What’s the Best UPS Backup Battery for Computers?

Unlike laptops, desktop computers don’t technically need battery power.

As long as your utility grid power is uninterrupted by voltage drops, brownouts, or outages, you don’t have to worry about backup battery storage.

Unfortunately, no one has guaranteed access to “clean” electricity from the grid.

Even if the lights stay on, most grid power is inherently “dirty” — meaning variations in current and voltage are inevitable and sometimes imperceptible.

Surge protector power strips offer a limited defense against voltage spikes but none from drops in power. 

 And they’re useless in a blackout.

Fortunately, UPS backup batteries can ensure an uninterrupted power supply for minutes, hours, or days.

You just have to pick the right one…

Find out how!

EcoFlow’s 3 Top UPS Battery Backups

1. Best for Computers and Peripherals: EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus
2. Best for Home Office Backup: EcoFlow DELTA 2 Max
3. Best for Extended Outages: EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3

Best for Computers and Peripherals: EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus

If you rely on a desktop computer and hard drives for work or play and to store your valuable data, a reliable uninterruptible power supply (UPS) is more of a necessity than an option.

Laptops and other precision electronics with batteries, such as tablets and smartphones, are less susceptible to damage from blackouts, brownouts, and variations in power, like voltage drops, than desktop models.

However, electricity fluctuations can permanently harm any sensitive electronic device and irretrievably corrupt data storage.  

Entry-level UPS devices typically provide about 10 minutes for you to shut down a computer and peripherals…

Often, you must perform the shutdown manually, leaving computers and hard drives at risk if you’re not at your desk, even on standby power.

More advanced systems may offer software that’s essentially a simple script that can shut down your computer if a blackout occurs.

If that’s all you need, a conventional UPS may be sufficient…

But it likely won’t be if you need operating backup power.

That’s where EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus comes in.

Unlike most entry-level battery backup products, such as portable power banks and stations, EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus provides a true Network Assisted Storage (NAS) compatible UPS solution.

Not only that, but it’s highly expandable: With EB600, you can add up to 572Wh of battery storage capacity, enough to run a 600W desktop computer for just over an hour.

Here’s how EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus stacks up against regular home UPS backups.

EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus vs. Traditional Home UPS Comparison Table 

	RIVER 3 Plus	Traditional Home UPS
Capacity	286Wh — Expandable with EB300 (286Wh) or EB600Wh (572Wh)	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

Specifications

• Storage Capacity: 256Wh
• Expandability: EB300 (286Wh), EB600Wh (572Wh)
• AC Output: 600W (1200W Surge)
• Solar Charge Capacity (Maximum): 220W
• Weight: 10.4 lbs (4.7kg)
• Dimensions: 9.2 x 9.1 x 5.8 in (234 x 231 x 146 mm)
• UPS Auto-Switchover Time: >10ms (True UPS for Computers/Hard Drives)
• Operating Noise Level: <30 dB

Pros

• True NAS-level UPS backup to safeguard your valuable data and devices
• Expandable storage
• Intelligent power management software and data communication with connected devices
• Lightweight and portable
• Powers up to 90% of home appliances
• Ideal for home office and gaming backup

Cons

• Insufficient AC output to power multiple high-wattage appliances
• Not enough storage for extended power outages (1 hour or more)

Best for Home Office Backup: EcoFlow DELTA 2 Max

If you work from home or are a power user with multiple external hard drives and other peripherals like gaming consoles, powered Bluetooth speakers, dual monitors, etc., you probably need more UPS battery backup than the average consumer.

EcoFlow DELTA 2 Max can power all of the above and more, including high-wattage home appliances like refrigerators, televisions, and freezers…

It even supports home wiring integration with your existing circuit board using a manual transfer switch.

Or you can plug multiple devices and appliances into the unit itself.

Unlike many home backup batteries, EcoFlow DELTA 2 Max offers true >10ms UPS protection against blackouts, brownouts, voltage drops, and “dirty power.”

With AC output of 2400W (4800W), you can operate almost any home office setup and still have power left over for lighting or other appliances.

You’ve also got multiple options for additional storage capacity (up to 6kWh) and charging methods.

With a mobile or satellite WiFi router plugged in, you can keep working (or playing) during a blackout.

Specifications

• Storage Capacity (Minimum): 2048 Wh
• Storage Capacity (Maximum): 6kWh
• AC Output (Maximum): 2.4kW continuous output (3.4kW surge)
• Solar Charge Capacity (Maximum): 11-60V 15A, single port 500W; dual port 1kW
• Weight: 50.7 lbs (23 kg)
• Dimensions: 19.6 × 9.5 × 12 in (49.7 × 24.2 × 30.5 cm)

Pros

• Affordable integration with home office wiring
• Highly expandable storage capacity
• 800W alternator charging and compact build make it ideal for extended road trips

Cons

• 2.4kW of AC output is insufficient for whole-home backup
• Computers and peripherals must be plugged directly into the portable power station for true UPS backup

Best for Extended Outages: EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3

If you’re shopping for a UPS power supply that gives you about 60 minutes to shut down a desktop computer and peripherals in a blackout, EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3 might be overkill.

However, if you want life to carry on with as little disruption as possible during a power outage, EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3 has you covered.

With a maximum AC output of 12 kilowatts, EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3 can supply enough electricity to run every appliance in the average American home during a blackout. 

A single unit provides 4kW of operating power — more than enough for any home office, entertainment system, and high-wattage home appliances like refrigerators and air conditioners.

