Small UPS or power protection for Unifi Express (USB C powered)

Forums › Gadgets, robotics, home automation, electronics (including wearables) › Small UPS or power protection for Unifi Express (USB C powered)

phrozenpenguin

840 posts

Ultimate Geek

#320012 25-Jun-2025 22:58

We have a Unifi Express working well doing routing and wifi duties however whenever there is a powercut (which is reasonably often) the Unifi Express often does not restart properly. It seems to hang and no internet or networking capability is available - which is a problem. Physically un-plugging and re-plugging the device it then boots properly and works fine until the next power cut.

When I say power cut, it maybe some other kind of power related glitch - or potentially not power related at all (!) but I have no obvious way of knowing.

I am looking for a small device/battery/UPS to ensure even with unreliable power the Unifi Express can restart properly. Any ideas? The device is powered by USB C.

sheldonlendrum

Sheldon
120 posts

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#3392398 9-Jul-2025 14:31

Can you plug the unifi USB-c into phone battery pack and have that plugged in to the mains?
Maybe have that on a smart timer plug, so it just top's up the battery pack a couple of hours a day?

Sounds like a cheap < $50 setup that should work well.

nztim

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TEAMnetwork

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#3392400 9-Jul-2025 14:49

I don't think battery packs have the smarts to power and charge at the same time

maybe This?

Any views expressed on these forums are my own and don't necessarily reflect those of my employer.

timmmay

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#3392460 9-Jul-2025 15:43

I spent ages researching USB UPS's - thread here. In the end I purchased a standard UPS (Eaton 3S 850) that has a USB output that works on battery, which works well. There are a few options but all have compromises, and I decided to get something with a warranty and support.

phrozenpenguin

840 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3394000 15-Jul-2025 00:12

timmmay:

I spent ages researching USB UPS's - thread here. In the end I purchased a standard UPS (Eaton 3S 850) that has a USB output that works on battery, which works well. There are a few options but all have compromises, and I decided to get something with a warranty and support.

Thanks for the input; I will check the dimensions on this as it was bigger than I was thinking.

phrozenpenguin

840 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3394001 15-Jul-2025 00:14

nztim:

I don't think battery packs have the smarts to power and charge at the same time

maybe This?

That is the kind of device I was thinking of, but don't want an aliexpress item for this scenario.

noroad

949 posts

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#3394057 15-Jul-2025 07:41

phrozenpenguin:

That is the kind of device I was thinking of, but don't want an aliexpress item for this scenario.

I use a few of these on tp-link AP's, they seem to work fine and give 1-2h run time https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005008106399993.html Note, you have to add your own 18650 batteries and PSU. I've found the 3.5A 12v OEM PSU that comes with the tp-link is adequate to power the battery pack + AP.

ANglEAUT

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#3394145 15-Jul-2025 10:31

nztim: I don't think battery packs have the smarts to power and charge at the same time ...

😉 All power banks I've previously used have supported charging the phone and the power bank at the same time.

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