Backup Power for Computer: It Might Be a Good Idea in the Year of the Blackout

There’s a Stage 2 power alert and I could be taken offline any minute if the California Independent System Operator orders rolling blackouts. But I’m not worried.

I have a backup system that will keep my PC running at least two hours--long enough to get through a typical blackout.

To test my backup system, I staged my own blackout by switching off the circuit breaker that provides power to my office.

I’m still working. I’m writing this column from my desktop PC, which is plugged into an xPower 600 backup power system that delivers 600 watts of AC electrical current.

The $279 device, which you can learn more about at https://www.store4power.com (click on “battery integrated products”), is smaller than a carry-on suitcase. It weighs 47 pounds but has wheels and a handle, so it’s easy to move about the office.

The system consists of a 12-volt battery and an inverter that converts the DC power from the battery to standard AC household current. The battery is similar to the deep-charge “marine” batteries used on pleasure boats and recreational vehicles. But unlike most of those, this battery is dry-cell, so there is no chance of a chemical spill.

What’s more, the battery is hidden inside the case, so you don’t even see it. What you do see are two standard grounded electrical outlets and a switch to turn on the unit.

This is not a generator. It doesn’t require gasoline or other fuels. And there’s no noise aside from the hum of a small fan that turns on when it’s in use. Unlike a generator, which must be outdoors, this unit can be inside an office or a home. It also can be used outdoors to run lights, garden machinery or other equipment.

Except when you’re in the middle of a power emergency, the device remains plugged into the wall, so it’s constantly recharging. A “smart” charger keeps the battery from being overcharged.

When the power goes off, you turn on the device and plug in whatever equipment you wish to keep running.

The xPower also has a car cigarette lighter adapter that lets you recharge it from the car. You can buy extra batteries to extend the time you can use your equipment.

Unfortunately, the unit does not have an automatic transfer switch that would enable it to turn on automatically in a power failure. But I’m using it with a separate uninterruptible power supply, or UPS, so I don’t have to worry about my PC going down in a blackout.

Here’s my setup. My PC and monitor are plugged into a CyberPower 500SL UPS system ($80) from CyberPower Systems (https://www.cyberpower.com). Like most UPS systems, this device is designed to keep my PC running for just a few minutes.

Because I also have the xPower 600, I don’t have to shut down my computer before the UPS system runs out of time. Instead, I have connected the UPS system to a power strip that is plugged into the wall.

The xPower unit is very near that wall plug. In a blackout or power failure, I simply unplug the power strip from the wall socket and plug it into the xPower unit. I tested this several times and was always able to keep working without interruption.

I’ve also connected my DSL modem and speakerphone to the same power strip, so if the power fails, I can continue to access the Internet and make and receive calls.

How long you can power your equipment with the xPower 600 depends on what type of equipment you’re using. The company says it can power a desktop PC with a 15-inch monitor for two hours, but I am doing better than that. Mine ran for 3 1/2 hours before an alarm came on informing me that the xPower was about to run out of juice.

To be fair, I have a liquid crystal display monitor that is more energy-efficient than a typical cathode-ray tube monitor. The company’s Web site says it can run a laptop PC or a small refrigerator for as long as 10 hours or a table lamp for 6 1/2 hours.

The company also makes the xPower 300 ($159.95), which can handle as much as 300 watts of power. The 300-watt unit is much smaller and lighter than the xPower 600, but it won’t keep your equipment running as long as the larger unit. It’s rated to operate a 40-watt lightbulb for 3 1/2 hours, a cash register for 4 1/2 hours or a 27-inch TV for 50 minutes, which means it should keep a desktop PC running for about 45 minutes.

There are limits. You can’t use a device like this to power an air conditioner, heater or other power-intensive device.

But alternatives do exist. Honda, for one, makes a variety of generators that will operate as long as you keep pouring in gasoline. This solution makes sense only if you have an outside area for the generator, as well as neighbors, landlords or authorities who won’t be bothered by the noise or use of fuel.

Another alternative is to use a notebook PC rather than a desktop PC. All notebook PCs have batteries, which should keep them going for about two hours.

Or you can decide not to worry and just take some time off during a blackout. A forced two-hour break might be just what you need to take your mind off your business and California’s energy problems.

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Lawrence J. Magid can be reached at larry.magid@latimes.com. His Web site is at www.larrysworld.com.