Your video call starts in ten minutes, the power just went off, and your router is dead. A remote employer won't care why you vanished, but they will remember it. The fix isn't one expensive gadget. It's a layered backup built around what you actually need to keep working for two to four hours.
This guide shows you how to work out that number, pick backup gear in stages, and avoid the usual mistakes. Prices change often, so I won't quote any. Get current quotes from vendors you trust before you buy.
Start with a power audit, not a shopping list
Most people buy too big or too small because they never measured what they use. Spend ten minutes on this first.
- List the devices you can't work without. Usually a laptop, a router or modem, a phone, and maybe one desk lamp or fan. A monitor, printer and phone chargers are optional.
- Find each device's wattage. It's printed on the charger or on a label under the device. A laptop charger often says something like 45W or 65W, and a router adapter is usually under 20W. Those are maximums; real use is often lower.
- Decide how long you must stay online. Be honest about how long your typical outage lasts and how long your longest meetings run.
- Add it up. Watts multiplied by hours gives watt-hours (Wh). That's the battery size you need, plus a margin.
A worked example (hypothetical)
Say Ada works from home in Lagos on a support role with fixed hours. Her laptop draws about 45W while working, her router about 12W, and a small desk fan about 30W. That's roughly 87W.
She wants three hours of backup. 87W × 3 hours is about 261Wh. Batteries and inverters lose some energy in conversion, so she adds about 30% and aims for roughly 340Wh of usable capacity. Without the fan, her need drops to about 57W × 3 hours, around 170Wh, plus margin.
The lesson: cut the fan or switch to a battery fan, and the backup she needs shrinks a lot. Always check which loads are worth powering.
Backup power options compared
| Option | Best for | Main weakness |
|---|---|---|
| Laptop battery plus power bank for the router | Light users who only need laptop, phone and router | Router needs a compatible bank (often 12V output) or a small adapter, and cheap banks can fail quickly |
| Mini UPS for router (DC UPS) | Keeping Wi-Fi alive through short cuts and flickers | Only powers the router; runtime depends on battery size |
| Portable power station | Renters or anyone without space for a full system; powers laptop, router, lamp | Higher upfront cost; check the real output rating |
| Inverter with battery | Whole-room or whole-home backup, longer outages | Needs correct battery type, installation and ventilation |
| Solar plus inverter | Long-term savings if you own the home and work daily | Largest investment; needs a qualified installer |
If you rent and work from a single desk, a portable power station or a small UPS-style setup usually fits better than a full inverter system. If you own your home and face long daily outages, an inverter you size properly will cost less over time than repeated small fixes.
Protect your gear from bad power
Outages aren't the only problem. Surges and sudden returns of power damage chargers and routers.
- Use a surge-protected extension, not the cheapest bare strip.
- Unplug the laptop charger and router if the supply keeps flickering.
- Turn on auto-save in the documents and tools you use.
- Keep your laptop battery healthy. Don't leave it at 0% regularly.
Ask an electrician about proper earthing in your home. It's boring, but it matters for any device you care about.
Build an internet backup in layers
Power is only half the story. A working router means nothing if your provider is down.
Layer 1: your main connection
Fibre, fixed wireless or a home broadband plan. Ask neighbours working from home which provider stays reliable on your street, because coverage varies block by block. Spectranet, for example, was reported by The Guardian Nigeria to be expanding home fibre in Nigeria, but check whether it actually reaches your address before counting on it.
Layer 2: a second network on a different provider
Keep a SIM from a different network than your main line, with data you can use as a hotspot. If your main connection is on one mobile network, your backup should be another. Test both from your desk before you need them, because signal can differ a lot between rooms.
Layer 3: a phone call fallback
For meetings, know how to join by phone audio. Save the dial-in number when the invite includes one. A sound-only call beats missing the meeting.
For interviews specifically, see our remote job interview prep plan for weak connections.
Manage data so the backup lasts
- Turn off video when it's not needed, and ask teammates if that's fine on weak days.
- Pause automatic cloud backups, app updates and video autoplay while on hotspot.
- Download files you need before a meeting.
- Set a data-usage alert on your phone so a hotspot doesn't drain your plan unseen.
A video call can use a large amount of data per hour, so check your plan size against how many calls you take each week.
Common mistakes
- Buying by the advertised capacity. Check the usable watt-hours and the output rating, not just the headline number.
- Buying the cheapest unbranded bank. Poor batteries swell, die early or are unsafe. Buy from a seller who offers a warranty and receipt.
- Never testing. Switch off the mains on a quiet day and work for an hour. You'll find the gaps then, not during a client call.
- Running a heavy load on a small unit. Kettles, irons and air conditioners will overload most small backups. Keep them off.
- Ignoring ventilation. Batteries and inverters need airflow, and must stay away from flammable items.
Tell your employer, and who pays
If you work for a foreign company, reliable connectivity is often your responsibility. Some employers offer a stipend or equipment budget, so ask during negotiation rather than assuming. Our post on contractor versus employee terms explains why the answer can differ by contract type, and you can also set time expectations using the time zone guide.
It also helps to tell your manager your backup plan in one line: "If my power or line drops, I'll switch to a mobile hotspot within five minutes and message you." That kind of clarity builds trust.
Readers in Ghana, Kenya and South Africa face similar problems, but the mix differs. South Africa's scheduled load-shedding means you can plan around published schedules, while in Nigeria and Ghana outages are often less predictable, so a bigger battery margin is wise.
Frequently asked questions
Is a power bank enough for my laptop?
Only if it supports your laptop's charging voltage and wattage, usually through USB-C power delivery. Check your charger's rating and match it. Many ordinary phone power banks won't charge a laptop.
Can I power my router from a power bank?
Often yes, but routers typically need a specific voltage. Use a bank or cable designed for it, or a small DC UPS, rather than improvising with mismatched adapters.
Should I buy solar now?
Only if you own the home or have long-term permission, and your daily use justifies it. Start with the audit, get more than one quote, and use an installer who shows previous work.
What if my job requires a minimum internet speed?
Ask for the exact figure in writing and test your line on different days and times. Keep the second network as your fallback.
Your next step today
Grab a pen and do the audit: list your three essential devices, write down their wattage, and multiply by the hours you need. That single number tells you what to buy and what to skip.
Always apply through the employer's official website or verified channels. Genuine employers never ask applicants to pay for a job, training, or an interview.