Back up heating question

Adam165 · 04-30-13, 02:44 PM

What does everybody use for heating reptile enclosures in the case of extended power outages? I have a generator but in that case it would probably be used on other things.

**lady_bug87** · 04-30-13, 07:18 PM

You can use those 8h heat packs that you can get from an outdoors store

smy_749 · 04-30-13, 07:25 PM

What about getting a large battery and hooking it up to some sort of heat emitter? Is that feasible? I'm not very knowledgable in the electronics department...

Chris72 · 04-30-13, 07:43 PM

You can get power supplies (attach in series between plug and thermostat). It will kick in if the power goes out so there is no interruption. In winter I was using a Noma unit that had 10hr back up. Enough time for you to get home and figure out how you will be keeping the critters warm. (IE- Fire up the genny)

smy_749 · 04-30-13, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris72

You can get power supplies (attach in series between plug and thermostat). It will kick in if the power goes out so there is no interruption. In winter I was using a Noma unit that had 10hr back up. Enough time for you to get home and figure out how you will be keeping the critters warm. (IE- Fire up the genny)

Thats actually a very long power outage for us typically. They are usually only an hour at the most. The only time I can remember a power outage longer than a few hours was the october storm in new england a few years back...no power 9 days. Can you link me to that noma unit :P

Chris72 · 04-30-13, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smy_749

Thats actually a very long power outage for us typically. They are usually only an hour at the most. The only time I can remember a power outage longer than a few hours was the october storm in new england a few years back...no power 9 days. Can you link me to that noma unit :P

Yup. Mine is nearly 10 years old so not 100% the same but this is the basic idea:

Buy NOMA Back-up Power System, 1, 800W in Canada - Canoe Shopping

http://vancouver.bizcaf.ca/buy-and-sell-electronics-noma-1800-watt-ups-backup-power-supply-system--great-for-rv-or-camping---$129-surrey-vancouver_bizcafAd_1833299.ad

I provided two links just incase there is a problem with one or the other after I paste. I don't leave my UPS plugged in during the warmer months to extend the life. They will not last forever so you will want to test it at the start of each cold season.

For us the power comes back on within the hour or two but the odd time the furnace pilot fails and I get home and it feels like winter inside. A few years back we had the power go out for three days!!

Good on ya' for thinking ahead. Good practice to have one of these on hand.

Hope that helps.

C.

bcr229 · 04-30-13, 08:44 PM

Typically we lose power once a month for a few seconds at a time, though summer and winter storms have knocked power out for 4-5 days. The most recent was last summer for four days with daytime temps over 100*F. Our generator ensured that we didn't lose any perishable food.

Winter is actually easier for food since we can move it to the garage to stay cool/frozen. The herp racks and tanks would go in the living room with the wood stove for the duration of the outage. The critters wouldn't have their ideal warm/cool spots, but they wouldn't get so cold they would die either.

SSSSnakes · 05-01-13, 03:35 AM

Kerosene heaters and some propane gas heater do not need electric to work. We have 2 gas fire places that can heat our entire house to 80 degrees. It is common for our electric to go out for days in a bad snow storm.

Adam165 · 05-01-13, 09:36 AM

Thanks for the idea on the ups. I hadn't thought of that before but that's now on my shopping list before next winter.

Danimal · 05-06-13, 09:03 AM

Hopefully going to be starting a new house this year in a rural area, I'm going to put a genrac in.

If you buy a UPS make sure you know what the load is that you are going to be putting on it before you buy. I have several smaller units like the Noma attached to my computers and peripherals at home and all of them are rated to run the device they are attached to but not necessarily for an extended period of time at full load. I have Large rack mount units at work attached to servers and switches. I have more than enough time to shut everything down but if I continued to use one of the computers it wouldn't last very long. Also with batteries you have to consider diminishing returns.

Not saying don't do it, just saying make sure you do your homework, once the power goes out you have a finite resource and if you don't match that supply to the demand you just wasted your money and possibly some of your animals.

bcr229 · 05-06-13, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SSSSnakes

Kerosene heaters and some propane gas heater do not need electric to work. We have 2 gas fire places that can heat our entire house to 80 degrees. It is common for our electric to go out for days in a bad snow storm.

Good point. If using any kind of gas or kero, remember to also get a good carbon monoxide detector as well. Same goes for a gas or diesel generator - always run the generator outside, and keep CO detectors inside.