UPS Battery Backup Surge Protectors – 14 Models Reviewed

Surge Protection – offer basic surge protection against power spikes.

LCD Display (Optional) – display of load, estimated run-time and battery capacity, etc.

Audible Alarm – important to have if UPS is placed at a remote corner of the house.

Automatic Voltage Regulation (AVR) – helps to correct minor power irregularities

A/C to Battery Transfer Time – the amount of time needed to switch over to battery when a power disruption occurs.

Run time at Half/Full Load – the amount of time you have to shut down your connected devices before the battery power runs out. Keep in mind that the more electrical devices connected to the UPS, the higher will be the wattage load and hence the UPS battery backup run time will be shorter when a power outage happens. And the opposite is true. 😉

Battery Recharge Time – the amount of time required for the battery to be fully charged.

Devices that Need Power and Surge Protection

Although most battery backup surge protectors offer surge protection for all power outlets, yet (most of the time) only 50% of the power outlets come with battery backup features. That means you have some decisions to make – an eight outlet ups battery backup & surge protector will only offer battery power protection for four outlets. You have to determine if four power surge cum battery backup protection outlets are enough for you before deciding on a brand and model to buy.

Choosing the Right Form Factor

There are basically 3 types of form factors (Rack-mount, Compact, and Tower) to choose from when getting a UPS battery backup surge protector. For an office environment e.g. data center, a rack-mountable UPS would be most suitable. As for home use, depending on the amount of real estate (space) on your desk or floor, you will want to choose between a compact or tower UPS. Compact UPS surge protectors usually do not come with an intelligent LCD display and are relatively cheaper.

Functionality

It is important to decide on the functions and features you will need for a UPS battery backup surge protector before making your purchase. E.g. if you need a UPS surge protector that provides auto voltage regulation, be sure to choose one that offers such a feature.

Compatibility

Be sure to check if your electrical devices are compatibles with the UPS surge protector model you are getting. Some electrical devices may have different voltage requirements and may not work on certain models of UPS.

Portability

Get a compact, portable, and lightweight model if you need to bring along the battery backup power surge protector everywhere you go.

Power (Wattage) Capacity Requirement

Generally, if you are a technical geek like me who owns lots of electrical devices and gadgets, you will want to get the best surge protector battery backup device that offers a huge power capacity. When power blackouts happen, the UPS will then have sufficient power wattage to allow the graceful shutdown of your mission-critical devices. Click here to find out how to size up the UPS you will need.

UPS Topology – Standby, Line-interactive, or Double-conversion?

Did you know that there are many types of common power problems that are detrimental to our electrical devices? Power problems like power surge, blackouts, brownouts, voltage sags, over-voltage, harmonic distortion, etc can happen anytime, anywhere.

Standby topology UPS (passive topology) will only safeguard against power failures, power surges, and voltage sags. Most suitable for an office environment (less critical applications) where power disruption is not frequent.

Line-interactive UPS is able to safeguard against under and over-voltage conditions in addition to that of a UPS that offer standby topology.

Double-conversion UPS (online topology) is capable of protecting against all common power problems. Be sure to get one if you have mission-critical applications or devices that require such a level of protection.

Waveform Type

Most electrical devices or equipment are compatible with UPS that offers pure sine wave power when working on battery mode. Be sure to check with your device or UPS manufacturer when in doubt.

UPS Monitoring

These days, most UPS battery backup surge protectors come with a USB comm port and relevant software. Be sure to double-check if you do need one. For example, battery backup surge protector beeping will trigger an alert via the UPS software and via the USB comm port, you will be notified of the audible alarm.

Warranty

As a rule of thumb, any decent UPS surge protectors should come with at least one to two years of battery warranty as well as 2 or 3 years on standard hardware warranty.

No matter where you put it, this CyberPower battery backup surge protector will never look out of place. And yet beyond its aesthetically pleasing exterior, CyberPower BRG1500AVRLCD comes packed with many useful features like automatic voltage regulation, 2 USB charging ports, etc.

I personally love the multi-functional intelligent LCD panel. Not only does it provides useful information on battery and power line conditions, it is also able to display accurate information on battery capacity, but load capacity also estimates run time and more.

If you have quite a few mission-critical devices that you need to safeguard against irregular power conditions, you will be happy to know that BRG1500AVRLCD comes with 6 outlets that offer both battery backup and surge protection. You no longer have to worry about data corruption or faulty hardware components due to frequent power disruptions.

CyberPower BRG1500AVRLCD comes with a whopping 5-year warranty including the 2 replaceable batteries in addition to a $500,000 connected equipment guarantee.

In my opinion, this is probably one of the best quality UPS battery backup surge protectors you can get at its current price point.

