Gizzu Mini UPS test and teardown (

[@winstonstrongarm8929]

You answered every question I had about this unit, in like 10min, made my day. Give this man more subs!

[@True_Blood_89]

Other people need to learn from you. This is how you test a product. Fabulous job man, thanks for this.

[@zanekidson-mt3ni]

I bought this ups a week ago and im very happy. Working great, connected my fiber box and wifi modem and after 2 hours only dropped to 75%. Great product!

[@firozbasser3743]

Good review, thank you. It's great that you actually got "behind the scenes" and checked out the quality of the circuit board, batteries etc.

[@Beauty-Amy]

marsriva mini dc ups

[@brettmartin9730]

i just purchased this unit after watching your review....great job...keep up the good work

[@krandall5918]

Great job on this video and how descriptive you were, appeciate it!

[@SeanBZA]

Nice unit, looks like it might survive well. Battery pack easy to replace, and the 4S protection board is easy to get as well, and cheap. Nice to have good tight grip on those barrel jacks as well, rather than the sloppy fit you get on a lot of them.

[@quantrarysmall5344]

What a thorough breakdown of this device!

[@zalatos]

thanks was looking for something like this

[@Dingocreek]

Nice detailed video. Please make more of them. I would like to know how the Gizzu inverter that I saw at Builders Warehouse would hold up. They recommend on the box that you should not leave it permanently plugged in on power, which sort of defeats the purpose of these units.

[@TechBench]

Thank you! I'd love to do more of these, but I can only do them with the kit I have. The Mini UPS was one our company evaluated for use for all the company employees, so I was the one tested it. Totally agreed: why would you want to unplug something that is used as power-standby?

[@Techno_Bear]

Dankie Baie, ek gaan een van die kry vir ons loadshedding probleem XD

[@henrybekker8785]

Thanks. Much appreciated.

[@ScottieNiven]

I have a no name 12v UPS like this for my ONT and its been perfectly reliable over the last year or so, I would recommend anyone with power issues to get one

[@V3nOmST]

Hi great review well in detail , oh nice multimeter I use my fluke 725

[@ganeryhyperion8386]

that whould be nice to use in conjuction with the normal lead acid usp from apc or eaton or cyberpower , and use on a router or rasberry pi ups server

[@Jandredlr]

Nice review! Thank you

[@TechBench]

Thank you! More to come along these lines...

[@tonyhall3003]

16V8 when charged, 14V8 low voltage.

[@skoenman007]

Very nice review … thanks

[@bradneedham7123]

Awesome review! Thank you

[@TechBench]

Happy to see that it is of some assistance!

[@davidswart7028]

Great video :) Very informative and thorough. Subscribed ;)

[@TechBench]

Good to hear, thanks!

[@amandavanniekerk2302]

Can you please assist me. Your explanation very good. My one will not go on, says i must reboot. Where do I reboot the mini 8800mah please?

[@netherza]

I have the POE version of this device, it has one less barrel 12/9/5volt output though. Im guessing here very few people used the POE so the replaced it with the barrel output.

[@thestig270486]

Good review! I have a question around the wattage. Does each of the DC outputs give out 36 watts or is it 36 watts combined? I calculated it as 36 watt per 12v 3a output? I have a 12v 2.5a router and a 12v 1a ONT, will this UPS then be sufficient as that will total to a 42 watt power draw from both outputs?

[@TechBench]

It's 36W combined over both ports. That said, I'd be very surprised if your router and ONT actually draw that much. I suspect those are probably just peak values and that idle running power draw is much less. In the worst case you may need two Gizzu's (one for ONT and one for router) to get you through those 4-hour stretches. Alternatively look at the UltraLAN DC UPS (Takealot and other places).

[@jacogreeff4644]

Very interesting! Thanks

[@PvR7786]

Hi Tiaan I have been using the same model for about 10 months, which worked flawlessly, but it is not getting through stage 6 loadshedding. Would love to see a video on tearing down the battery pack to replace the cells with higher capacity cells.

[@TechBench]

Hm, it could be that the load is rather heavy, but could it be that the batteries are just not getting a full charge in time for the next cycle?

[@johnnorthcote4753]

@@TechBench what time is needed to fully recharge after it has fully discharged?

[@TechBench]

@@johnnorthcote4753 That is a good question - I did not charge it from empty. However, it took about 2 hrs from being 50% discharged to go to 100%. I'd venture a guess that it will charge fully from empty to 100% in 4 to 5 hrs.

[@johnnorthcote4753]

@@TechBench Thanks. With the load-shedding coming thick & fast that could be a reason for not recharging fully in time.

