Get battery backup info for apartments or condos
Live in an apartment or a multi-unit building? Find out what you need to know about battery backup equipment.
What to know
Do this first
See if your apartment or building is on this list.
If your building isn’t on the list
Find out how to get a 24-hour battery backup system (look at the Digital phone service without AT&T Fiber section for ordering info). This system will keep your phone working in case you lose power and have to call 911. You can also use the battery backup to briefly maintain home alarms and medical alert services.
Using more than 1 piece of AT&T equipment to get voice service in your home, like a Wi-Fi® gateway or optical network terminal (ONT) device? If so, make sure you have a battery backup for each one.
If your building is on the list
In case of a power outage, your phone service including 911 service will cease to function after about 4 to 8 hours. This will occur even if you have longer battery backup power for other equipment used to provide service within your unit.
More info
See if your apartment or building is on this list.
If your building isn’t on the list
Find out how to get a 24-hour battery backup system (look at the Digital phone service without AT&T Fiber section for ordering info). This system will keep your phone working in case you lose power and have to call 911. You can also use the battery backup to briefly maintain home alarms and medical alert services.
Using more than 1 piece of AT&T equipment to get voice service in your home, like a Wi-Fi® gateway or optical network terminal (ONT) device? If so, make sure you have a battery backup for each one.
If your building is on the list
In case of a power outage, your phone service including 911 service will cease to function after about 4 to 8 hours. This will occur even if you have longer battery backup power for other equipment used to provide service within your unit.
- We strongly recommend that you have other means of reaching 911, such as from a mobile phone, for use during power outages that exceed 4 to 8 hours.
- Rather than buying 3 units, only buy 1 APC CP12142LI battery backup unit. This will power your gateway so you can use your phone for up to 8 hours or as long as your building’s equipment is operational.
More info
- Buildings on the PDF list use a certain kind of AT&T network equipment to provide our phone service to occupants. This equipment requires substantial power and can operate on batteries for about 4 to 8 hours during power outages.
- Normally we use portable diesel generators to power this equipment beyond 4 to 8 hours. However when this equipment is located indoors, it can’t be connected to a portable generator for safety reasons.
- We contacted your property manager or landlord to install equipment, at our expense, that’ll provide backup power for 24 hours. Your property manager or landlord hasn’t accepted our offer yet or we may be in the process of installing the equipment.
Steps to take to find and check your equipment
1. Find the ONT device and equipment
Look around your home to see if you can find one of these devices.
Can’t find it? Ask your landlord or property manager to show you. In large complexes, the equipment might be in a locked room. Each ONT or battery backup should be marked or otherwise labeled with info that identifies it as yours. ONTs devices aren’t shared.
2. Check the equipment
Make sure the battery backup unit works and is charged.
Look around your home to see if you can find one of these devices.
| ONT battery backup units provided by us | |
 APC Power Shield |  Delta 1 |
 Delta 2 |  APC BGE90 |
Can’t find it? Ask your landlord or property manager to show you. In large complexes, the equipment might be in a locked room. Each ONT or battery backup should be marked or otherwise labeled with info that identifies it as yours. ONTs devices aren’t shared.
2. Check the equipment
Make sure the battery backup unit works and is charged.
- Not sure how to tell if it’s charged? Check to see if the battery backup power unit is making a noise or displays a red light. If it’s not, you should be fine. Also, check to see if there’s a test button to display battery status. You’ll also want to check the manufacturer's site or call them for more info about how to test your battery. Find out how to contact the manufacturer.
- Older battery backup units don’t last a full day. Want 24-hour coverage if your power goes out? Find out what equipment you’ll need and how to buy it.
Important tips
- Make sure you know how to get to your ONT if necessary.
- Check the battery regularly to make sure it’s charged.
- Replace your battery when necessary. For many backup units, audible alerts or a change in status lights indicate when the battery needs to be replaced.
Last updated: December 7, 2022
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