OK in keeping with my previous post, it seems like the best use for my power station is to use it as a UPS for my computer. Below it is being so used. The computer is plugged into the AC output The power station is plugged into the wall. I has pass-thru charging so in this case the power is going directly from the wall (grid) to the computer. However in the event of a power failure it will switch to the power station within 20 milliseconds.
I haven’t had a computer UPS in a very long time. The last UPS I had would provide enough power to finish up your tasks the shut everything down in a orderly manner. This power station, acting as a UPS will keep my computer running over 3 hrs.
What the app looks like. Obviously I can’t snap the picture on both at the exact same time, which accounts for the slight difference in wattage.
However I didn’t buy it for a UPS, I bought it for sleeping purposes so I can run a fan and a small radio for at least 2 nights for extended power outages in the summer. So I actually would finish up and shutdown fairly quickly. I can do minor computer activities on my phone. It just turns out it’s best to use is as a UPS. It’s the healthiest way to keep the battery at 100%.
If I was shopping for a computer UPS today before any of my new found portable power station knowledge, I would no doubt have bought a small unit with only 10-15 min of reserve.
I just did some searching on Amazon, and it appears that UPSs now have very similar technologies to power stations. Including using the superior LiFePO4 batteries.The biggest difference I see is power stations have the ability to charge by solar. And the UPS has surge protection, however my Anker power strip also provides surge protection.
For this test I have power cords running off the front of my desk. I need to buy a small hole saw so I can run these cords out the back of the table that is attached flush against the wall.