Small battery backup?

[Mary Carlson]

I live in a remote mountain area where brief electricity outages of just a few seconds occur several times a week. Resetting the clocks on small appliances (microwave, coffee maker, answering machine, etc) has become an all but useless task. Does anyone know of a very small battery backup or UPS of some sort that would be suitable for this application? I don't need enough power to run the appliance, multiple outlets, or anything like that . . . I just want to keep the power from being interrupted so I won't have to reset everything every time the electricity goes out for a second.

TIA for any information anyone might be able to provide.

[Frank]

I think I've paid as little as $15 for APC type units from Staples to protect my computers. These things even have surge protection.

[Bryce]

Won't support a microwave oven, maybe not coffee maker either. It has always annoyed me that the manufacturers won't invest a little more in power-dip ridethru for digital clocks. I suppose it wouldn't be a selling feature.

[ransley]

ance, multiple

I used to have several outages like that a week, it was a loose conection where power came to the house. For only a few seconds a week, maybe wind is affecting cables that need attention. The power co checks this stuff for free, call them and have them figure exactly what is the cause. You probably dont need to buy anything to get good power.

[George]

Sure it would. But the big box mart tells people the only thing that is important is price.

We have a digital alarm clock radio in the bedroom that had a small compartment in the bottom for a backup battery. If the power dropped off the display blanked but the battery kept the RTC running. I tried to find a new one with the same feature and they just don't exist.

[George]

She did mention it was a remote mountain area. Likely the area is fitted with automatic reclosing breakers so the brief dips were likely the branch that blew across the line or the now toasted squirrel. Previously I'll bet it was a few hour wait for the utility to drive over, find the issue and change a fuse.

[ransley]

pliance, multiple

Mountain area or not, a few seconds every week is likely something loose and easy to fix. She should simply ask a neighbor if they have the same issue. My issue was a temporary clamp that became permanent and was loose, it could even be inside her home in the main panel.

[aemeijers]

It would for me. A couple of my clocks have 9v backup in theory, but the 'low batt' light comes on in a month. At 4 bucks a shot, I'm not inclined to replace them that often, since the whole clock only costs

1. I'm fine with blanking the display, just store the time and alarm setting- that doesn't take much juice.

I have one of those WWV-fed 'atomic clocks' that also eats batteries, and you have to force-reset it 2-3 times whenever you change battery, before it gets back in synch.

Does anybody really know what time it is?

-- aem sends.....

[Bill]

I have the same problem. I bought battery operated wall clocks and no longer reset any of the electronic clocks.

For important stuff like my computer, I bought a UPS at an office supply store - the largest capacity they have.

I suppose for your phone, you could do the same, except would only need the smallest UPS.

[---MIKE---]

Last year I bought a new alarm clock at Wal-mart. It cost about 12 dollars. As soon as I plugged it in it displayed the correct time. It even corrected when we went on daylight time and again when we went off of it. With frequent power failures it still shows the correct time when the lights come back on. Naturally it was made in China. I have no idea how it does this (it is NOT an atomic clock).

---MIKE---

[HeyBub]

There is no such CHEAP thingy for an entire house.

Suppose you had something along the lines of UPS commonly used for computers and the like. Now suppose you had a power interruption while the electric oven was on, the electric water heater was trying to catch up, and you were ironing clothes.

The current suckage would turn the baby UPS inside out!

One long-term fix is to buy appliances with their own built-in battery backup. Or appliances that don't rely on the power mains. For example ALL my stand-alone clocks are battery operated.

[Mark Lloyd]

[snip]

A backup battery should last a few years (unless you have a lot of power outages, of have one that uses the battery for an alarm).

I have several clocks with backup batteries. They usually run fast when on battery (for example: clock set right before 1-hour power outage at 2:00, when power comes on clock shows 3:24 instead of 3:00). However, the problem isn't too bad during an outage of just a few seconds.

BTW, at least Daylight Saving Time is good for SOMETHING, an opportunity to correct those clock drifts.

The biggest problem here is equipment I want on but it suffers from "power amnesia". Most TVs and many other devices with electronic controls have this problem.

[snip]

[hallerb]

pplication? I don't need enough power to run the

ALL UPS are overcurrent protected. They just shut off and scream a alarm

[The Daring Dufas]

I have a Sony clock radio that I purchased recently that not only keeps the time when the power is out but I believe it also automagically adjusts for Daylight Savings Time. It wasn't that expensive. I don't have it with me right now so I don't have the model but it is currently in production.

TDD

[Jon Danniken]

Does anybody really care?

Jon

[Jon Danniken]

You could always wire in an electrolytic capacitor at the internal DC power supply output feeding the clock circuit of each appliance.

Jon

[Mark Lloyd]

[snip]

I never use the clock on my microwave (and the clock on the stove doesn't work and ISN'T going to get fixed). I suppose you'd want it if you leave food in the oven and expect it to start cooking in time for (some scheduled) meal. I don't like scheduled meals.

When you're so badly addicted you can't get out of bed without the smell of coffee.

BTW, as far as I can tell, coffee provides little or no benefit (as a drug). Most of what happens is disability caused by the addiction. Same for cigarettes (and why would you set fire to something stinky, and stick it in your mouth anyway?).

I wish more clocks would do that. However, it depends on having some connection with the outside (internet connection, satellite dish, cell tower, WWV radio, etc...) considering that time (not time itself of course, but what clocks show) is entirely artificial (as can be seen with the numerous time zones and Damn Stupid Time).

I suppose. I very seldom need a clock except to deal with OTHER PEOPLE who make use of clocks.

[gfretwell]

They are very common here in Florida, I suppose you could find them online (Amazon?)

[gfretwell]

If you want it to make your coffee in the morning so it is ready when you get up.?

[gfretwell]

I think these things use a cheap RC network to replace the 60hz timebase when the power is off. I guess they err on the "safe" side when they choose the "C". Nobody got in trouble for being to work early.