Finals Thoughts On The Best Battery Backups
Today, many of us are not only buying more computer gear and mobile devices for our homes, but many of us are also working more from home in hybrid-work situations. Thats why its more important than ever that you have a backup plan for your computers and other electronic devices. And that plan should include seeking out the best battery backups.
About Our Trusted Experts
Katie Dundas is a freelance journalist and tech writer who has written for Lifewire since 2019. She has thoroughly researched all products reviewed here.
Jeremy Laukkonen is a tech writer and the creator of a popular blog and video game startup. He specializes in consumer technology, including uninterrupted power supplies.
Erika Rawes is a tech reviewer who’s been writing for Lifewire since 2019. She is a consumer tech expert and tested the APC Gaming UPS on this list.
Adam Doud has been writing in the technology space for almost a decade. When he’s not hosting the Benefit of the Doud podcast, he’s playing with the latest phones, tablets, and laptops. When not working, he’s a cyclist, geocacher, and spends as much time outside as he can.
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Best For Networking And Other Devices: Cyberpower Cp800avr
While a UPS can be useful for keeping a computer alive and working, for those of us working on laptops, keeping the internet up is just as important. The Cyperpower CP800AVR is designed for keeping your networking gear up and running.
There are four plugs with battery backup and an additional four plugs with surge protection. The outlets are nicely spaced out so you can plug devices in with larger plugs . Automatic voltage regulation can fix minor power fluctuations without fully kicking in the battery power. That’s better for your power consumption and overall battery health. You can stand the UPS up or lay it down, depending on what’s best for you.
Outlets: 4 battery and surge protected, 4 surge-protected | Battery backup power: 800VA/450W | Sine Wave: Simulated
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What Power Conditions Will A Ups Battery Backup Protect Against
Many power problems originate in the commercial power grid, which, with its thousands of miles of transmission lines, is subject to damage from weather variations such as hurricanes, lightning storms, snow, ice, and flooding, as well as equipment failure and traffic accidents.
For more information on the different types of power problems, please see our white paper, The Seven Types of Power Problems
Battery: Plenty Of Juice For Demanding Applications
This is an 865W/1500VA UPS, but those numbers refer to how much power the device can provide at one time, not how much power the battery has stored. The battery itself is a 216 Volt-Amp-Hour unit that can be hot swapped without the need to shut your equipment down, and this unit also has the option to connect an additional 372 Volt-Amp-Hour battery to a port located on the rear of the unit.
In my office setup, I had been using an old CyberPower UPS that was originally intended for a lower power workstation and wasnt suited for my rigs power needs. I slotted this unit in place, and it was able to handle both my monitors and my PCs beefy power supply without a single complaint.
Since I didnt experience any natural power outages, or even brownouts, during my time with the Back-UPS Pro 1500, I ended up simulating a power outage by flipping the appropriate circuit breaker. With the UPS on its default settings, it immediately swapped over, keeping my computer up and running with plenty of time to save and shut down.
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Initial Setup: Some Minor Setup Is Required
This UPS comes with the battery disconnected, so hooking the battery up correctly is the most important part of the setup process. APC makes it pretty easy, with red and green color coded stickers showing whether or not you have the battery installed correctly.
Once you have pulled the battery, flipped it, and reinstalled it, the UPS is ready to use. It doesnt ship with a fully charged battery though, so youll want to let it charge for a while before plugging anything in.
While the Back-UPS Pro 1500 is technically ready to go as soon as the battery finishes charging, most users will also want to install the PowerChute Personal Edition software that APC provides access to.
Installing PowerChute and connecting the Back-UPS Pro 1500 to a computer is quick and easy if you leave all the settings at default. If you want to change things like the sensitivity for switching to battery power, power consumption threshold for your master outlet, or any other settings, then the setup process will take longer.
Installing PowerChute and connecting the Back-UPS Pro 1500 to a computer is quick and easy if you leave all the settings at default.
How To Choose A Ups: 7 Key Questions
1. What type of UPS should I choose?
UPS types include standby, line-interactive and on-line. They are explained in more detail above in Top 3 UPS Features and compared below in the UPS Comparison Chart.
If you are selecting a UPS for a home or office application, you will likely choose between standby and line-interactive UPS systems. Standby UPS systems typically cost less and have some of the smallest space requirements. Even if cost is your primary concern, however, always consider a line-interactive UPS. The price difference is negligible in many cases. If you want to protect valuable and sensitive computers and electronics, especially in locations with unstable utility power or frequent storms, choose a line-interactive UPS whenever possible.
