New fibre install and SunGenie power supply

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littleheaven

2120 posts

Uber Geek

#207844 16-Jan-2017 15:33

I'm on the Vector SunGenie solar power trial - I have a 5kW photovoltaic system on my roof connected to a 10kW battery in my carport that stores the generated electricity for evening use. When it was installed the electricians nominated a single "critical load circuit" in the house that the battery will continue to supply power to in the event of a grid failure (this is to maximise the remaining stored power, rather than using it up too fast by backing up the whole house). It covers my fridge, microwave, living room lights and the powerpoint in the living room into which my modem and router are plugged. I was wondering, since I'm about to become eligible for fibre, if there is a chance to get the ONT wired into the critical load circuit so that I will have the SunGenie as a UPS for my internet connection. I would choose to have the ONT mounted on the wall above the powerpoint the modem is currently plugged into (and this would likely be the easiest place for the Chorus tech to put it) so does it just wire into the powerpoint?

Sorry if this is a stupid or over-simplistic question - I just want to know if I need to arrange some kind of UPS for the fibre that's independent of the solar one. I've probably left out lots of vital info so please ask if more is required.

Geek girl. Freelance copywriter and editor at Unmistakable.co.nz.

trig42

5796 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#1704211 16-Jan-2017 15:37

If the power point your router is connected to is on the critical circuit, just use a power board or double plug to plug the ONT into it as well. So long as Chorus install the ONT where you want, it won't be an issue. All the ONT needs is a wall socket.

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xontech

268 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1704232 16-Jan-2017 16:11

Yep, I have exactly this. And yes, as the ONT was installed near where my old ADSL router was the ONT is plugged in to the same power board and it is supplied power from the batteries in case of a power failure.

littleheaven

2120 posts

Uber Geek

#1704239 16-Jan-2017 16:18

Oh, this is awesome news. Thank you both! Now I just have to wait for the email from Spark, with whom I have pre-registered my fibre interest :)

Geek girl. Freelance copywriter and editor at Unmistakable.co.nz.

sidefx

3703 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#1704242 16-Jan-2017 16:21

littleheaven:

Now I just have to wait for the email from Spark, with whom I have pre-registered my fibre interest :)

If fibre is available where you live it's probably best to ring them rather than wait for them to contact you.

"I was born not knowing and have had only a little time to change that here and there." | Octopus Energy | Sharesies
- Richard Feynman

trig42

5796 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#1704244 16-Jan-2017 16:22

sidefx:

littleheaven:

Now I just have to wait for the email from Spark, with whom I have pre-registered my fibre interest :)

If fibre is available where you live it's probably best to ring them rather than wait for them to contact you.

Or live chat on their website - I find that a really good way of contacting them.

littleheaven

2120 posts

Uber Geek

#1704245 16-Jan-2017 16:22

sidefx:

If fibre is available where you live it's probably best to ring them rather than wait for them to contact you.

Good point. The due date is March, and they've just finished laying in my street, but still working on adjacent streets. I tend to check the website every other week, just in case.

Geek girl. Freelance copywriter and editor at Unmistakable.co.nz.

DarthKermit

5346 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#1704250 16-Jan-2017 16:32

Not long to wait now. What speed fibre are you planning on getting?

sidefx

3703 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#1704259 16-Jan-2017 16:34

littleheaven:

sidefx:

If fibre is available where you live it's probably best to ring them rather than wait for them to contact you.

Good point. The due date is March, and they've just finished laying in my street, but still working on adjacent streets. I tend to check the website every other week, just in case.

Ah OK, nice, though I guess you will need to wait a little while then :) But yeah when the time comes I'd definitely initiate contact than wait. And if you're checking the Spark site, I'd be checking the chorus site instead (or equivalent for where you live) for the most up to date word on when it's really available ;-)

"I was born not knowing and have had only a little time to change that here and there." | Octopus Energy | Sharesies
- Richard Feynman

littleheaven

2120 posts

Uber Geek

#1704293 16-Jan-2017 17:03

DarthKermit:

Not long to wait now. What speed fibre are you planning on getting?

