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I got hold of a (free) BT Battery Backup unit (BBU) for neighbours who have just started a new SOGEA contract with Digital Voice, but have no mobile signal. This was the "non-FTTP" variant (DTB24U12V-BT1) which has an IEC C7 (figure-of-8) power socket for input, and a single 12vDC power output.
Ofcom require "Communications Providers" to provide a "solution" that will keep 999 connectivity for voice for at least the first hour of a power failure. So before installing the unit for my neighbours, I thought I would test how long the unit did actually keep a router running.
I fully charged the BBU and then disconnected the mains. I set BBC Sounds to play a six-hour audio programme so that I could see when the router ran out of power. And then I had to start the programme again!
My setup (Plusnet Hub2 router, brand new BBU), ran for 6 hours 46 minutes.
Of course this performance will degrade over time, but I was very encouraged that it offers such a wide margin over the minimum required duration.
I have to admit that I had been rather confused at the "at least one hour" claim for a 12v 7ah battery that was expected to deliver something like 2 amps at 12v. So I was expecting considerably more than an hour. But nearly seven hours was a real surprise.
As to anyone thinking of running two devices (eg router plus separate DECT base station) then the battery capacity should achieve quite a sensible level of protection for two devices - but there is a real issue of total power drain to consider - the unit spec quotes a "Continuous Power capability" of only 24W.
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