Loadshedding has become a fact of life, but it’s less of a pain when you can stay connected to your home or office internet. Having functioning Wi-Fi can at least keep you sane – and solvent if your business or career relies on it. Luckily, it’s easy to ensure that happens. Most internet routers consume little power, and you can attach an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) to keep your fibre, 5G or LTE internet running through several hours of power outages.
You can buy a router UPS at major electronics retailers or check if your internet service provider (ISP) has some options. Many people avoid getting a UPS for their router because they mistakenly think it’s expensive, difficult to set up, or they’re unsure what to buy. Others grab the first UPS they can find, which may not be the best decision as the wrong one might not work, cost more than necessary, and at worst damage their router or fibre box.
Since most home internet equipment needs between 20-30W, a UPS with 100Wh (or 8 800mAh) will get you through two to four hours of load-shedding. Plug the UPS between your outlet and the equipment; it’ll kick in whenever the power goes down.
