I didn’t immediately consider the EnerGenie Desktop 1000VA UPS as a potential solution—and that turned out to be an oversight. My primary goal for this device was straightforward: to ensure stable power for my laptop during voltage fluctuations. It wasn’t even about handling full blackouts.
Specifications
- Capacity: 108 Wh
- Battery type: lead-acid sealed
- Power consumption: 1000 VA / 600 W
- Switching time: >12 ms
- Volume: up to 45 dBa
- Dimensions: 175×255×93 mm
- Weight: 5400 g
- Charging time: up to 8 hours
- Minimal load: ~32 W
Video review of EnerGenie Desktop 1000VA
Why I need such a device
The issue lies in our home’s power system, which experiences brief but noticeable fluctuations. These occur at specific times of the day and last about 5–6 minutes, but they’re enough to cause problems. While the lights stay on and the fridge continues running, more sensitive devices, like my PC, shut down momentarily—typically for one to two seconds. That’s all it takes to disrupt operation. For my ASUS ROG Scar 15 G533QS gaming laptop, these interruptions trigger a switch from mains power to battery. Anyone with a gaming laptop knows what that entails: the system sharply and unexpectedly limits its power consumption, which can severely impact performance.
In my case, this power shift often results in something akin to what happens when a GPU’s video memory buffer overflows. The abrupt change in the system’s computational capacity might have no noticeable impact, but it can just as easily lead to crashes, forced application closures, or graphical glitches.
I experienced game crashes, with Fallout: New Vegas freezing entirely, and DaVinci Resolve closing abruptly during heavy rendering tasks—often without any error messages. Software solutions didn’t resolve the issue, so I decided to tackle it with hardware. Ideally, I needed a power bank like the ZMI PowerPack No.20, which supports 100W output, pass-through charging, and basic UPS functionality.
However, unlike the ASUS Zenbook S 16, the Scar 15 cannot reliably operate over USB for extended periods, as the port tends to overheat intermittently. Spending $240 on a combination of a noisy inverter and a bulky battery wasn’t appealing either. The solution turned out to be the EnerGenie Desktop 1000VA, which cost just $70.
About EnerGenie Desktop 1000VA
Essentially, this device is an extension cord with a built-in battery and inverter. The package is minimalistic, including just the unit and a user manual. Its design matches this description perfectly: a black box with ventilation slots, wall-mounting options, three Schuko outlets, a power button, and operation indicators. The power cable is integrated, measuring 120 cm in length. Depending on the model, the unit weighs between 4.2 kg and 5.4 kg. I opted for the most powerful version, so mine is on the heavier side.
What’s inside the EnerGenie Desktop 1000VA is equally straightforward. It features a sealed lead-acid battery rated at 12V and 9Ah, giving it a total capacity of 108 Wh. Alongside it is a 1000 VA (or 600 W) inverter. Other models in the lineup include the EnerGenie Desktop 600VA and 800VA, offering 360 W and 480 W of power, respectively. These models come with smaller batteries, rated at 7Ah (84 Wh) and 8Ah (96 Wh). So, depending on the model, the battery capacity ranges from 84 Wh to 108 Wh, with mine being the largest.
The UPS functionality is explicitly stated, with a switch-over time of up to 12 ms and a claimed runtime of 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the load. The charging time is listed as up to 8 hours, which seems quite long given the relatively small battery capacity. This can be explained by the very slow charging process—charging power ranges from 2 to 6 W, making it a gradual and time-consuming process.
The slow charging speed makes sense when considering that all the previous UPS and inverters I’ve reviewed featured active cooling. The EnerGenie Desktop 1000VA is the first model I’ve encountered without a fan. This lack of cooling could lead to critical overheating, which is likely why the charging speed is intentionally minimized, as the charging process itself generates heat. This could be one of the reasons why negative reviews on Rozetka frequently mention a reduction in battery capacity over time. It’s possible that the battery simply doesn’t have enough time to fully charge between power interruptions, though this is speculative.
What is the advantage
So why did this model suit me so well? First, it acts as a voltage stabilizer, which is important because the voltage in my apartment often fluctuates between 230V and 180V. These dips can cause equipment to malfunction or even power down for a few seconds, as I described earlier. The EnerGenie Desktop 1000VA handles both load spikes and brief power outages effectively, as it can switch to battery power in time. As a result, my laptop experiences no noticeable disruption at all.
It’s not exactly silent, though—the internal inverter is fairly noisy, and for the first minute after powering off, the EnerGenie Desktop 1000VA emits a loud, intermittent beeping sound. I’ve tested the audio, and you can find the results in the video above. At night, when I was really tired, I managed to fall asleep despite the noise from the UPS. However, it’s not something I can record video with, so when filming, I make sure to turn the UPS off completely.
Conclusions
Instead of a conclusion, I’ll offer my recommendation. The EnerGenie Desktop 1000VA is a good fit for routers, office PCs, or even gaming desktops, ensuring you don’t lose progress during work or gaming and giving you time to save your data. It’s suitable for sensitive equipment that is more affected by power interruptions than you’d like. In other words, this UPS can replace both an expensive power bank and an inverter with a battery, and it’s more affordable than a dedicated power station.
And don’t forget, there are even cheaper models available. The EnerGenie Desktop 600VA, or simply 600VA, costs about a thousand less and still supports up to 360W of load. That’s why I recommend not only the EnerGenie Desktop 1000VA but the entire lineup as a whole. Take a closer look, as one of these models might be exactly what you need for specific tasks.
And that’s all from me. Don’t forget to share in the comments how you provide backup power for your router. Chances are, your router has been connected to backup power for quite some time. My old router used to be connected to a power bank, but now I have a new router with Wi-Fi 6E, and my network storage also requires a power backup, so they’re all connected to an inverter with a battery. But feel free to share your setup in the comments!
Read also:
- BLUETTI AC70 Portable Power Station Review: Compact Yet Powerful
- BLUETTI AC200L vs OUKITEL P2001 Plus: comparison of portable power stations
- OUKITEL P2001 Plus Portable Power Station Review