loadshedding

[Zatopek]

Any body did an inverter installation?

 

yes, but limited in size:

 

I work from home so need to have 3+ PC's, wifi and internet dish on the roof. (Cant communicate the downtime every random day to the (patient) mother-ship in Ireland  ). I also use it to drive a couple of lights, TV etc in the evening when required.

 

Went for the smaller, but higher-end side of inverter with a single deep cycle battery. Expensive but I have a sort of gut feel where I'm going with future additional batteries or generator (last resort - noise) that also can go trough it etc. The big ones (that can handle full house i.e. kettle, ironing, freezer, geezer etc) are very very expensive though....

 

Work like a dream and absolutely no issues. No IT hardware issue during auto switching & charging  as Eskom,  well do the Eskom thing. To a point where I can say that at this stage Eskom don't affect me. (braai, camping gas for coffee do the rest)

 

Edited May 21, 2015 by Zatopek

[Brogue]

A generator is a nice to have, not a have to have. Lots of pitfalls when going that route. Installation needs to be certified, it's expensive, it's noisy unless you're going top dollar.

 

The average home doesn't need much to become Eskom proof.

 

A gas heater = 500 Schmucks

A 9kg gas bottle and 2 plate gas stove = 500 Schmucks

A 720W inverter & deep cycle battery, enclosed in case to hide the cables = 4000 Schmucks

 

The inverter system will easily power a large LCD television(not plasma), DStv Explora, surround sound, 2 laptops and a few LED lamps for 3-4hrs. It also protects your sensitive electronic equipment from spontaneously combusting due to power spikes. No installation either, just plug 'n play. Pure bliss.

 

Just make damned sure the inverter and battery is either SABS or CE certified. A good inverter has a built in voltage regulator, surge protector and circuit breaker to protect the equipment you're powering.

 

Food, lighting, heating, entertainment sorted. Kids content and adults happy. Easy as that. No mess, no fuss, no noise, all for just for about R5000, What Loadshedding?

 

Best 5k you'll ever spend. Best of all it's future-proof, if you want to add solar power and/or a generator later. Lot's of choice and chancers out there though, so do your homework before parting with your hard earned greenbacks.

 

[urbanroyal]

A generator is a nice to have, not a have to have. Lots of pitfalls when going that route. Installation needs to be certified, it's expensive, it's noisy unless you're going top dollar.

 

The average home doesn't need much to become Eskom proof.

 

A gas heater = 500 Schmucks

A 9kg gas bottle and 2 plate gas stove = 500 Schmucks

A 720W inverter & deep cycle battery, enclosed in case to hide the cables = 4000 Schmucks

 

The inverter system will easily power a large LCD television(not plasma), DStv Explora, surround sound, 2 laptops and a few LED lamps for 3-4hrs. It also protects your sensitive electronic equipment from spontaneously combusting due to power spikes. No installation either, just plug 'n play. Pure bliss.

 

Just make damned sure the inverter and battery is either SABS or CE certified. A good inverter has a built in voltage regulator, surge protector and circuit breaker to protect the equipment you're powering.

 

Food, lighting, heating, entertainment sorted. Kids content and adults happy. Easy as that. No mess, no fuss, no noise, all for just for about R5000, What Loadshedding?

 

Best 5k you'll ever spend. Best of all it's future-proof, if you want to add solar power and/or a generator later. Lot's of choice and chancers out there though, so do your homework before parting with your hard earned greenbacks.

Cool...are you selling these units ...if not where did you buy that one...☺

[Grebel]

We run a gas hob paired with an electric thermofan oven. Haven't used a thermofan gas unit so won't comment there. Been using the gas hob for almost 10 years now. Would do it again in the blink of an eye. 9kg lasts 3-4 months and we do a LOT of stove top cooking. Gas geyser as well. Not cheap though. 19kg lasts 2 months of normal usage.

 

One thing to keep in mind... LPG is linked to the fuel price so when fuel goes up, so does gas. Keep extra bottles as backup. It's not funny when you run out of gas and the depot says Sorry, no gas available.

[BarHugger]

Gas geyser as well. Not cheap though. 19kg lasts 2 months of normal usage.

.

What type of gas geyser? What is the water flow rate? Thinking of converting only the shower to gas so that there is atleast one tap with hot water when the poefies hit the fan.

[Grebel]

What type of gas geyser? What is the water flow rate? Thinking of converting only the shower to gas so that there is atleast one tap with hot water when the poefies hit the fan.

Dewhot 16lt/min. They say it's big enough to do bath, shower and basin. It isn't. Takes ages to run a bath. Enough for a shower (running a 300mm shower head and there is never going to be a hot water massage happening in that shower...) We had water efficient mixers on the hand basin and had to remove the green aerators to get sufficient flow to ignite the burner. You can't run a basin tap if someone is in the shower. TBH you cant run more than one tap at a time.

 

If you do install a gas geyser, run separate hot and cold taps for everything. Mixers don't work too well with the minimum flow rates required.

 

It is however hot water on demand at the end of rhe day.

