No, we aren’t talking about the package delivery service. A UPS, or Uninterrupted Power Source, allows you to keep some of your electronics powered up when the power goes out. These devices come in sizes from desktop to industrial scale, but today we are going to focus on the smaller residential units.

When the power goes out, there are a handful of critical devices you’d like to keep running, but installing a whole house generator is a major expense. Enter, the UPS, a budget way to keep a few of the essentials running. The best part is that service is uninterrupted, so no switches to flip and no regular maintenance.

The typical UPS looks like a chunky surge protector. It plugs into a grounded wall socket, then you can plug in any appliances you like. It has a battery that charges up as it is plugged in, and then if the power goes out, your devices remain powered using the battery backup.

These are great to plug in your router or desktop computer. The battery is big enough to charge your phone a few times as well if you have a multi-day emergency. I would not recommend using a UPS for any large appliances such as refrigerators, microwaves, or kettles because you’ll only get a few minutes of use before the battery drains.

UPS devices are usually rated by the maximum current output of the battery. It’s a little tricky to calculate the energy capacity of the battery, but mine is rated at 650VA or 350W and can power the router for about 8 hours or a desktop computer for about 20 minutes. Check out this article which explains the distinction between Volt-Amperes and Watts in this context.

https://www.cablinginstall.com/home/article/16465383/watts-and-voltamperes-confusion-about-power