APC Back-UPS Connect – CP12036LI – 12V DC 36W Lithium-Ion
APC Back-UPS Connect – CP12036LI – 12V DC 36W Lithium-Ion Mini UPS, designed for Routers, Smart Home Controllers, VoIP devices, Networking gear and more
Power buttonPowers up the device
” data-position=”triggerHorizontal” />Output wireConnect this attached wire to your 12V networking device
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How long do the Back-UPS Connect Lithium-ion batteries last?
The Lithium-Ion batteries used in Back-UPS Connect can last 8 to 10 years or 3000
charge/discharge cycles. Valve Regulated Lead
Acid (VRLA) batteries typically last 3 to 5 years or 200 discharge cycles.
Is the Lithium-ion battery in my Back-UPS Connect replaceable?
No, the battery in the Back-UPS Connect is not replaceable .
How do I know if the Back-UPS Connect will work with my networking device?
The Back-UPS Connect is designed for devices with voltage rating of 12V and current rating of 3A or less. The Back-UPS Connect comes with a default DC tip of size 2.5mm but can be converted to 2.1mm or 1.7mm using the additional DC tips from the box.
What is the typical runtime provided by the Back-UPS Connect?
The Back-UPS Connect can provide up to 4 hours of runtime for a typical router.
Designed for keeping networking devices active in the event of a power failure this little device is well made, and has the assurance of coming from a decent, recognised manufacturer. It is nicely compact in size, and uses the original 12V supply cable to the supported device to power this one. There is another cable built into the UPS which then connects into the supported device, and two other sizes of connector are supplied in case the standard one doesn’t fit.
It works very well, and has the capacity to supply power for longer than it’s likely to be needed. The actual time depends on the amount of power needed by the supported device. That does not actually have to be a router or other network device, and instead it could be any other 12V device so long as it isn’t power-hungry. In my own case I still have to use a separate modem as well as the router, so with two devices I’d need two of these UPS (uninterruptable power supply) to keep the system working properly, and that’s impractical as well as double the cost. Maybe a future design improvement would allow for situations like mine.
If you experience regular power cuts or just want to have a backup power supply for something like your router, this device is a great choice. It has an incredibly simple setup and comes with small selection of DC tips to ensure it can fit a range of devices.
The device itself is quite compact and easy to tuck away if needed, so it won’t take up a huge space. Once set up, simply turn the device on using the power button and the indicator light will turn on, which shows the battery level in 4 stages.
While we don’t experience frequent power supply issues, it’s handy to have a backup for any important devices, particularly if you work from home or rely on steady connections for any reason. We’re in the process of switching over suppliers due to the poor connectivity with our current so it’s likely this will be the backup for the new LEO internet device we’re getting, and with up to 4 hours of power, it’s a great addition to any techie household.
My only gripe is the price, coming in at around 66 (at time of review). For what is effectively a power bank, I don’t think this should cost as much as it does. However, what you’re paying for is reliability and the brand, so it’s a case of needs versus want on this occasion.
This APC UPS arrived exactly as described and works brilliantly. It is very easy to set up, and while testing I didn’t notice any disruption between switching the router from mains to UPS power only.
Inside the box, aside from the instructions, there is several optional power connectors included (that you may need to use depending on the router you have).
I managed to get several hours of continuous power from the unit, without any drop-outs, when running my router from directly from the UPS (with mains power removed). APC’s documentation suggests it should last about four hours for most routers, but this will vary based on a variety of factors. After about two and a half hours of testing, the battery indicator on my unit was still above 50%.
Unfortunately, while a number of APC’s UPS units have user removable batteries, this unit is not one of them. To get the battery replaced you will likely need to contact APC directly (this may not be a concern for some people).
I live in an area where we have periodic power cuts, especially during winter, so I’m very glad we now have this for days when the weather is a bit more unpredictable!
A ‘fit-and-forget’ addon for your router, and actually many more possibilities where a power cut could cause REAL problems.
I will indeed be fitting this (or another one) to my router as-and-when the time comes for the switch-off of the aging land-line system, but until then it will be used as power backup for a 12V (low power) water pump, part of a setup which monitors water levels and switches on when needed to prevent overflow. It’s absolutely ideal for this, and will take away a real concern of a power cut during rainfall. Not talking gallons here, but a possible 1 or 2 litres over an hour period. Not a lot, but enough to spoil your day if it happens. There’s enough power in the battery to easily cover a 12-hour period with no mains power.
The box itself is well made, great quality and from an established brand. If it performs well for my ‘temporary’ job, I’ll just get another one for the router when necessary.
On a quality/value-for-money basis… 5-Stars.
I’ve had a UPS for my desktop PC for many years. We get at least one power cut a year. They may not last long, but having your PC turn off in the middle of something is a recipe for lost work. (Fortunately improvements in file systems mean that corrupted discs aren’t so much the problem they used to be!)
But if your router is in a different room to the PC, it can’t share the UPS. This enables a router that wants 12V power to keep going for a couple of hours.
It’s mostly useful if you have a UPS for desktop PC or you’re using a laptop, as phones would be able to use mobile data..
.. and you could very probably use a phone to provide a wifi hotspot for that PC or laptop.
If that’s you, you need to consider whether around sixty quid is too much to keep your router online.
I think this is a really clever device to have, and its really close to being perfect within its field.
The package contains the UPS unit, and a set of adaptor plugs to connect it.