 

Edit: Also be aware of the installation regs. They make retro fit installations a PITA! I was quoted R15k initially...! Ended up putting the bottle in the bathroom and saves R10k.

Edited May 24, 2015 by Grebel

[Brogue]

Cool...are you selling these units ...if not where did you buy that one...☺

 

I don't sell'em, found mine here:

http://www.gumtree.co.za/a-home-garden-home-appliances-other-home-appliances/western-cape-northern-suburbs-edgemead/720w-inverter-a-solution-to-keep-you-out-the-dark-includes-battery-charger-cables-and-case/1001283716420910004064809?activateStatus=adActivateSuccess

 

They literally deliver, plug in and leave. No more missed rugby games for you, and the missus can easily keep up with the Kardashian clan . Bear in mind it's only 700W, so don't overload it. Less is more, to keep it optimal and recharge time to a minimum.

Edited May 24, 2015 by Brogue

[BSG]

I don't sell'em, found mine here:

http://www.gumtree.co.za/a-home-garden-home-appliances-other-home-appliances/western-cape-northern-suburbs-edgemead/720w-inverter-a-solution-to-keep-you-out-the-dark-includes-battery-charger-cables-and-case/1001283716420910004064809?activateStatus=adActivateSuccess

 

They literally deliver, plug in and leave. No more missed rugby games for you, and the missus can easily keep up with the Kardashian clan [emoji106] . Bear in mind it's only 700W, so don't overload it. Less is more, to keep it optimal and recharge time to a minimum.

I like this idea, but when one connects more than one battery the standby time will be longer?

[GLuvsMtb]

I don't sell'em, found mine here:

http://www.gumtree.co.za/a-home-garden-home-appliances-other-home-appliances/western-cape-northern-suburbs-edgemead/720w-inverter-a-solution-to-keep-you-out-the-dark-includes-battery-charger-cables-and-case/1001283716420910004064809?activateStatus=adActivateSuccess

 

They literally deliver, plug in and leave. No more missed rugby games for you, and the missus can easily keep up with the Kardashian clan . Bear in mind it's only 700W, so don't overload it. Less is more, to keep it optimal and recharge time to a minimum.

I'm a bit clueless with these things, where do they plug it in? Does it need a transfer switch like generator backup systems?

[Rocket-Boy]

I'm a bit clueless with these things, where do they plug it in? Does it need a transfer switch like generator backup systems?

That doesnt look like a wired system, more like one that is connected to a few things permanently and works more like a UPS.

You can get them wired into the mains but that is a very costly affair.

[Brogue]

I'm a bit clueless with these things, where do they plug it in? Does it need a transfer switch like generator backup systems?

 

No generator required. It's plug and play.

 

The deep cell battery (industrial battery) is wired to the inverter. Unplug your entertainment system from the mains, and plug it directly into the inverter with a multiplug. The inverter is the only device plugged into the mains. When the mains fails, the inverter automatically powers  your equipment through the fully charged battery or batteries. You won't even notice you're being loadshedded, not even a flicker.

 

I like this idea, but when one connects more than one battery the standby time will be longer?

 

Yes. I have two batteries on a 1440w inverter, which can run more equipment for longer. I suspect the normal 2.5hr loadshedding shifts will become longer in time.

[BSG]

I guess if one sees how it is setup and connected it might be quite easy.

[Brogue]

That doesnt look like a wired system, more like one that is connected to a few things permanently and works more like a UPS.

You can get them wired into the mains but that is a very costly affair.

 

It's unnecessary to wire it into the mains. It's costly to do that, and if you sell your home, it's fixture. This is a portable plug and play energy system.

[BSG]

I don't sell'em, found mine here:

http://www.gumtree.co.za/a-home-garden-home-appliances-other-home-appliances/western-cape-northern-suburbs-edgemead/720w-inverter-a-solution-to-keep-you-out-the-dark-includes-battery-charger-cables-and-case/1001283716420910004064809?activateStatus=adActivateSuccess

 

They literally deliver, plug in and leave. No more missed rugby games for you, and the missus can easily keep up with the Kardashian clan [emoji106] . Bear in mind it's only 700W, so don't overload it. Less is more, to keep it optimal and recharge time to a minimum.

Brogue can/will you post a pic of how it is connected to your lights etc, is it connected via the mains?

[Brogue]

I guess if one sees how it is setup and connected it might be quite easy.

 

I'll post a few pics tomorrow. It's easy peasy. Unplug, plug in, switch on and forget about it. Even your wife could do it.

[BSG]

No generator required. It's plug and play.

 

The deep cell battery (industrial battery) is wired to the inverter. Unplug your entertainment system from the mains, and plug it directly into the inverter with a multiplug. The inverter is the only device plugged into the mains. When the mains fails, the inverter automatically powers your equipment through the fully charged battery or batteries. You won't even notice you're being loadshedded, not even a flicker.

 

 

Yes. I have two batteries on a 1440w inverter, which can run more equipment for longer. I suspect the normal 2.5hr loadshedding shifts will become longer in time.

Ok that explanation makes it easier to understand, how about the lights, do you connect it on the same way through the inverter?