Loadshedding solutions

[Theunissa]

28 minutes ago, Bundu Ric said:

Just a question on the above, if you have batteries (lead acid) charging managed via an inverter could there still be overcharge or is it safe to assume the inverter managing that risk for you?

If the inverter is setup 110% correctly for your battery it's safe. But the quality of your inverter will also be a big role player ( cheaper more likely to fail) but if the inverter fails it will overcharge. But I've only seen this twice in 20 years. The problem is the risk is there with lead acid. Also as the batteries get older it happens more readily, because the batteries don't get full so it keeps on charging. And overcharges. The biggest reason I have found batteries to overcharge is due to age and lighting damage. I've seen hundreds of batteries (, sealed lead acid) leaking. Had a garage motor battery overcharge and leak on top of customers car with 2 weeks from new. You can move the batteries and extend the cables. But distance will be dependent on cable thickness. I you csn move away do so. If not I would atleast install an extractor fan above them to remove possible fumes 

[ChrisF]

3 hours ago, Bundu Ric said:

Just a question on the above, if you have batteries (lead acid) charging managed via an inverter could there still be overcharge or is it safe to assume the inverter managing that risk for you?

 

The "problem" with lead.acid batteries is that gas is released as part of the normal charge process.

 

So even with a good inverter perfectly set up you will have gas release ....

 

 

A VERY flammable gas !!!

 

 

Which is why "battery charging bays" must have minimum ventilation requirements.

 

 

Now try this in a room with minimal ventilation and things can get nasty ....

 

[Theunissa]

9 minutes ago, ChrisF said:

 

The "problem" with lead.acid batteries is that gas is released as part of the normal charge process.

 

So even with a good inverter perfectly set up you will have gas release ....

 

 

A VERY flammable gas !!!

 

 

Which is why "battery charging bays" must have minimum ventilation requirements.

 

 

Now try this in a room with minimal ventilation and things can get nasty ....

 

I think moderne battery that are sealed are less of an issue in this regard. But I don't do lead acid in a house 

[Bundu Ric]

Thanks, so I currently have 2 led acid batteries in my study which is in the corner of the room not boxed in, so is my understanding correct to rather replace them with gel batteries?

And if yes, any specific brand that is recomended as these ones I got from Builders as I just wanted a setup that could run the study for 4 hours at a time during load shedding.

[Theunissa]

1 hour ago, Bundu Ric said:

Thanks, so I currently have 2 led acid batteries in my study which is in the corner of the room not boxed in, so is my understanding correct to rather replace them with gel batteries?

And if yes, any specific brand that is recomended as these ones I got from Builders as I just wanted a setup that could run the study for 4 hours at a time during load shedding.

Gel is same as lead acid. 

[Spookie]

Noob Q: Anyone else having issues with fibre during loadshedding?

I have a UPS that can last the 2-4h stints no problem, but after an hour of loadshedding the internet stops working. So everything is connected, just no data flow (broadband light is red and service light is off - usually both are green).

Raised it with my ISP and they just blame Eskom and their ‘batteries not having enough time to recharge’. I’m not super clued up on these things, so trying to confirm that it’s definitely an ISP issue and not a fibre provider issue before I change ISP’s only to find I’ve gone full circle 😂 friends down the road are MWEB and have zero issues even in 4h windows.

 

[DJuice]

Looking for some advice to cool our garage where our inverter and batteries are located. Number one priority, cost effective, ek is kuiken swak. Would a standup fan make a difference?

It is an very old home, the garage can take 6 vehicles no problem, the garage is just to large for an ac and ac takes up to much power for our system.

As you are aware we live in Upington, used to heat, love the heat, but this last two weeks, was hellish.

Our system can carry the water cooler no problem, but ac we have to use sparingly, installing three more panels to carry the ac in the home. Water cooler the solution, but way above my means at the moment, and then the family will ask why not a water cooler for down stairs in the home.

We have Hubble batteries, some love them, some hate them, it was what we could afford and sofar worked with no problems, they are 7 months old, working temprature is +-55, has not bombed out, so atleast temprature below 55, but I have seen a 50.

Have a great day all!

 

[Frosty]

7 hours ago, Spookie said:

Noob Q: Anyone else having issues with fibre during loadshedding?

I have a UPS that can last the 2-4h stints no problem, but after an hour of loadshedding the internet stops working. So everything is connected, just no data flow (broadband light is red and service light is off - usually both are green).

Raised it with my ISP and they just blame Eskom and their ‘batteries not having enough time to recharge’. I’m not super clued up on these things, so trying to confirm that it’s definitely an ISP issue and not a fibre provider issue before I change ISP’s only to find I’ve gone full circle 😂 friends down the road are MWEB and have zero issues even in 4h windows.

