There’s a unique kind of heartache that only a DIY electronics enthusiast or a maker can truly understand. It’s the feeling of watching hours, sometimes days, of meticulous work on a Raspberry Pi or Jetson Nano project vanish in an instant. For me, it was a long-running data logging script on a Raspberry Pi 4, dutifully monitoring environmental conditions in my workshop. The Pi was connected to several sensors, writing data to an SSD every minute. Then, a brief, almost imperceptible power flicker—the lights dimmed for a second—was all it took. The Pi rebooted abruptly, the SSD file system corrupted, and a week’s worth of precious data was gone. This isn’t just an inconvenience; for projects acting as home servers, security monitors, or the brains of a mobile robot, an unexpected shutdown can mean failure, data loss, or worse. This is precisely the critical gap that specialized power solutions are designed to fill, and why we were so eager to get our hands on the Waveshare UPS Module 5V 5A.
- Onboard 5V regulator, up to 5A continuous output current, more sufficient power source for Raspberry Pi and Jetson Nano. Uninterruptible power supply module 3S.
- Supports charging and power output at the same time, 3S * & 5V 5A output. If external power supply is unavailable, keeps the system running without any trouble.
What to Consider Before Buying a Project-Level Uninterruptible Power Supply
An Uninterruptible Power Supply for a DIY project is more than just a battery pack; it’s a key solution for ensuring operational continuity and data integrity. Unlike their larger, desktop-oriented cousins that power PCs and servers, these compact modules are designed for deep integration. They provide a seamless transition from mains to battery power, preventing reboots during brownouts or blackouts. The main benefits are twofold: first, they protect your sensitive single-board computers from the file system corruption that often accompanies a sudden power loss. Second, they enable your projects to run autonomously for extended periods, a critical feature for mobile robotics, remote sensing stations, or any application where tethered power isn’t an option. It’s the component that elevates a project from a fragile prototype to a robust, reliable device.
The ideal customer for this type of product is someone with a power-hungry project who cannot afford unexpected downtime. Think Raspberry Pi 5 users running NVMe drives and active cooling, Jetson Nano developers working on AI applications, or builders of complex mobile robots. These users need the high current output (5A in this case) to satisfy peak power demands while valuing the intelligent features like I2C monitoring for graceful shutdowns. Conversely, this module might be overkill for those with very simple, low-power projects, like a basic LED controller or a simple sensor node running on an Arduino. For them, a less complex power bank solution might suffice. It’s also not suitable for beginners who expect a plug-and-play experience, as it requires a certain level of technical comfort, especially given the documentation issues we’ll discuss later.
Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:
- Dimensions & Space: These modules are designed to be integrated into custom enclosures or attached directly to a single-board computer. You must verify the module’s footprint and height (especially with batteries installed) to ensure it fits within your project’s physical constraints. The Waveshare module has a specific layout for three 18650 batteries, which dictates its overall size.
- Capacity/Performance: The key spec here is the output: 5V at 5A is a significant amount of power, capable of handling the most demanding single-board computers and their peripherals. Also, consider the battery capacity you’ll be using (e.g., 3400mAh 18650 cells), as this will directly determine the runtime. The ability to charge and discharge simultaneously is a non-negotiable feature for a true UPS.
- Materials & Durability: Look at the quality of the PCB, the connectors, and the included mounting hardware. As we discovered, the choice of materials can impact the assembly process. While the core electronics on the Waveshare UPS Module 5V 5A are solid, we found some of the peripheral components, like the plastic standoffs, to be a point of weakness compared to the industry-standard brass.
- Ease of Use & Maintenance: This is about more than just plugging it in. How good is the documentation? Are software libraries available for features like I2C monitoring? Are necessary cables included? Long-term care involves monitoring the health of your 18650 Li-Ion cells, as their performance will degrade over hundreds of charge cycles.
This detailed consideration ensures you select a power solution that not only works but enhances the reliability and capability of your project for years to come.
