I'm thinking about switching from my 1200W APC UPS to a power station since the power station has a 2000Wh capacity which would give me a much longer runtime. I want to ensure that I'm making the right choice. Currently, my setup is AC mains connected to the UPS, and from there to my PC. With the new power station setup, I'd have AC mains going directly to the power station before powering my PC. I'm aware I can keep the power station plugged into the wall like a UPS so it can supply power to my PC and switch over to battery during an outage. However, I'm concerned about the transfer time when switching over to battery during a power cut—I believe most UPS units have around <16ms? Can power stations match that? I've also noted that some power stations can be charged by both AC and solar, which sounds great, but I want to be cautious about max input voltage too. Are there downsides to switching to a power station instead of sticking with a UPS?
4 Answers
Check into some automatic transfer switches like the OONO F-1051B. This could work for your setup, assuming the power station doesn’t already switch from AC mains to its battery, as that would be unnecessary.
I might be able to shed some light here. The way some power stations work (like Jackery models) is that the AC mains charge the station, and then the unit powers your PC using its battery. They claim to have pass-through charging, but I found out the hard way that it doesn't work like that in practice. Basically, if you use it as you described, you’ll just be draining the battery. Sticking with a UPS might be the way to go.
One downside to power stations is that they typically don’t have built-in surge protection, so you may want to get an additional surge protector. A common setup could be AC mains to the power station, then to a surge protector strip before going to your PC. Just keep in mind that if you connect it through a UPS, you'd face conversion losses as well.
Have you thought about just keeping your current setup? When the power goes out, you could plug the UPS into the power station instead. It’s a budget-friendly option and could work fine if you’re around when the power goes out. Industrial UPS can handle more, but it sounds like you’re looking for simplicity.
That sounds practical, although it does take up more space. Plus, you can easily change UPS batteries, which is way less hassle than dealing with a power station's batteries, which might be trickier to replace.
I looked into the UPS/EPS mode in the Jackery models after your mention and found mixed reviews. If it's a common issue across brands, then it sounds like a UPS would definitely be a safer option.