Battery backup for power recliners question

[jo-jo]

We just bought a sofa with several seats having power recliners. I see battery packs that you charge and this way you can put your furniture anywhere. But every so often you have to recharge the battery. Our sofa will be near the wall and outlet, but am concerned if we lose power. Can we use something like a computer backup thing? Plug chairs cords into that and that into wall?

 

[fla4fun]

We just bought a sofa with several seats having power recliners. I see battery packs that you charge and this way you can put your furniture anywhere. But every so often you have to recharge the battery. Our sofa will be near the wall and outlet, but am concerned if we lose power. Can we use something like a computer backup thing? Plug chairs cords into that and that into wall?

Yes. We have an electric recliner chair and after getting stuck in it when the power went out, I bought a battery backup by APC that would normally be used for office electronics. It provides enough power to put the recliner back into the upright position. You may have to read up on your sofa to see how much power is required to operate it to ensure you get a device that will work.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

Us, too. First time the power went out with the recliner up, I realized I had forgotten how difficult it might be to get out of the chair!! We now have a surge protect/battery backup attached, and it works great. We have it plugged into the wall, though, so I'm not sure how it might work if you're away from an outlet - but I bet it could work with the occasional recharge session.

 

[hertamaniac]

It will come down to sizing the UPS based on max power (watts) and capacity (Ah). I presume the voltage will be a direct match. I would look at the sofa's electrical requirements and then marry that up to the UPS. Clearly, oversizing the UPS would be desirable due to losses from self-discharge, etc.

 

[fla4fun]

Another option, if you are wanting to use the reclining function during a power outage, might be the portable power backup systems such as Jackery (one of many brands). They can be charged in several ways, including plugging into the wall and even solar, and can be used to operate or charge other devices during a power outage. They would be more expensive but more versatile. Again, you need to know how much power is required to operate your sofa so you purchase a system that can handle it.

 

[jo-jo]

Yes. We have an electric recliner chair and after getting stuck in it when the power went out, I bought a battery backup by APC that would normally be used for office electronics. It provides enough power to put the recliner back into the upright position. You may have to read up on your sofa to see how much power is required to operate it to ensure you get a device that will work.

That's all I want. If leg part is up, just to get it back to normal.

 

[jo-jo]

Us, too. First time the power went out with the recliner up, I realized I had forgotten how difficult it might be to get out of the chair!! We now have a surge protect/battery backup attached, and it works great. We have it plugged into the wall, though, so I'm not sure how it might work if you're away from an outlet - but I bet it could work with the occasional recharge session.

I want a set up like that. We are close to wall and outlet. I don't want a portable unit that you need to recharge every so often.

 

[jo-jo]

It will come down to sizing the UPS based on max power (watts) and capacity (Ah). I presume the voltage will be a direct match. I would look at the sofa's electrical requirements and then marry that up to the UPS. Clearly, oversizing the UPS would be desirable due to losses from self-discharge, etc.

Is there a battery back up for dummies book? Our sofa will have three power recliners. Any idea where I would find the power needs? We don't have the sofa yet. Hoping to have the power back up before the sofa gets here, so it's all set when they leave.

 

[_19disnA]

Unless you lose power a lot where you live, the extra expense of some sort of UPS seems like a waste of money. Does the power recliner have any sort of manual way to raise the chair if you lose power?

 

[barkley]

We just bought a sofa with several seats having power recliners. I see battery packs that you charge and this way you can put your furniture anywhere. But every so often you have to recharge the battery. Our sofa will be near the wall and outlet, but am concerned if we lose power. Can we use something like a computer backup thing? Plug chairs cords into that and that into wall?

we have several of the 'computer backup' types attached to our computers as well as our dish tv hopper (the less than 30 seconds it takes for our whole house generator to kick-on when we lose power is just long enough to cause the dish to reset and have to rebuild the whole memory/schedualer). the thing to know about these is the minute you lose power they detect the loss and engage on to power whatever is plugged into them with the idea being (esp. with a computer) that you can safely shut something down (or find an alternate power source). when they engage they emit a beeping sound that (in our case) is loud enough to wake us. the beeping stops when our power is restored (via utilities or our generator) but absent turning it off manually I could see it driving someone up a wall having to listen to it if were not placed in an easily accessible place (so kind of hiding it behind a sofa against a wall means having to crawl around in the dark unless you are good with hearing it beep for however long it runs).

 

[sam_gordon]

Is there a battery back up for dummies book? Our sofa will have three power recliners. Any idea where I would find the power needs? We don't have the sofa yet. Hoping to have the power back up before the sofa gets here, so it's all set when they leave.

