Is a 450VA UPS enough for a modem / router?

[iFrogMac]

Hey all,
Just had my 950VA UPS alert me last night with the solid tone and green / red flashing LED that it's battery was dead, or soon to be, or other related issue. So today I ordered a new one delivery from store that's a 450VA. I'm pretty sure this will be plenty to back up the modem / router. The Printer and scanner aren't on battery, they are on surge only.

I had gotten the 950va several years ago, just for extra run time that probably at this point wouldn't matter just for these two devices.

Both units are APC. Anyway I asked this as a question because I just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing anything here in terms of getting a new one ASAP just to avoid further problems / annoyances.

 

[microchip]

Yes

 

[Tech9]

it's battery was dead, or soon to be

You could replace the battery only. Popular UPS models have aftermarket battery options. Most UPS devices sold in stores use the same size/type of batteries manufactured by someone else. For my APC CS-series UPS devices aftermarket batteries are around $30-40.

I just wanted to make sure

It depends on how long you need this UPS to power your equipment in case of power outage. In my area power outages are not common and single APC CS 500VA holds my entire system for >15min. It's modem, gateway, 2x switches, 4x access points, NAS with 2x drives.

 

[iFrogMac]

Yes

Thanks much. They did have higher wattage units, but those were in the the range of the one I have on my computer. That just sounded like overkill to keep the internet up during short power outages. Also, is it worth getting a new battery for the 950VA? I usually just replace the whole ups because when looking up batteries in the past. there wasn't a big difference between a battery and new unit. So I decided to just replace the whole unit so I'd have all new parts, even though that's probably not necessary . By the way the 950VA is running off the battery this morning, but there isn't a load on it. Last night when it started squealing and flashing it had the load on it, but the power never went out, or blinked. So not sure what triggered it. I just felt it was just safer to replace at this point.

 

[Tech9]

battery was dead, or soon to be, or other related issue

Why don't you check the manual to make sure what your UPS is actually telling you?

 

[degrub]

If the battery is sealed lead acid, replacement is a reasonable thing to do. Typically, they will last an average of 3 years. i'm on the third set in one of my units.
Same for Lithium Iron Phosphate.
If it is a regular Lithium battery, then i would replace the entire unit.
Either way, make sure you recycle the battery/unit.

 

[iFrogMac]

@Tech9 Just did a load test on the other UPS that I replaced. As soon as I plugged a lamp into it (LED bulb) it instantly beeped and shut off. So yeah, the battery is gone. In my circumstances it was quicker to get a new UPS over a battery. So. If you think it's cost effective to replace the battery in the old one. I can still do that as well. Now that I don't have to rely on it while waiting for the battery to come, or finding one.. The other issue I ran into, and it was in my other post. When I looked up batteries for my cyber power that failed about a year ago, the battery was $100 for a genuine CyberPower battery and the unit was about $150 to $200 for the whole ups and I am not sure how safe it is to trust third party batteries. So just got a new UPS in that case too. That was the one backing up the computer.

Edited to correct brand. Accidentally referenced APC when talking about a Cyberpower UPS.

 

[iFrogMac]

If the battery is sealed lead acid, replacement is a reasonable thing to do. Typically, they will last an average of 3 years. i'm on the third set in one of my units.
Same for Lithium Iron Phosphate.
If it is a regular Lithium battery, then i would replace the entire unit.
Either way, make sure you recycle the battery/unit.

Right, the typical lifespan of batteries is 3 to 5 years, and the unit that acted up is in that age range. As Mentioned, not being able to drive, or knowing where a Batteries+ is around here. Made using Walmart's delivery from store easiest and fasted here. Since while typically power outages don't happen a whole lot here, they're unpredictable. So at least now I have one that's dependable now, and I can still replace the battery in the other one that has a larger capacity now that I don't have to depend on it.

 

[Tech9]

the battery was $100 for a genuine CyberPower battery

Note the type and you'll find compatible batteries much cheaper. I have 4x UPS units at home 350/500VA with the same type/size 12V/7Ah batteries. I replace them on a schedule every 2 years, never wait until they start having issues. Last time in 2024 it was around $120 for 4x batteries.

 

[Tech9]

Made using Walmart's delivery

Something for you to think about until the new UPS unit arrives:

J

Thread 'UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) Adversely Affects WiFi Performance?'

Oct 1, 2024

I recently purchased a BQ16 Pro to patch up (horribly) poor WiFi speed in my sleeping quarters. I plugged it into the 120 V wall outlet typical of here in the USA. Everything including WiFi ran great. Then I decided to shore it up with a UPS so if power went out my ASUS network would not shut down. I did not get a pure sine wave version so it is specifically what's called a simulated sine wave (non-pure sine wave) UPS. Low and behold, TERRIBLE WiFi speed!

Ethernet does not seem affected but WiFi becomes terrible!!! (See attached speed test screenshot).

