Sparky Juice Packs: Best Battery Backups in 2022

The CyberPower CP1500AVRLCD is widely regarded as one of the best UPS systems in its class. It’s towards the more expensive end of UPS power supply products, but that buys you added protection, useful features, an attractive design, and more. There’s loads to talk about with this product, but we’ll start with the stats. It has a 1500AV/900W battery, which means it’s amongst the most powerful batteries on this list. That means it’s perfect for use with modern, high-performance computer systems that require a lot of power to run. If you’re running a PC gaming set up or a high-spec mac, you should splash out on a more powerful UPS system like this one. CyberPower doesn’t state exactly how long it will power your computer setup after the power turns off, but you can expect around 30-40 minutes of runtime. That gives you ample time to save your documents and safely turn everything off, whilst you wait for the power to turn back on.

In terms of power outlets, this backup power supply is pretty stacked. It has a total of 12 sockets – 6 are surge protected and connected to the battery backup, the other 6 are just surge protected. So, you’ve got 6 sockets for computer systems and 6 for other connected devices that won’t be affected by a sudden power outage. But they’re not the only outlets. It’s also got USB and serial ports, phone/network connectors, and coax inputs. That means this product is the one-stop battery backup for your whole office set up. You can plug everything in!

The APC BE600M1 UPS backup power supply is a much simpler product than the first. It’s also around half the price, which immediately puts it into a different category. It will still protect your electrical equipment from power outages, but it doesn’t have anywhere near as many added features. This product, which was released in 2016, replaced a well-loved UPS system that was widely thought of as one of the best products in the price bracket. And, this one has started to gain a reputation as a worthy successor. It has 5 battery backup sockets, which is pretty impressive for the price. That gives you plenty of space to power a whole computer set up, without much problem. Plus, it has 2 additional sockets that are surge protected and a USB input. A total of 7 sockets gives you plenty of scope and should be ample space for a home set up or a simple office set up. It also has space to plug your wireless router in, so you can maintain an internet connection when the power goes out.

The battery inside is 600VA or 330W. That means you will have to save your work and turn off your devices pretty quickly after the power goes out. At 100W, the battery will run out in 23 minutes. However, if you’re running a relatively small load of 40W, it will stay on for 67 minutes. So, this product is much better for smaller setups. APC says that the battery has a lifespan of around 3-5 years. That’s impressive enough for a product that costs around $50. But, there are reports that the older model lasted 10 years before the battery started to die. If this model can live up to that, it will be one of the best in its class.

The Tripp Lite 1300VA UPS Battery Backup is one of the best UPS systems on this list. But, if you’re wondering why we haven’t selected it as our Best Choice product, it’s simply because it’s more expensive than the CyberPower CP1500AVRLCD. It’s quite easy to tell them apart, but they fall into the same category – they both have large batteries, they both have plenty of sockets, and they both have an LCD screen.

The LCD screen is one of the big selling points of this battery backup. It’s larger than most of the LCD screens found on similar models and it tells you every bit of information you need to know, at a glance. You can find out the input and output voltage, battery voltage, the input/output frequency, the load and charge levels, the power status, the battery status, and an estimated battery backup runtime. But that’s not everything – it’s the most detailed UPS system, so if you’re a tech-head and you want to know everything about your battery, this is the product for you. It has a similar AVR (automatic voltage regulation) system to the CyberPower CP1500AVRLCD, which is also displayed on the screen.

The APC BX1500M was another strong contender to be our Best Choice product. It’s just as stacked with features as the CyberPower and Tripp-Lite UPS systems we’ve looked at and, in our opinion, it’s one of the best looking. First, though, we should mention this company’s credentials. APC (American Power Conversion Corporation) have been making electronic peripherals, products for data centers, and UPS systems for years and they’re one of the biggest names in the business.

In terms of aesthetic, this battery backup & surge protector is one of the best backup batteries around. It’s a small matte black tower, with an LCD screen and an attractive APC logo carved into the side. It has cooling vents around the body, which keep it from overheating and add to the sleek look of the product. Like the Cyberpower CP1500AVRLCD, it will look right at home next to your modern computer setup. But, you’re probably not buying a UPS system for the way it looks, so let’s get into the features.

So far on this list, we’ve looked at a lot of complicated, high-end UPS backup battery products. They come with LCD screens, numerous ports, and all sorts of additional features to keep your devices protected. But, what if you just need something simple. What if you just want to plug your devices into a UPS that will keep them turned on for a bit when the power goes on. Well, simplicity is what AmazonBasics does best. Amazon now makes thousands of own-brand products in almost every sector you can imagine. They are taking the market by storm because they can undercut the competition and provide amazing value for their customers.

The AmazonBasics Standby UPS is by no means the best UPS on the market. It doesn’t come with an LCD screen and there aren’t many additional features. However, we reckon it’s ideal for people with simple home computer setups. It has a total of 12 sockets – 6 surge-protected sockets and 6 battery backup sockets. That means you could plug your computer, hard drive and anything else that could be at risk in a power failure. Then, you’ve got spare sockets for other devices like laser printers and external monitors. Of course, because there’s no LCD screen, there is no way of knowing how long your connected equipment will stay on, so it’s important to save your files and shut down immediately.

This UPS system from Forza is another great budget option. It’s only slightly more expensive than the AmazonBasics UPS we looked at last, and it has a few additional features. When you’re looking at a budget UPS system like this, it’s important to consider your requirements before you purchase. For example, how many sockets do you need that are backed up by the battery? Do you need it to automatically turn back on when the power resumes after a power cut? Do you need phone ports or a USB port? Answering these questions will put you in a position to find the best cheap battery backup product for you.

The Forza NT-751 has a slightly bigger battery than the AmazonBasics UPS – it’s 750VA or 375W. That means it will keep your appliances on for longer if the power cuts out. It also means that this UPS system can handle more powerful electronic equipment. If you read the reviews on Amazon, you’ll see that customers have used this UPS to power reclining chairs, Direct TV receivers, cable modems, and more. It’s one of the most capable budget UPS battery backup products on here.

CyberPower is one of the biggest brands in the battery backup business. And the EC850LCD is one of their most powerful (and most expensive) products. It’s aimed at both residential and commercial settings, with an impressive six battery backup and surge-protected outlets. That means you can plug a whole host of computers, WiFi routers, and other important devices in and ensure they are protected. If the power goes down, this UPS will give you around 2.3 minutes if it’s fully-loaded and about 7.9 minutes at half capacity. That’s plenty of time to save your work and shut down your computer safely. 

In addition to the six battery backup protected outlets, there are a further three surge-protected outlets with ECO mode, and three surge-protected outlets without. The ECO mode basically turns the power off when it detects that devices have been turned off or are in sleep mode, which lowers costs and reduces power usage. It also has a multifunction LCD screen that provides detailed information about the battery power, time left, and health of the battery.