# Recommend a good small UPS, please
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-small-ups-please/1001991
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [May 23, 2024, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-small-ups-please/1001991 "2024-05-23T21:40:01Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)
#### Post date: [May 23, 2024, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-small-ups-please/1001991/1 "2024-05-23T21:40:01Z")
A couple of recent bad-weather days have convinced me that I need a small Uninterruptible Power Supply for a couple of my electronic devices. Last Sunday we had two very brief power outages (less than 1-2 seconds each), but that was enough to reset my cable modem, wi-fi mesh hub, and main cable TV box. This isn’t a big deal, but each of these takes several minutes to reset. When I’m watching the radar and listening to the local weatherman tell us about a possible tornado in the area, I don’t need these interruptions.
At a minimum, I need four battery-protected outlets. A couple of surge-protected outlets would be a plus. I’ve looked on Amazon, but I have no idea if one is better than another.
Anybody have any experience and could recommend?
I’ve looked at Amazon and there are several available, but
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### Author:  [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)
#### Post date: [May 23, 2024, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-small-ups-please/1001991/2 "2024-05-23T23:14:39Z")
I have been happy w the Amazon-branded UPSes. I have two, one ~700VA and one ~1500VA.
The big thing w a UPS is to get a large enough one that the battery can sustain your load for a meaningful number of minutes. I figure 20 is enough to overkill any power glitches, easily handle the ordinary failures, and permit an orderly unhurried shutdown after a hurricane kills our power for the next 2 weeks.
You can pay mord, but why?
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### Author:  [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)
#### Post date: [May 23, 2024, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-small-ups-please/1001991/3 "2024-05-23T23:19:20Z")
Here you go:
[ ](https://tokyo-station.ca/cdn/shop/files/WhatsAppImage2023-12-22at9.25.36AM_1024x1024.jpg)
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### Author:  [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)
#### Post date: [May 23, 2024, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-small-ups-please/1001991/4 "2024-05-23T23:25:25Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#):
>
> I have been happy w the Amazon-branded UPSes.
Like this one?
> **[Amazon.com: Amazon Basics Standby UPS 600VA 360W Surge Protector Battery Power...](https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-Standby-UPS-600VA-Outlets/dp/B073Q48YGF)**
>
> Buy Amazon Basics Standby UPS 600VA 360W Surge Protector Battery Power Backup - 8 Outlets, Black: Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases
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### Author:  [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)
#### Post date: [May 23, 2024, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-small-ups-please/1001991/5 "2024-05-23T23:42:40Z")
We use APC brand UPSs at work. I’ve bought this one to protect a PC, monitor and a few accessories.
> **[APC Back-UPS 650VA, 120V, 8 NEMA outlets (4 surge) - BE650G1 | APC USA](https://www.apc.com/us/en/product/BE650G1/apc-backups-650va-120v-8-nema-outlets-4-surge/)**
>
> BE650G1 - APC Back-UPS 650VA, 120V, 8 NEMA outlets (4 surge) | APC USA
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### Author:  [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)
#### Post date: [May 24, 2024, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-small-ups-please/1001991/6 "2024-05-24T01:12:25Z")
> [@Railer13](#):
>
> Like this one?
Exactly like that one.
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### Author:  [@velomont](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velomont)
#### Post date: [May 24, 2024, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-small-ups-please/1001991/7 "2024-05-24T14:12:43Z")
So does that basically act like a power bar except that there is an integrated UPS in it?
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### Author:  [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)
#### Post date: [May 24, 2024, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-small-ups-please/1001991/8 "2024-05-24T14:22:50Z")
I use APC as well. I’ve owned 2, maybe 3 in the past 18 years I’ve lived here. I’ve replaced the batteries a couple of times. After replacing the battery once, the second time it needs replacing everything seems kind of gross and corroded in there so I get a new unit.
I connect my PC, monitor, router and modem. Gives me plenty of time to save my work and shut down gracefully if there’s a power outage.
