homeLAB

A sump pump failure could spell disaster if you’re not home when it goes out. This smart outlet will alert you!

When the power goes out, your home network is helpless; you won’t be able to work from home, send that last email or keep your smart devices humming along. An inverter generator is one solution. Generators are expensive, though, and if you just want to keep the Wi-Fi on, the benefit may not justify the cost. Enter the battery backup, or “uninterruptible power supply” (UPS). These small, affordable power units act as a power source for your sensitive electronics in case of a power outage. But will they keep your Wi-Fi running long enough, and if so, do they all perform the same? To answer that question, I put three units to the test.

How it works

A UPS is basically a battery with built-in electronic controls. Plugging it into an outlet keeps the battery charged and provides power to your electronics. When the power goes out, the battery kicks in automatically, powering whatever you have plugged into the UPS without interruption.

What size should I get?

UPS units are rated by volt-amps (VA) and watts, which is a power limit and a rough estimate of how long the battery will last. Many UPS systems are marketed using the volt-amps measurement, but they sometimes include the wattage too. A 350VA unit costs about $50 and should power a router for almost two hours,

depending on the router’s wattage. A 2,200VA system costs about $700 and can power a router for about 18 hours. A big, pricey system like that might make sense if you need your computer and home network powered for your livelihood. But for those who want to keep the Wi-Fi running, I think a small UPS is adequate. So I tested 600VA units.

The homeLAB test

I charged each of the three UPS units for eight hours as recommended. When they were fully charged, I plugged in the homeLAB’s Wi-Fi router, which uses 15 watts, and unplugged the UPS to activate the battery. I connected to the Wi-Fi, waited until the battery died and then disconnected from the internet.

The results

The CyberPower lasted the longest, at five hours and 30 minutes, though the APC was close behind. The Amazon Basics UPS didn’t maintain power nearly as long as the other two. The full prices are given here, but the units are often on sale online.

The price is great, but I think more run-time is worth a few extra bucks. AMAZON BASICS 600VA $60 Run-time: 4 hours $75 Run-time: 5 hours and 10 minutes APC has a reputation for reliability, which may justify the slightly higher cost. APC 600VA CYBERPOWER 600VA $70 Run-time: 5 hours and 30 minutes The best run-time and a competitive price make this my top pick.

It might be tempting to plug your shredder, laser printer or sump pump into a UPS, but you shouldn’t. They draw too much power and will likely trip the UPS’s breaker or even damage the UPS. DON’T OVERLOAD THE SYSTEM