Choosing the Right UPS for Home & Office
Watts vs VA: What is the difference?
UPS systems are sold by "VA" (Volt-Amperes), but your devices use "Watts". The problem is that they are not equal. Due to the "Power Factor", Watts = VA × 0.6 (for most consumer UPS). If your PC uses 300 Watts, you cannot buy a 300 VA UPS. You need at least 500 VA (300 / 0.6). Our calculator handles this conversion automatically to prevent you from buying an underpowered unit.
How long will my battery last?
Runtime depends on the battery size (usually 12V 7Ah or 9Ah lead-acid bricks). A 600VA UPS might run a 300W PC for only 5 minutes—just enough to save your work. If you need hours of runtime (e.g., for a Wi-Fi router during a blackout), you need a specific "Mini DC UPS" or a much larger unit with external battery support.
Protecting Sensitive Electronics
Not all electricity is created equal. The power coming from your wall is a smooth "Sine Wave". Cheap UPS units produce a "Square Wave" (or Simulated Sine Wave) on battery mode. While fine for lightbulbs and routers, this can cause buzzing sounds or instability in modern Gaming PCs, Audio equipment, and Medical CPAP machines. Always check if your device requires Pure Sine Wave power.