While the Waveshare UPS Module 5V 5A is an excellent choice for its specific niche, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition in the broader market. For a comprehensive look at all the top models, from compact modules to full-sized desktop units, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:
Our Complete Guide to the Best Uninterruptible Power Supplies for Home and Project Use
- Apc Back-UPS essential series provides battery backup and surge Protection ideal for your home and home office
- Note: This model is not compatible with the DXP6800 and DXP8800 series.
- 950VA / 520W Backup Battery Supply
First Impressions: A Potent Board with Some Puzzling Omissions
Unboxing the Waveshare UPS Module 5V 5A reveals a dense, well-laid-out circuit board that immediately feels like a serious piece of kit. The battery holders for the three 18650 cells are sturdy, and the primary power connectors are clearly labelled. The board is packed with components, from the 5V regulator to the protection circuitry, all speaking to its rich feature set. However, the initial positive impression was quickly tempered by what wasn’t in the box. There was no documentation whatsoever—not even a small card directing us to a website or wiki page. For a product with I2C capabilities and multiple pin headers, this is a significant oversight, especially for those less experienced. We also noted the immediate absence of I2C or multi-function header connection wires, meaning you’ll need to supply your own. More disappointingly, the included standoffs are made of a soft, slightly bent plastic instead of the typical brass. This made alignment during assembly a bit tricky, a small but frustrating detail that detracts from an otherwise premium-feeling product. It’s a powerful core device let down by its supporting accessories, a theme we’d see recur during our testing. You can see its full feature set and the included accessories online before you buy.
Key Benefits
- Powerful 5V 5A continuous output handles demanding devices like the Raspberry Pi 5.
- Simultaneous charging and power output for true uninterruptible operation.
- I2C bus communication allows for advanced, real-time battery monitoring.
- Comprehensive safety features including over-charge, over-discharge, and short-circuit protection.
Potential Drawbacks
- Complete lack of included documentation or instructions, requiring users to find the online wiki.
- Included 12V 2A power supply can be insufficient for power-hungry setups, causing undervoltage warnings.
- Does not include necessary I2C connection wires; standoffs are cheap plastic, not brass.
A Deep Dive into the Waveshare UPS Module 5V 5A’s Performance
A spec sheet can only tell you so much. To truly understand a component like this, you have to integrate it into a project and push it to its limits. We paired the Waveshare UPS Module 5V 5A with our most demanding single-board computer setup: a Raspberry Pi 5 equipped with an NVMe SSD, an official active cooler, a 7-inch touchscreen display, and a USB keyboard/mouse dongle. This is a configuration that can easily overwhelm lesser power supplies, making it the perfect crucible for our tests.
Unleashing the 5V 5A Powerhouse: Real-World Performance
The headline feature of this module is its ability to deliver a stable 5V at a continuous 5A. This is not just a number; it’s the key to unlocking the full potential of modern single-board computers. The Raspberry Pi 5, for example, can draw significantly more current than its predecessors, and when peripherals are added, a standard 3A supply can quickly become a bottleneck, leading to throttling and instability. Our first test was to see if the module lived up to its promise. Initially, using the included 12V 2A wall adapter to power the UPS, we ran into an immediate issue. While the Pi 5 booted, we received the dreaded “under power” warning, and performance was limited. This confirmed the findings of other users who reported the same problem. The included adapter simply doesn’t provide enough wattage to simultaneously charge the batteries and power a fully loaded Pi 5 under heavy load.
However, this is not a failing of the UPS module itself, but rather its bundled accessory. Following the advice of another user, we swapped the included adapter for a more robust 12.6V 2.5A power supply. The difference was night and day. The undervoltage warnings vanished completely. We ran stress tests, compiled code, and streamed 4K video simultaneously, and the Waveshare UPS Module 5V 5A delivered a rock-solid 5V rail without breaking a sweat. In our runtime test using three 3400mAh 18650 batteries, we unplugged the main adapter and let the system run. It powered our entire demanding setup for just over 1 hour and 40 minutes before we initiated a graceful shutdown, a very impressive result that provides more than enough time to survive most power outages or for a mobile robot to return to its charging dock.
