Residential UPS

Electrical & Electronic Engineering gen discussion Power Supply & Electronic Component Design
#1

My home has utility power and a generator backup (full load), but in a power outage, it takes about 20-seconds before the generator power is active.

I have a system in the home that needs dedicated power, so i’m thinking a UPS. Total power consumption is 120W (max). This system will operate 6-months/yr at 120VAC.

15-yrs ago, the brand used for industrial purposes did not last a year before replacement was needed. The UPS was used continuously at 24/7 and i do not recall the power consumption by the system powered by the UPS. It was frustrating to be continuously replacing the UPS.

My preference is a reliable UPS that has at least a 2-3 yr life based on the 6-month/yr operation.

Simple request, any recommendations on make/model/size for this application? 120W is a small load, so how to best select/size the UPS based on this information?

Thank you!

#2

There are many brands to choose from. APC is very popular, and many sizes to suit, but that’s not really a recommendation. It used to be possible to replace the batteries in APC units - don’t know if that’s still true. Are you trying to get away from the “obvious” stores like Best Buy? Is there anything in your application that demands a different UPS from the type intended for running a computer during an outage?

#3

APC was the brand previously used and replaced batteries or entire unit frequently. I have seen several at the local recycle facility. Yes, i want to avoid the obvious choices, but, grudgingly, may end up going that route. No, computer/router are typical uses for the UPS.

I mainly looking for reliable unit for this application.