Is Load shedding effecting your business or studies?

Unfortunately load shedding it is effecting every student, every home and small business equally. The lights go off and everything stops, internet, computer, lights, microwave, stove, kettle, electric gate.

Since Covid, schooling and university/colleges have evolved their methods to rely heavily on the internet for, homework, projects and assessments.

I watch my 15 year old son get back from sport at around 6pm with the pressure of another 2 hours of homework to look forward to, only to have to deal with loadshedding from 6pm to 10pm. And every day the loadshedding schedule changes which adds to the stress.

So what is the power solution for you?

A generator, inverter, UPS, solar – or completely off the grid?

Heaven help you if you ask a shop assistants advice- I have found that 99% of the population know very little about Volts, Amps, AC current, DC Current, Watts, VA, Ahr. They know even less about batteries and how to select the best battery for your application. 

How do you choose?

Petrol or diesel generator, inverter, UPS or solar

Lets look at the options in more detail and hopefully bring some clarity into this backup power problem that all South Africans have been thrust into.

The pros and cons of each backup power option for a household:

Petrol Generator

Pros:

• Provides high power output for long periods of time, making it suitable for large power needs or prolonged power outages
• Can power larger household appliances and electronics
• Widely available and can be purchased at hardware stores or online
• Can be used for outdoor activities like camping

Cons:

• Requires regular maintenance and fuel refills, which can be costly and time-consuming
• Produces noise and emits exhaust fumes, which can be unpleasant and harmful to the environment
• Can be expensive to purchase initially, as well as operate and maintain over time
• May not be allowed in certain residential areas due to noise

Inverter

Pros:

• Runs quietly and produces no emissions, making it an environmentally-friendly option
• Requires little maintenance and is easy to operate
• Can be powered by renewable energy sources like solar panels
• Portable and lightweight, making it easy to move and transport
• Typically less expensive than petrol generators

Cons:

• Provides limited power output for shorter periods of time, making it less suitable for large power needs or prolonged outages
• Can only power smaller household appliances and electronics
• Requires initial investment in batteries or solar panels, which can be costly
• May require additional equipment or professional installation
• Unplugging from power source and recharging between usage cycles
• May not be suitable for areas with long power outages

UPS

Pros:

• Provides an instant backup power source during short power outages
• Requires minimal maintenance and is easy to use
• Produces no noise or emissions, making it an environmentally-friendly option
• Can be used to protect sensitive electronics from power surges and outages

Cons:

• Provides limited power output for short periods of time, making it less suitable for large power needs or prolonged outages
• Can only power small household appliances and electronics
• May not be suitable for areas with long power outages

For a small office or home usage where the load required to run your essential electronics is relatively low, the convenience of a UPS wins every time.

Inverters are bit more inconvenient than a UPS since they generally require you to alternately plug your equipment into the mains or the inverter.

For farms, or areas where noise is not  a problem and frequent extended power cuts are common, I would recommend a generator.

And since we live in sunny South Africa, I believe the target for every household should be to move to solar (normally in stages) in a totally off the grid solution.