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One of the most annoying aspects of a sudden power cut is your router going offline, and sitting around in the dark without any internet is no good. Thankfully, there is an inexpensive device you may buy to ensure that never happens again.
What Is a Router UPS?
A router UPS (uninterrupted power supply) is exactly what it sounds like. It’s a battery that sits between your router’s power adaptor and the router itself and powers it in case of an outage. They’re not going to keep your router running for days on end but will power it long enough for you to not miss the internet when the rest of your house isn’t getting power—around four to five hours on average.
Router UPSes work just likeregular PC UPSesin the sense that they keep charging and hold their charge while you’re getting power. But in the case of a power cut, they switch to battery backup to keep your router, repeater, extender, mesh access point, or any connected device running.
There are a lot of different kinds of router UPSes, but you don’t necessarily have to fall for the marketing here. Based on what kind of power your router needs, even a simple power bank with the right conversion adaptor can pull double-duty as a router power backup.
They also come in a few different forms. Generally speaking, you’ll find two major types of router UPSes:
Theoptimal router location in your housemay require you to choose one over the other. Other than the form factor, they’re practically identical, so you don’t need to think too hard when choosing one.
What Else Can You Power With Them?
These UPSes are essentially power banks with different output ports. As long as a device supports the power range the UPS operates in, you may practically power just about anything with it.
That said, it doesn’t make much sense to be powering any other device with your router’s UPS. It’s intended to be tucked between your router and its power supply and stay there, so you won’t be moving it around a lot. However, if you need to power another small device or charge your phone in a power cut, these UPSes can pull double duty.
How to Buy the Right UPS for Your Router
The easiest way to figure out what router UPS you need is to look at the power adaptor your router came with. It’ll give you all the information you need, including the operating voltage and amperage of your router, as well as the dimensions of the barrel jack.
After that, you just need to find a UPS that fits the bill, and you’re good to go. There’s not much point in overpaying for a router UPS simply because of a brand name, as they all work the same. However, a well-made, high-quality router UPS that costs a few bucks more might last longer and would likely be better in terms of the quality of the battery inside and how many charge cycles it can take.
you’re able to pick them up for around $20 on Amazon, so they’re not a very big expense—one that’ll pay itself out the first time your router keeps running through a power outage. If you’re looking for recommendations, you can pick up thispowerbank-style UPSor thisadapter-styleUPSon Amazon, but your local electronics store should also have some available.
Overall, a router UPS is a small one-time purchase that can save you in a pinch. It’s a simple device you plug into your router and forget about until it comes in handy one day, and that’s a pretty good argument for having one.
