To keep the internet up in a blackout, back up the NBN connection box and the router. If each runs from a 12 V DC plug pack drawing 18 W or less, the PowerShield DC Mini (PSDCMIN12-18) is the simplest fix: PowerShield quotes 114 minutes on a 4 W small router and 49 minutes on a 9 W router. For several devices, or for CCTV with an NVR and a PoE switch, use a small AC UPS such as the SafeGuard (PSG750, PSG1000) or Defender (PSD1200), or a Defender Rackmount in a comms cabinet.
Quick pick: one 12 V router or modem: DC Mini. Router, Wi-Fi and phone together: SafeGuard 750. Cameras, NVR and PoE switch: Defender 1200 or larger, sized to the load. ARC IP Networks is a trusted PowerShield supplier in Australia: genuine stock at competitive prices, with the full PowerShield Australian warranty, Australia-wide delivery and trade pricing.
NBN, Wi-Fi and CCTV backup options at a glance
Swipe the table sideways to compare all models →
| Model | Output | Best for | Runtime PowerShield quotes |
|---|---|---|---|
| DC Mini 12V | 12 V DC, 18 W max | One 12 V router, modem, fibre ONT or VoIP device | 114 min at 4 W, 49 min at 9 W, 15 min at 18 W |
| SafeGuard 750VA | 450 W, 6 Australian sockets | NBN box, router and Wi-Fi together | About 25 min with a 100 W PC load |
| SafeGuard 1000VA | 600 W, 8 Australian sockets | Router, Wi-Fi, small NVR, plus USB charging | About 25 min with a 100 W PC load (series figure) |
| Defender 650VA | 390 W, 2 Australian sockets | A router and one small device | 6 min at 50% load |
| Defender 1200VA | 720 W, 6 Australian sockets | NVR, PoE switch and router | 13 min at 50% load |
| Defender 2000VA | 1200 W, 6 Australian sockets | Larger camera systems | 5.5 min at 50% load |
| Defender Rackmount 800VA | 480 W, 6 AU + 2 IEC | Wall-mount comms or CCTV cabinet | 8 min at 50% load |
| Ninja Slimline 600VA | 360 W, 2 IEC outlets | Tight spaces, panels, warm locations | 72 min at 10% load, 15 min at 50% |
Runtimes from PowerShield brochures and quick guides. Real runtime depends on your actual load and battery condition.
What needs power when the power goes out?
When mains power drops, the first thing most Australian homes and small offices lose is the internet. As PowerShield points out, if your phone service runs over the NBN, you lose the phone as well, and in an emergency that matters. A UPS only powers equipment at your premises, so the aim is to keep the chain from the wall to your devices alive:
- The NBN connection box (the device the NBN technician installed, if your connection type has one).
- The router or modem, plus any Wi-Fi mesh nodes or access points you rely on.
- Phones: VoIP handsets, base stations or an ATA plugged into the router.
- Security: cameras, the NVR or DVR that records them, the PoE switch that powers them, and alarm panels.
Before you buy anything, read the label on each power supply. Note the output voltage (for example 12 V DC) and the watts, or the amps (multiply volts by amps to get watts). Those two numbers decide which PowerShield option fits.
DC Mini 12V: the simplest NBN and router backup
The PowerShield DC Mini is a small DC UPS that plugs straight into an Australian power point. Your device's DC lead plugs into it, and it carries on powering that device when mains drops. PowerShield designed it for routers, modems (including fibre optic ONTs), VoIP phone systems, surveillance equipment, alarm systems and access control. APC Magazine (Australian Computer Magazine) rated it 4 out of 5 and a Recommended Product, noting it was "just aiming to provide UPS functionality for 12V devices".