If you are looking for a battery backup UPS with only surge protection capability, then Panamax MB1000 may not be for you.

This high-end Panamax UPS cum power conditioner cum surge protector (3-in-1 multi-function UPS) possesses more features and functions than that of average UPS surge protectors. 🙂

In my opinion, Panamax MB1000’s ability to perform critical load management functions alone is worth more than the asking price. During a power outage, the 4 non-critical load outlets will continue to protect all connected devices and will shut down once the designated battery level has been drained. The remaining battery charge is reserved for the other four critical load outlets in a separate bank. Thus, allowing longer run time for those mission-critical devices to be properly shut down. 👍

Another impressive feature of MB1000 is its Dual Learning IR function. With this function, you will be able to program MB1000 to send standby or shutdown commands to hardware components like ceiling projectors, high-end home theater equipment and so on.

This multi-functional battery backup surge protector cum power conditioner is definitely not for people with budget constraints. But if you own high-end home theater equipment and entertainment peripherals that need extreme protection from adverse power conditions and disruptions, Panamax MB1000 is definitely a worthy investment.

If you are someone like me who has a home office, then Tripp Lite SMART1200LCD may be a UPS surge protector you should consider.

I love the fact that this line-interactive UPS system comes with 8 outlets which are all capable of battery back and surge protection. As you may already know, most UPS surge protectors in the market only offer 50% of their power outlet for both battery backup and surge protection. What’s more, there are also ports for Tel/DSL/Ethernet protection too.

In fact, SMART1200LCD is truly capable of protecting common office equipment and peripherals like home computers, laptops, Internet routers, printers, modems & phone lines, etc.

I especially like the dual form factor feature in which you can either choose to rackmount (2U) the UPS or place it on the floor or table as a standing tower (see image below).

If you are running sensitive applications in the backend, you will be glad to know that this Tripp Lite battery backup surge protector also comes with auto voltage regulation and all power details like battery capacity, voltage details and so on, can be displayed with the LCD screen.

All in all, Tripp Lite SMART1200LCD is a worthy buy for those who have a home office that needs holistic protection against power disruption and harmful transients.

With Intelligent battery management and online monitoring capability, I must say APC SMC1000C is a must-have for those who own mission-critical devices or applications at home or in the office.

Through its cloud-enabled port, you will be able to monitor the status of SMC1000C from anywhere in the world via a secure web portal.

The Intelligent battery management function is also able to predict when battery replacement is needed. No more unexpected faulty battery surprises!

This pure sine wave UPS offers both battery backup and surge protection functions for all its 8 outlets. And that’s not all, it is also offering 1 additional year of battery warranty when you connect and register the APC SMC1000C via the SmartConnect App.

If you are a big fan of LCD displays, you will happy to know that SMC1000C does come with one. It has an LCD screen that displays the important status of the UPS (in multiple languages) as well as the ability to configure the UPS via its user-friendly navigation keys.

APC SMC1000C may not be budget-friendly but if you are looking for a reliable yet feature-packed UPS surge protector, SMC1000C is definitely worth getting.

Despite its hefty price tag, CyberPower PR15000LCD comes bundled with loads of features and functions. As expected of mid-range UPS surge protection devices, PR1500LCD comes with 8 power outlets that are all capable of performing battery backup and surge protection.

In terms of performance, this sine wave battery backup surge protector is able to recharge its batteries in 3 hours. What’s more, it provides an awesome runtime of 4.7 minutes on a full load of 1500 watts should a power blackout occur – giving you ample time to gracefully shut down your critical devices like home computers and servers.

Due to space constraints, if you have to place the UPS in a hard-to-reach location, you will find the extendable LCD display panel (via 4.5 ft cable) super useful. It will allow you to configure and check the status of the UPS without having to move the UPS in and out of the hard-to-reach location. 😓

Are you trying to reduce your ever-increasing monthly utility bill? If so, you will be glad to know that this Cyberpower battery backup surge protector comes with a GreenPower UPS Bypass feature. When the AC power is stable, power from the utility grid can be set to bypass the UPS, hence reducing energy consumption footprints, noise and heat buildup.

Programmable outlet control is one of the many features which I am most impressed with. It allows you to program both the critical outlets and non-critical outlets. By doing so, you will be able to prioritize and increase battery backup run-times for your mission-critical equipment and computer peripherals during extended power disruption. This feature also allows you to delay the startup of non-critical devices after a power outage so that the battery recharging time can be shortened.

This model also comes with remote monitoring capability (preinstalled network card) which will allow you to keep a close tab on mission-critical equipment that matters to you – hence keeping costly downtime to a minimum.

Do you own high-end A/V equipment at home? If so, you will probably never regret getting PR15000LCD as it is also made to protect power-sensitive equipment like high-end projectors and audio/visual entertainment systems.

Beyond its sleek and nice-looking exterior, if you are hoping to get a UPS surge protector that comes bundled with some great features and yet does not break the bank, APC BX1350M could be your best choice.

While it is definitely not the best in performance, BXS1350M is more than sufficient to safeguard all your home computers, laptop, and peripherals against power disruption.

APC BX1350M comes with an automatic voltage regulation function that is able to help preserves battery life and maximize runtime. it does so by correcting low voltages without discharging the battery.

This APC battery backup surge protector also comes with an intelligent battery management feature whereby the UPS batteries will be maximized for performance and reliability via intelligent, precision charging.

Like I mentioned earlier, if you want a USP that is budget-friendly and yet feature-packed, this 10 outlet APC battery backup surge protector will not disappoint.

If BX1350M happens to be sold out, you can still get it by doing a bundle purchase (BM1350M + BE600M1).

BE600M1 is a lower-end UPS surge protector from APC which is most suitable for low-energy consumption devices such as Internet modems, wifi routers, indoor cameras, etc.

With 8 power outlets and a pleasing black-colored exterior, this battery backup surge protector is definitely a great addition to your home office.

Not only can it protect up to 4 mission-critical Internet of Things (IoT) devices (including home computers) against unexpected power outages and power surges, it has 4 additional outlets that offer surge protection of up to 340 joules.

An average computer typically uses between 60 watts and up to 300 watts for a high-end PC. That means APC BE650G1 will be able to provide you with at least 3 minutes of run time even if your PC is running at 300 watts. In my opinion, 3 minutes is more than sufficient for most computers to perform a graceful shutdown.

Besides having a 5 feet power cord, this UPS surge protector comes with a replaceable battery. Depending on the power conditions and usage, do expect the battery life to last between 2 to 5 years.

People working from home should consider getting one for peace of mind against unexpected power disruptions.

APC BE850M2 is an obvious upgrade to BE600M1 in terms of the number of outlets and watts. This 450 watts battery backup surge protection device comes with 9 power outlets. BE600M1 is for you if you are a tech junkie like me who has huge numbers of electronic devices to charge every now and then. 🙂

And if you are a USB charging enthusiast like me, you will be happy to know that BE850M2 comes with 2 x USB charging ports.

Of the nine outlets, six of them are connected to and protected by the internal battery in addition to surge protection. The remaining three outlets are only surge-protected, most ideal for powering electronics gadgets like hand-phone chargers and gaming devices.

If you happen to use up all 450 watts of power (which is unlikely) from this APC battery backup surge protector, worry not! You will still have about 2 minutes of run time left for you to properly shut down mission-critical devices like computers and printers.

You will get a longer run time if you do not use up all 450 watts of power from APC BE850M2. For example, if you only use 100 watts of power, you will have about 32 minutes’ worth of run time whenever a power outage occurs.

Just like BE600M1, you will also get to enjoy up to 3 years of warranty plus a $75,000 connected equipment guarantee from APC.

If you are looking for a budget-friendly and reliable battery backup surge protector, I have a strong feeling you will come to like CyberPower ST900U UPS.

Thanks to its small compact size, this 500 watts UPS is most suitable for use in both home and office. You will still get about a few minutes of run time even if you run at full load (500 watts).

One thing to note is that this 12 outlet UPS only has 6 outlets that offer both surge and battery backup protection. The rest of the 6 outlets only come with surge protection capability. But you will be glad to know that there are sleek features such as GreenPower UPS™ High-Efficiency Design that will help reduce power consumption via a compact charger and built-in power inverter. And it also comes with simulated Sinewave to deliver backup power for all your computer and peripherals.

This affordable battery backup surge protection device comes with a three-year warranty (including the battery) and the $125,000 connected equipment guarantee. The connected equipment guarantee covers the repair and replacement of damaged connected equipment caused by power surges.

CyberPower ST900U comes with PowerPanel Personal Software which provides a dashboard for you to monitor and control the UPS system.

If you ask me, I would say this is a great price based on the sheer numbers of outlets, ultra-efficient backup power system, USB charging ports and PowerPanel Personal Software.

Are you staying in an area where blackouts and brownouts visit you more than your next-door neighbors? 😉 If so, these frequent power disruptions may cause unexpected damage to your computer and other essential electrical devices at home.

Whenever clients ask for UPS recommendations, battery backup surge protectors from Tripp Lite are what I would recommend. In this case, Tripp Lite BC500 would fit the bill if you are looking to get something affordable and reliable to protect your home computer and other essential electrical devices.

