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- Backup Power Disclosure
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Backup Power Disclosure
Backup power for home phone services during power outages
For many years, your land-line telephone would allow you to stay connected to emergency voice services during a power outage. However, if your residential voice telephone service is provided using fiber optics rather than the traditional twisted pair copper-based line, the residential voice telephone service requires backup battery power to continue functioning during a power outage. To avoid a disruption of home voice service during a power outage, and to maintain the ability to connect to 911 emergency services, Smithville offers you the option of purchasing a backup battery for your home phones.
Smithville sells backup batteries as a convenience to our customers. All purchased battery backups become the property of the customer and there are no implied service or support obligations by Smithville for the unit. You also have the option to purchase a backup battery from other sources or to not use a backup battery for your voice services. Our primary goal is to ensure you have the information to make the best choice for you and your family.
What your battery can – and can’t – do for you
The backup battery for fiber optic voice service allows you to continue to use your voice services during a power outage. Without a backup battery or alternate backup power source such as a generator, customers with fiber, fixed wireless or coaxial cable delivered services will not be able to make calls, including emergency calls to 911. The only way to maintain the ability to use your voice service is by using some form of backup power.
Inability to use cordless phones and other devices during a power outage
If you have a cordless phone, it will not work during a power outage as your cordless phone requires power from an external power source like an electric outlet in your home. To use your cordless phone, you would need to power the cordless phone with a backup generator or UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply). To use your Smithville voice service during power outages, we suggest that you keep a corded phone on hand. Corded phones, unlike cordless phones, do not need a separate power source to operate. If you purchase a backup battery from Smithville, it will only provide backup power to Smithville’s fiber optic voice services. Devices that rely on voice service, such as home security systems, medical monitoring devices, TTY devices, and other equipment may be disrupted if there is an electrical power outage unless those devices are powered by an alternate power source such as a generator or UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply). These type of alternate power sources are available from third party retail vendors.
Expected backup battery power duration
The battery that Smithville sells is rated by its manufacturer to last at least eight hours in idle mode when the battery is new. The battery is intended to enable users to make short, emergency or other urgent telephone calls during a power outage. During an extended power outage, use your telephone service sparingly to preserve your battery life. The actual length of time that your telephone service will be available during a power outage depends on many variables, including, but not limited to, the following: (i) the amount of phone usage when utilizing power from the backup battery; (ii) whether a backup battery is properly installed and charged, such as whether it has had an opportunity to fully recharge after a prior outage; (iii) the condition and age of the backup battery; and (iv) the amount of prior usage of the battery. Batteries lose capacity with age. Batteries can also lose power if they are frequently discharged and charged. Failure to adhere to proper storage and usage conditions will reduce the talk time available when you are in an outage and the life span of your battery. A 24-hour backup option is available by purchasing three of the battery backup units.
Instructions for proper care and use of your backup battery
Please follow the more detailed instructions included with your battery for proper use, storage and care of your battery to ensure that it will function as needed during a power outage. If you do not store your battery correctly, it may shorten its useful life. Environmental factors such as temperature can shorten your battery’s useful life. We recommend that you store your battery above 41°F and below 104°F. These batteries are not rechargeable. They will not last forever and should be replaced every 2 to 3 years, or when your device starts to make a loud beeping sound. That sound means that the battery is depleted and must be replaced. You have the option to purchase a replacement from Smithville, to purchase a replacement from another source, or to discontinue the use of a battery backup for you voice services. You should also periodically, as described in the instructions included with your battery, remove and test your battery to verify both the operation of the backup battery and its condition.
UPS Warranty Information
The warranty information will be provided in the packaging of your purchased UPS Battery.
If you have any questions regarding backup power or would like to replace or purchase an additional battery, please give us a call at (800) 742-4084.
Available Backup Power Sources
Backup power sources can be purchased from local retail stores in the form of battery backups, uninterruptible power supplies or generators, for example, or purchased directly from Smithville.
If you choose to purchase a backup power source from your local retailer, please check with the manufacturer to ensure its functionality with fiber optical network terminals (ONT). Most commercially available sources will be adequate. Please be conscience of any limitations the equipment you purchase has. Backup power durations vary with equipment and use. Any selected backup power source should be placed directly between the fiber optical network terminal and the wall outlet.
Smithville offers a lithium-based battery backup to operate with the terminals we are deploying. This battery pack will keep all of your services up and running for up to 10-12 hours on a fully charged battery in the event that your home experiences a power outage.
If you choose to purchase an optional backup power source from Smithville and inform us of your decision before services are installed, our technician will install your purchased battery backup pack at the time of your scheduled service installation appointment, at no additional install charge.
If you need assistance installing your new battery pack, contact Smithville’s Technical Support team. If you want a Smithville technician to perform the install after your initial service installation, contact customer service. An appointment will be scheduled for an installation technician to install it for a $125.00 fee.
For unit pricing and to purchase a battery backup pack directly from Smithville, call (800) 742-4084.
Contacting Smithville
If you have any questions about this information, please contact us at:
Phone
(800) 742-4084
Website
https://www.smithville.com/contact-us/
Smithville Communications, Inc.
RE: Customer Service
PO Box 6455
Indianapolis, IN 46206-6455
