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Skie · 02-03-2021, 21:49

The main power cable running down your street has 3 live cables (3 phase), and usage of them is alternated out over the entire road as each house only needs a single phase. Mainly to help balance the load, but in the event of an issue in the substation you may only see 1 phase go dark or get a surge, which is why you'll sometimes have a power outage but see some houses still with their lights on.

Additionally, the VM cabs aren't all powered as the smaller ones just act as splitters and are fed by a larger cab further away. The longer stretches might have 'booster' cabs. These powered cabs might be on a different segment of the power network, fed by a different substation, or an entirely different DNO (less likely in residential areas, but possible on borders or in industrial areas).

So yes, get a UPS and connect all your network gubbins to it. It will definitely keep your broadband up if you've tripped something in your home and has a chance to keep it up during a wider power outage. Just remember to replace the battery every 5 or so years, even if it isn't being used heavily. No point having a backup that lasts 2 minutes!

02-03-2021, 21:49	#16
Skie a giant headend Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Liverpool Posts: 1,166	Re: Do the VM cabs have a UPS? The main power cable running down your street has 3 live cables (3 phase), and usage of them is alternated out over the entire road as each house only needs a single phase. Mainly to help balance the load, but in the event of an issue in the substation you may only see 1 phase go dark or get a surge, which is why you'll sometimes have a power outage but see some houses still with their lights on. Additionally, the VM cabs aren't all powered as the smaller ones just act as splitters and are fed by a larger cab further away. The longer stretches might have 'booster' cabs. These powered cabs might be on a different segment of the power network, fed by a different substation, or an entirely different DNO (less likely in residential areas, but possible on borders or in industrial areas). So yes, get a UPS and connect all your network gubbins to it. It will definitely keep your broadband up if you've tripped something in your home and has a chance to keep it up during a wider power outage. Just remember to replace the battery every 5 or so years, even if it isn't being used heavily. No point having a backup that lasts 2 minutes!