[@MarinusWillemstijn]

Mine got hit by lightning. So used your video to learn how to open it up and checked the board. Batteries are still fine but board not. Wonder i fthe battery management circuit also provides for charging? Can then try and use batteries for other 12V devices.

[@TechBench]

The BMS typically does not handle the charging voltage - just the balancing and cut-out (when either full, or close to empty). The nominal charge voltage of a lithium cell is usually around 4.2 volts, to I would expect the pack, with four cells, to charge up to 16.8 volts. I would thus expect the mains switching regulator to be generating that 16.8V charging voltage. You'd be out of luck in trying to power 12V devices without some sort of 12V regulation. A cheapish LM7812 should be able to handle that task fairly well, but you'd still need the higher voltage to charge the pack, unfortunately.

[@rashaadhartley]

Hi there, I need your help finding out more about mounting this thing on a wall. I have the necessary tools etc, just need to know how far apart should I drill haha. It's coming in the week, would like to try and get the drilling done tomorrow

[@TechBench]

Good to be prepared! However, mine's installed already and I do not want to take it down again. Good luck!

[@Drwezloka]

Nice review. Thanks

[@tinashemaphela4908]

What do I do if the output led lights stop switching on even if the ups has been switched on. What could the problem be. The only thing that turns on are the battery percentage led lights

[@TechBench]

Hm, interesting failure mode. Are both output circuits not working? If that is the case then it would seem something has gone wrong between the battery circuit and the output stages. Was there perhaps some sort of short-circuit on any of the outputs?

[@AubreyPienaar]

Hi, hope you can assist as I'm fixing one of these units and require your help just by providing me with a few resistor values/markings, I'm unable to read the markings on top the SMD as it burnt off. The resistors are R13, R14, R15 and R16 they are all sitting in parallel next to the big AC capacitor which you also mentioned in your video not being secured. Can't find a schematic anywhere online. Any help will be greatly appreciated

[@TechBench]

Send me a note via email (in the channel contact description) and I'll help you out.

[@DerekScotney]

Hi Aubrey. Did you manage to fix the UPS? I have a unit with the exact same resistors burnt off as well as the fuse blown. Were there any other damaged components? Thanks, Derek

[@chippiza]

Hi. Could you tell me if I am damaging my batteries by keeping it charged whilst using it when loadshedding hits? So, it's permanently charging. One person said that it damages the batteries but I have heard differently.

[@TechBench]

The battery pack has a built-in cut-off circuit that will stop charging the batteries when they are full. It's part of the battery BMS. The design of the device is to be a UPS - you can keep it plugged in all the time.

[@jacquesmostert4115]

Please assist...How do this, 36W 32Wh 8800mAh compares to the bigger one, the 100w 46Wh 14400mAh Will the bigger devices last longer on an extended load shedding ? I have 4 devices - 5v and 12v (room 1) and 5v and 12v (room 2) in two different locations...please help. Thank you

[@TechBench]

Indeed, the bigger variants will last longer. 46Wh means you can draw 46W for one hour (or about 11W for a period of four hours). 11W/12V=0.9A, which should be good enough to power an ONT and Wifi router. Of course, it depends on the specific models and what their current draw is.

[@Galatians-2verse20]

Can I overcharge it or do I unplug it when it's fully charged. Thanks for the review.

[@TechBench]

It will not over-charge if you keep it plugged in - the charge current towards the battery pack starts at around 800mA and then it falls to zero when full. The battery pack itself also has a tiny protection board inside it that will protect the batteries from over-charge (and over-discharge). It is designed as a full UPS, in other words you can power your devices with it while there is mains power and it will automatically switch to battery power when the mains power fails.

[@Galatians-2verse20]

@@TechBench OK that puts me at ease👍It was the only thing I was unsure about.Thanks so much for your prompt reply. Much appreciated 👍 God bless 🙏

[@thobashneenaidoo428]

How would one keep this device connected to the router and wifi box continously as the cable as such on the fibre box they are more like eternet cable . The two cable things this ups comes with have that rounded ends

[@sibusisomazibuko3305]

Hi Tech Bench nice review, mine is not charging what could be the cause to this?

[@TechBench]

Is this a recent development or was it like that out of the box? Not charging can be caused by a long list of possible issues, including: - blown onboard fuse - blown primary stage - faulty or worn battery pack - faulty charging board on the battery pack Each of the above would require a technical person to verify or test. If you have a multimeter, you could check the voltage being sent to the battery pack to see if the fault is with the battery or with the charging circuit.

