BioLite's new Backup battery keeps a fridge running through a blackout. Wired found it works well, but it costs $1,999 and the install was harder than promised.
A battery made just to keep your refrigerator running during a power outage works as promised, according to a Wired review. Backup by BioLite costs $1,999 for one unit and $3,499 for a double unit. Wired gave it 7 out of 10. The reviewer called it a capable but limited way to get some peace of mind.
The battery plugs into a standard 120-volt wall outlet, and the fridge plugs into the battery. No special wiring is needed. It can hang on the wall behind the fridge or sit on top of it. Each unit is 29 inches high, 13 inches wide and weighs 40 pounds. When the power cuts out, the reviewer noted the switch to battery was seamless.
One unit holds 1526 watt-hours of power. An add-on called Backup Extend doubles that to 3072. With two units, the setup can run a fridge for up to 60 hours, depending on the fridge. More add-ons can be chained together, up to 10.5 kilowatt-hours. At that point, the review says, a whole-house system may make more sense.
A whole-house battery like a Tesla Powerwall can easily reach $15,000 after installation. Backup costs far less, but the review calls it very costly for what it does. Savings from shifting power use to cheaper hours of the day are minimal. The scheduling tools are basic, and there is almost no usage logging.
BioLite promises a 30-minute install with no electrician. The reviewer, comfortable with a drill, found it took much longer. The fridge sat in an alcove with little working room. BioLite suggests a second person to lift the batteries, but no one could fit in the space.
The mounting template also left too little room on the right side, where the outlets are. The reviewer had to take the brackets down and redo them a few inches over. Some of the included wall anchors would not grip, so the reviewer used their own.
This suits people who worry about spoiled food in outages and do not want a whole-house system. Expect to lift heavy batteries and plan the spot carefully. The review says the unit is reasonably portable and could help with other needs in a pinch. The product is on the cusp of launching.
Backup by BioLite can keep a fridge running for far less than a whole-house battery, but plan for a heavy, fiddly install and a high price.
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