Router Battery Backup

Pingwing said:
I ordered the Ratel 430S from Communica. Must say, I got frequent updates on the courier which is very nice and paid a flat rate of R80 shipping for it to be delivered in a rural area in the Western Cape.

I got a power cable, a splitter and an extra piece of wire to connect it to a solar panel if need be. I didn't order a Solar Panel for now, just want to check if the Ratel 430S would work for my setup as previously discussed. Will let you guys know how it fares. Just want to know if I should get a regulator of some sort if/when I go the Solar route or can I just get a panel, wire it and plug it into the Ratel 430S?
Click to expand...
An appropriately sized panel straight in should be fine
 
Speedster said:
An appropriately sized panel straight in should be fine
Click to expand...

Cool thanks. Just wanted to make sure as I understand Solar Panels do have fluctuating voltages and don't want to damage the Ratel 430S. The 55W & 80W (I know they are too big) Panels Communica have on their website are both more than 18V and the Ratel is 12V, even the Cinco 10W & 30W on Geewiz is 17.6V or something. Is it fine to give power to the Ratel from another source that is higher voltage?
 
Pingwing said:
Cool thanks. Just wanted to make sure as I understand Solar Panels do have fluctuating voltages and don't want to damage the Ratel 430S. The 55W & 80W (I know they are too big) Panels Communica have on their website are both more than 18V and the Ratel is 12V, even the Cinco 10W & 30W on Geewiz is 17.6V or something. Is it fine to give power to the Ratel from another source that is higher voltage?
Click to expand...
I would imagine that the Ratel has a built in PWM which will drop the voltage to the required level to charge the batteries. Remember that a battery actually needs slightly more than its rated voltage to charge anyway.
 
Ahh, I'm with you. I went on two sites that couldn't give me an answer on if there is a built-in PWM. On Sinetech's website, I see there is a Built-in PWM Charge Controller (https://sinetechstore.co.za/shop/solar-kits/backup-power-kits/ratel-430s-micro-dc-ups/).

I'll shop around for a 20W/30W/50W Solar panel, on Geewiz the Cinco 50W panel is R100 more expensive than the 30W panel so value for money, the 50W panel is better.
 
Noob question.
How are these for keeping the fibre ONT and router up during load shed?

Takealot.com: Online Shopping | SA's leading online store

South Africa's leading online store. Fast, reliable delivery to your door. Many ways to pay. Shop anything you can imagine: TVs, laptops, cellphones, kitchen appliances, toys, books, beauty & more. Shop the mobile app anytime, anywhere.
www.takealot.com www.takealot.com
VIZIA UPS Multi-Volt 12-24V (32000mWh) Battery Bank WiFi Router

My RCT 850va used to last about 2 hours but these days lasts one hour.
 
Brawler said:
Noob question.
How are these for keeping the fibre ONT and router up during load shed?

Takealot.com: Online Shopping | SA's leading online store

South Africa's leading online store. Fast, reliable delivery to your door. Many ways to pay. Shop anything you can imagine: TVs, laptops, cellphones, kitchen appliances, toys, books, beauty & more. Shop the mobile app anytime, anywhere.
www.takealot.com www.takealot.com
VIZIA UPS Multi-Volt 12-24V (32000mWh) Battery Bank WiFi Router

My RCT 850va used to last about 2 hours but these days lasts one hour.
Click to expand...
It's a bit pricey for what it is but will get the job done. It only can output 17W which is quite low and you would need a splitter cable to power your two devices. I think the equivalent Ratel or Gizzu is probably cheaper (same 8800mAh battery).

Or you could go the really cheap route and replace the battery for your UPS. Either with any 12v 7ah battery or a 9ah battery (they are the same size). If it's wide enough inside you can put in a 12ah battery (they are about 10cm wide) but you're still limited by the UPS charger which is usually 1 amp only.
 
Vuilhaas said:
It's a bit pricey for what it is but will get the job done. It only can output 17W which is quite low and you would need a splitter cable to power your two devices. I think the equivalent Ratel or Gizzu is probably cheaper (same 8800mAh battery).

Or you could go the really cheap route and replace the battery for your UPS. Either with any 12v 7ah battery or a 9ah battery (they are the same size). If it's wide enough inside you can put in a 12ah battery (they are about 10cm wide) but you're still limited by the UPS charger which is usually 1 amp only.
Click to expand...
I used the Gizzu on my ONT and router last week, battery went from full to 75% after 2 hours.
 