[@zenzelenhlapo5418]

Good day. I recently bought this device (for my router and ONT) and as a first time user of such a devise, I would like to know if it is advisible to keep the the device plugged in 24/7? given the current state of loadshedding

[@TechBench]

Yes, it is designed to be plugged in all the time while powering your electronics, then switch over to battery when the power fails.

[@zenzelenhlapo5418]

Thank you for the response, last question. Will the constant power not affect the batteries?

[@TechBench]

@@zenzelenhlapo5418 Charging a lithium cell all the time without cycling it will reduce its lifetime, but in an environment where there are fairly frequent power failures, it should not be an issue.

[@zenzelenhlapo5418]

@@TechBench thank you very much and keep up the good work.

[@wernerkruger5998]

Thanks!

[@stanceworks7995]

would love if someone can do a video on how toconnect cctv camera dvr to this device- i see peoples reviews on takealot and they have said they connected their cctv but I dont know to do it as it's not just a straight forward plug in and work thing

[@TechBench]

Most of the cheaper CCTV systems work on 12V (for the recorder/display unit) as well as for the cameras. However, I would not recommend power a CCTV system from this unit - it really does not have enough capacity to power a CCTV system with multiple cameras.

[@tiaanprins2903]

Nice video. Do you know whether the original battery pack comes with a BMS (battery management system) or not ? I need to replace my batteries.

[@TechBench]

Yes, the pack has an on-board BMS. If you need to replace the batteries, you'll need to cut open the pack and salvage the BMS circuit. Or try to find a complete 14.8V lithium pack somewhere. A quick search shows that there are many options out there.

[@garethrooza9717]

Could one replace the fitted battery with a beefier heavy Duty one? something like a garage motor battery

[@TechBench]

Unfortunately not, for two reasons: 1. the charger would not be able to charge such a large capacity battery and 2. the charging voltage is not correct.

[@True_Blood_89]

I'd like to know, when setting up the UPS do I keep it plugged in at all times with my router connected, or do I only connect this UPS once the power goes out? It's lithium batteries so I'm not sure if it having a constant charge will affect the longevity of the batteries?

[@TechBench]

This is an often-asked question. My view is that you can keep it plugged in all the time since the Lithium battery pack has its own protection circuit. That means they should not be over-charged and the device can be used as a true UPS with auto-switchover.

[@True_Blood_89]

@@TechBench Hey I have another question. Would I be able to run a 6v device on this UPS? I've noticed the gizzu UPS only has options for 9v, 12v, 24 and 48v. My wife uses a beuer BY 40 breast pump which eats through batteries. It requires a 6v 1.0a 100 to 240VAC. The only issue appears to be the 6v

[@TechBench]

@@True_Blood_89 The model I reviewed also has a 5V output, which _might_ be just enough to run the pump. If your model does not have anything below 9V then you're out of luck, unfortunately.

[@zaheerebrahim4713]

Is there a way to configure this UPS to auto power on when it has been completely drained? I have couple others and they power on when the power returns although the one i have does not....i have to manually power it up

[@TechBench]

Unfortunately not that I am aware of, Zaheer.

[@darkara6004]

Hi there. We bought this UPS but it does not charge to 100% full power and the lights goes on and off automatically during loadshedding. What might be the problem?

[@TechBench]

That's a good question. My best guess is that the devices you are powering might be drawing too much current, leaving not much left for the charging process.

[@stephencalvert4632]

When are you actually plugging it in and more

[@TechBench]

I keep mine plugged in 100% of the time and I run my router and wifi router from it permanently. When the utility power goes out, the internal battery takes over and runs my devices with relative ease over two to four hours.

[@nkitarawstorne9461]

Hi, can I leave my unit plugged into the mains permanently, or do I have to keep plugging and unplugging it?

[@MrKen18102]

You can leave it permanently plugged in, it has overcharge protection.

[@tshepolr5833]

Any idea if the 65 watt version is also as good? The price difference between the two seems to justify buying the 65 watt version to take advantage of the additional battery storage. (8800mAh vs 17600 mAh)

[@TechBench]

Considering the pedigree, yes, I would say it is just as good. I have not tested it though. What I have tested, if you're looking for something a bit bigger, is the UltraLAN micro UPS. It's a nice bit of kit and has the cool display as well. Recommended.

[@Beauty-Amy]

17600mAh mini dc ups

[@MalcolmJRussell]

Thanks - and a question... I have one of these and it runs flat in about 2 hours. Can I add a second and maybe even third series of batteries in parallel safely to double operating time?

[@TechBench]

The internal charger is likely not rated to charge such large loads. I would, instead, consider getting another unit and power your devices separately. Alternatively there are larger capacity versions out there. Have a look at the UltraLAN UPS for such cases.

