Battery Backup For Any Router Or Modem

What you can learn about battery backup for any router? You may have considered, and possibly purchased, a battery backup for any computer. But what about your router, modem, hubs, and other network electronics? Here are some reasons why you should think about it.

What Is UPS – Battery Backup For Any Router

Although it’s commonly referred to as a battery backup. The type of product we’re looking at today is officially known as an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) (UPS). A surge protector is comparable to a UPS unit, however, they are not the same.

It’s half surge protector, half big battery that powers the gadgets plugged into it. In many ways a laptop’s battery powers the laptop even when it’s unplugged from the wall. When the power goes out, the UPS kicks in. Then your computer and linked devices will continue to work even if the lights are turned out.

Why Do You Need An UPS For Network Equipment

There are plenty of recommendations for installing a UPS on your computer. Especially if you’re conducting mission-critical work! You can also have pricey hardware to safeguard, but there’s less discussion about installing a UPS on other equipment.

Here are several reasons why you should consider adding a UPS to your home network closet. No meter whether it’s a full-fledged rack or just a few pieces of hardware on a basement shelf.

Expensive equipment deserves to be safeguarded. The PC receives all the attention when it comes to the kid-glove treatment. Your home network hardware and related components are likely worth quite a bit of money. This is true even if you haven’t given it any thought up to this point.

You’re looking at a few hundred dollars or more in hardware? Between the modem, router, and whatever extras you may have added to your setup like a network switch. Then other smart home gear add-ons like a Phillips Hue Hub for your smart lamps. Even if you have an excellent budget Wi-Fi router, replacing it isn’t cheap.

During blackouts and brownouts, the Internet remains operational. Sure, you could just put a high-quality surge protector on your network equipment. Then call it a day if you just want to keep your network equipment from getting fried. However, you’d be missing out on the primary advantage of using a UPS versus a surge protector. It will not only provide better protection. In most cases, it will also assist in keeping your internet running during brownouts and blackouts.

UPS Battery Backup For Router

Do you believe brownouts and power outages aren’t a problem where you live? You could be pleasantly surprised. If you had asked me if my neighborhood had power difficulties before I set up UPS units for all of my computers and network gear, I would have responded no. However, after years of working at a PC connected to a UPS, I can tell you that the amount of times there is a power outage (which you’ll detect by hearing the UPS battery circuit click on) is shockingly high.

Those minor variations can cause your internet connection to drop. Even if you don’t have internet access, the computer you’re using or the TV you’re watching Netflix on will continue to work. When you’re gaming or watching a show, this isn’t great.

I can stay online whether there’s a power outage in the form of a light brownout or the entire neighborhood goes dark because I have a UPS on both my PC and my modem and router. That’s because, unless a blackout reaches far beyond your neighborhood and lasts for an extended period, the internet will usually remain operational because of the precautions your ISP has in place to deal with such catastrophes.

How To Choose An UPS For Your Network Equipment

We go over the ins and outs of calculating power loads and UPS sizing needs in our guide on choosing a UPS for your PC. It’s worth a read if you’re curious about the more complex capabilities of UPS units or how to crunch the figures involved in choosing one.

But for now, let’s concentrate on the factors that are most important when choosing a UPS for your modem, router, and other connected devices. First, a word of caution about a type of UPS you should avoid.

“Mini UPS” can be omitted. Before we get into talking about the correct size UPS and making some recommendations, keep in mind that any device with a name like “Mini UPS” or something like that should be avoided. They resemble a portable battery pack for your phone, but they come with a slew of 12v and USB connectors.

Adapter wires for your modem, router, and other low-voltage gear are plugged into the tiny UPS. The micro UPS, in turn, provides power via its 12v power line. As well as a small internal battery as a backup
However, they’re of poor quality and could cause a fire hazard. We can’t suggest them when there are better-quality alternatives available at similar or slightly higher prices. Spend the same price on a UPS from a business with a 20-year track record in the industry. Do that instead of $50-80 on a no-name gadget that could destroy your modem or catch fire.

For the safest experience, stick with UPS designs from reputable firms like APC or CyberPower that have AC ports where you may plug your devices’ manufacturer-supplied chargers.

Size And Voltage

Your UPS should be sized according to your requirements. What it boils down to is how much electricity your equipment consumes and how long you want it to stay on when the power goes off. The power capacity of UPS units is measured in Volt-Amperes (VA), with a greater value denoting a longer operating period (a 425VA model will be exhausted long before a 1500VA model, for instance).

Power consumption is minimal with a simple home network consisting of a modem, a router/Wi-Fi combination unit, and possibly one or two minor add-ons such as a smart home hub.

So small that leaving them on 24 hours a day, seven days a week will scarcely cost you anything. When all of the gadgets are added together, they probably use less energy than a single incandescent bulb.
With that in mind, a smaller UPS unit can do, especially if your primary purpose is to just smooth out brownout dips. Something like this APC 425A UPS will do the trick. This 600VA APC up is a good option if you want a little longer runtime and a built-in USB charging connector. This will help you to keep your phone charged during power outages.

If you have a more complicated configuration with many pieces of network hardware, such as a Power over Ethernet (PoE) switch, and/or a Network Attached Storage (NAS) device, such as a Synology NAS, you’ll need to raise the UPS unit’s size correspondingly. I had to increase up to a 1500VA UPS to achieve an hour of uptime with my configuration.

How To Manage

Even if you don’t expect a long period of downtime, if you have a NAS in your network closet, you’ll benefit from a larger UPS unit. The upgrade enables USB-based communication between the NAS and the UPS unit. It’s allowing the UPS unit to gracefully shut down the NAS when the battery runs out. Data integrity necessitates a graceful shutdown. To understand more about the feature, consult the documentation for your specific NAS.

It’s a no-brainer to go big with the UPS unit if you keep your equipment at your home office or similarly close to your PC. Connecting your modem and router to a UPS that you already have for your computer adds very little overhead. You’ll also benefit from the UPS for network equipment even if you’re not using your PC.

Similarly, if your modem and router are in the living room near your TV, which is a very common layout, you can install something similar to benefit from the UPS for your network gear. While also protecting your TV and gaming console. Any of our recommended models, on the other hand, will be more than enough to smooth out brownouts and maintain internet connectivity. Uptime in the face of brief blackouts. The best action that you can take is to own a universal battery backup for any router, modem, PC, cell phone, etc.