| Specification | DC Mini (PSDCMIN12-18) |
|---|---|
| Output | 12 V DC ±5%, 18 W maximum (1.5 A) |
| Input | 90 to 264 V AC, plug mounted on the housing (Australia/New Zealand) |
| Battery | Built-in replaceable lithium-ion, 3.7 V, 2600 mAh |
| Recharge | About 3 hours to 90% |
| Surge protection | 125 J / 4500 A |
| Connections | 2 m output cable with a set of interchangeable DC jack tips |
| Size and weight | 76.2 x 46 x 78.8 mm, 280 g |
| Warranty | 2 years |
From the PowerShield DC Mini brochure and quick guide.
| Device load | Share of 18 W | Approximate runtime |
|---|---|---|
| 4 W (small router) | 22% | 114 minutes |
| 9 W (typical router) | 50% | 49 minutes |
| 13 W | 72% | 32 minutes |
| 18 W | 100% | 15 minutes |
PowerShield DC Mini quick guide, "Approximate load versus battery back-up run times".
Will it work with my NBN box or router?
Check three things on the device's plug pack: the output says 12 V DC; the power is 18 W or less (1.5 A or less); and one of the supplied jack tips fits the device's DC socket. The DC Mini has one output, so it backs up one device. If the NBN connection box and the router each have their own 12 V plug pack, use one DC Mini for each, or move to a small AC UPS such as the SafeGuard. It starts automatically when plugged in, and a multi-colour LED shows charging, battery mode and faults.
PowerShield's quick guide says the DC Mini is for indoor use and should not be used in hot and humid environments.
When to step up to an AC UPS: SafeGuard and Defender
An AC UPS makes more sense when you want to back up several devices at once, when a device doesn't run from 12 V DC, or when you're protecting cameras. Both ranges below are line-interactive with automatic voltage regulation (AVR), Australian sockets and surge protection, a simulated sine wave on battery and a 2-year warranty.
SafeGuard: powerboard-style, wall-mountable
The SafeGuard 750VA (450 W) and SafeGuard 1000VA (600 W) look like a powerboard and can be wall-mounted near the NBN box. Half the sockets are UPS-backed and surge protected; the rest are surge protected only, for things that don't need backup. The 750 has three of each and the 1000 has four of each, plus a USB charging port. PowerShield's SafeGuard brochure quotes about 25 minutes of backup with a 100 W PC load. The SafeGuard 750's telephone/modem surge port is marked by PowerShield as not for NBN, so don't run an NBN line through it.
Defender: tower UPS with LCD
The Defender range (650VA, 1200VA, 1600VA, 2000VA) adds an LCD showing load and remaining battery time, silent operation with no fans, a cold start function, automatic restart when power returns, and charging even when switched off. The 650VA has two Australian sockets; the larger models have three UPS-backed plus three surge-only. Typical backup at 50% load is 6 minutes (650VA), 13 minutes (1200VA), 10 minutes (1600VA) and 5.5 minutes (2000VA), so pick a size that leaves your load well under half of the rating if runtime matters.
Sizing a UPS for an NVR and PoE switch
A camera system's power usually flows through two boxes: the NVR and the PoE switch (or the NVR's built-in PoE ports). PoE cameras draw their power from the switch or NVR, so the camera load shows up there. PowerShield's own sizing method is simple:
- Add up the watts of everything the UPS will power, using the maximum power figure from each device's datasheet.
- Divide the total by 0.7 to get a VA figure. The UPS VA rating must be higher than this.
- Check that the UPS watt rating is also above your total, then use the runtime figures to decide how much headroom you want.
For example, if your NVR's datasheet says 40 W maximum and the PoE switch with its cameras says 120 W, the total is 160 W, or about 229 VA. A SafeGuard 750 (450 W) or Defender 1200 (720 W) covers that comfortably, and because 160 W is well under half of either rating, you get more than the 50%-load runtime figures. Our UPS sizing guide goes through this step by step, and the Hikvision guide to PoE for CCTV explains camera power classes.
