Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

When the power goes out what do you do? someone suggested a 60 watt DC pump... this would draw about 5 amps an hour from your battery (5aX12v=60Watt)... I have a small home solar system that would do this--for a while...
draining 5 amps an hour (120 amps a day) out of a battery with 900 amps gives you several days??? of power if my
math is right... And my small 5 amp solar system would charge 5 amps per hour into the battery about 8 hours a day... .. I built it so I always have lights and can run a radio or ???

So answer is to be totally "off grid" --- have a solar system large enough to run your pumps 24/7

Lewis in San Diego California USA

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No.. possibly wrong..

You may be confusing peak current. And. Amp/hour ratings..

A 900A/H battery would be massive..

A 900A battery could fit in my handbag..

You really need to talk in WATTS.. As that measures power.. and watt-hours measures the time/power capacity..

Your 5A solar panel could be any voltage.. panels.are described in watts..
5A is likely the short circuit current and has little reflection on power
A 200W panel could give 5Amps and 40V, and a good mppt charge controller would charge at say 190W, whilst your pump might draw 60W
.../

How big is your system , what sort of power outs do you have are they quite common or just occasional .

I used to get a few at my old place that would last for hours I used a small petrol gen set it runs for 7 hrs on a tank of fuel.

Do you have noise worries with neighbours

Lots of people have good solar / backups but it gets complicated and expensive

The simplest is a float switch in a small tank that activates when the power goes out as the level drops in the tank , this switches an air pump to keep your fish alive until you can rig something