Probably 100/20 - I'm still working on building up my freelancing business so income dictates I choose the cheaper option for the time being. I can already stream HD perfectly adequately on my 40/9 VDSL connection so 100/20 should be plenty for my requirements. It's more a case of reliability because my copper connection keeps falling over. I've had Chorus out about five times in the last year for a combo of faulty splitters and problems with the underground cables out by the footpath. All my work is online so it's really important my internet works well!

sidefx

Ah OK, nice, though I guess you will need to wait a little while then :) But yeah when the time comes I'd definitely initiate contact than wait. And if you're checking the Spark site, I'd be checking the chorus site instead (or equivalent for where you live) for the most up to date word on when it's really available ;-)

I'll keep a close eye on both - they both say it will be "available in March" so fingers crossed!

Geek girl. Freelance copywriter and editor at Unmistakable.co.nz.

nunz

1421 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1704296 16-Jan-2017 17:09

We have our fibre router, our main router and a voip / sip router all plugged into the same power board. The power board is plugged into a very cheap $75 UPS. when the lights go out we watch stuff on our laptops and phones / tablets and make phone calls as we please. We had one of the few internet / phone connections in our neighbourhood in the last blackouts.

Same during the big earthquakes - as we had a 2.4GHz connection to a backhaul on solid ground 8.5Km away. Fast internet, voip phone and no downtime.

We also have a car jump start battery with USB / Cigarette lighter attachments. A 12v to 230v adapter charged our laptops a few times over and we could still jumpstart the vehicles - to charge the jumpstarter batters and run the 230v convertor. Gotta love technology.

littleheaven

2120 posts

Uber Geek

#1704307 16-Jan-2017 17:30

Totally! We felt very smug in the last power cut when we were the only house in the street with lights. Until we tried to make a cup of tea, that is. I never realised how much power a kettle uses! We had just enough power to keep the lights/fridge going for a good hour or more, but the sudden drain from the kettle was enough to shut down the system.

Geek girl. Freelance copywriter and editor at Unmistakable.co.nz.

Hammerer

2476 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1704317 16-Jan-2017 18:23

You've discovered a practical consequence of water having a high specific heat, "higher than any other common substance".

https://water.usgs.gov/edu/heat-capacity.html

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/thermo/inteng.html#c4

wellygary

8218 posts

Uber Geek

#1704321 16-Jan-2017 18:29

littleheaven:Totally! We felt very smug in the last power cut when we were the only house in the street with lights. Until we tried to make a cup of tea, that is. I never realised how much power a kettle uses!

Kettle, ovens, hot plates are old school resistive heating :),

The jug load was probably greater on its own than everything else you were running off the UPS...

littleheaven

2120 posts

Uber Geek

#1704427 16-Jan-2017 22:41

I believe it draws about 2kWh. Second only to the hot water cylinder ;)

Geek girl. Freelance copywriter and editor at Unmistakable.co.nz.

LWJCarroll

138 posts

Master Geek

#1705781 19-Jan-2017 13:46

nunz:

We have our fibre router, our main router and a voip / sip router all plugged into the same power board. The power board is plugged into a very cheap $75 UPS. when the lights go out we watch stuff on our laptops and phones / tablets and make phone calls as we please. We had one of the few internet / phone connections in our neighbourhood in the last blackouts.

Same during the big earthquakes - as we had a 2.4GHz connection to a backhaul on solid ground 8.5Km away. Fast internet, voip phone and no downtime.

We also have a car jump start battery with USB / Cigarette lighter attachments. A 12v to 230v adapter charged our laptops a few times over and we could still jumpstart the vehicles - to charge the jumpstarter batters and run the 230v convertor. Gotta love technology.

FYI Thanks for putting that info up here.. we had a power cut the other day and lost the phone (VDSL).. now I know how to keep the phone going at least...Rgds Laurie