Hi all. Last night I plugged in the Ratel 430S and connected my VOIP phone (5V) to it, works fine. I see that my TP-Link Switch's power plug's connection is that very thin one (unsure what it is called, I think it is this one https://www.communica.co.za/products/gzu-poe-45wp-dc-lead) so the 5V splitter doesn't work as intended. Sad panda :(. I see on Geewiz there are a lot of those adapters that could probably work (https://www.geewiz.co.za/cables-adapters-accessories/121034-5v-dc-adapter-2555mm-to-1335mm.html), but I'm unsure what size DC plug I have (on the spec sheet it says 5mm if I'm not mistaken).

I also need an additional male to male DC cable for my router (12V) so that I can connect it to the Ratel. Any idea where I can get one? If I type it in Google, I get so many results but don't get the correct one.
 
Pingwing said:
Hi all. Last night I plugged in the Ratel 430S and connected my VOIP phone (5V) to it, works fine. I see that my TP-Link Switch's power plug's connection is that very thin one (unsure what it is called, I think it is this one https://www.communica.co.za/products/gzu-poe-45wp-dc-lead) so the 5V splitter doesn't work as intended. Sad panda :(. I see on Geewiz there are a lot of those adapters that could probably work (https://www.geewiz.co.za/cables-adapters-accessories/121034-5v-dc-adapter-2555mm-to-1335mm.html), but I'm unsure what size DC plug I have (on the spec sheet it says 5mm if I'm not mistaken).

I also need an additional male to male DC cable for my router (12V) so that I can connect it to the Ratel. Any idea where I can get one? If I type it in Google, I get so many results but don't get the correct one.
Click to expand...
Where are you located? I bought a couple from ElectromanSA in centurion
 
Pingwing said:
I've gone through their website, don't see one. Urgh, anyone know what it is exactly called so that I can redefine my search maybe?
Click to expand...

www.electromannsa.com

DC Male Power Connector

DC Male Power Connector - (20000132) 5.5mm diameter connector
www.electromannsa.com www.electromannsa.com

I bought that one and it came with both connectors. Also got this one

www.electromannsa.com

1 Female to 4 Male DC Power Splitter

1 Female to 4 Male 5.5×2.1mm DC Power Splitter Cable - (20000241) Connecter outer diameter - 6mm
www.electromannsa.com www.electromannsa.com
 
ld13 said:
My newest Gizzu died. Just went pop... o_O
Did not do anything funny with it. It was connected to a low load TP-link router, nothing hectic.
Barely 2 days old.
Click to expand...

My second Gizzu also died. :mad:
Used at the parents, also single router load. Makes me want to return the 3rd one.

Edit: Both Gizzu's that were on 9V loads, died. 12V one still whirring along.
 
Last edited:
Guys, I think I have cocked things up.

Walked past Computer Mania and they had these in stock for R1099.
www.computermania.co.za

Linkqnet DC UPS for your Router- 9V TO 24V 8800mAh (Power your Router during Loadshedding )

Keep your internet connectivity on during loadshedding with this mini DC UPS.
www.computermania.co.za www.computermania.co.za
Seems to be another rebrand of the same thing takealot is selling for R1299. Takealot actually says the normal price of R2000 lol but that is a story for another day.

I was so sure both my router and ONT were 12v so I did not check.
When I got home I noticed the router is 9v and the ONT is 12v.

The UPS allows me to select a voltage for both devices and not one. Balls.

Now things get interesting.

The TP-LINK Router 9v 0.6A is currently plugged into a Netgear 12v 1.5A power supply and working fine.
The Dasan ONT 12V 0.5A is currently plugged into a TP-LINK 9v 0.6A power supply and working fine.
Don't shoot me, it was all connected when I moved in here 2 years ago.

Seeing as they are both working with incorrect voltage power supplys at the moment, would it be safe to select either 9v or 12v on the UPS and call it a day? I can always return the UPS as I have not plugged it in yet.

TIA.
 
Lots of electronics have PSU chips in them that can handle a range of voltages.
Lucky you, you dont have to test as you already have. Based on what youve said it seems YOUR router and ONT can run at 9v and 12v... They most likely drop to 5v or 3.3v internally anyway.

Before reading this thread, I had presumed most routers/ONTs were like this, happily my (in hindsight) gamble in the past with both my own and inlaws router and ONT paid off!

Don't read the above as advice... It is not :) not taking any flack for people breaking their routers!!

[edit: random poop!?]
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X