Power backup for power cuts?
Discussion
Anyone able to advise on a suitable power back up unit please?
My street gets regular power cuts which is annoying. I’ve been told you can get UPS rechargeable power backup devices with 3 pin plug sockets so you can plug things in to power them, that would be useful for our router so we still have internet, and charging phones etc.
I’ve never heard of them before, if they exist what type would I need to give say 6hrs of power for a router, landline phone and charging mobile phones?
My street gets regular power cuts which is annoying. I’ve been told you can get UPS rechargeable power backup devices with 3 pin plug sockets so you can plug things in to power them, that would be useful for our router so we still have internet, and charging phones etc.
I’ve never heard of them before, if they exist what type would I need to give say 6hrs of power for a router, landline phone and charging mobile phones?
Called a UPS, how long they will give you backup power for is dependent on how much you load them.
Chances are your mobile phone has long enough to survive most grid downtime but losing computer equipment requiring intervention is a pain
Example: https://www.amazon.co.uk/APC-BACK-UPS-BE850G2-UK-U...
FWIW i pull about 200W from the above and it gives me ~10 minutes. Long enough to get the machine filesystems down.
If it was just supporting a router i suspect I'd get a lot more.
Chances are your mobile phone has long enough to survive most grid downtime but losing computer equipment requiring intervention is a pain
Example: https://www.amazon.co.uk/APC-BACK-UPS-BE850G2-UK-U...
FWIW i pull about 200W from the above and it gives me ~10 minutes. Long enough to get the machine filesystems down.
If it was just supporting a router i suspect I'd get a lot more.
Edited by gavsdavs on Tuesday 25th July 16:45
I have that unit, bought it in Feb '21, currently have five things plugged in - router, DECT phone base and, err, three others - should probably get under the desk and work out what.
The shape of the various DC adapters mean the chances of being able to use all eight sockets is slim.
When I initially tested it it gave a run time of about an hour, if you want 6 hours it's going to cost quite a bit more I would think.
The shape of the various DC adapters mean the chances of being able to use all eight sockets is slim.
When I initially tested it it gave a run time of about an hour, if you want 6 hours it's going to cost quite a bit more I would think.
Thanks, I’d need it to have UK 3 pin pug sockets, I notice some have a different type, like a computer has in the back of it.
Can you use them kind of like an extension lead whereby it’s permanently plugged in and keeping its battery charged with devices plugged into it, then if there’s a power cut it’s internal battery will continue to power those devices for a while? Is that how they work?
Can you use them kind of like an extension lead whereby it’s permanently plugged in and keeping its battery charged with devices plugged into it, then if there’s a power cut it’s internal battery will continue to power those devices for a while? Is that how they work?
Edited by The Gauge on Tuesday 25th July 18:28
The Gauge said:
Can you use them kind of like an extension lead whereby it’s permanently plugged in and keeping its battery charged with devices plugged into it, then if there’s a power cut it’s internal battery will continue to power those devices for a while? Is that how they work?
Yep thats pretty much how it works.I have one that is connected to my Internet router and a network switch. If the power goes down (and it has during an urgent work call) I am on a laptop that has 4-5 hrs of battery, and so that does not need to be protected. Not sure exactly how long the UPS will last, but networking kit does not use a lot of power and so I have a few hours I expect.
Burrow01 said:
Yep thats pretty much how it works.
I have one that is connected to my Internet router and a network switch. If the power goes down (and it has during an urgent work call) I am on a laptop that has 4-5 hrs of battery, and so that does not need to be protected. Not sure exactly how long the UPS will last, but networking kit does not use a lot of power and so I have a few hours I expect.
Sounds good. Think I’d really only need the broadband router connected to it, and maybe a usb port to power a small camping type light?I have one that is connected to my Internet router and a network switch. If the power goes down (and it has during an urgent work call) I am on a laptop that has 4-5 hrs of battery, and so that does not need to be protected. Not sure exactly how long the UPS will last, but networking kit does not use a lot of power and so I have a few hours I expect.
If automatic switch over is not a requirement then just go simple if its just router then it will almost certainly be 12v / 1A. (Check the PSU.)
Then make up a fly lead and get yourself a small 12v battery and when the power goes off you can plug it in. Something like this
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Yuasa-NP7-12-S65-12V-Rech...
Would probably run your average wifi router for several hours.
Or if you do need it to auto switch you could DIY your own UPS something like this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcIL6Z_msD4
Then make up a fly lead and get yourself a small 12v battery and when the power goes off you can plug it in. Something like this
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Yuasa-NP7-12-S65-12V-Rech...
Would probably run your average wifi router for several hours.
Or if you do need it to auto switch you could DIY your own UPS something like this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcIL6Z_msD4
I have the APC unit linked above. 4 of the 3 pin plugs are UPS the other 4 are just surge protected and it has usb A and usb c ports.
Have the router, wifi, Poe switch on the ups, other less critic al stuff on the surge.
Lasts long enough to cope with short power cuts and gives time to shut stuff down correctly if the cut is longer.
Have the router, wifi, Poe switch on the ups, other less critic al stuff on the surge.
Lasts long enough to cope with short power cuts and gives time to shut stuff down correctly if the cut is longer.
As an example, one of the UPS's linked to above shows these runtime figures..