With 8 a/c outlets and a half (four) of them capable of protection against power disruptions and power surges, you will want to consider getting one if you do not have power-hungry electronics devices at home besides your laptop or home PC.

Watts power and joules rating may be on the low side but like I mentioned earlier, if you do not own power-hungry electrical devices at home, BC500 should be more than sufficient to shield them against blackouts and brownouts as well as power spikes.

Tripp lite BC500 comes with a 3 years warranty and awesome lifetime insurance for connected equipment.

If you are willing to pay slightly more, Tripp Lite AVR700U should be the obvious choice for most people when you compare it against Tripp Lite BC500 listed above.

In my opinion, most Tripp Lite battery backup surge protectors offer the best value for the price you pay for. It is definitely true for AVR700U.

Tripp Lite BC500 reviewed above truly pales in features and value if you were to compare them apple to apple. With this Tripp Lite AVR700U battery backup surge protector, not only do you get surge protection for both DSL and TEL but the Automatic Voltage Regulation (AVR) feature is also included.

Automatic voltage regulation is a built-in function that helps correct abnormal voltages (high and low voltage conditions) without you having to shut down your computer and other essential devices. In the long run, this will help preserve precious battery charges and the lifespan of the UPS battery.

Having AVR feature for a UPS at such a price point is definitely a huge plus in my book. I also like the fact that I do not have to wake up in the middle of the night just to attend to nuisance beeping caused by super brief power outages that are hardly noticeable. The audible alarm will only sound during the onset of critical alerts like prolonged power disruptions.

AVR700U comes with 350 watts of power which means you will have a run time of up to about 2 minutes (enough to shut down your computer and others) even if you used up all 12 outlets and get it up to full load (350 watts).

Tripp Lite offers a peace of mind warranty of 3 years on top of the lifetime insurance for all connected equipment. 🙂

CyberPower is very well known for their good quality product so when it comes producing battery backup surge protectors, it is not hard to imagine they will excel at it too.

CP800AVR UPS from CyberPower is not affordable if you were to compare it to the likes of the 2 Tripp Lite models I reviewed above. But that does not mean they are not providing value for the asking price.

While the price point may be on the high side in terms of features, it should be noted that the GreenPower UPS Bypass feature alone is already worth more than the asking price. GreenPower UPS Bypass is a patent design by CyberPower that helps with reducing energy consumption, noise and building up of heat. Power from the utility will bypass the UPS transformer when AC power is “healthy”.

In the long run, you will obviously get to enjoy lower monthly electricity bills. Definitely worth the price in my opinion. 🤑

This CyberPower CP800AVR UPS also comes with automatic voltage regulation (AVR) which helps in the correction of minor power up and downswings without the need to switch over to UPS power. As a result, you will get to enjoy a longer UPS battery lifespan.

With a $200,000 connected equipment guarantee and 3 years warranty, I recommend giving CP800AVR a try if you are into trimming down utility bills and being Eco-friendly at the same time. 🙂

At first glance, I have to admit I was visually attracted by Forza NT-1011D’s minimalist aesthetics, especially the blue LED visual indicators – simplified monitoring in real-time.

Beyond its minimalistic look, I do understand that not many homeowners have heard of Forza.

Forza Power Technologies is one of the recognized global providers of energy-efficient products ranging from UPS, voltage regulators to surge protectors and power strips.

Forza NT-1011D is not jam-packed with features by any means but it has its own merits in terms of features. Besides offering power outage and surge protection, it also comes with voltage protection and regulation.

Interestingly, it comes with a fast recharging time of 6 hours to 90% following a complete discharge although the joule rating is rather low at only 200J. Although Forza does not have lots of bells and whistles it does offer essential features like battery self-test and automatic voltage regulation and ThermoFuse protection.

Like most surge protectors, it also comes with MOV technology and power filters to help reduce electromagnetic interference (EMI) and radio frequency interference (RFI).

This 6 outlet UPS from Forza comes with a peace-of-mind 3 years warranty. With an affordable price and a direct replacement program, there is really no harm in trying out this UPS.

Vertiv Liebert is another energy-efficient battery backup surge protector you should consider if you are into trimming down that ever-increasing utility bill of yours.

Besides being Energy Star Certified, this eight outlet UPS offers multiple mounting capabilities as well as advanced early warning of the shutdown.

In addition to that, you will be happy to know that it also provides surge protection for data lines (RJ45/11) and EMI/RFI noise filters.

This UPS unit from Vertiv Liebert comes with a 3-year full unit coverage including a battery with a no-hassle replacement warranty.

If you need a simple yet reliable and affordable UPS battery backup surge protection device that can be mounted at hidden places like under the desk, this is probably the best model to go for.