Computer Battery Backup Terms

If you're new to the world of computer battery backups, you're bound to encounter a few terms you're not familiar with. There is a wealth of knowledge available on the Internet, simply by running the term(s) through a search engine like Google.com.

For your convenience, following is a brief guide to a few of the more common computer battery backup terms and their definitions.

iPod Battery Backup – This type of battery backup will provide power to an iPod or other MP3 player in the event that the main battery completely drains. These are handy for long plane rides and road trips when the main battery won't keep the unit powered long enough.

Laptop Battery Backup – A laptop battery backup is similar to a spare laptop battery, although they usually provide much more power and are sometimes universally compatible with many laptop brands. These battery backups are meant to be carried with the laptop and, in the event of a drained battery, used as a power backup until the regular battery can be recharged. Most are plugged into the laptop's AC port.

Computer Battery Backup – Used in both corporate and home environments, these battery backups usually provide two functions: to regulate power in the event of a power surge, and to provide extra power in the event of a power failure or blackout. This extra time is crucial to backup and save data, then properly (and safely) shut down the system until power is restored. A few popular computer battery backup brands are APC, Dynex, and CyberPower.

UPS – Stands for "Uninterruptible Power Supplies." Essentially, a 6-UPS battery backup will feature six power supplies (outlets) that provide uninterrupted power during a power failure.

Watts – A measurement of power that a battery backup will provide. The higher the wattage, the more power that will be provided, which ultimately defines how long the backup will provide power to your computer during a power failure.

Outlets – The number of outlets provided by the battery backup, similar to the outlet strip of a surge protector. Most battery backups will provide six outlets.

Connected Equipment Warranty – Some manufactures may have slightly different names for this warranty. It is essentially a warranty insuring the connected devices from damage, payable up to a certain amount.

Surge Energy Capacity – A power surge, or transient voltage, is an increase in voltage significantly above the standard level in a flow of electricity. This rating measures how high of a power surge the unit can protect against. The higher the listed Joules, the better protected your devices are.

More information on battery backups