Keep Wi-Fi, Phones and TV On in a Power Outage (Battery Runtimes)
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Staying connected is one of the cheapest things to back up. A router and modem draw around 20W together, phones add a little, and a laptop about 45W. Even a small power station keeps them going for a day or more, while a TV is the load that adds up fastest.
How the numbers work: wattages are typical ranges from manufacturer spec sheets and efficiency labels, so check the label on your own appliance. Runtimes are calculated, not lab-tested: usable energy = rated Wh × 0.85, divided by average watts.
⚡ Typical Draw
| Device | Typical watts |
|---|---|
| Wi-Fi router | about 10W |
| Modem or fiber terminal | about 10W |
| Phone charging | about 10-18W |
| Laptop | about 45W |
| 55-inch LED TV | about 80W |
| Monitor | about 30W |
📊 Calculated Runtimes
| Setup | EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus | Jackery Explorer 1000 V2 | Bluetti Elite 200 V2 | EcoFlow DELTA Pro | Bluetti EB3A |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stay connected: router + modem + phones (about 30W) | 29.0 h | 30.3 h | 2.4 days | 4.2 days | 7.6 h |
| Work from home: connected load + laptop + monitor (about 105W) | 8.3 h | 8.7 h | 16.8 h | 29.1 h | 2.2 h |
| Evening TV added to the connected load (about 110W) | 7.9 h | 8.3 h | 16.0 h | 27.8 h | 2.1 h |
How to read it: a small 268Wh unit like the Bluetti EB3A keeps a router, modem and phones going for about 7.6 hours, and a 1,000Wh class unit covers more than a day. Watching TV takes more: 3 hours of a 55-inch LED TV uses roughly 240Wh.
Quick picks
Bluetti EB3A (268Wh, 600W): enough to keep a router and phones going through a long evening. Check Bluetti EB3A Price
Bluetti Elite 200 V2 (2,073.6Wh, 2,600W): longest runtime of the three in this guide. Check Bluetti Elite 200 V2 Price
Jackery Explorer 1000 V2 (1,070Wh, 1,500W, 3,000W surge): lighter and cheaper. Check Jackery Explorer 1000 V2 Price
⚠️ When the Internet Is Down Anyway
A powered router is useless if the neighborhood’s cable or fiber network has lost power. Plan for that:
- Use your phone as a hotspot. Cell service often keeps working at least for a while, though towers can lose power in long outages, and a charged phone with a power station behind it is the simplest fallback.
- Download offline maps, music and documents before a storm.
- Charge power banks whenever the grid is up.
For a full outage plan see our 72-hour power outage guide.
A first aid kit belongs next to your backup power. SurviveX kits are designed in Falls Church, VA, reviewed in-house by a former EMT/firefighter, qualify for FSA/HSA spending, carry a lifetime warranty, and ship free over $50 (per survive-x.com). See SurviveX First Aid Kits
🔗 Related Guides
- Full appliance wattage guide
- Best units under $1,000
- 72-hour power outage guide
- What to do during a power outage
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How many watts does a Wi-Fi router use?
Typically around 10W, and a modem or fiber terminal adds roughly another 10W. Check the label on your power adapter for the exact rating.
How long will a portable power station run my router?
At about 20W for a router plus modem, a 1,000Wh class unit runs them for roughly 40 hours, and a small 268Wh unit for roughly 11 hours (calculated, using 85% usable capacity).
Can I work from home during a power outage on battery power?
Yes, for a laptop, monitor, router and modem. A load of about 105W runs for roughly 8 to 9 hours on a 1,000Wh class unit, if your internet connection is still up.
Will my internet work if my router has power but the neighborhood is out?
Not always. If the cable or fiber network lost power, your router has nothing to connect to. A phone hotspot is the usual fallback.
How much power does a TV use?
A 55-inch LED TV uses roughly 80W. Three hours of viewing is about 240Wh.