Currently, Load shedding has become a part of our daily lives. The most effective solution to alleviate this suffering is IPS, or Instant Power Supply. It not only provides power to fans or lights in homes, offices, or businesses when the power goes out, but also protects sensitive devices like computers, TVs, and routers from voltage fluctuations.
However, in our country's market, IPS full set machine from various popular brands, including Luminous, Hemko, Rahim Afroz, and Su-kam, are available. Which one is right for you? How many VA (VA) IPS should you buy? How many ampere-hours (AH) batteries are required with it? Now, we will discuss all these issues in detail.
Measurements you need to know
- VA / Volt-Ampere: The maximum load that IPS can handle simultaneously is measured in VA. This refers to the power of the IPS machine.
- Watt: The amount of electricity consumed to operate fans, lights, TVs, and computers in a home or office is measured in watts. The wattage of an IPS is usually 60-80% less than the VA rating. For example, a 1000 VA IPS can handle a load of 600-800 watts. This is also called the power factor.
- Ampere-Hour: This refers to the capacity of the IPS battery. The duration for which the battery can provide backup depends on the ampere-hour capacity. Therefore, the higher the AH of the IPS battery, the more backup time you will get.
Steps to determine your IPS and Battery needs
Step-1: Calculate Your Required Load
The most important thing before buying an IPS is to list what you will run with the IPS in your home, office, or business, and calculate the total watts.
Estimated watts of some common devices
- Ceiling fan 70-80 Watt
- Table fan 50-60 Watt
- LED light 10-15 Watt
- Tube light 30-40 Watt
- CRT TV 100-120 Watt
- LED/LCD TV 50-80 Watt
- Computer (desktop) 150-250 Watt
- Router 5-10 Watt
Now let's calculate the load of the IPS -
You want to run 3 ceiling fans, 4 LED lights, and 1 TV in your home. Then the total load will be
= ( 3 ceiling fans x 80 Watts ) + ( 4 LED lights x 15 Watts ) + ( 1 TV x 80 Watts )
= ( 240 + 60 + 80 ) Watts
= 380 Watts
Step-2: Choose the right IPS (VA) and Battery (AH)
After calculating the load, you need to know about two things-
1. When buying an IPS, it is better to buy an IPS with a capacity of at least 25% more than your total load. For example, according to the above example, the total load to provide power backup for your home is 380 watts. Then the power of the IPS machine should be 380 watts / 0.8 (average power factor) = 475 VA. So, it would be wise to buy a 600 or 800 VA IPS for your home.
2. How long you want the backup will mainly depend on the AH of the IPS battery. So let's find out how you can calculate the approximate backup time using a simple formula -
Backup time (in hours) ≈ [ {(Battery AH×Battery Voltage V) / Total Load (Watts)} ×Battery Efficiency ]
However, in the case of backup time calculation, the battery voltage is usually assumed to be 12 volts, and the battery efficiency is 0.8.
For example, if you buy a 130 AH battery, you will get backup:
[ { ( 130 x 12 ) / 380 } x 0.8 = 3.2 hours.
Again, if you buy a 200 AH battery, you will get backup:
[ { ( 200 x 12 ) / 380 } x 0.8 = 5 hours.
So, buy an IPS battery by calculating the backup time according to your needs.
Common IPS Packages
400 VA IPS
If you have 1-2 fans, 2-3 lights, and a router in your small house/flat, 400 VA IPS is best for using them together. It is capable of taking a load of approximately 150-200 watts. A 65 AH capacity IPS battery is required to operate 400 VA IPS.
600 VA IPS
You can use 600 VA IPS to provide power backup in medium-sized houses, especially 2-3 fans, 3-4 lights, 1 TV, and a computer together. IPS of this capacity is capable of taking a load of 300-450 watts. A 90 AH battery is very effective for 600 VA IPS.
800 VA IPS
You can use 800 VA IPS to run 4-5 fans, 5-6 lights, 1 TV, and 1 computer in a large home/small office. It can take a load of up to 500-700 watts. A 130 AH battery is used for 800 VA IPS.
