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Uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) protect sensitive electronics like desktop computers and external hard drives.
Data centers worldwide rely on UPS systems to safeguard valuable consumer, government, and commercial data and prevent damage to costly servers, network drives, and storage infrastructure.
If you’re like many people who rely on precision electronic devices for your home office, entertainment, and safeguarding precious media like family photos, you’ve probably had nightmares about what can happen in a blackout.
Many budget UPS systems give you as little as 5 minutes to shut down your devices when the power goes out.
Stressful, at best, but what happens during extended power outages?
You may have explored portable power stations, power banks, and home backup battery solutions…
But can any of them provide a TRUE uninterrupted power supply in a blackout?
Read on to find out.
So, Can a Portable Power Station Be Used as UPS?
9 times out of 10, the answer is no.
Many power bank manufacturers advertise their devices as providing UPS backup but have auto-switchover times of 30 milliseconds (30ms) or more.
30ms may not seem like a lot, but it’s more than long enough to damage connected devices permanently and irretrievably corrupt your data.
Fortunately, EcoFlow’s new RIVER 3 Plus portable power station is a Network Assisted Storage (NAS) standard uninterruptible power supply, and it provides backup battery storage at an affordable price.
More on that soon, but first, let’s take a quick look at what a data center-level uninterruptible power supply actually IS — and why it’s essential for sensitive electronics.
UPS Basics Explained
UPS isn’t just that big brown truck that delivers your online shopping.
It’s an essential product for anyone who relies on computers and data storage…
Not only during unexpected blackouts but also to prevent damage from variations in power quality like voltage drops, brownouts, and total harmonic distortion.
So, what exactly is an uninterruptible power supply — and how does it work?
What Is a UPS?
In a perfect world, the utility grid would have 100% uptime — there would be no blackouts or “dirty” power.
Unfortunately, that’s not the world we live in.
Extreme weather, aging infrastructure, and an insufficient electricity supply to meet growing demand put everyone at increasing risk of energy insecurity and extended power outages.
Blackouts are an inconvenience at best, and life-threatening at worst, but sudden interruptions in power or variations in electricity quality don’t put all appliances at risk.
However, desktop computers, hard drives, gaming consoles, and many other precision electronic devices are designed to have an uninterrupted supply of power.
Even imperceptible variations in power can cause irreversible damage, and a blackout can be devastating.
UPS systems are designed to protect sensitive devices from damage during power outages and potentially catastrophic data loss.
How Does a UPS Work?
An uninterrupted power supply works by constantly monitoring output from the alternating current (AC) outlet it’s plugged into and automatically switching to direct current (DC) electricity from an onboard backup battery during interruptions such as voltage drops and blackouts.
Components vary by model and manufacturer, but UPS systems all have variations on the following basic parts.
- DC battery to store backup power
- Inverter to convert DC electricity from the battery to AC to supply attached devices
- Rectifier to convert AC electricity from the wall plug to DC power to keep the backup battery charged
- Automatic switch to ensure seamless access to uninterrupted power to attached devices in a blackout and during power variations such as voltage drops
Many entry-level UPS systems only provide a few minutes of backup power, enabling you to shut down computers and other precision electronic devices properly, which often must be done manually.
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.
Most UPS systems are not intended to provide operating backup power for extended outages.
If you’re looking for a device to not only protect your precision electronics like desktop computers and hard drives, but also run them during blackouts, a portable power station with Network Assisted Storage (NAS) compliant automatic switching to backup battery power is a much better choice.
What To Consider When Using a Portable Power Station as a UPS
Many backup battery products claim to offer uninterrupted power but are far too slow to be NAS-compliant.
For many home backup battery applications, an automatic switchover time of 20 milliseconds or more is not a problem.
For example, refrigerators and televisions are unlikely to be damaged by blackouts and voltage drops because they’re not designed to have uninterrupted access to power.
That’s not true for desktop computers, external hard drives, and other sensitive electronics.
If you need more than a few minutes of battery backup to shut down your devices during a power outage, a NAS-compliant portable power station is an ideal, affordable choice.
But it’s essential to pick the right power bank for the job.
Here’s what to look for…
Auto-Switchover Speed
Speed is the #1 factor to look for when shopping for a UPS.
Many home/office backup products claim to offer uninterrupted power but actually take 20 to 30 milliseconds (ms) to switch to direct current (DC) electricity supplied by a built-in battery.
A few millis isn’t going to cramp your style for long, but it’s more than enough to cause devastating data loss and damage to your desktop computer and peripherals, such as external hard drives.
EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus is an affordable NAS-compliant UPS with a switchover time of less than 10 milliseconds (<10ms).
AC Output
Once you’ve checked that a portable power station is NAS-compliant, it’s time to ensure that it supplies enough uninterrupted AC output to operate all your devices.
