A UPS battery backup keeps your computer running through a power blink, and gives you time for a graceful shutdown during a real outage. This guide covers sizing one, what to plug into the battery outlets versus the surge-only outlets, and how to keep it ready.
What a UPS actually does
More than a surge protector, less than a generator.
How to choose and set up a UPS battery backup, step by step
1Sizing it right
Add up the wattage of what you’re backing up, then look for a UPS with about 20 to 25% more capacity.
2When the power actually goes out
The UPS switches to battery, usually with a beep. You’ve got minutes, save your work and shut down.
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What goes where
- Battery outlets: the essentials — Your computer, and your modem or router
- Surge-only outlets: everything else — Monitor, printer, lamp, anything that doesn’t need to stay on
- Never a laser printer on battery power — The heating element can draw enough to trip the UPS
Keeping it ready
- Install the monitoring software — It connects over USB, and can save your work and shut down for you if you’re away
- Test it a couple times a year — Most units have a self-test button; use it before hurricane season
- Replace the battery every 2 to 5 years — A UPS that won’t hold a charge isn’t backing anything up
Recap: UPS battery backup
- A UPS gives instant battery power, plus surge and brownout protection
- Size it with about 20 to 25% headroom over your total wattage
- Computer and router on battery outlets; never a laser printer
- Test it twice a year, and replace the battery every 2 to 5 years
- Not sure which to get? Call Naples Computers
Printable quick guide
Frequently asked questions
What’s the difference between a UPS and a surge protector?
A surge protector has no battery; it only shields equipment from power spikes. A UPS does that too, but also switches to battery power immediately when the grid fails, so connected devices don’t lose power at all during a blink or outage.
What size UPS do I need for a home office?
Add up the wattage of the devices you want to back up, then choose a UPS with its VA rating and output watt capacity about 20-25% above that total. A typical home or office UPS is 650-1500VA, line-interactive, with a 5-20 minute runtime depending on load.
Why shouldn’t I plug a laser printer into a UPS?
A laser printer’s heating element can briefly draw far more power than its average rating, which can overload a standard UPS and trip it. Plug a laser printer into a surge-only outlet (if the UPS has one) or directly into the wall instead.
How long does a UPS battery last, and how do I know it’s still working?
Standard lead-acid UPS batteries are typically replaced every 2-5 years. Most units have a built-in self-test button; test it a couple of times a year, especially before hurricane season, since a UPS that won’t hold a charge isn’t actually backing anything up.
Related guides
- After the Storm: Powering Your Tech Back Up Safely
- How to Back Up Your Important Files
- Hurricane-Recovery Contractor and FEMA-Impostor Scams
Source: UPS buying guide: Choose the right backup (Schneider Electric / APC)