How to prepare yourself for load-shedding
Avoid being stuck in the dark by keeping these back-up power tips in mind.
Frustrating as it is, load-shedding is a reality in SA and is most probably here to stay for a while. Take proactive steps to keep the lights on at home and in your business when the power goes out. AWPower has some handy tips when it comes to deciding what type of alternative power prolonging option is best for you.
Power up the generator
Factories or large businesses that run power-intensive operations such as data centres, commercial refrigerators or production lines are best suited to generators. It might be wise to add a battery back-up system to the office side of the business to run lighter loads such as office lighting, computers and point of sale systems.
Back it up with batteries
Quieter, less prone to breaking down and cleaner (no carbon monoxide fumes) are some of the plus points for backup batteries compared to generators. Backup batteries are also generally more affordable to run, as you don’t need to buy fuel. Setting up a backup battery system is quite costly at first, but it is an affordable solution in the long run, especially if integrated with a solar system.
Solar hybrid system
As a long-term solution, a hybrid solar system is a clever choice and consists of solar panels, batteries and a hybrid inverter (controlling energy flow between the grid, solar panels and batteries). Providing enough power to keep essentials running during load shedding, a hybrid solar system is ideal for your home or a smaller business that does not run energy-intensive equipment. You can harvest renewable energy from the sun which can either be stored in batteries for those load shedding hours or used to power some of your loads, which allows you to save money on electricity and essentially operate off the grid.