Shutting the recorder down cleanly
PowerShield lists USB HID support for Windows, Apple, Linux and NAS devices and a large variety of industrial controllers. If you record to a NAS, plug it into the UPS by USB and it can shut down safely before the battery runs out (see our UPS for NAS guide). For a dedicated NVR, check its manual for UPS support; if it has none, size the UPS so the runtime covers your typical outages.
Cameras in a comms cabinet
If the NVR and switch sit in a wall-mount cabinet, a rack UPS is tidier. The Defender Rackmount 800VA is only 230 mm deep, with six Australian sockets and two IEC outlets. See our comms rack UPS guide for rails, PDUs and SNMP cards.
Tight spaces and hot panels
The Ninja Slimline 600VA is 42 mm high, mounts on a wall or a DIN rail, and uses LiFePO4 batteries that PowerShield rates for continuous operation up to 50°C without reduced battery life. It suits electrical panels and other tight spots, and carries a 5-year warranty.
Which setup for which home or site
| Situation | Typical devices | Suggested PowerShield setup |
|---|---|---|
| Apartment or home on NBN | NBN box and router, each on a 12 V plug pack | Two DC Minis (check each is 18 W or less) |
| Home office | NBN box, router, Wi-Fi node, VoIP phone | SafeGuard 750VA mounted near the NBN box |
| Home with cameras | NVR with built-in PoE, router | SafeGuard 1000VA or Defender 1200VA |
| Shop or small office | NBN, router, PoE switch, NVR in a wall cabinet | Defender Rackmount 800VA or 1500VA |
| Farm shed or panel | Router or camera gear in an electrical panel | Ninja Slimline 600VA |
ARC IP Networks suggestions based on PowerShield specifications. Always check your actual device power ratings.
PowerShield picks for NBN, Wi-Fi and CCTV
Live Australian pricing (inc. GST) and availability are shown on each product page.
Backs up one 12 V router, modem or ONT; 49 min at 9 W.
Buying genuine PowerShield from ARC IP Networks
ARC IP Networks is a trusted PowerShield supplier in Australia: genuine stock at competitive prices, with the full PowerShield Australian warranty, Australia-wide delivery and trade pricing.
- Genuine PowerShield stock with the PowerShield Australian warranty, and warranty and RMA questions handled locally by our team.
- Australia-wide delivery, or free pickup from 6 George Street, Blackburn VIC 3130.
- Trade accounts for installers, integrators and MSPs, plus project and volume pricing on larger jobs.
- Pre-sales help on 1300 100 440 (Mon to Fri, 9 to 5 Melbourne time) or info@arcip.com.au.
See the full PowerShield range at ARC IP Networks.
Common questions
Straight answers from the ARC IP Networks team. Last reviewed October 2026.
For a single 12 V router, modem or fibre ONT drawing 18 W or less, the PowerShield DC Mini (PSDCMIN12-18) is the simplest option. To back up the NBN box, router and Wi-Fi together, a SafeGuard 750VA powerboard-style UPS is a good fit.
PowerShield quotes about 114 minutes at 4 W, 49 minutes at 9 W, 32 minutes at 13 W and 15 minutes at its full 18 W output.
No. The DC Mini has one 12 V output, so it backs up one device. Use one DC Mini per 12 V device, or a small AC UPS such as the SafeGuard for several devices.
It can keep the NBN box, router and phone at your premises powered for the runtime of the UPS. It cannot help if the outage is in the wider network rather than at your premises.
Add up the maximum watts of the NVR and the PoE switch, which includes the cameras it powers, then divide by 0.7 to get VA. Choose a UPS whose VA and watt ratings are both above that, with headroom for the runtime you want.
No. PowerShield marks the SafeGuard 750 telephone/modem surge protection port as not for NBN.
From ARC IP Networks. ARC IP Networks is a trusted PowerShield supplier in Australia: genuine stock at competitive prices, with the full PowerShield Australian warranty, Australia-wide delivery and trade pricing. Call 1300 100 440 for advice.
Not sure which backup suits your NBN or cameras?
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