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

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#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
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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.

Sheldon Lendrum
@SheldonLendrum
http://www.inboxdesign.co.nz/

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nztim

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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?

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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

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#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

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#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

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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.

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altered-ego
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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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