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### Author:  [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)
#### Post date: [May 24, 2024, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-small-ups-please/1001991/9 "2024-05-24T17:41:23Z")
I like APC. Here’s [one](https://www.amazon.com/APC-Battery-Protector-Back-UPS-BE425M/dp/B01HDC236Q/) to consider.
I once bought a Cyberpower, It turned out that it was constantly charging the battery. Killed the battery in no time. You want a model that turns off the charging and only turns in back on when the battery level drops somewhat.
It turns out that we had a power glitch yesterday. One of my UPSes (the least important one) didn’t work, dead battery. I think I’ll just get a new battery if the economics are good.
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### Author:  [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)
#### Post date: [May 24, 2024, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-small-ups-please/1001991/10 "2024-05-24T19:28:03Z")
> [@velomont](#):
>
> So does that basically act like a power bar except that there is an integrated UPS in it?
Huh?
A consumer UPS _is_ a battery backup system and a bunch of outlets in a chunky box. Some outlets are only surge protected; the others are surge protected _and_ backed up by the battery. That’s the definition of a “UPS” at least for consumer and small office installations. What a data center calls a “UPS” is a rather more elaborate collection of gizmos.
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### Author:  [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)
#### Post date: [May 24, 2024, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-small-ups-please/1001991/11 "2024-05-24T19:30:35Z")
> [@ftg](#):
>
> It turns out that we had a power glitch yesterday. One of my UPSes (the least important one) didn’t work, dead battery. I think I’ll just get a new battery if the economics are good.
UPS’s, at least consumer ones, definitely have life-limited batteries. I don’t mean the duration they can support the load. I mean the number of months / years they can be installed before the battery “wears out” and refuses to hold a charge.
I have one right now that probably needs a new battery; it seems to support the lightish load attached to it for about 15 seconds, not 15+ minutes like it should. Oh bother.
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### Author:  [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)
#### Post date: [May 24, 2024, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-small-ups-please/1001991/12 "2024-05-24T19:34:27Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#):
>
> We use APC brand UPSs at work.
I like APC. At my previous job every single desktop computer in the software development area had one. The one attached to my current desktop PC is this 1500 VA model which has since been superceded by newer ones. My other computers have smaller ones.
I’ve had that 1500 model for probably 15 years or more. The battery has been replaced twice just due to normal aging, and it’s been really reliable.
[ ](https://download.schneider-electric.com/files?p_Doc_Ref=SUA1500IX38_FR_V&p_File_Type=rendition_369_jpg&default_image=DefaultProductImage.png)
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### Author:  [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)
#### Post date: [May 24, 2024, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-small-ups-please/1001991/13 "2024-05-24T19:35:52Z")
Certainly the OP needs to determine what capacity is needed for the UPS, based on the wattage load and the amount of time it needs to supply power.
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### Author:  [@velomont](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velomont)
#### Post date: [May 24, 2024, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-small-ups-please/1001991/14 "2024-05-24T19:52:09Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#):
>
> Huh?
Maybe my wording was unclear. I’ll preface by saying that when I think of UPSs I think of backup systems to warship command and control and weapons and sensor systems. So I am trying to mentally apply or convert this to home use and determine how easy this is to use and how seamlessly.
I was initially thinking of something fairly large (like a couple of car batteries in size) for which specific procedures have to be conducted. The illustrated Amazon example, however, looks to me like a fat power bar.
So is that basically how it functions - acting like a power bar while also storing backup power, without me having to do anything special or complex?
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### Author:  [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)
#### Post date: [May 24, 2024, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-small-ups-please/1001991/15 "2024-05-24T20:05:40Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#):
>
> Certainly the OP needs to determine what capacity is needed for the UPS, based on the wattage load and the amount of time it needs to supply power.
Yeah, all I’m going to plug into the UPS is my cable modem, Orbi mesh wi-fi hub, cable TV box, and perhaps a desktop computer. FWIW, I’m not terribly concerned about the amount of time that power will be supplied…a couple of minutes is sufficient. As I stated in my first post, I’m tired of the above devices rebooting after every small blink in the power to my house.
