Power outages are always frustrating, but losing electricity to a refrigerator and watching all the food spoil is particularly painful. While whole-house battery systems like the Tesla Powerwall prevent this issue, installation costs can easily reach $15,000.
A Modular Alternative
BioLite, a brand known for portable power and lighting products, is launching a more affordable alternative aimed specifically at refrigerators. The Backup by BioLite is a modular battery system designed to provide emergency power without complex installation or high expenses. After installing the system at home, reviewer WIRED found it to be a capable, though limited, way to achieve extra peace of mind.
Smart Cells and Specifications
The system is straightforward to understand, featuring a massive battery that delivers 1,526 watt-hours of power with a rated output of 1,800 watts and peak surges up to 3,000 watts. Measuring 29 inches high by 13 inches wide and weighing 40 pounds, the power pack mounts on the wall behind a refrigerator or sits on top of it. No special wiring is necessary, as the unit simply plugs into a standard 120-volt outlet while the refrigerator plugs directly into the Backup.
Homeowners seeking more power can daisy-chain the Backup Core unit to a Backup Extend add-on device. This equally sized, slightly lighter unit doubles the power capacity to 3,072 watt-hours. The full Backup Complete solution, which utilizes two cells, supplies up to 60 hours of running time depending on the refrigerator model. Users can add further Backup Extend devices in series up to a maximum capacity of 10.5 kilowatt-hours, though larger needs might justify a whole-house system instead.
Do-It-Yourself Installation
A major selling point of the product is that users can install it themselves without hiring an electrician, with BioLite promising a 30-minute installation time. Testing the Backup Complete setup with two batteries placed side by side, WIRED found the printed manual helpful, though tight kitchen constraints complicated the process. BioLite recommends having a second person help lift the heavy battery packs, but limited space in the reviewer’s alcove required completing the installation alone, presenting a challenge that other users might also face.