For example, EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus provides 600W of AC output, more than enough to back up a desktop computer and external hard drives.
If you need more power, EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3 also offers >10ms UPS and 4000W of continuous AC output.
Still not enough?
EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3 is expandable up to 12kW of running watts with 24kW starting watts for high-wattage home appliances.
Storage Capacity
Now that you’ve determined the necessary AC output to run your desired devices, it’s time to decide how long you want to operate them before recharging the backup battery.
Most backup systems list their battery storage capacity in watt-hours and kilowatt-hours (kWh), the same metrics power companies use on your electricity bill.
Conventional UPS models may list their capacity in volt-amps (Va) or kilovolt-amps (kVa), which you can convert to watts/kilowatts to make storage calculations easier.
The easiest way to decide how much storage you need is to work backward from how long you want connected devices to operate for.
For example, a 600W desktop connected to EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus (256Wh capacity) will run for approximately 21 minutes before the portable power station requires recharging.
A traditional 1000VA/600W UPS will give you less than half the time to shut down — about 10 minutes.
Unlike conventional UPS models, EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus is also highly expandable.
You can double or triple your capacity by adding either Ecoflow EB 300 (286Wh) or EB 600 (572Wh), which will run your 600W desktop computer for just over 1 hour.
Charging Methods
Conventional UPS units offer only one charging method.
You plug the UPS directly into an AC wall outlet and then connect your computer or other devices to plugs on the unit.
EcoFlow’s portable power stations offer multiple recharging methods, including solar panels, AC (household) electricity, DC car charging, and portable generator power.
You can use EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus just like a conventional UPS, but you’ve also got multiple recharging options.
Weighing just over 10 lbs, RIVER 3 Plus is an ideal portable power supply as well as a UPS solution.
Longevity and Performance
Traditional UPS systems use outdated lead-acid battery chemistry which provides limited cycle life and poor performance compared to modern lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries, like the ones you’ll find in your laptop or phone.
EcoFlow’s portable power stations and solar generators use the most advanced type of Li-ion battery: lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4/LFP).
LiFePO4 battery technology offers significant advantages over traditional Li-ion, especially for backup power applications, including:
- Greater depth of discharge
- Longer cycle life (lifespan)
- Less state-of-charge sensitivity
EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus vs. Traditional Home UPS Comparison Table
| RIVER 3 Plus | Traditional Home UPS | |
| Capacity | 286Wh (Expandable with | 1000-1200VA |
| Output Power | 600W | 600W |
| Expandable? | Yes with Ecoflow EB 300 (286Wh) or EB 600 (572Wh) | No |
| Auto-Switch | <10ms | <10ms |
| Battery Chemistry | LifePO4 (LFP) | Lead Acid |
| Cycle Life (Lifespan) | 10+ years | 2-4 years |
| Cost | Invest once, 10 years of use | Higher long-term cost: Battery replacement required every 2-4 years |
| Runtime | Powers a 600W PC for 21 minutes Powers a 3W Wi-Fi router for 35 hrs Triple runtime with extra batteries | Powers a 600W PC for less than 10 minutes. No expandability |
| Input | 4 ways to charge: AC, solar panel, car, portable generator | AC charging only |
| Recharge time | 0-100% in 1 hour | 0-100% in 8-24 hours |
| Output | AC, DC. USB-A, USB-C | AC only |
| Weight | 10.4 lb | +/-25 lbs |
| Noise | 30 decibels (dB) | 40 decibels (dB) |
| Data Communication | Yes | Sometimes |
| UPS Management Software for PC/NAS | Yes | Sometimes |
| Built-In Light | Yes | No |
| Warranty | 5 years | 3 years or less |
Possible Limitations of Using Portable Power Stations as UPS
Many portable power stations, power banks, and other backup battery devices market themselves as uninterruptible supplies but aren’t actually a true UPS for NAS devices like desktop computers and external hard drives for data storage.
Fortunately, EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus is an affordable NAS-compatible UPS solution.
Here are some red flags to look for when shopping for a UPS backup portable power station.
- Automatic switchover time over 10 milliseconds (e.g., 20ms/30ms or more)
- Lead-acid battery
- Insufficient storage capacity
- Lack of expandability
- Insufficient AC output power
Final Thoughts
Until recently, true UPS backup power that can run a desktop computer and peripherals for an hour or more was out of reach for most consumers.
Traditional UPS systems are better than nothing…
But 10 minutes (or less) to shut down your systems isn’t viable for backup operating power.
EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus offers true NAS-compliant UPS to protect your valuable data and keep your computer running for over an hour in a blackout.
If you need longer backup, EcoFlow has you covered.
Check out our selection of home office and high-wattage appliance battery backup solutions.