UPS v Inverter?

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Fratpacker9

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Hi, I am a university student, and I have upcoming exams in June. The problem is that these exams will be held remotely online due to lockdown restrictions. So, I've been searching for a suitable UPS for these exams in case I get to experience a loadshedding during my exams. However, now someone tells me a UPS would not last to power up my desktop for the duration of the exam (which is 3 hours), and that I should be searching to buy an inverter instead. I wonder if this is true?

Can you guys help me understand the specs, and the difference between an inverter and a UPS? Which one should be suitable in keeping a desktop on for an exam?

Thank you.
 
See 2 articles below and then some links to products that may be appropriate.

mybroadband.co.za

The cheapest backup power setups for running your PC during load-shedding

Load-shedding recently returned to South Africa, which means that many people will be eager to seek backup electricity solutions to keep various appliances running while the power is out.
mybroadband.co.za mybroadband.co.za


How to Keep Your PC on During Loadshedding - On Check by PriceCheck

Protect your PC and keep working when Eksom flicks the switch in your area.
www.pricecheck.co.za www.pricecheck.co.za

sinetechstore.co.za

Omnipower Eishbox Portable Power Station Batt Capacity 740Wh Pure Sinewave | Sinetech

Omnipower Eishbox Portable Power Station Batt Capacity 740Wh Pure Sinewave
sinetechstore.co.za sinetechstore.co.za

www.powerlogic.net

P-Cube 48

The P-CUBE portable power pack is a self-contained, 230V AC 50Hz power storage unit that functions in a similar manner to an “On-Line” UPS.
www.powerlogic.net www.powerlogic.net


RCT MegaPower POWER BANK – RCT

www.rctzone.co.za www.rctzone.co.za
 
A long run UPS but, they cost as much or more than an inverter and would not have near the capacity or life span of an inverter..

www.geewiz.co.za

1200VA Mecer Inverter + 2x 100AH Batteries Trolley (8 HOUR BATTERY LIFE) KIT - (720W) (150-200 cycles) - 12 Month Warranty

Mecer Inverter 1200VA (720W) + 20A Charger SIMILAR to INTELLIPOWER 3 or TESCOM 1000-200 UNIT Includes 2x 100Ah Battery + Steel Cabinet + Wheels All cabling included Unit Dimensions: 44cm(H) x 39cm(W) x 38cm(L) 12-month warranty on the inverter PLEASE NOTE: The 8-hour battery life is based on a...
www.geewiz.co.za www.geewiz.co.za

Would work well..
 
Fratpacker09 said:
Hi, I am a university student, and I have upcoming exams in June. The problem is that these exams will be held remotely online due to lockdown restrictions. So, I've been searching for a suitable UPS for these exams in case I get to experience a loadshedding during my exams. However, now someone tells me a UPS would not last to power up my desktop for the duration of the exam (which is 3 hours), and that I should be searching to buy an inverter instead. I wonder if this is true?

Can you guys help me understand the specs, and the difference between an inverter and a UPS? Which one should be suitable in keeping a desktop on for an exam?

Thank you.
Click to expand...
Well if you can afford an inverter which is expensive, maybe consider buying a laptop that gives you 8 hours plus.
 
Apart from the laptop if you go that route , make sure you have something to keep your net connection up, and if you can also have an internet connection backup plan
 
TheChamp said:
How much would such a laptop be?
Click to expand...
Depends on his requirements, i.e more powerful requires bigger battery, more expensive. Since I dont know what his requirements are, it is hard to say.

For example using Amazon as it is the quickest search:
1624117897745.png

Further down:
1624117934696.png

Battery Technology has come a long way.
 
Fratpacker09 said:
someone tells me a UPS would not last to power up my desktop for the duration of the exam (which is 3 hours), and that I should be searching to buy an inverter instead. I wonder if this is true?

Can you guys help me understand the specs, and the difference between an inverter and a UPS? Which one should be suitable in keeping a desktop on for an exam?
Click to expand...

strictly speaking a home use UPS is intended to allow you enough time to save your work and shutdown your PC but it will not power the computer for very long once the mains power is gone because the battery is quite small.

An inverter will generally be connected to a battery and change the battery DC power into AC power. The capacity of the battery will be one of the factors that determine how long it will provide power (the other is the size of the load - i.e. how much power the things that you plug in use).

Many people use the term UPS when actually meaning "backup power" but a UPS is to some extent also actually an inverter - so do not worry too much about the actual name just try and make sure it will provide power for as long as you need. For 3 hour desktop and monitor use an inverter and battery will likely be cheaper than a single purpose UPS.

A laptop could give you more bang for your buck depending on what is most required. If only needing to get through one or two exams and loadshedding causes no other issues then money for a laptop seems a good option. An inverter and battery can be used to power other things even when not doing exams.

Check with your academic department what happens if the internet connection goes down - even if you have all the backup power needed for computers and routers and what have you, not all connections remain on/stable during loadshedding.
 
one poster said:
strictly speaking a home use UPS is intended to allow you enough time to save your work and shutdown your PC but it will not power the computer for very long once the mains power is gone because the battery is quite small.

An inverter will generally be connected to a battery and change the battery DC power into AC power. The capacity of the battery will be one of the factors that determine how long it will provide power (the other is the size of the load - i.e. how much power the things that you plug in use).

Many people use the term UPS when actually meaning "backup power" but a UPS is to some extent also actually an inverter - so do not worry too much about the actual name just try and make sure it will provide power for as long as you need. For 3 hour desktop and monitor use an inverter and battery will likely be cheaper than a single purpose UPS.

A laptop could give you more bang for your buck depending on what is most required. If only needing to get through one or two exams and loadshedding causes no other issues then money for a laptop seems a good option. An inverter and battery can be used to power other things even when not doing exams.

Check with your academic department what happens if the internet connection goes down - even if you have all the backup power needed for computers and routers and what have you, not all connections remain on/stable during loadshedding.
Click to expand...
@Fratpacker09 what he said.
 
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