Now I have no idea how many watts typical devices use, but If my Vodafone router is 20 Watts then it wouldn't last long? If it was permanently connected for auto changeover and we had a power cut during the night, by the time I woke up and realised then its battery would already be dead. Maybe I would have to keep it charged, but only plug my router in as and when needed during the power cut?
I woke up at 7am to power cut the other day, I was supposed to be working from home but as I couldn't connect my laptop to the internet I had to drive to the office. By 9:30am power had been restored, so I went back home to continue working. Had I had a UPS I could maybe have stayed at home.
Now I have no idea how many watts typical devices use, but If my Vodafone router is 20 Watts then it wouldn't last long? If it was permanently connected for auto changeover and we had a power cut during the night, by the time I woke up and realised then its battery would already be dead. Maybe I would have to keep it charged, but only plug my router in as and when needed during the power cut?
I woke up at 7am to power cut the other day, I was supposed to be working from home but as I couldn't connect my laptop to the internet I had to drive to the office. By 9:30am power had been restored, so I went back home to continue working. Had I had a UPS I could maybe have stayed at home.
Vodafone router = 4 watts max (it fluctuates between 3.5 and 4w)
I have :
APC Back-UPS 700 Watt / 1400 VA, 230V, AVR, IEC Sockets - BX1400UI
It runs my PC, ultrawide OLED, router, two drive raid nas (synology), USB hub, wifi router, and VDSL modem - and will run for an estimated 30 mins on a power cut. With just the router it would be hours and hours and hours. If not all day.
I have :
APC Back-UPS 700 Watt / 1400 VA, 230V, AVR, IEC Sockets - BX1400UI
It runs my PC, ultrawide OLED, router, two drive raid nas (synology), USB hub, wifi router, and VDSL modem - and will run for an estimated 30 mins on a power cut. With just the router it would be hours and hours and hours. If not all day.
Edited by Griffith4ever on Wednesday 26th July 09:02
I have an APC 1400 unit, cost around £300 5 years ago and has two 12v alarm batteries in it.
Powers the broadband router and the phone base station. As I WFH the laptop has its own battery so doesn't need to be on the UPS.
Best thing about it is that I can put the power off without the wife getting upset because she loses the internet, the transition to the UPS is seamless.
Mine has C13 outlets so I have a 13A extension with a C13 plug on it.
Edit - I did have to change the batteries last year, they don't last for ever - about £30.
Powers the broadband router and the phone base station. As I WFH the laptop has its own battery so doesn't need to be on the UPS.
Best thing about it is that I can put the power off without the wife getting upset because she loses the internet, the transition to the UPS is seamless.
Mine has C13 outlets so I have a 13A extension with a C13 plug on it.
Edit - I did have to change the batteries last year, they don't last for ever - about £30.
Edited by IJWS15 on Wednesday 26th July 09:07
camel_landy said:
Yeh these guys are good.o/p if you can get an energy meter and measure the load of all your gadgets - give ups trader a call explaining the run time and they will put something together. They sell refurbs, so cost is competitive.
like most things, dont buy the smallest unit that will just about do - oversize it a bit if anything.
The Gauge said:
Can you use them kind of like an extension lead whereby it’s permanently plugged in and keeping its battery charged with devices plugged into it, then if there’s a power cut it’s internal battery will continue to power those devices for a while? Is that how they work?
That's pretty much the definition of a UPS Edited by The Gauge on Tuesday 25th July 18:28
Would something like this be suitable: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09Q5DJV71
It should have plenty of power for your requirements.
It should have plenty of power for your requirements.
The Gauge said:
Sounds good. Think I’d really only need the broadband router connected to it, and maybe a usb port to power a small camping type light?
I'd suggest you split up your requirements rather than try & run everything from one solution.Phone charging - look at power banks like these:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=power+bank&crid=1...
There are loads to choose from & will be useful in far more scenarios than plugging your charger in to a UPS. Some are even big enough to put charge into a laptop.
Light - get an LED torch or lantern - again there are plenty to choose from. If you have a favourite brand of battery tool you could get a light for it & you'll have hours of run time from a nice big battery. Some even have USB outlets:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=ryobi+light&crid=...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/P743-Battery-Hipoke-Porta...
Internet connection: can you run off your phone working as a hotspot? Even 4G is enough for most uses but 5G would be better. If your phone won't hotspot you could also look at a 4G mobile router: this one even has a 6 hour run time from the internal battery:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Huawei-E5577-4G-Low-Cost-...
If you have to use your router don't plug into a UPS, just do it when the power fails. If the power goes down at 3am you'll have no juice when you start in the morning.
bunchofkeys said:
Is there a max size for the standard single phase house?
Just looking around and the big UPS units of 5-10K are three phase only?
yes the bigger ones tend to be three phase, but i think i've seen APC ones around the 8000kva mark as i nearly bought one a few years ago.Just looking around and the big UPS units of 5-10K are three phase only?
Instead I've gone for Victron ESS system and 19kwh of batteries - which runs the whole house and i have a small 2000va just for my computer gear in addition.
edit; search youtube: "eliot victron" to see how it works.
Edited by eliot on Wednesday 26th July 11:14
Gassing Station | Computers, Gadgets & Stuff | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff