As power outages become more common, people who have never thought much about residential battery backup systems are probably starting to pay some attention to it. Many companies are happy to meet this need and this week at CESI need to check Biolite's solution. Unlike something that requires a professional to install, using Backup is almost as simple as plugging it in (you'll also need to mount it somewhere in your home).
At first glance, the battery is surprisingly thin, and the matte silver finish is as unobtrusive as it can be. It's all part of the design – BioLite says it's designed to disappear into the “forgotten places” of your home. Behind the refrigerator, under the countertop, on the wall under the table.
Personally, I'd like one so that I never have to worry about pickles going bad in the refrigerator again when the power goes out at my house, as happened recently. (I ate pickles. I shouldn't have eaten pickles.)
This concept will be familiar to anyone who has ever used an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) – something gamers have been using for years to ensure uninterrupted gaming. It's essentially a large battery plus an inverter that plugs into the wall. Then you plug in any appliance or device that doesn't want to turn off – a good example is the refrigerator. When the power inevitably fails, the battery senses the shortage and switches output to power from the stored charge. When nutrition is restored, the cells replenish themselves, ready for the next time.
It's connected to the app, so you'll have a log of when the power goes out and for how long, and of course you'll get notifications when something happens. You can also use on-demand backup when your power is fine, or even schedule it to come online at specific times, which you may need when you're dealing with higher electricity prices during peak usage periods.
On one edge towards the corner are three ports, one of which plugs into a wall outlet, as well as two AC jacks. One is for the included BioLite power strip, which has three more AC ports and two each USB-C and Type A. A vertical mounting kit is included, but if you want to mount it horizontally, you'll need to purchase a separate mount at Biolite.
It comes in two configurations: Backup Complete, a set of two units with a total capacity of 3 kWh that can provide between 30 and 60 hours of runtime (for reference, the average US home uses about 30 kWh per day). The Backup Core holds 1.5 kWh of power and is probably better suited for a home office. The larger full version is eligible for a 30 percent tax credit because it meets federal requirements, which stipulate that the backup system must have a capacity of at least 3 kWh and be physically installed in the home.
The price is $3,000 for the full model and $2,000 for the base version. A Biolite rep noted that if you get the discount, the larger set is only $2,100, so that's actually popcorn in the cinema situation – just get the big one for a little more. Biolite's Backup is available for pre-order now and is expected to ship in May.