Specifications

• Storage Capacity (Minimum): 4kWh per Battery. Up to 3 Batteries per DP3 (12kWh)
• Storage Capacity (Maximum): 36kWh (Battery Storage) 
• AC Output (Maximum): 4kW (6kW X-Boost/8kW Surge) (120/240V)
• AC Output (Maximum): Expandable to 8kW or 12kW by chaining 2 or 3 x DELTA Pro 3s 
• Solar Charge Capacity (Maximum): 2600W Dual-PV Charging (150V) per DP3
• Weight: 115 lbs (52kg)
• Dimensions: 27.5 × 13.5 × 16 in (69.5 × 34 × 41 cm)

Pros

• Enough AC output and storage to run a home for hours or days
• Multiple fast-charging methods, including solar panels and grid power
• Highly expandable
• Reduce electricity consumption by 75% (or more)
• Extensive home wiring integration and power management capabilities with EcoFlow Smart Home Panel 2 and/or the EcoFlow smartphone app

Cons

• Could be overkill if you’re just looking for a conventional UPS backup battery
• Computers and peripherals must be plugged directly into the portable power station for NAS-compliant UPS backup. EcoFlow Smart Home Panel 2 features almost imperceptible +/-20ms auto-switching, but that’s not quite fast enough to prevent possible corruption of data 

What is an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS)?

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 components.

• 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

Entry-level home UPS batteries 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.

Learn more about uninterruptible power supplies.

Why Should You Consider a UPS Backup Battery?

Whether your goal is to safeguard valuable data and devices or to keep life as normal as possible during a blackout, a home battery backup with a true uninterrupted power supply is crucial — and affordable!

Here are the top 5 reasons to invest in a UPS battery backup. 

1. Prevent Damage to Computers and Sensitive Electronics
2. Safeguard Storage Devices and Prevent Devastating Data Loss
3. Neutralize Voltage Drops, Brownouts, and ‘Dirty’ Power
4. Minimize Lost Remote Work/WFH Hours for Your Home Office
5. Keep Home Appliances and Entertainment Systems Powered During a Blackout

What to Look For When Choosing a UPS Battery Backup

Here are the essential factors to consider when choosing an uninterruptible power supply for your precision electronics.

1. > 10ms Automatic Switchover for NAS-Level UPS Battery Backup

Many manufacturers of power banks and portable power stations claim to offer UPS backup, but if you read the fine print, it takes 20ms – 30ms (or more) for the switchover to uninterrupted battery power.

Insist on >10 milliseconds auto-switch to UPS battery backup, or you risk losing irreplaceable data and permanent damage to your desktop computer and peripherals.

2. Battery Storage Capacity

Conventional home UPS batteries offer about 10 minutes (or less) of uninterrupted power before you must manually shut down protected devices like computers and hard drives.

If you’re not at your desk or don’t act fast, you’ll be unable to complete the manual shutdown process, and the UPS will have essentially failed to perform its primary function.

More sophisticated (and expensive) UPS batteries come with simple software scripts that can shut down some devices — like Windows PCs — during an outage.

However, many precision electronic devices—like external hard drives—can not be automatically shut down by a traditional UPS during a blackout.

3. AC Output 

Most conventional home UPS backup devices have a maximum AC output of 1000-1200 Volt-Amps (VA), roughly the equivalent of 1000-1200W. Volt-amps and kilovolt-amperes measure AC output in a way that accounts for the electrical efficiency — represented by the power factor — of a device.

Volt-amperes are frequently used instead of watts to measure output from mechanical systems that produce electricity, like inverter generators.

No machine is 100% efficient — it’s a mathematical impossibility…

However, UPS devices come close, so their output in volt-amperes is usually just slightly less than the AC output in watts.

To ensure that the UPS you purchase can keep your desktop computer, hard drives, and other connected devices running in a blackout, calculate the combined power load in watts.

For example, if your desktop computer requires 600W of power and you purchase a UPS with 1000VA of output, you’ll have just under 400W of electricity left to run other devices until the battery runs out. 

It’s a best practice to opt for a UPS or portable power station that provides at least 10% more AC output than the combined power load of connected devices. 

4. Battery Chemistry and Lifespan

The heart of any UPS or portable power station is its battery.

When utility grid electricity goes out, it’s the DC power stored in the UPS backup battery that keeps your devices running long enough to shut them down safely.

With the right portable power station, you can run your computer and peripherals for hours or days during a blackout.

One problem with conventional UPS backups is that they rely on lead-acid battery chemistry.

Unlike lithium-ion batteries, lead-acid batteries degrade rapidly, with or without regular use.

Even so-called deep-cycle batteries — like AGM or gel cell sealed lead acid (SLA/VRLA) packs — must be replaced after 2-4 years.

Unfortunately, you may not know a UPS backup battery has “expired” until you have a blackout.

At which point, your computer and hard drives may be irreversibly damaged and suffer data loss.

EcoFlow’s true UPS portable power stations and solar generators use industry-leading LiFePO4/LFP battery cells with a cycle life of up to 4000 full charges/discharges before capacity diminishes to +/-80%.

That’s enough charges for over a decade of daily use.

If you’re using a portable power station like EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus primarily as an on-line UPS, the backup battery may never have to be replaced.

If only desktop computers had an indefinite lifespan without diminishing in performance!

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts

If you’re like most people today, a desktop computer and hard drive data storage are essential components in your work and personal life.

Home office setups without uninterruptible power supplies are at severe risk of permanent damage and irretrievable data loss in a power outage.

Conventional home UPS backups give you only a few minutes to shut down your system before the battery runs out.

EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus gives you up to an hour of true UPS battery backup for a 600W desktop computer and connected peripherals.

If that’s not enough, EcoFlow has portable power station options to keep you up and running for days during a blackout — or indefinitely with solar panels.

Check out our UPS home office solutions and whole-house backup generators today.