If you are selecting a UPS for a network application outside your home, such as protecting servers and network hardware for a business, you will likely choose between line-interactive and on-line UPS systems. Generally speaking, line-interactive UPS systems have lower acquisition costs and on-line UPS systems provide significantly more protection. The question comes down to whether the extra protection is worth it to you, and that usually depends on your application and tolerance for disruption and downtime. How much does it cost to replace damaged equipment? How much does it cost in revenue and aggravation if your network is down for a while?
2. How much power does my equipment need?
3. What voltage does my equipment need?
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Ups & Battery Recycling
Did you know that lead-acid batteries are recycled at a higher rate than any other consumer product? According to Battery Council International, they have a 97% recycling rate, compared to 55% for aluminum cans and 45% for newspapers.
Recycle your old UPS systems and batteries to support a cleaner, more sustainable environment.
The Best Ups Battery Backup For Pc Gaming In 2022
The best UPS, or uninterruptible power supply, will safeguard your PC from unexpected power loss and surges.
The best UPS backup will keep your machine running should your electricity supply fail. Whether that’s a blackout, brownout, or power surge, you’ll be covered long enough to save what you’re doing and turn off your machine safely. Given that power surges and interruptions can be bad news for PC components, this can ultimately save you money. And who doesn’t like saving money?
If you’ve got a high-end gaming PC , it’s a smart idea to pair it with an uninterrupted power supply as a backup. This protects your precious system from fluctuations in outlet power and acts as a surge protector, too. A UPS utilizes internal batteries to deliver a steady flow of power, and a good one will give you plenty of time to save your work or get to a save point, before shutting down your PC safely.
The time a UPS gives you to save your game or work will vary, depending on its power draw, and there are other things to consider, too. Each UPS below we’ve tested and found to deliver exactly what we needed out of what should be an otherwise fairly unremarkable looking black box. So you can get a better read on which is best for you and your budget.
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How Long Will A Ups Last
An uninterruptible power supply that rates at 1500VA should run your computer for a little under an hour. But if you’re trying to run your PC and your monitor from it, then you’re probably looking at more like ten minutes of up-time. A 650VA, at peak load, will maybe net you something in the range of seven minutes, though that is obviously with a far lower peak wattage.
The Best Ups For Gaming Pcs
The CyberPower CP1500PFCLCD 1500VA is one of the best UPS on the market. Several factors contribute to it being our top pick for most gamers. First, it has enough juice to handle most gaming machines, even if you’re running the beefiest of GPUs and an overclocked CPU. Unless you’ve got systems with ten hard drives, quad-way GPUs, and other accessories, the CP1500PFCLCD should have enough juice to last 10â20 minutes if a power failure occurs.
One of the most critical features of the CP1500PFCLCD is its true sine-wave output. Most UPS backups in their price range only provide sine-wave simulated production, a stepped sine-wave that approximates what you get out of your wall outlet. Some electronics are sensitive to simulated sine waves and will behave abnormally. At $214, having true sine-wave output is unheard of, so kudos to CyberPower for delivering such a quality output.
For smaller accessories and network equipment, the CyberPower EC650LCD is the best pick for most. Coming in at $88 for 390W/650VA, the EC650LCD has enough power reserves to keep the average home network alive for well over 15 minutes, which is enough time to exit your game/applications, save all your work through the network, and shut everything off gracefully during a power outage.
The name APC is synonymous with high-quality UPS. I use three of the company’s Smart-UPS professional level units at home: two 1000VA units for my network and NAS gear and one 1500VA unit for my PC and displays.
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Single Phase Ups 700va
The UPS within this collection run to up to 20kVA and can be installed with battery extension packs using plug-in or hardwired terminal connectors to achieve a longer battery autonomy up to 7 hours or more. Jump to the UPS Manufacturer runtime tables on this page: Riello or Eaton or Huawei
Please contact our Power Projects Team if you want a load/runtime configuration not shown in the tables below or require further assistance.
Battery Backup For Pcs Servers And Other Electronics
Sales Support
If you have questions about any Tripp Lite product or service, please contact us. We’re always glad to help!
This buying guide will help you:
- Understand what a UPS system is and recognize key features
- Learn important questions to ask before selecting a UPS system
- Find the right size of UPS system to protect your equipment
- Compare the different types of UPS systems available
Contents
What is a UPS system?
As long as the electricity stays on, a UPS system supplies conditioned utility power to its outlets and keeps its internal battery charged. It also protects your valuable devices and data from power problems, such as power surges and abnormal voltages. If the power goes out, the UPS system provides backup power from its internal battery. This allows your equipment to stay on during a power outage, which is especially useful for devices like computers that can lose data when they turn off unexpectedly.