In essence, the device is a UPS designed to keep your router running in the event of a power cut. You connect the device between the router and the routers power supply, and the built in battery and circuit keeps power flowing to your router when mains power fails. Its almost an install and forget level of simplicity in using the device, although the documentation is a clear and concise, and explains what the device is doing through the status of its lights.
In use, the UPS does a great job of keeping my wifi on when I lose power. Although power cuts are quite rare, there have been too many times when something else has happened and the router lost power. For example, times when a circuit breaker gets tripped, or the big bane of my life where someone unplugs the router by accident (even though I have labelled the plug, it still happens too often for my liking). In these situations the router stays on and my network stays up. Its also been great for maintaining the network with power gitches so that my laptops dont lose connection when transferring files between them.
The UPS is designed for 12V devices, and although this covers most network routers, I would have given it five stars if it worked with 5V devices too. I have a Wavlink router (one of the two that make up my home network), and that uses a 5V supply so this UPS is not suitable for use with it.
Overall, this is a great way of keeping your 12V routers and other devices working when the power goes.
Having recently acquired the APC Back-UPS Connect – CP12036LI, I am thoroughly impressed by its performance and utility. This 12V DC, 36W Lithium-Ion Mini UPS is a compact yet robust solution designed to support a range of devices such as Routers, Smart Home Controllers, VoIP devices, and Networking gear. Including three different DC tips is a thoughtful addition, ensuring compatibility with various gadgets. What stands out most is its ability to provide up to 4 hours of runtime, a particularly beneficial feature. The LED indicators are a handy feature, offering immediate insight into the UPS status and battery capacity, adding a layer of convenience and efficiency to its use.
My personal experience with this mini UPS has been exceptionally positive. I initially ordered it, intending to integrate it into a small water feature project on my balcony as the warmer months approach. To my delight, it exceeded my expectations, keeping my router operational for over three hours during testing. This level of reliability and performance is why I have no hesitation in awarding this product a perfect five-star rating. It’s not just a UPS; it’s a lifeline for your essential tech, ensuring connectivity and control remain uninterrupted. For anyone looking to safeguard their technology with a dependable power backup solution, the APC Back-UPS Connect – CP12036LI comes highly recommended by a satisfied user.
This is a must have for the coming changes in the UK where all phones will come over your broadband line. In the box is everything you need for nearly all routers that use a 12V power adaptor. The Battery box (UPS) is small and compact with minimal user interaction needed . The only thing is a button to push to power on/off and 4 lights to show the battery charge level. If your in an area that experiences power cuts frequently this is great to keep online while everyone else around you is offline and would be great for keeping the kids connected too. The build quality is as you would expect from APC (schneider electric) premium soft touch plastic (not rubber importantly) and the weight is just right where it isn’t going to flap around on the side by the router. The only thing that would improve this and is something to take note is that the input and outputs are on the sides so hiding the cables will be a challenge if its on show.
Price at review: 64.96
This is the ideal product if you need your router to stay on during a power cut. As landlines are all going to require to go via the router in the future this is essential if you need your landline to keep working, for example if it is used with an alarm system or if you don’t have a mobile.
For broadband you can keep your router on and accessing the internet through wifi via laptops and mobile phones during a power outage. That is what this product is intended for.
I was excited to try this out as APC is a well known high quality brand where they have done all the proper safety checks and have been in this business for years. They know how to make an uninterruptable power supply.
Unfortunately with a virgin hub 5 the power supply connector didn’t fit the power-in on the UPS and didn’t fit any of the four provided size adapters which they give you incase your plug doesn’t fit.
This is really weird because the UPS output plug fits the virgin hub fine without any adapter and the output plug also fits the input. I even tried a few other adapters I had and none of them fitted the virgin hub 5 plug. It would not go in to any of them.
For many people this would make the product unworkable for this type of router even though it is the required 12 volt power supply type. I happen to have other very similar 12 volt power supplies spare and so I was able to put one of these in to service to power the UPS but I’m sure this isn’t exactly recommended way to do things.
Everything seems to be working okay now and I can tell you that the router worked perfectly fine when it was just running off the battery and no power supply was connected so that is all good.
Worth mentioning also is that it appears to be completely silent when in use which many other UPS are not.
With around 22Wh of tested usable capacity this UPS should run a typical domestic router for between 2 and 3 hours, most routers seem to use between 6-10Watts. In the event of an extended power cut the device has a simple soft On/Off button, allowing it to be shutdown and restarted as needed. There is no audible warning to indicate an input power failure, the On/Off button just has an LED which flashes to indicate the UPS is discharging its battery.
The battery max recharging current is <400mA, which means the AC/DC adaptor you use has to have around 5W of headroom to safely supply the UPS and the device it normally plugs into. The documentation doesn't make this point clearly enough in my view. If in doubt about how many Watts you router is really using then it makes sense to measure it and then decide if the existing AC/DC adapter is up to the small additional load.
The unit itself is a solid performer with good voltage regulation across the discharge cycle and across different load. The output voltage held steady at 11.2Volts even @3amps.
One observation is that APC used to sell a much larger capacity version of a similarly styled UPS; I still use a CP12142LI and nearly 5 years on it is still protecting my gateway router from regular power cuts; sadly they stopped making it a few years back. This new mini UPS is a good solution which could have been better if they had kept some of the features in the previous model, specifically capacity, audible warning, wall mounts. The price is also on the slightly high side, but you are paying for the name and all the safety, certification that goes with it.