Is anyone running a battery backup for their internet modem?

[Jersey mike]

So as the topic says, I’m interested to see if anyone is using a battery backup.

I’ve been looking around but much of the info is in pretty technical jargon which I’m not too versed in.

We’ve been experiencing more frequent than normal power outages which seem to last from 45 minutes to about 4 hours.

What we have found is that the most inconvenient thing is no internet without turning our phones into hotspots.

I want to buy a battery backup to run just the modem for about 4 hours but trying to figure out which is best is the issue.

We use Xfinity/Comcast as our internet provider and are on the triple play, so our modem is capable of those functions.

If anyone has some input it would be appreciated.

Thanks

[scooperhsd]

YES ! I have a 750VA UPS with the following plugged into it
Router
2 Gigabit switches
2 ATA for VoIP phonelines / extensions
With this equipment on it, the display says it can hold for 300+ minutes (5 hours). Haven't tried that yet.

Down where the Google FIber router / ONT is
another UPS protecting that

AND at the Living Room Audio/Video rack
Hopper w/Sling
Fast ethernet switch
Bluray player
Amazon FireTV
OTA TV amplifier

The wife's work computer is also on a UPS (not supplied by the company - it's ours)

Our computers are laptop's, so they have their own builtin UPS.

The UPS on the Hopper is because the thing takes forever to reboot if there is a power blip that turns it off. The rest is just on surge protected outlets. I'm currently using an Ethernet over Powerline bridge between the Router and the Living room.

You can also use a 12V 120V invertor off your car battery , these will also run off the jump packs.

Edit - I lied about the size on my network equipment - it's an APC NS1000 - probably means 1000 VA - the mistake was unintentional.

[Serk]

Keep in mind you'll also need to make sure any other networking equipment is protected by a UPS as well (WiFI AP's, routers, network switches, etc) and of course the computers, monitors etc (Stand alone laptops being the exception.)

My needs are a bit different, but I have a pair of these protecting my core network infrastructure for the house:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FBK3QK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

(But that means 4 NAS devices, 2 server class computers running VMWare ESXi, several Ethernet switches, WiFi AP/Router etc...)

So, I use those, and would recommend them, but they'd honestly most likely be overkill for what you're looking for.

Another note - any of these the batteries will eventually fail and need to be replaced, I usually get 2-3 years myself before I need to replace them. Just something to keep in mind.

[carolinarider09]

Yes, after repeated power outages from my local town's power service, I purchased a battery backed power supply.  That was before I purchased the whole house generator.

Even with the whole house generator, the battery backup inverter power source is nice to have because the internet modem does not have to re-start due to a power outage. 

I also have a Monster Power HDP 1800 High Definition Powercenter.  The purpose of this device is to ensure that power to my audio and visual devices is conditioned to minimize potential power line related issues that might affect the electronics. 

My UPS is an APC Back-UPSTM BX1300/1500 G/G-CA, BN1350G.  It supplies power to my internet modem, my security camera system, and a couple of other small items. 

However, when I changed internet service providers, their new modem also had, as part of its support, a battery backup system.  So now the internet modem is backed up several ways. 

I have had three power outages this year and never lost internet service. 

My TV and Audio system's may go down but they will return in about five minutes after the generator kicks in.

One more thing, and the reason I have the power conditioner and also a main line surge suppressor on my incoming main power, after the last power outage, sometime during the outage or after power was restored, I had four or five breakers trip on the main panel. 

I don't believe it was generator related but...... what it could have been is that when the local power company re-established power, the made a small mistake and short one of the main lines to natural. 

This is why I have the power conditioner. 

[Robert]

Yes of course have a battery backup, on everything like Serk said. Sometimes depending on where your internet provider picks up power for transmission, your internet may still be up but the power down. But sometimes it hits the internet also, but a battery backup is always a good thing. I have one on the tv also since I hate watching a show and the power goes out and the box reboots and you missed the most important spot in the whole movie 

Like Serk I do have a couple of those along with a generator for longer outages. At work I have about 4 backups.

For the critical things like the computer and a few other things I hooked a circut that powers them with a Brick Wall Surge Protectors first then the battery backups. Most times the battery backups have surge protection but its not that good. Around here that seems to be a real problem. So I put this in the critical circut first and that makes sure that the voltage does not spike beyond what the UPS can handle.

Really got tired of replacing electronic equipment because of surge even though on a protector. Most dump excess power to ground and sometimes that is ok but it can spike the circuit even if grounded correctly.

https://www.brickwall.com/pages/the-worlds-best-surge-protectors

4 hours on battery back up for a modem is a pretty long time, make sure you size the UPS correctly and dont have to many things drawing current from it. Most battery backups are designed for shorter outages or to keep the power on till you can shut off the computer or what ever is hooked to it, not as a longer term solution. I would want the one Serk and I have and only put the modem and router on it and you should be good.

