Is there such a thing as a plug-in battery backup for an alarm clock?
October 22, 2017 7:20 PM Subscribe
I have a Philips wake-up light alarm clock with no battery backup that I really like. I also have so many power failures at home that I've long given up on resetting my microwave clock. Unfortunately, I can't do that with the Philips one - if I want to use it, I have to reset it each time. Is there a thing I can plug into the surge protector that can act as a temporary battery backup for the clock?
The power outages here are usually only for a moment, or a couple minutes, but it happens I'd say at least once a month. This clock does not already come with a battery backup, and I am uninterested in buying a different clock (and I already have a different alarm clock that runs off batteries just in case/as a backup alarm so no worries there). I'd just really like to not have to reset my Philips one all the time. I have googled this, of course, but the results are just a lot of alarm clocks with battery backups as part of the initial design feature (why, Philips, are your clocks not like this?!).
The power outages here are usually only for a moment, or a couple minutes, but it happens I'd say at least once a month. This clock does not already come with a battery backup, and I am uninterested in buying a different clock (and I already have a different alarm clock that runs off batteries just in case/as a backup alarm so no worries there). I'd just really like to not have to reset my Philips one all the time. I have googled this, of course, but the results are just a lot of alarm clocks with battery backups as part of the initial design feature (why, Philips, are your clocks not like this?!).
You seem to be describing a UPS backup battery. The cheapest I see is $40 built into a power strip.
posted by mzurer at 7:35 PM on October 22, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by mzurer at 7:35 PM on October 22, 2017 [1 favorite]
Best answer: You can get battery backups for computers that will certainly keep the clock running, although they might be overkill in terms of budget and space. The term to search for is 'uninterruptible power supply' (UPS). This is the smallest, least expensive model that APC manufactures.
posted by Multicellular Exothermic at 7:36 PM on October 22, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by Multicellular Exothermic at 7:36 PM on October 22, 2017 [4 favorites]
Yup, just go to an electronics store (like Best Buy) and look for an "uninterruptible power supply", aka a UPS. Your clock radio consumes a tiny amount of electricity, so THE SMALLEST UNIT THEY SELL IS JUST FINE. Should be $40 or less.
I'm partial to the CyberPower brand, and have five of them around the house protecting electronics in various locations. They also protect electronics from power surge, which I took more seriously when a lightning strike nearby (or some sort of power surge) friend my TV set.
It's pretty funny though when the grid power goes out for more than a few seconds (common in our parts due to storms+trees), because all of the UPSs start beeping. It's a gentle chorus of beeps for about 30 minutes. Then quiet ...
posted by intermod at 7:38 PM on October 22, 2017 [1 favorite]
I'm partial to the CyberPower brand, and have five of them around the house protecting electronics in various locations. They also protect electronics from power surge, which I took more seriously when a lightning strike nearby (or some sort of power surge) friend my TV set.
It's pretty funny though when the grid power goes out for more than a few seconds (common in our parts due to storms+trees), because all of the UPSs start beeping. It's a gentle chorus of beeps for about 30 minutes. Then quiet ...
posted by intermod at 7:38 PM on October 22, 2017 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I'd look at something like this. It's the smallest one I can find from a reputable manufacturer and it's less than $30.
It should last w/o trouble or intervention for years. I swap my UPS batteries maybe every 5-7 years or so and I've done it 3 times I think. APC has been really good about supporting their products in the long term.
posted by bonehead at 7:44 PM on October 22, 2017 [1 favorite]
It should last w/o trouble or intervention for years. I swap my UPS batteries maybe every 5-7 years or so and I've done it 3 times I think. APC has been really good about supporting their products in the long term.
posted by bonehead at 7:44 PM on October 22, 2017 [1 favorite]
When you get your UPS, check that your clock keeps accurate time when running on UPS. I have seen UPSs that the clock interprets as putting out 120Hz because the waveform is not truly sinusoidal.
And, yeah, you'll hear that beep, beep, beep when the power goes out.
posted by H21 at 7:56 PM on October 22, 2017 [2 favorites]
And, yeah, you'll hear that beep, beep, beep when the power goes out.
posted by H21 at 7:56 PM on October 22, 2017 [2 favorites]
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posted by Thella at 7:28 PM on October 22, 2017 [1 favorite]