would require a 12v Bilge Pump Similar to what they would use in a Boat.

As for a Mechanical failure, Possibly could run from a Current Detecting Device or a flow meter, each would be available but im guessing pricy as i know what sparkys charge

My brother is a sparky and he is going to make my battery Backup fall over.

Yes as m3tal has mentioned, actual pump (water or air) failure and power failure will require different form of detection. Pump (water or air) failure detection would cost a bit... you might also need a delay timer for the water pump if you are running it on timer, since it will take a couple of seconds before you can detect flow...

Battery backup for air has been discussed various times....

Here's one...
http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=6779

Here's what I done with my system. I have a 9V battery powering a buzzer that gets triggered upon loss of power. I do have a electrical schematic somewhere that I can provide to you... might need to get a sparky to wire it up for you...
http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=5680&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&start=390

My brother is playing with an idea of a small inverter that will be switched on and my pumps switched across to that powersorce in the event of a failure. Could be a winner!

Will let you know more when it's working

m3tal, tell your brother to switch the 12V side of the supply to the inverter with a suitably sized relay. In this way, the inverter does not need to be constantly powered, but a time delay may be required before loading up the inverter as most inverters may see the initial switch-over as too high a load and trip instead...

I am using my second inverter now as the fan in the first one failed and possibly overheated as a result of constantly running...

You can buy a relay for around $70 to turn on the 12v on when the power goes off .I use a bilge pump to pump water to two conected tanks and dropping the water into the tanks.It starts instantly and seems to work well and you can conect it all up yourself.

Cheers Ivan, will pass it on

do you use the same pumps as your 240v source uses? or seperate pumps? i think there will need to be a timer before the source switches as well.

Only my air pump is battery backed up and running 24 hours so I do not need a timer. And yes during normal operation, the air pump is powered by 240VAC and during power failure, the same air pump is powered by the battery via a 12/240VAC inverter...

Small 12v plugpack keeps a change over relay energised and the inverter off until a power failure. When the power is switched off the plugpack stops, drops the relay which turns on the inverter, powering the air pump. Works a treat, and the control circuit is very simple, cheap and safe.

The relay can also power a reversing alarm or similar to provide audible notice of a power failure. I can hear the air pump running though, so an alarm is not needed.

Mine looks like a bunch of spagetti but it works. Fail over switch to turn on 12v bilge pump to pump to the growbeds. Box also has a air pump in it now so is even more crowded



With new system will probably do same, with inverter to power the ACO air pump

Thanks for the feedback, i'll be doing a bit of research around these and also a simple UPS with battery backup

Have any of you guys done a cost analysis of these setups ?

If it saves the fish most don't care about the cost. My setup is like OBO's but not connected.