Is it time to give your home an uninterruptable power supply?
With new affordable, portable units hitting the market every month, the safety and stability provided by at at-home UPS system has never been more accessible. Is a system like this right for you, and what should you know before you take the plunge and bring one home?
What is a UPS and how do they work?
UPS stands for uninterruptible power supply, and that's what a UPS system is designed to provide. They're essentially giant batteries; you plug them into your mains and they charge up over time. If the electricity goes out and they stop receiving a charge they instantly invert and begin to power your home. Most UPS systems can provide ten to fifteen minutes worth of power to the average home — enough time to save your work or game before you lose it, jump in a power shower, cancel your washing machine cycle and get the door open, or deal with anything else that would cause an issue in the event of a sudden power outage.
Who might benefit most from a domestic UPS system?
It's easy to see why, living in the modern world, a system like this would come in handy. But who are they most worth it for, and who ought to make them a priority for their home network setup?
- If you regularly work from home, a UPS will let you save your work in the event of a power cut before anything gets lost in a sudden shutdown.
- Keen gamers can use a UPS to avoid losing their progress should the network suddenly fail.
- Anyone running a server from home, whether for work or hobby purposes, will be able to shut it down safely before an outage takes hold.
- People who benefit from the use of assistive electronic devices such as sit/stand recliners or stair lifts will be able to keep using these aides even when the power goes down.
Is there anything else you should know before installing a UPS in your home?
Some UPS systems protect against surges and brownouts as well as full outages, so if you live in a part of the country where the connection is sometimes unreliable and these incidents are relatively common a backup like this can be a game-changer. Even when there is a full blackout, most last for only a few minutes — meaning that a standard UPS might be able to get you through them with no interruption at all.
Keeping them charged may result in a slight increase in your day-to-day use of electricity, though many are designed to charge slowly and thereby not result in a noticeable bill increase. They can provide 10-15 minutes worth of full power to the average home. For more information on uninterruptible power supply systems, contact a professional near you.
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