Can a UPS Supply Power for My Home?

Thanks to increasingly common extreme weather events, aging infrastructure, and demands for electricity exceeding supply, utility grid power is becoming less reliable.

Not only are blackouts more frequent, but there are also more interruptions to power, such as voltage drops, variations in current, and brownouts.

Power outages affect all electronic devices and appliances that run on grid power…

But precision electronics like computers, gaming consoles, Smart TVs, and external hard drives are at far greater risk of damage from power interruptions than many home appliances.

An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) is one of the best ways to protect sensitive electronics like desktop computers from irretrievable data loss and permanent damage.

But what about everything else in your house that plugs into the wall?

Read on to learn about the benefits of uninterrupted power for your home.

What Is a UPS?

From massive server farms to your home office, an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) is an essential component for protecting computers and data storage devices like internal or external hard drives.

An uninterrupted power supply works by constantly monitoring output from the alternating current (AC) outlet the UPS is plugged into and automatically switching to direct current (DC) electricity from an onboard backup battery during interruptions such as voltage drops and blackouts.

A UPS is placed in the middle of the power chain, with devices plugged directly into outlets on the unit and the UPS plugged into an AC (household) power outlet.

Plugging a power strip or surge protector with multiple connected devices into a UPS is NOT recommended. 

A high-quality UPS or portable power station will provide better surge and voltage drop protection than a power strip.

Components vary by model and manufacturer, but UPS systems consist of variations on the following basic parts.

• DC battery for backup power storage
• Inverter to convert DC electricity from the battery to AC to power attached devices
• Rectifier to convert AC electricity from the wall plug to DC power recharge the backup battery
• Automatic switch to provide uninterrupted power to connected devices in a blackout and protect against power variations such as brownouts and voltage drops

Most entry-level home UPS systems only provide a few minutes of backup power, enabling you to properly shut down computers and other precision electronic devices. 

The shutdown procedure often must be performed manually, a significant limitation if you’re not at your desk when an outage occurs.

More advanced models may include software that automatically shuts down desktop computers during an outage by following a simple script.

EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus takes automation, remote control, and monitoring much further with intelligent power management, outage alerts, and seamless data communication with connected devices.

Home UPS systems are not designed to provide operating backup power for extended power outages.

If you’re looking for a device to protect your precision electronics, such as desktop computers and hard drives, AND run them during a blackout, a portable power station with Network Assisted Storage (NAS) compliant automatic switching to backup battery power is a far superior option. 

Learn more about UPS here.

Why a UPS Is Important for Your Home

Virtually all new electronic devices — from microwaves to televisions to computers — rely on semiconductors and other precision components to function.  

Desktop computers and data storage devices like hard drives are extremely sensitive to fluctuations in voltage and current.

Even imperceptible voltage drops or brownouts can cause irreparable damage and permanent data loss.

Fortunately, most home appliances are more resilient to variations in the quality of on-grid electricity…

But there are reasons UPS battery backup can be invaluable for your home.

Here are the primary benefits of whole-home backup battery systems with +/-20ms automatic switching during an outage — and when that’s not fast enough.

Protect Your Home Office, Computers, Hard Drives, and Data 

If you work from home with a desktop computer or use one for gaming and storing valuable media like videos and family photos, a true UPS backup with >10ms auto-switching is an investment you can’t afford NOT to make.

UPS backup batteries for computers and peripherals like external hard drives are affordable and cost far less than a new computer or professional data recovery services if your system is damaged.

Even better, EcoFlow’s new RIVER 3 Plus offers NAS-level UPS switchover of less than 10 milliseconds (>10ms)…

That’s a data center-standard uninterruptible power supply with 21 minutes battery backup for a 600W desktop computer and hard drive or 35hr for a 3W wifi router for about the same price as a home UPS.

If that’s not long enough, EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus is expandable with EB300 (286Wh) or EB600 (572Wh).

Adding the EB600 gives you one hour of operating backup for a computer and powers a 3W router for up to 4 days.

Or you can back up your whole home with EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3.

It also provides >10ms UPS, but only if you plug your computer and other devices directly into the unit.

More on that below.  

Seamless Home Backup

Conventional home UPS units typically have 2-4 inputs (plugs) for a reason…

They’re not designed to back up high-wattage appliances — like refrigerators or HVAC systems — in your home.

Only a computer, hard drives, or other extremely sensitive electronic devices.

Voltage drops and brownouts aren’t great for modern electronics, but you don’t need >10ms data-center-level uninterrupted power for every device in your home.