1000 VA IPS
This is an ideal choice to run 4-5 fans, 5-7 lights, a large LED TV, a desktop computer, and a router together. For long backup, a 12-volt battery of 165 AH to 200 AH is usually used with it. 1000VA IPS is capable of taking a load of 700 to 800 watts.
1500 VA IPS
This is suitable for running almost all the lights, fans, multiple computers, printers, and other equipment in a large home or office. Its load capacity is 1000 to 1200 watts. A small submersible water pump (0.5 horsepower) can be run with a 1500 VA IPS, but it will depend on the model and wattage of the IPS. 1500VA IPS system usually uses two 12-volt batteries (total 24 volts). It can provide long-term backup by connecting two batteries of 165 AH or 200 AH capacity.
2000 VA IPS
This is an effective IPS for a heavy-duty solution. It can run almost all devices in a small office, shop, or home, such as 8-10 fans, 10-12 lights, 3-4 computers, and CCTV cameras. 2000VA IPS can take a load of about 1500 to 1600 watts. It is also possible to run a 1-ton AC or a small refrigerator of inverter technology with it, but before buying, you must talk to the manufacturing company or local distributor to be sure. This system also requires two (24 volts), in some cases three (36 volts) batteries.
However, remember that an AC, refrigerator, microwave oven, water motor, or iron machine should not be run with a normal IPS. These require a very high-power and pure sine wave inverter system.
Battery Care and Maintenance
- The lifeblood of the IPS system is the battery. If taken care of properly, an IPS battery can provide good service for at least 4-5 years.
- In the case of tubular batteries, check the water level of the battery every 2-3 months. If the level drops below, then use only distilled water.
- Always keep the battery terminals clean. Because dirt or carbon buildup weakens the connection.
- Do not allow the battery to be overcharged or completely discharged. To prevent such problems, modern IPSs have an auto-cut-off system.
- Keep the IPS and battery in a place where air can circulate easily.
Most Frequently Asked Questions About IPS and IPS Batteries
How many VA IPS are enough for a normal home?
For a normal home, especially for 2-3 fans, 3-4 lights, 1 TV, 600 VA to 800 VA IPS is enough. However, you should calculate your total load (watts) before buying. You can easily calculate your required load by following "Step-1" on our blog.
What is the difference between Pure Sine Wave and Modified/Square Wave IPS?
The electricity obtained from Pure Sine Wave IPS is the same as the power line of our home. It is completely safe for sensitive devices like fans, computers, and TVs. It does not make any noise when the fan rotates. On the other hand, although Square Wave IPS is cheaper, it reduces the speed of the fan, creates humming noise, and can damage electronic devices in the long run. So if you have a high budget, you should always buy Pure Sine Wave IPS.
Which battery is better for IPS - Tubular or flat plate?
Tubular batteries are undoubtedly the best for IPS. Although their price is slightly higher than flat plate batteries, they last for 4-5 years or more, provide more backup, and are relatively low in maintenance.
How long can a 200 AH IPS battery provide backup?
The backup time depends on your load. If you run a 400-watt load, a 200 AH battery can provide about 5 hours of backup. If the load is low, the backup time will be even longer.
Can a refrigerator or AC be run with IPS?
No, high-power electrical devices like refrigerators, ACs, water motors, or microwave ovens cannot be run with a normal IPS. Their compressors require a lot of power when they start, which a normal IPS cannot provide. These devices require a special type of high-power inverter system.
What is the average lifespan of an IPS battery?
The average lifespan varies depending on the type of battery and maintenance. A good quality tubular battery usually lasts for 4 to 6 years if properly cared for. Regularly checking the water level and keeping the terminals clean will increase the battery life.
Does IPS increase your electricity bill?
IPS mainly uses electricity to charge the battery, which is added to your monthly electricity bill. However, this cost is usually small compared to the benefits it provides during load shedding. Modern and advanced IPS consumes relatively less electricity.
Finally, it can be said that choosing the right IPS and battery is not rocket science. The main thing is that you need to understand the power backup requirements of your home, office, or business. First, calculate your total load (watts), then determine how long you want the backup. Based on this, choose the right VA IPS and ampere-hour battery. This blog will help you make the right decision and free you from the worries of load shedding.
This article has been posted on: July 31, 2025