I’m with Vodacom (fiber) and have problems with connectivity during stage 6. They’re too big to care about one small area of my suburb.

[The Ouzo]

Bit of a load shedding lol.

 

We were scheduled to go off at 20:00 last night. I got back from a meeting at the daughters school at about 19:30, changed and decided to make some coffee so we could settle down infront of the TV.

19:53 the lights go out, just as I finish stirring my coffee. Cue some swearing, then decided stuff it, I need some chill time so we will watch 1 episode of a show using the inverter.

about 15 minutes later the neighbour messages us to check if everything is ok as our house is totally dark.

That when we realised its not load shedding, we had run out of electricity.

[-cK-]

Is the friends down the road on the same fibre provider as you?  My ONT box has a LOS indicator to show if the fibre line is down or not making it easier to pin point problem otherwise can't you log into the router and check status of line.  There is usually and status indicator to show is the line is down or whether the ISP is down.

[Ispeed_V]

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[Bundu Ric]

11 hours ago, Theunissa said:

Gel is same as lead acid. 

Thanks. 

Apologies for the noob questions, so the R3k vs. R4k battery is the same except for the gel innards and it being sealed?

Does this mean the gel / sealed batteries are better for the normal acid batteries in my study, meaning safer?

[Frosty]

1 hour ago, The Ouzo said:

Bit of a load shedding lol.

That when we realised its not load shedding, we had run out of electricity.

Happened to me, more than once, over the years.

[The Ouzo]

2 minutes ago, Frosty said:

Happened to me, more than once, over the years.

yeah look the running out has happened many times, but we can usually tell its just us as there is a Telkom building diagonally behind us and their big a$$ diesel gennie kicks in when the power goes down. But last night we did not even bother to check if anyone else was down, we just assumed.

[117]

4 hours ago, DJuice said:

Looking for some advice to cool our garage where our inverter and batteries are located. Number one priority, cost effective, ek is kuiken swak. Would a standup fan make a difference?

It is an very old home, the garage can take 6 vehicles no problem, the garage is just to large for an ac and ac takes up to much power for our system.

As you are aware we live in Upington, used to heat, love the heat, but this last two weeks, was hellish.

Our system can carry the water cooler no problem, but ac we have to use sparingly, installing three more panels to carry the ac in the home. Water cooler the solution, but way above my means at the moment, and then the family will ask why not a water cooler for down stairs in the home.

We have Hubble batteries, some love them, some hate them, it was what we could afford and sofar worked with no problems, they are 7 months old, working temprature is +-55, has not bombed out, so atleast temprature below 55, but I have seen a 50.

Have a great day all!

 

To me your best solution will be to create a through draft/cross ventilation to bring the inside temps down. Some people create this through draft by opening all their patio doors, then lifting the garage door about 100mm off the floor. 
The trick to create the trough draft is to make sure the air exit area is about twice the size of the air entry area. This allows the air to accelerate through the house which pulls more in - ala venturi effect. 

A simpler way to is know where the prevailing wind comes from. Then, open the windows, say a 1/3rd, on that side of the house. On the opposite side of the house, open an equal or more of them up fully and leave the interleading doors open. Use a burning candle to see the airflow directions throughout the house and you'll be able to work out which incoming windows are effective at what gap opening versus the ones that are not. Its not a 10min exercise, but if you have kids that are bored it can give them something to do for a bit (or, send the MIL around to open and close stuff, that'll keep her out of your hair. They love to do that kind of sh*t anyway)

You could also install a whirlybird vent or two into the garage roof, but you must ensure that there are ventilation holes around the immediate area to allow the whirlys to pull the air into and through the garage. If not, they'll pull air in from the house door and this could end up adding to the heat problem. They also need to have direct access to the space in the garage and not only the roof - ie: they need to be ducted past the ceiling boards. 

Google is your friend to give you some cross ventilation ideas. Note the prevailing wind directions and you'll be able to figure it out. Just check in some of the diagrams on your search they show a dust trap - mommy will hate you more if you dont put one of these into your grand ventilation plans

 

 

[Spookie]

2 hours ago, -cK- said:

Is the friends down the road on the same fibre provider as you?  My ONT box has a LOS indicator to show if the fibre line is down or not making it easier to pin point problem otherwise can't you log into the router and check status of line.  There is usually and status indicator to show is the line is down or whether the ISP is down.

Yeah, I’m in a complex, same fibre provider for the whole lot…

I’ll have to take a look and see if I can find the details, thanks