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BioLite Backup keeps the fridge running, but the install took three times as long as promised
BioLite's fridge-only battery starts at $2,000 and plugs into a standard outlet, though one reviewer's setup ran well past the promised half hour.
A fridge battery you install yourself
The Backup by BioLite starts at $2,000, and homeowners can install it themselves. [1][2] BioLite is on the cusp of launching it as an alternative to whole-house batteries. [2]
It targets one problem: a power outage is a nuisance, and losing power to a refrigerator spoils the food inside it. [2] The Backup is a modular battery system designed specifically for the fridge. [2]
How it connects and what it includes
No special wiring is required. [2] You plug the Backup into a standard 120-volt outlet, then plug the refrigerator into the Backup. [2]
The Backup is slender and designed to sit on top of a refrigerator or be mounted on a wall behind or near it. [1] It includes a Power Hub that adds three AC outlets and four USB ports, two USB-A and two USB-C. [1]
It carries three UL certifications covering its uninterruptible power supply, battery safety, and battery cells (UL1778, UL1973, UL1642). [1]
Installation: 30 minutes promised, 90 taken
BioLite promised a 30-minute installation. [2] The reviewer's own installation of the Backup Complete took about 90 minutes. [2]
Two details slowed things down. The two batteries in a Backup Complete must be placed at a specific distance from one another because the connecting cable is limited in length. [2] The mounting template also lacked enough side buffer space, and the Core battery's outlets on its right side need additional room to plug in and scan the QR code. [2]
BioLite endorses placing the batteries on top of the fridge instead of using the wall mount. [2] The reviewer said that would save time and make the units easier to move. [2]
Runtime in the app
The app's runtime estimate accounts for the refrigerator's average draw. [1] At one point it showed about 12 hours remaining, which the reviewer said was close to true. [1]
What it means for you
If you want fridge-only backup power, the Backup starts at $2,000 and you can install it yourself. [1][2] It plugs into a standard 120-volt outlet, so no special wiring is required. [2]
If you buy the Backup Complete, plan for more than the promised 30 minutes, since the reviewer's install took about 90. [2] Check the spacing between the two batteries, because the connecting cable is limited in length. [2] Leave a few extra inches beside the Core battery for its right-side outlets. [2]
Setting the batteries on top of the fridge is the option BioLite endorses, and the reviewer said it would save time. [2]
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