If you want it in place before the furniture is delivered, I suggest reaching out to wherever you purchased the sofa from and asking for the user manual or a "spec" sheet. That should tell you how much power is needed. Once it's delivered, you should be able to look at the power block (the block that has the cord that plugs into the wall) and it should have "Input" and "Output" numbers. You want the INPUT numbers (should show voltage and watts).

Depending on kind of UPS you get, it might require regular testing and/or regular battery replacement.

 

[jo-jo]

Unless you lose power a lot where you live, the extra expense of some sort of UPS seems like a waste of money. Does the power recliner have any sort of manual way to raise the chair if you lose power?

No override that I know of. 20 years ago, I'd agree with you. But getting older and less we can handle. I see it as an insurance policy. We've paid car insurance for 50 years, only needed it one time and that was for a fender. If we lose power while DH is reclining, there is so way he can get up. I can flop about like a fish , but DH would be stuck. Or he would get hurt trying to get up.

 

[jo-jo]

we have several of the 'computer backup' types attached to our computers as well as our dish tv hopper (the less than 30 seconds it takes for our whole house generator to kick-on when we lose power is just long enough to cause the dish to reset and have to rebuild the whole memory/schedualer). the thing to know about these is the minute you lose power they detect the loss and engage on to power whatever is plugged into them with the idea being (esp. with a computer) that you can safely shut something down (or find an alternate power source). when they engage they emit a beeping sound that (in our case) is loud enough to wake us. the beeping stops when our power is restored (via utilities or our generator) but absent turning it off manually I could see it driving someone up a wall having to listen to it if were not placed in an easily accessible place (so kind of hiding it behind a sofa against a wall means having to crawl around in the dark unless you are good with hearing it beep for however long it runs).

Yes, we have one set up by tv, one by computers and one by (don't know what's it called) the verizon box thing. When we lose power, we still have internet for an hour or two. We are aware of the beeping and rather deal with that, than be stuck in an recliner.

I just didn't know if they have enough power for recliner motors.

 

[hertamaniac]

Is there a battery back up for dummies book? Our sofa will have three power recliners. Any idea where I would find the power needs? We don't have the sofa yet. Hoping to have the power back up before the sofa gets here, so it's all set when they leave.

If you have the name and model number of the soda, I would think that the owner's manual could be found online? From there, I would suspect the electrical motor specification(s) are listed.

 

[fla4fun]

Unless you lose power a lot where you live, the extra expense of some sort of UPS seems like a waste of money. Does the power recliner have any sort of manual way to raise the chair if you lose power?

Mine doesn’t. It only has two buttons, one to recline and one to raise it back to upright. I was fully reclined when the power went out and couldn’t get out of the chair without tipping it and possibly injuring myself. We don’t lose power often, but when we do it can take an hour (or two or three) for it to come back on. I have had mine plugged onto a battery backup now for about twelve years and only needed it twice. But for those two occasions I was very glad to have it.

 

[hertamaniac]

Is there a battery back up for dummies book? Our sofa will have three power recliners. Any idea where I would find the power needs? We don't have the sofa yet. Hoping to have the power back up before the sofa gets here, so it's all set when they leave.

I would check the capacity of the UPS. It makes little sense to have the power (watts) that meets the requirement and runs out of capacity halfway through the cycle. Again, I would aim for a UPS that exceeds the power and Ah requirements (say ~20%). Self-discharge on a battery meeting a minimum requirement doesn't provide enough buffer for many applications (like yours).

 

[jo-jo]

I would check the capacity of the UPS. It makes little sense to have the power (watts) that meets the requirement and runs out of capacity halfway through the cycle. Again, I would aim for a UPS that exceeds the power and Ah requirements (say ~20%). Self-discharge on a battery meeting a minimum requirement doesn't provide enough buffer for many applications (like yours).

I agree. I just don't know what the needs are yet.

 

[hertamaniac]

I agree. I just don't know what the needs are yet.

You'll find them. I retired from the battery industry and still do some consulting work.

 

[Nora03]

Our power recliners have batteries (9 volt), and believe me I’ve used them when the power goes out. However one use drains the battery and then it needs to be changed. Maybe your new sofa has that? Whenever we have a thunderstorm I keep the recliner in an upright position.

 

[jo-jo]

Our power recliners have batteries (9 volt), and believe me I’ve used them when the power goes out. However one use drains the battery and then it needs to be changed. Maybe your new sofa has that? Whenever we have a thunderstorm I keep the recliner in an upright position.

I don't believe so. I wouldn't think a little 9 volt would have enough power, that's amazing. Yeah, if we had bad weather, I would do the same, but sometimes the power just goes out.