You can power a TV with an Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS), and depending on the size (and cost) of the power supply it may keep the TV going for anywhere from 15 minutes to 2 hours. It’s smart to use a UPS for your TV (or other expensive electrical equipment) as cost-effective insurance. Uninterruptible power supplies are commonly used for home computers, but can also be used for other devices such as speakers, gaming consoles, printers, and more. Of course, like any part of the electronic world, there are a lot of products on the market that could benefit from these secondary power supplies, so let’s jump in, answer the question, and learn more.
Can a UPS Power a TV? For How Long?
The prices and power capacities of UPSs vary a lot. The cost ranges from ~$150 all the way up to $500 for more expensive options. And the runtime–how long they can actually operate–can be anywhere from 1-3 hours depending on the size of the UPS. One primary distinction of these is just to get you by until the power comes back on though. Oftentimes the average of 15 minutes is not the case according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA). The average estimated power outage is somewhere between 106 to 118 minutes and consistently has been since 2013. That shows us that it could be worth a top-line product but at a high cost. One of the most important things to note if you want to use a UPS to power a TV is the particular UPS product specifications. It’s important to know two things, in particular, the maximum output, and the maximum power delivery time.
First, finding the output power is going to be key to matching your two products together. You’ll need to find the power in Watts the UPS can deliver. A few high-in uninterruptible power supplies can output up to 900+ Watts which will be substantially more than most TVs need to operate. Second, you need to know the delivery time. At the max operation of the UPS, how long will it take before there is a power failure? Oftentimes, products will exhibit what is the “Full Life” and the “Half-Life” with an amount of time associated with each category.
Is It Smart to Plug a TV into a UPS?
Aside from the few benefits we covered for plugging your TV into a UPS, there are surprisingly some more with key importance. If you’ve ever heard of a power surge, you may know there is the potential to ruin anything plugged in. This mainly comes from the home getting struck by lightning. Finding the right UPS with surge protection could now be of greater value. For example: Another feature that UPS units have is power conditioning. If you are like most, you may not know what that is. By using a UPS, it allows you to ensure there is a constant supply of energy on a consistent level. In the United States, It’s common for an outlet to output 120 V, but that can fluctuate. When you have a power source that is constantly changing on a minute level, it can be harmful over time to your TV. With that being said, the purchase of a UPS with a surge protector is going to be completely determined by your budget and the quality of the product you are protecting. If you find that you are going to invest in one, just know it won’t be in vain. The overall benefits will be worth it, and you can easily add additional devices to it or move it around as needed.
Is a UPS a Good Protection Measure for All of Your Equipment?
A good quality UPS is used more often than we might think. Not only are they seen in the average American home often plugged up at the computer, but they’re also really all over. There are businesses that use them in virtually every field of work you can think of. Some of the most common are Hospitals, Banks, Grocery Stores, and Office Buildings. So it’s not uncommon to put an extra layer of protection on what you value most. Whether the UPS is protecting lives at a hospital, or those irreplaceable memories that have yet to be backed up from the home computer, they’re not any less important. The number of uses you could utilize a UPS for is only limited to Electricity, so that’s a ton! If you can put a value on it and can’t go about your normal routine without it, it’s probably best to protect it. Here are some common household tech items that could be worth a UPS:
ComputersSoundbarReceiver/SpeakersMedia Device (Apple TV, Blu-ray, Fire TV, etc.)TVNetwork equipment (modem/router)
Don’t forget we still have to make sure precautions are taken when there is a power surge or power outage. It’s best to properly shut down any devices that are plugged in and then let UPS do its job. This will continue to maintain the quality of your electronics by using the features as they were built instead of the abrupt disconnection or fluctuation in power.