Note: A UPS system can also be called an uninterruptible power supply or battery backup system.
Why do I need a UPS?
Between the aging electrical grid, rising power demand, severe weather, faulty wiring and disruptive devices connected to your AC line, your equipment is under constant threat from power problems. Even a brief loss of power or a momentary surge can ruin valuable electronics or corrupt irreplaceable data ranging from business records to family photos. A UPS helps prevent this from happening.
Are UPS systems hard to use?
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When Power Goes Out An Uninterruptible Power Supply Will Let You Keep Working
- University of Massachusetts
- University of Stirling
- New York University
- London Metropolitan University
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An uninterruptible power supply, or UPS , are, at the most basic level, a big battery that kicks in when your power goes out. They range from really small units to whole-house units. Were going to focus on testing smaller, desktop models that give you enough power for a desktop PC, and leave the whole-house models to other experts.
With all of that out of the way, if you feel you need a UPS, just buy the APC Back-UPS Pro 1500VA. Its got a big enough battery so you can save your work and safely shut down without having to panic.
Best Features: Cyberpower Cp1500pfclcd
The Cyberpower CP1500PFCLCD has a lot of what we like to see in a UPS. Its vertical orientation makes for a smaller footprint. The LCD screen tilts up to 22 degrees so it’s more easily readable from the floor, and it displays a lot of information like wattage and remaining runtime. Speaking of runtime, at 100W, you’ll get 83 minutes.
There are 12 plugs on the back of the tower. Six of those are battery backup plugs and the other six have only surge protection. You’ll also find a USB-A and USB-C plug for charging your mobile devices. It’s a little on the expensive side, but we like this as a solid pickup for mid-sized computer systems.
Outlets: 6 battery, 6 surge-protected | Battery backup power: 1500VA/1000W | Sine Wave: Pure
Whoa, a new player has joined the game. There is very little chance a regular home computer user needs this big, beefy UPS, but if you run a small office or run a small server then stop right here.
If that server is not in your office, then you can take advantage of the software that lets you control the APC UPS 2200VA remotely. Keep in mind these two points: Its 100 pounds and costs around $1,000. But it’s hard to believe this off-the-shelf unit wont meet your needs.
Outlets: 8 battery and surge protected, 2 surge-protected | Battery backup power: 2200VA/1980W | Sine Wave: Pure
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Best For Home Use: Tripp Lite Avr750u Ups Battery Backup
Amazon
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Documentation is sparse
The Tripp Lite AVR750U is an affordable unit for very modest uses. Despite its smaller battery, the Tripp Lite will still give you enough time to save your work and shut down safely.
Keep in mind: If you decide to go this route, the Trip Lite lays on the floor horizontally, so it takes up more space than you might be used to.
Outlets: 6 battery, 6 surge-protected | Battery backup power: 750VA/450W | Sine Wave: Simulated in battery backup mode, pure in standard mode
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A Network Management Card Remotely Monitors And Secures A Ups
Designed with an IT-ready scalable monitoring system, an APC network management card collects and distributes critical alerts. Its real-time event notification minimizes response time to critical infrastructure situations. Equipped with a multi-tier user access, this network management card supports up to four access levels. Use its event-logging capability to pinpoint the timing and sequence of events that culminate in incidents.
Attach To Battery And Test
Next, attach your battery terminals to the battery, and then your wires to the terminals.Insert a fuse in the fuse holder.And turn on your UPS.It will take a long time to charge the battery, but it will also last for a long time in a power outage. Under this setup mine lasted for around 1.5 hours.Be sure to put the battery in a plastic case with a lid, as, if something were to go wrong on the battery you would want to contain the acid as much as possible. Also, this will prevent you from dropping something and shorting out the battery.
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Shanqiu Store Mini Ups
One of the main advantages of the Shanqiu Stores mini UPS is its size. It has almost the same dimensions as a Wi-Fi router, and you should have no issues keeping these two gadgets next to each other. A 10000mAh battery powers it and is enough to make it last a few hours. It has a single input and four outputs, including a single USB 5V port and three DC outputs.
The best part is that this mini UPS is lightweight, and you can easily attach it using velcro or some light mount. Apart from that, it packs in some safety measures such as over-temperature safety shutdown.
So far, it has received many positive reviews from its user base, with users loving it for its customer support and affordable price tag. Another good thing about this UPS is that it can also be used as a power bank.