Both the Amazon Basic and APC devices will probably fit my needs just fine.
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### Author:  [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)
#### Post date: [May 24, 2024, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-small-ups-please/1001991/16 "2024-05-24T20:18:00Z")
Some UPSs, like the one I linked to, can shut down your PC after an extended outage.
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### Author:  [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)
#### Post date: [May 24, 2024, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-small-ups-please/1001991/17 "2024-05-24T20:24:42Z")
Good to know, and thanks.
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### Author:  [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)
#### Post date: [May 24, 2024, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-small-ups-please/1001991/18 "2024-05-24T20:30:18Z")
Gotcha. Yeah, very different context leads to very different assumptions and parsing of ideas.
The one that supports my cable modem, wifi transmitter, USB charger/adaptor and laptop docking station is about 4x5x8 inches and operates exactly like a multi-outlet power bar that you leave turned on at all times. Except that if the utility supply fails, it beeps and keeps the stuff supplied with electricity for a few minutes.
I have a larger one about 4x6x10" that supplies the TV, the set-top box, the DVD player, and sound bar. Same idea.
In my case they’re mostly for extra-good surge protection, and the ability to avoid a vexing and slow series of reboots of the whole network stack if the power flickers. This residence is new to me so I have no direct experience of our power reliability here. I’m hoping it’s excellent being all underground supply. But at my prior place when I got the UPSes, flickers or 2-second outages were weekly occurrences, and lowing power for a few minutes occurred every couple of months. Post-hurricane the power would be out for a week, but we had substantially zero outages between 10 minutes and 5 days. So aiming for 10-15 minutes of load support was adequate.
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### Author:  [@velomont](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velomont)
#### Post date: [May 24, 2024, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-small-ups-please/1001991/19 "2024-05-24T21:54:25Z")
Excellent and good to know. Thanks for that
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### Author:  [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)
#### Post date: [May 25, 2024, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-small-ups-please/1001991/20 "2024-05-25T16:13:45Z")
I have a UPS from work at home for my desktop and router. Umm… FYI these things can be quite heavy.
My wife and I both have a small not quite shoebox size jump starters in out cars. Won’t work on a totally dead battery, but it works if it needs just a boost.
It will also charge laptops and cellphones slowly. You are not going to run a desktop or TV off of it though. So that could get you through a rough patch.
And I also recommend this to everyone - Buy some nice oil lamps. They are decorative and also very functional and cheap. Some of my best memories are playing chess by oil lamp.
Sorry for the hi-jack. No real recommendations for a good UPS. The APC UPS I have at home will allow me to shut things down gently. That’s really all they are for IMHO.
This is the UPS I have [apc 1500 battery backup](https://www.amazon.com/ANYHDD-Bundle-1500VA-Battery-Backup/dp/B0CRJ2C4F1/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.1fToGajzPZ0reldPRLhrioPIKygUs2N_R8gtRfFpYpVqpyCiALuHykHLJ3QZu4ZLdqLfFfQemEvEPk_pEBSkcO4PjsQEywTsJg55z_Ksu7_b1ksCujIP_ffo7bSQZfk5sGjpc2MnKv1XQGJsZJLxvzprc0WkLT9OMLbZsbqXns9JAvkLi2D6N6kjAEZtZZDUbJ6Ya290jhxzAyOp74Jn6uaARlVGw6-u5cjci8gky2c.KeOtrJVeGOrfNwsLjaT0nQrkjBzOX9KaIsGWdGYbuxw&dib_tag=se&hvadid=604460933967&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9028830&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=6125123600208824062&hvtargid=kwd-7139018513&hydadcr=18034_13447342&keywords=apc+1500+battery+backup&qid=1716653383&sr=8-1-spons&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.f5122f16-c3e8-4386-bf32-63e904010ad0&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1)
It has certainly performed well.
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