How to Get Battery Backup for a Computer
A computer battery backup, also known as an uninterruptible power supply (UPS), is designed to keep a computer running even when the utility power supply is interrupted. However, when looking for the right UPS system for your computer, unless money is no object, you'll need to strike a balance between price and performance.
- Analyze and understand your energy needs. It is advised that a computer system's battery backup power should have enough energy reserves to ensure that you have 15 to 20 minutes to shut down. Note that this margin of time includes time to notice the power outage, then get to your machine, save your work, and then finally power down.
- Consider your budget when getting a UPS. If money is no object then you should get the strongest battery backup system you can find at the store, which is around 2000 VA. However, if money is a concern then you'll need to study each UPS device's VA rating, which is usually displayed on its box at the store or advertised by the online retailer. A UPS's VA rating should be about 1.5 times the power usage of your machine. That means if your computer's power supply uses 500 watts you will need a UPS with a minimum VA rating of 750 to 800.
- Even for a 2000 VA rated UPS, having everything on one UPS is risky. Consider getting a second, lower VA-rated UPS for your monitor. If you upgrade your computer or you have a powerful monitor, this will most certainly benefit you because of the power drain that a monitor will put on a battery backup system. Also, if you can afford it, get a third battery backup to support any external hard drives, plus your DSL/cable modem and router.
- Do not get a UPS for your printer or scanner. They do not need to be powered up during an outage and they consume heavy amounts of energy if they are in use. You also do not need to hook up speaker systems or other minor peripherals.