Even laptops are less susceptible to data loss from blackouts because they have built-in battery power.

But while you may be able to get away with plugging many appliances into the wall or a surge protector without worrying about them getting damaged in a blackout, you won’t be able to use them until the outage is over…

Unless you have home backup battery power.

That’s where EcoFlow DELTA Series portable power stations come in.

For example, DELTA Pro 3 offers >10ms true UPS and enough AC output and storage capacity to run any home office for hours (or days) during a blackout.

Plug in your desktop, WiFi or Starlink router, external hard drives, printer, and whatever else you need to ensure you have all the UPS backup battery power you need for an extended power outage.

EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3 can run far more than your home office, though…

It’s expandable to 12kW of AC output (120V/240V) and 36kWh of backup battery storage capacity, which is enough to power the average American house.  

Do heating and air conditioners (HVAC), water heaters, and home entertainment systems need NAS-level true UPS battery backup?

No.

Blackouts are hard on all electronics, but a power cut is unlikely to damage most high-wattage home appliances.

But if you want to keep your home up and running smoothly during a power outage, EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3 + Smart Home Panel 2 has got you covered.

EcoFlow Smart Home Panel 2 integrates directly with your home circuit board and existing wiring…

No need to run cumbersome cables and extension cords to all the appliances you want to operate in a blackout.

 You can leave all your electronics plugged in as-is as long as they’re on a circuit breaker integrated with the Smart Home Panel… 

You’ll get almost imperceptible >20ms automatic switchover during a power outage.

However, that’s about 10 millis too long to ensure protection for desktop computers and hard drives.

One solution is to plug your computer and peripherals into a true UPS like EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus plug the portable power station into an AC outlet for mains power.

A high-quality conventional UPS would also be sufficient because the UPS will continue to receive power from your household wall outlet integrated with the Smart Home Panel 2 until DELTA Pro 3’s battery storage capacity runs out.

Like all of EcoFlow’s portable power stations, DELTA Pro 3 offers multiple charging options, including utility grid electricity and solar panels.

With sufficient electricity production from solar panels or an inverter generator, you can run your home as normal for as long as you want without on-grid power. 

Electricity Bill Savings 

The right battery backup system or solar generator can do more than just provide home energy security…

It can help you reduce your electricity consumption by 75% (or more).

The best way to cut your electricity costs is to generate power from a clean, renewable source — like solar energy.

However, even if you’re not interested in installing solar panels or don’t get enough peak sunlight to make it viable for your home, a whole home backup power system can still save you a significant amount of money on power bills.

Virtually all utility and power companies in the US utilize Time-of-Use (TOU) rates, meaning they charge different prices for a kilowatt-hour of electricity during certain periods, such as the time of year or day.

Avoiding peak rates and electricity demand charges and only using grid power during off-peak hours is almost effortless when using a whole home battery backup system like EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3 or DELTA Pro Ultra.

Once you integrate battery backup with your home circuit board using EcoFlow Smart Home Panel 2, it’s easy to set your system up to recharge using grid power during off-peak times of day or pretty much any other parameter you can think of to save you money.

Then, use battery backup power during on-peak hours.

All of EcoFlow’s portable power stations — from RIVER to DELTA — can be controlled and monitored from anywhere with internet service using the EcoFlow app…

So, even if you don’t connect the portable power station to your home circuit board, you can automatically switch between battery and grid power for appliances plugged directly into the standalone UPS.   

Home Energy Independence

Aging infrastructure, excessive demand, extreme weather events, geopolitical instability…

These are just some of the factors beyond our control that contribute to greater energy insecurity in the US and around the globe.

Generating your own electricity using renewable energy — like small wind power and solar photovoltaic systems — is the best way to reduce your household’s dependence on the grid, carbon footprint, and exposure to rising energy costs.  

With the right system, you can achieve energy independence for your home.

What Size UPS Do You Need to Power Your House?

A true uninterruptible power supply is an essential device for protecting precision electronics like desktop computers and hard drives…

However, most home appliances do not require >10ms automatic switchover to a backup battery.

If you’re interested in backup battery power for a refrigerator, freezer, or television, 20ms or 30ms auto-switching is barely perceptible and highly unlikely to damage your appliances.   

For home standby generators or battery backups that integrate with your circuit board and existing wiring, +/-20ms switching is exceptional — less than 10 milliseconds is unfeasible.

The best strategy is to focus on sizing a generator or home backup battery system that provides enough AC output (in watts or kilowatts) to start and run all the appliances you want to operate simultaneously.

