What's the deal with DC equipment

[Zorin]

I'm seeing more and more people using DC equipment. What's the benefits over traditional AC?
And how do you run them? Do you have to connect them to a battery of some kind?

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[coralfish]

They are speed controllable via a controller or 0-10v aquarium controllers. Less energy waste as well.

I can set mine to run at different speeds at different times of the day. I can also run stop it during feedings or just have it slow down during feed mode.

They run off of AC current


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[scuzy]

Less voltage in your tank.

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[JVU]

Also quieter in general


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[GQsmooth]

Quiet, efficient, and programmable.

[Zorin]

Thanks for the replies.
Is there equipment other than pumps that runs DC? heaters?
Do you have to run dc with controllers? DC sounds like the better option but interested to know if I have to get DC pumps when I get my controller.

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[Mishri]

ac adapters have been common place in home electronics in the 70s(converting your wall AC into DC).. your computers and tablets and phones are dc powered. AC power is good for travelling distance, dc is needed for electronics because it's constant.

https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials...ect-current-dc

pumps have switched from AC to DC as a desire to scale output has seen a need.

[Zorin]

Thanks that helps

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[NanoReefWanabe]

Originally Posted by Zorin

Thanks for the replies.
Is there equipment other than pumps that runs DC? heaters?
Do you have to run dc with controllers? DC sounds like the better option but interested to know if I have to get DC pumps when I get my controller.

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Your controller will be a.c. designed to control both a.c. and dc equipment. All pumps and some lights are available in dc heaters are not, t5 and metal halide lights also not available in dc although they are still controllable.. lower voltage mixed with water is all round better scenario then high voltage and water.

[moondoggy4]

One problem with DC pumps are all the extra wires lying around.

[unze]

What's the benefits over traditional AC?

I think its mainly marketing hype, Maybe good for some situations.
My skimmer has a DC pump, really pointless as i run it at 100%.

[ksed]

Originally Posted by unze

i think its mainly marketing hype, maybe good for some situations.
My skimmer has a dc pump, really pointless as i run it at 100%.

+1

[NanoReefWanabe]

Originally Posted by unze

I think its mainly marketing hype, Maybe good for some situations.
My skimmer has a DC pump, really pointless as i run it at 100%.

Still consumes half the power though

[unze]

Yes maybe, but performance might not be as good.
I have a Royal Exclusive skimmer. the pump needed a new impeller, so i thought i would try a DC pump. Found the DC pump was not as good as it did not have the grunt of a AC pump.
Saved me 50 watts, but in the big scheme of things a 50w savings in power is no big deal breaker.

[ericarenee]

i switched From AC Return and sump ,fuge circulation pumps to DC PUMPS. From M/H and T5 LIGHTING TO LED.

I Do like having lower voltage in my water volume.. But I had to offset the power savings by adding another 1000watt of heating so now i have 2000w but have kewl dc low voltage equipment.. I am going BACK TO AC....
The saving is not there for me plus dc stuff has to be kept clean or it will fail . ac pumps just work , work ,, work and never stop.. My mag drive pumps that are 20 plus years old just might outlive me

[jda]

There is no efficiency... if you want to move X gallons of water, it costs Y in power... period.

Most of the first DC pumps are well in the trash by now and replaced with new iterations, but even the very few still running have still not been running long enough to be called reliable when Mags, Iwakis, Lagunas, AmpMasters, Gen X and many other have been runnings for decades without issue.

[theatrus]

Originally Posted by NanoReefWanabe

Still consumes half the power though

There is a big thread on this, but any saving of you're running at full speed is minor (and not half). If you compare the real power of an AC pump and a same spec DC, they're going to be quite similar.

AC pumps really aren't that inefficient - they may have a crappy power factor, but real power is similar.

Of course if you're running with speed control, BLDC pumps will win if their controller wasn't designed by a wet noodle for spare change (some are really bad).

[scooter31707]

IMO, they are good if you don't own an Apex or any other controller. You don't have to keep unplugging them when feeding or during other stuff. Just hit the feed button and it's off for 10 minutes.

[ktownhero]

The DC pumps use significantly less power and are fully adjustable. I mean, DC pumps can change their speed constantly all day. And I don't mean like once every rew minutes, they an rapidly switch in sub-second intervals. The Vortech pumps are a good example.

[coralfish]

Originally Posted by scooter31707

IMO, they are good if you don't own an Apex or any other controller. You don't have to keep unplugging them when feeding or during other stuff. Just hit the feed button and it's off for 10 minutes.

I have 2 DC return pumps and run them on an Apex 2016 controller. I have them controlled via the 0-10v outlets.

I set different speeds for different times of day, for different feed cycles, and I never have to hit the feed button on the pump's controller, unless I just want to.

I never have to unplug them and they work very well with an aquarium controller.


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[NanoReefWanabe]

Originally Posted by theatrus

There is a big thread on this, but any saving of you're running at full speed is minor (and not half). If you compare the real power of an AC pump and a same spec DC, they're going to be quite similar.

AC pumps really aren't that inefficient - they may have a crappy power factor, but real power is similar.

Of course if you're running with speed control, BLDC pumps will win if their controller wasn't designed by a wet noodle for spare change (some are really bad).

That is interesting I will look into that more...i am considering a jebao8000 sine wave pump for my return but if running efficiency is the same as an AC pump i might just go with the eheim 1262

[theatrus]

Originally Posted by NanoReefWanabe

That is interesting I will look into that more...i am considering a jebao8000 sine wave pump for my return but if running efficiency is the same as an AC pump i might just go with the eheim 1262

All depends on how you plan on running it - if you're going wide open, no difference. If you're closing a ball valve by 50% in the return, the DC pump may be worth it.

Losses in the DC pumps are also distributed - some is lost in the power brick (10-30%), some in the controller (10-20%) and the rest on the motor block and wiring. Compared to an AC pump where most of the losses are in the motor block and wiring, which acts like a tank heater compared to a DC option.

[jayball]

I switched to a coralbox/ jebao skimmer from my atman ph2500 based skimmer for noise reduction.


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[ca1ore]

Originally Posted by ktownhero

The DC pumps use significantly less power and are fully adjustable. I mean, DC pumps can change their speed constantly all day. And I don't mean like once every rew minutes, they an rapidly switch in sub-second intervals. The Vortech pumps are a good example.

I absolutely see the benefits of DC pumps for powerheads/wavemakers; don't see it so much for the main return pump though. If I were running an in-stand sump, I'd probably go with a Vectra as my main return; but since I run a basement sump it won't cut it.

[Breadman03]

Originally Posted by NanoReefWanabe

That is interesting I will look into that more...i am considering a jebao8000 sine wave pump for my return but if running efficiency is the same as an AC pump i might just go with the eheim 1262

You can't cheat physics, and it takes a certain amount of energy to do a given amount of work.

I've got a bit of cash in DC gear, but it's all about noise for me. I like quiet.