Power It Up: keeping Wi-Fi and the modem online
Routers and modems draw very little. See how long even a small power station keeps the internet up during an outage.
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A router and modem together often draw around 15 W (example; check the adapters). That's about 360 Wh a day. The 245Wh RIVER 3 covers about 12 hours on AC, and a 1kWh-class station covers roughly two days.
- Low steady draw: the easiest outage load to cover.
- Your provider's network also needs power for the internet to work.
- Small stations are often enough.
What a Wi-Fi router and modem draws
| Item | Example figure | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Router + modem (example) | 15 W | Add the watts on both power adapters, or meter them |
| Overnight (12 h) | 180 Wh | 15 × 12 |
| One day | 360 Wh | 15 × 24 |
How we do the math
Runtime (hours) ≈ usable watt-hours ÷ the device's average watts. Our reference set is five portable power stations whose specs we compiled in the Spec Check series. Estimated usable AC energy (our estimate: usable ≈ rated Wh × 0.80 (usable depth, Victron LiFePO4 data) × 0.92 (inverter, the NREL PVWatts manual derate) ≈ 0.736. Applying these to a power station gives a planning estimate, not a measurement): RIVER 3 ≈180Wh, DELTA 3 ≈754Wh, Anker C1000 ≈777Wh, Jackery 1000 v2 ≈788Wh, BLUETTI AC180 ≈848Wh.
Every device wattage on this page is an example. Read your own device's label or EnergyGuide sticker, or measure it with a plug-in energy meter, then put your number into the Power Planner.
Runtime on each reference station
| Power station | Est. usable Wh | Est. runtime |
|---|---|---|
| EcoFlow RIVER 3 | ≈180 | ≈12.0 h |
| EcoFlow DELTA 3 | ≈754 | ≈2.1 days |
| Anker SOLIX C1000 | ≈777 | ≈2.2 days |
| Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 | ≈788 | ≈2.2 days |
| BLUETTI AC180 | ≈848 | ≈2.4 days |
The smallest station that fits
The RIVER 3 is the smallest reference station and covers about 12 hours at the example figure. EcoFlow lists a <20 ms switchover for it, so it can sit between the wall and the router. For a full day or more, step up to any 1kWh-class unit.
EcoFlow RIVER 3 (245Wh)
About 12 hours of Wi-Fi at the example figure, in a 7.7 lb unit.
Check price on Amazon (opens in a new tab)FAQ
Will my internet work during an outage if my router has power?
Only if your provider's network still has power. Ask your provider how long its equipment runs on backup.
Where do I go next?
Try the power planner to put numbers to your own situation, or see the product picks on the deals page.
Terms used here
- Watt (W)
- Rate of power use or production.
- Watt-hour (Wh)
- Energy: one watt for one hour.
- Depth of discharge (DoD)
- Share of a battery's capacity that is used.
- LiFePO4 (LFP)
- Lithium iron phosphate battery chemistry.
- Inverter
- Converts DC battery power to AC household power.
- Derate
- Factor for real-world losses in solar output.
Sources
This guide is informational and based on published specifications and general references, not hands-on testing. Check the manufacturer's current specs before you buy.