Internet down during a power outage? The trick to stay connected
A sudden power outage is always frustrating, especially when your home internet cuts out. Many believe that an expensive Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) is necessary, but the solution is much simpler and cheaper. Your router consumes very little energy, and with a bit of resourcefulness, you can keep it running for hours using a standard portable charger.
A sudden power outage is always frustrating, especially when your home internet cuts out and you remain cut off from the world. Most of us think that to solve this problem we must equip ourselves with an expensive and cumbersome Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) device, but the truth is that the solution is much simpler and more affordable. Your router consumes much less energy than you think, and with a little resourcefulness, you can keep it running for hours with a simple portable charger that you likely already have at home.
How does a small charger keep a router running?
The share of energy that routers consume is minimal compared to other household devices. For example, eero 6+ routers consume on average only about 4.5 watts, while eero 7 and 7 Pro models consume about 7 watts. This means that a standard portable charger, designed for phones or tablets and providing a power output of 30 to 45 watts, offers more than enough power to operate your router. A battery with a capacity of 10,000 mAh can theoretically provide about 37 watt-hours, which is enough for more than eight hours of continuous operation.
For this trick to work, your portable charger must support the appropriate charging protocol (USB-C Power Delivery) and the voltage and current levels required by the router. For example, an INIU 45W portable charger fits exactly the requirements of eero routers, which use a USB-C connection and expect a voltage of 5 or 9 volts at a current of 3 amps. If your router does not use a USB-C connection, you will need to equip yourself with a special adapter cable (USB-C PD to DC) to connect it to the portable battery.
The trap that could leave you disconnected
Before you breathe a sigh of relief, it is important to remember one critical obstacle: your router is only part of the chain. If your internet comes through a separate modem or fiber optic adapter (ONT) from your service provider, these devices must also receive power for the connection to work. It is recommended to check all devices in your connection path in advance and ensure that you can back them up as well. Fortunately, these devices usually do not consume much energy and can be powered in a similar way.
Ultimately, a simple portable charger is not a full replacement for an automatic UPS system, as you will have to connect it manually during a power outage. However, as a cheap and accessible emergency solution, it is a great method that will save you hundreds of shekels and keep you connected to the world exactly when you need it most.