For most households, 5-10 kilowatts will be sufficient.

Then, estimate how long you want to be able run your appliances between refueling (for gas generators) or recharging (for solar generators and portable power stations).

Aim for a system that provides at least 10% more power than you think you need.

Or opt for a modular solution like EcoFlow DELTA Pro Ultra, which offers expandable AC output and storage capacity and multiple charging options, such as solar panels and gas generators.

That way, you have multiple lines of defense against power outages and room to grow alongside your electricity requirements.

What To Look for When Choosing a UPS Power Supply

Here’s a summary of the essential factors when shopping for an uninterruptible power supply solution for your home.

Automatic Switchover Time

Desktop computers, external hard drives, and other information storage devices demand a data-center level auto-switchover time of >10ms.

Anything longer risks permanent damage and irretrievable data loss.

However, the vast majority of electronic devices and home appliances don’t require a NAS-compliant uninterruptible power supply.

Home battery systems and portable power stations with auto-switching of +/-20ms — or even 30ms — can power high-wattage appliances and provide almost instantaneous backup during an outage.

AC Output

Conventional home UPS units are designed for low-wattage applications, such as providing short-term backup for a desktop computer and peripherals.

If you’re looking to run high-wattage appliances — or need backup times longer than a handful of minutes — a portable power station with UPS is a much better solution.

Just be sure to calculate the starting and running wattages of all the appliances you want to operate simultaneously and ensure the AC output and surge power of the battery backup or generator exceeds the total load (in watts) by at least 10%.

Learn more about calculating electricity consumption.

Storage Capacity

Once you’ve determined what appliances you want to run, it’s essential to decide how long you want them to operate without recharging the backup battery.

Electricity consumption over time of home appliances is typically measured in watt-hours (Wh) and kilowatt-hours (kWh) — just like on your electricity bill.

Learn how to estimate electricity usage (kWh) for your home.   

Eligibility for Tax Credits

The 30% Solar Tax Credit is misnamed and frequently misunderstood.

Yes, it does apply to the purchase and installation of photovoltaic modules and a balance of system that generate electricity from sunlight.

However, the official IRS name for the incentive is the Residential Clean Energy Credit — and it applies to many systems other than solar panels, including:

• Solar electric panels
• Solar water heaters (certified by the Solar Rating Certification Corporation or a comparable entity endorsed by your state)
• Wind turbines
• Geothermal heat pumps (meet Energy Star requirements in effect at the time of purchase)
• Fuel cells
• Battery storage technology (capacity of at least 3 kilowatt hours)

Home battery systems — with or without solar panels — are eligible for the credit, as long as they have a storage capacity of 3kWh or more.

That rules out conventional UPS systems — but not high-capacity home battery solutions like EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3 or DELTA Pro Ultra.

If you’re a US taxpayer buying new clean energy property for your primary or secondary residence, you should be eligible for a 30% tax credit of the total purchase and installation against your federal income tax liability. 

Other state, local, and private incentives may also be available.

It pays to do some research…

Increase your return on investment — and don’t leave free money on the table. 

Software Integration

Unless you always power off your desktop computer when you’re done for the day — or you work 24/7 — investing in a UPS that provides software to automatically shut down your computer and peripherals following the proper procedure is essential.

Even in standby mode, permanent damage and data loss can result from an outage.

Battery Chemistry and Lifespan

Inexpensive conventional UPS backups use outdated lead-acid battery chemistry.

The battery will likely have to be replaced in 2-4 years — even if it’s only used infrequently for backup (or not at all).

EcoFlow’s portable power stations use industry-leading lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4/LFP) battery packs that provide an uninterruptible power supply for up to 4,000+ cycles.

That’s over a decade of daily backup use.

Unlike lead-acid, LFP batteries don’t noticeably diminish in performance when not in use.

For example, if you use EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus as a dedicated UPS for your home office, it may never have to be replaced.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts

If you rely on a desktop computer and hard drives for your home office or data storage, a dedicated UPS is an essential purchase.

Without one, you risk permanent damage and data loss from voltage drops and power outages.

However, a data-center level >10ms uninterruptible power supply is overkill for backing up high-wattage home appliances.

EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus outperforms conventional home UPS backup batteries by every metric — including lifespan, storage capacity, and performance — for a similar cost.

If you want to keep your home office and high-wattage appliances running for hours or days without power, EcoFlow has you covered with portable power stations, solar generators, whole-home battery backup, and more.

Check out our selection today.