I think I finally found the...

• jzchen
• Replies: 51
• Forum: ASUS Wi-Fi

 

[degrub]

Note the type and you'll find compatible batteries much cheaper. I have 4x UPS units at home 350/500VA with the same type/size 12V/7Ah batteries. I replace them on a schedule every 2 years, never wait until they start having issues. Last time in 2024 it was around $120 for 4x batteries.

When buying generic replacements, one caution - verify the form factor or dimensions match the OEM batteries ! Slightly smaller is usually ok for fit. Any dimension slightly larger may not fit in the case.

 

[Tech9]

verify the form factor or dimensions

Yes, verified with 3-4 battery replacements already in my case.

 

[CaptainSTX]

Hey all,
Just had my 950VA UPS alert me last night with the solid tone and green / red flashing LED that it's battery was dead, or soon to be, or other related issue. So today I ordered a new one delivery from store that's a 450VA. I'm pretty sure this will be plenty to back up the modem / router. The Printer and scanner aren't on battery, they are on surge only.

I had gotten the 950va several years ago, just for extra run time that probably at this point wouldn't matter just for these two devices.

Both units are APC. Anyway I asked this as a question because I just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing anything here in terms of getting a new one ASAP just to avoid further problems / annoyances.

In the future you might consider purchasing a small backup battery system. I use a Bluetti 3AH and it works in UPS mode and with its 268 Wh battery it can provide 600 watts of power from its LiFePO4 battery and the power from its internal inverter is very clean and pure sine wave. The battery can be charged using AC, car battery or solar.

While the initial cost of this unit is higher than a standard UPS the battery can be recharged many more times than a standard lead acid battery. Also during extended power outages at night when I don't want to run my generator I can plug a floor fan into the unit and get a decent night's sleep in Florida with the AC off.

 

[iFrogMac]

Something for you to think about until the new UPS unit arrives:

J

Thread 'UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) Adversely Affects WiFi Performance?'

Oct 1, 2024

I recently purchased a BQ16 Pro to patch up (horribly) poor WiFi speed in my sleeping quarters. I plugged it into the 120 V wall outlet typical of here in the USA. Everything including WiFi ran great. Then I decided to shore it up with a UPS so if power went out my ASUS network would not shut down. I did not get a pure sine wave version so it is specifically what's called a simulated sine wave (non-pure sine wave) UPS. Low and behold, TERRIBLE WiFi speed!

Ethernet does not seem affected but WiFi becomes terrible!!! (See attached speed test screenshot).

I think I finally found the...

• jzchen
• Replies: 51
• Forum: ASUS Wi-Fi

I'll keep that thread in mind. I never had wifi speed issues since using the other UPS. Will have to check on my phone now that the new one is in place.

 

[Tech9]

the battery can be recharged many more times

UPS batteries in most cases don't have many recharge cycles. What kills the batteries is age. Your situation in Florida is different and location specific. The requirements for power backup systems are much higher. In my location the UPS units have few short power disruption events per year.

 

[iFrogMac]

In the future you might consider purchasing a small backup battery system. I use a Bluetti 3AH and it works in UPS mode and with its 268 Wh battery it can provide 600 watts of power from its LiFePO4 battery and the power from its internal inverter is very clean and pure sine wave. The battery can be charged using AC, car battery or solar.

While the initial cost of this unit is higher than a standard UPS the battery can be recharged many more times than a standard lead acid battery. Also during extended power outages at night when I don't want to run my generator I can plug a floor fan into the unit and get a decent night's sleep in Florida with the AC off.

I lived in Daytona Beach before moving to Louisiana, so know about the Florida heat. Also because I am stuck renting right now, I don't have the option of looking into whole house backup systems. So Ups' have been easier. As far as Knowing when the batteries start having issues. That's the hard part. I don't usually get any warning until it's too late.

 

[Tech9]

I don't usually get any warning until it's too late.

The reason I prefer UPS units with monitoring. They do self test periodically and estimate the battery health.

Passed on 2025-01-12 - this time I clicked manual self test. Automatic self test is usually about once a month.

 

[coxhaus]

I like APC Smart UPS. I think the Smart ones are better. I have an APC Smart UPS1000. It keeps my modem, router Dell PC, Cisco POE+ switch and 3 Cisco wireless APs going during a power outage.

My APC comes with a 2-year warranty. I just updated my firmware on my APC.

 

[bbunge]

I just ordered a battery from Amazon for a Back-UPS 600 for $20.00. A friend gave me the UPS to recycle but I figured for the price I can have another UPS.
My router, NAS and an eight port switch are on a CyberPower 750 AVR. The ONT and NVR are on another old APC 500. The last power outage lasted three hours and after shytting down the NAS and NVR the UPS kept the network up.

 

[Tech9]

I had a few APC ES-series and two went South with a chip burning inside. Using APC CS-series now. More expensive, but more reliable.