[@BrennanBabb]

@@TechBench I have a Gizzu 2200mAh 14.8v, the fuse and a few components were fried by lightning. I want to do as above to parallel the battery to extend the life of another 8800mAh Gizzu. I know you say it will be a struggle to cope with the larger batteries. Would it not just charge slower?

[@TechBench]

@@BrennanBabb It would "just charge slower", yes. However, there are some other potential problems as well. For example, each pack has its own onboard BMS (battery management system) which balances charging between the cells. By connecting both packs in parallel, you are effectively connecting two BMSs in parallel. Behaviour might be unpredictable. However, if you _do_ want to give it a try, make sure both packs are fully charged so that their voltages are equal before connecting them together in parallel, else bad things will happen (such as rapid discharging from the one pack into the other pack). Do it in an area where you can contain a flammable battery ;-)

[@kakamas8]

Hi there!! What are the cells called?? And do you know of a place in Joburg where I can get them?? I’ve got two of these and one just decided to work anymore, the other one is still on full battery two hours into loadshedding..

[@TechBench]

The individual cells are 18650 lithium cells (available in many places, try Communica, Rabtron or the Robotics.org.za store). But be aware that the pack itself has a control circuit inside the sleeve that acts as a balancer. Maybe measure the pack output first with a volt meter to make sure the issue is with the pack.

[@kakamas8]

@@TechBench thank you!! Nothing lights up when I plug it in either.. So not sure what’s going on..

[@kakamas8]

When I plug it into mains, that is..

[@TechBench]

@@kakamas8 oh dear ... sounds like the mains input supply might have blown. There is a PCB-based input fuse ... you have a DMM to check it with?

[@kakamas8]

@@TechBench I don’t have anything like that, it’s all Greek to me apart from taking it apart and replacing batteries.. Are you Joburg based, do you have an email address I can contact you on??

[@quentinradsma7616]

How long does it take to recharge to full?

[@TechBench]

That is a good question. The answer, as usual is, it depends. Specifically it depends on the load that you put on the device while charging. The more current that flows to your devices, the less current is available to charge the batteries. I'll be making a follow-up video soonish and will address your question.

[@quentinradsma7616]

@@TechBench i would want to know from flat. Because load shedding takes place so often that a lot of devices don't get time to full charge.

[@NotMysticZA]

How many volts would you recommend setting it to?

[@TechBench]

The output voltage would depend on the device you are trying to power. The _typical_ voltage for most fibre boxes and routers is 12V DC. However, some are 5V or 9V. To be safe, start with 5V and see if the router/fibre box starts up. If not, set it higher until you end up at 12V. Most of the devices have a sticker on the back saying what voltage they operate at (and if the center-pin is positive).

[@NotMysticZA]

@@TechBench thx so much👍🏼

[@benrulabuschagne1526]

Where do i get the connector converter

[@TechBench]

You mean those 5.5mm to 3.5mm converter jacks? They were just loose in the box of my test unit.

[@indrajitsarkar2372]

What is the price of this cell battery 11:00 which is installed in the UPS?

[@TechBench]

The individual cells are not that expensive, but pricing varies a lot depending on quality. If you can, try and use LG or Samsung cells. I've avoided using the (sometimes much cheaper) Chinese off-brand cells. Just google/amazon "18650 cell" and you should be presented with loads of options.

[@Gnarkill667]

@@TechBench any idea how long these batteries last before they need replacement?

[@TechBench]

@@Gnarkill667 Good question! Normal cycle-count of a good quality 18650 cell is around 1000-3000 times, depending on the quality of the BMS. So if you have one discharge cycle every day, you can probably reckon on a minimum of around 3 years before the cells start to go bad. Of course, if the BMS is not great and the cells are of cheap-ish quality, then their lifetime might be a lot less.

[@johnfrench4137]

Great, but how do I plug the damned thing into my router and modem?

[@TechBench]

Does your router and modem have a barrel-jack input that falls within the voltages the Gizzu can generate? If so, make sure both are center-pin positive and they operate on DC. The just select the correct voltage for each and plug the correct cable into the correct device.

[@johnfrench4137]

@@TechBench my router has a barrel pin DC jack, but 19V. My modem has a fixed line with adaptor from the power source. So I bought the wrong UPS. It was recommended on a neighbourhood group. I thought we all had similar modems, but clearly not the case.

[@depede384]

That dangerous mini ups than traditional ups.

[@rfourie2583]

Good evening, Can i please get a direct email to contact you regarding this UPS?

[@TechBench]

Check the _About_ tab