These are the ones I use

Back UPS PRO BR 1500VA, SineWave, 10 Outlets, 2 USB Charging Ports, AVR, LCD interface
https://www.apc.com/shop/us/en/products/Back-UPS-PRO-BR-1500VA-SineWave-10-Outlets-2-USB-Charging-Ports-AVR-LCD-interface/P-BR1500MS

[scooperhsd]

If you're lucky and take REAL good care of them, you MIGHT get more than 3 years out of a UPS battery.

For what you're wanting - I'd get a 750-1500 VA standby UPS  - probably looking at around $150-$200. You can get the Online versions, But unless you're running a small datacenter in your house (like Serk is) , they're probably overkill.

Don't even THINK about putting a Laser printer on an UPS ( well, maybe the surge protected ports only). The home deskjets could be put on one successfully.

[Robert]

If you're lucky and take REAL good care of them, you MIGHT get more than 3 years out of a UPS battery.

For what you're wanting - I'd get a 750-1500 VA standby UPS  - probably looking at around $150-$200. You can get the Online versions, But unless you're running a small datacenter in your house (like Serk is) , they're probably overkill.

Don't even THINK about putting a Laser printer on an UPS ( well, maybe the surge protected ports only). The home deskjets could be put on one successfully.

I replace the batteries on my backups about every 2 years, they are not that much money and easy to replace, and your spot on on the price, I think a few places are having sales on them now.

[RP#62]

I've got the next model down from the one Serk posted.  I've got it on the PC, the monitors, the NAS, the router and switches.  What I like is it talks to the NAS and the PC to let them know when its supplying power.  That way, they can be programmed to shut themselves down if on battery backup for more than a selected number of minutes.  The other thing is that it cleans up the power coming to those devices (I get a lot of fluxuations).

-RP

[vanavyman]

I have not had a need.  I work 100% from home now and am a Software Admin for a product called SAP.  Having a Generator to run all the plug in stuff has been enough for us.  But I have only lost power for over 24 hours once in last 5 years.  We might just be in a less storm central area even though we do get some outages from Hurricanes.  Like right now the power is out from this odd named storm going by our place in South Eastern Virginia.
Dan

[hubcapsc]

The hardwired part of my crappy home network consists of a wire running
into the house from the service drop into a DSL filter/splitter which feeds a
princess phone and the DSL modem.

When we lost power for four days recently I got Internet two different
ways...

One way: I plugged my iphone into my laptop with a USB cord and my
laptop thought it was plugged into an ethernet. The phone company
counts my bytes, though, so no videos... seems like this would be
great for people with lots of bytes on their data plans...

Another way: There's ways to use the powerful batteries on modern
power tools for AC power. I plugged my modem and router into
one of these and the house wireless came alive. I also used it
to plug in the teevee and watch gunsmoke  

Anywho... none of this is seamless failover, but works for me...

-Mike

[carolinarider09]

That DSL setup is exactly how mine use to be until the local COOP decided to supply fiber to all their substations for monitoring and control. 

Some bright guy said "Since we are running fiber anyway why not sell it to our customers"  So now I am on NECOP fiber. 

When I did the DSL install, I ran the phone line into a splitter under the house with a ground to prevent issues.  Good thing I did because there was an event that melted that ground protection device. 

Now, just have the land line for security reasons.  And of course the phone bill is $38 per month and $20 for actually service.  The rest are ad ons for various "projects".

[Robert]

But I have only lost power for over 24 hours once in last 5 years.  We might just be in a less storm central area even though we do get some outages from Hurricanes. 
Dan

Lucky you, one storm I had the power go out for 21 days.

[gordonv]

Yes, I've run a UPS for over 15 yrs that I got free from work. 1 tower is plugged in, I'm actually not sure if I have the internet model plugged in or not. Almost no power outages, and only last about 1-2 hrs when there is. More likely to have power repair, and they turn it off for up to 4 hours.

There is a nice youtube on modifying one, I watched. Teachers you a little on how they work, and where the biggest power consumption is, so you can try for longer life out of it. I was looking for a way to modify to Li-ion batteries instead, smaller, lighter, therefore able to add more battery and have a longer life.

[CoreyP]

I have two cyberpower UPS's. They have actually replaced the batteries in both under warranty. I used them more to control power surges, my main UPS has 370 incidents in the last 4 or 5 years now. That means it has kicked on to control power drops and spikes along with power outages. All my computer equipment is on the UPS along with my living room TV, stereo etc.  That's why I have two. The living room stuff is pretty expensive if you add it all up.

[Jersey mike]

Thanks for all the feedback, I appreciate the input.

We ended up losing power for 31 hours along with no internet or cable service, even our cellular service was goofy for about 24 hours. That storm packed a punch in our area. Over 1/3 of our town was out, about 15,000 homes.

Had the portable generator running and extension cord spaghetti running through the house. Luckily after the storm the what was pleasant, not too hot and humid. No A/C was tolerable and our neighbors had us over to use the pool.