Setup and Integration: A Double-Edged Sword
This is where the experience with the Waveshare module becomes complex. On one hand, the physical integration is straightforward. The board provides multiple output options, including a USB-A port, a DC jack, and exposed solder pads, giving you immense flexibility in how you connect your project. We found this variety to be a significant advantage, allowing us to power the Pi 5 and the display from different outputs simultaneously. On the other hand, the out-of-box experience is, frankly, poor. The complete lack of documentation in the package is a critical failure. For an expert, finding the Waveshare wiki online is a minor annoyance. For a beginner, it’s a brick wall. This is an unforced error that could be solved with a simple QR code printed on a slip of paper.
The issues continue with the accessories. The flimsy, slightly warped plastic standoffs made mounting the board feel less secure than it should. We ended up replacing them with standard brass standoffs from our parts bin for peace of mind. Furthermore, the absence of a simple 4-pin JST-PH cable for the I2C connection feels like an unnecessary cost-cutting measure. This powerful monitoring feature is one of the module’s main selling points, and forcing the user to source their own cable to use it is frustrating. It creates a barrier to entry for one of a feature that really sets it apart. Once you overcome these initial hurdles, however, the module’s design proves to be very capable. The layout is logical, and the available connection points are more than sufficient for even complex projects.
Intelligent Power Management and Safety Features
Once we sourced a cable and connected the I2C interface to our Raspberry Pi 5, we unlocked the module’s true intelligence. Waveshare provides sample code on their wiki, which we adapted into a small Python script. This allowed us to query the module directly from the Pi’s command line, retrieving real-time data on battery voltage, current draw, and calculated power. This is a game-changing feature. It allows you to build sophisticated power management logic into your application. For example, you could program your Pi to monitor the battery percentage and, upon reaching a critical level (e.g., 10%), automatically save all work, close applications, and trigger a clean shutdown, preventing any data loss. This is the difference between a simple battery backup and a true uninterruptible power supply system.
Beneath the surface, the module incorporates a suite of protection circuits that are essential when working with lithium-ion batteries. These include over-charge protection to prevent damage to the cells, over-discharge protection to stop them from draining to dangerously low voltages, and over-current/short-circuit protection to safeguard both the module and your connected devices. It even includes an equalizing charge feature, which helps to balance the voltage across the three cells, extending their lifespan and improving overall safety. These built-in safety mechanisms provide significant peace of mind, allowing you to focus on your project’s software without constantly worrying about the power hardware.
What Other Users Are Saying
Our findings were largely echoed by the broader community of users. The general sentiment is that the **Waveshare UPS Module 5V 5A** is a fundamentally great piece of hardware let down by its supporting elements. One user perfectly captured this, stating, “The idea of this uninterruptible power supply is great, the execution is pretty good, but not 5 star.” This review specifically called out the lack of documentation and the cheap plastic standoffs, which directly matched our own experience.
On the positive side, users who pushed past these initial hurdles were extremely satisfied with the core performance. As one individual noted, it “Does exactly what I need, provides 5v5a to a pi 5 running several accessories,” and they achieved an impressive runtime of 1 hour and 30 minutes with a similar setup to our own. This confirms that the module absolutely delivers on its power output promises. The most critical piece of shared feedback, however, came from a user who had purchased several units and discovered the issue with the bundled power supply. Their advice to replace the “12v 2A wall wort” with a “12.6v 2.5A powersupply” which “100% solved the problem” of undervoltage warnings is invaluable and something we were able to confirm in our own testing.
How Does the Waveshare UPS Module 5V 5A Compare to the Alternatives?
It’s important to understand that the **Waveshare UPS Module 5V 5A** exists in a very different category from traditional desktop UPS systems. While these larger units are great, if your project demands an integrated solution that fits inside an enclosure, the Waveshare UPS Module 5V 5A remains the specialized choice. However, if your goal is simply to provide backup power to a desk-bound project, server, or computer, then these larger, more conventional alternatives from APC are worth considering.
1. APC BR1500GI UPS 1500VA
- The APC Back-UPS PRO Series offers guaranteed battery backup and surge protection for high performance computer systems, networks, external storage devices, game consoles and other electronics
- This UPS Backup includes premium features such as Automatic Voltage Regulation (AVR), an LCD display, energy saving functionality, and PowerChute management software
The APC BR1500GI is a full-featured, tower-style UPS designed for small office or home office use. Its 1500VA/865W capacity is orders of magnitude greater than the Waveshare module, capable of powering a desktop PC, monitor, and networking equipment through an outage. It offers multiple standard IEC-C13 outlets, Automatic Voltage Regulation (AVR) to correct voltage sags and swells without using the battery, and a USB interface for management via APC’s PowerChute software. This is the right choice for someone looking to protect a complete workstation or a home server setup, not for integrating into a compact DIY project. It’s a different tool for a different job entirely.
2. APC Back UPS PRO BR1600SI 1600VA UPS
- The APC Back-UPS PRO Series offers guaranteed battery backup and surge protection for high performance computer systems, networks, external storage devices, game consoles and other electronics.
- LCD interface - Quick and easy to read, provides information about the utility and UPS conditions
Similar to the BR1500GI, the BR1600SI is another powerful tower UPS from APC, offering an even higher capacity of 1600VA/960W. Its key distinguishing feature is the pure sine wave power output on battery, which provides a higher quality of power that is more compatible with sensitive electronics and devices with active PFC power supplies. It also features a clear LCD interface for at-a-glance status monitoring. A user would choose this over the Waveshare module if their primary goal is to protect high-end computer equipment, network-attached storage (NAS), or other sensitive electronics that require clean power and extended runtime for a safe shutdown.
3. APC Easy UPS BVX1200LI-GR 1200VA UPS
- 1200 VA / 650 W emergency power supply
- 4 Schuko surge protected outputs with battery backup
The APC Easy UPS BVX1200LI-GR represents a more budget-friendly, consumer-grade option. It provides 1200VA/650W of backup power, AVR, and surge protection through standard Schuko outlets. While it lacks the advanced software monitoring and LCD screen of the Pro series, it offers reliable, basic battery backup for a home PC or router. This is a practical solution for someone who simply wants to prevent their internet from dropping or their PC from shutting down during a brief power cut. Compared to the Waveshare module, it’s a plug-and-play appliance versus an integrated component, targeting a completely different user and application.
Our Final Verdict: A Powerful Module for the Prepared Maker
After extensive testing, our conclusion on the **Waveshare UPS Module 5V 5A** is clear: it is a technically excellent and immensely powerful component that is unfortunately let down by a poor out-of-the-box user experience. The board’s ability to deliver a stable 5V at 5A is undeniable, making it one of the few compact solutions capable of powering a fully-loaded Raspberry Pi 5 without compromise. The I2C monitoring and comprehensive safety features are top-tier, providing the tools for building truly robust and reliable projects. However, the path to unlocking this potential is unnecessarily difficult.
We strongly recommend this module to intermediate and advanced electronics hobbyists who are comfortable navigating online wikis for documentation, have a soldering iron ready for any custom connections, and are willing to potentially invest in a better 12.6V power adapter to get the most out of it. For these users, its power and features are well worth the initial setup hurdles. Beginners, however, should be cautious. The lack of instructions and included cables could lead to a frustrating and discouraging experience. If you fit the former category and need uncompromising power for your next ambitious project, the **Waveshare UPS Module 5V 5A** is a fantastic choice that will not disappoint. You can check the latest price and availability to power up your project today.
Last update on 2025-11-12 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API