Lets discuss backup solutions

[Isetech]

Lets start wit hthe cheapest option a UPS (anything from around R600 last time I checked), good chance you already have one under the desk, designed to keep the power on for extended period of time, NO.

A UPS is not designed to keep the lights on, it is specifically designed to shut down your PC as sson as it detects that thew power has failed, if the correct UPS was supplied for the application, it would last around 15 minutes.

A proper good quality UPS (not cheap) is an online sytem which outputs a clean stable power supply all the time, we use them in machine which has sensitive elctronic components, to prevent power surges and dips thanks to our really unstable grid. We also use them for special lights on printing machines (which cost in excess of R10k). ther eis no swtiching time, the clean power is permanantly supplied and supported by a larger battery abnk, depending on the application.

I have been installing these online systems since the 90's, back in the day we installed them in offices where the company had many users connected to a server, a dip in the power would cause huge issues and the loss of data, so we fitted them to prevent the dips.

When you buy and install a UPS for your PC, you need to understand why and what it can offer.

A UPS (a decent one) will have a network cable which will connect to your computer, as soon as there is a power failure the UPS will save and shutdown your PC. How many people who have a UPS under the desk know this or even have the netwrok cable port or the cable connected to the PC, not many.

So should I buy a UPs to keep the light on, simple answer NO.

However you could waste money and overspec it to attempt get a couple of hours of backup, what a waste of money, there are way better options with lithium batteries.

[Isetech]

Next the mobile money spinner, people are throwing a lot of hard earned cah at these white elephants (gas guzzlers). These meccer plug and play units are the quickest way to make a pile cash and get the suckers to keep coming back.

The modified sine wave is terrible, the lead acid batteires last 6-9 months depending on the stages of load shedding.

Saying all this and I personally own a 600 watt meccer plug and play unit which I have had since 2009 and had to replace the battery (fortunately only one).

I replaced the battery a couple months ago and got around 4 hours, now I am lucky to get 1hr20 minutes.

They are not designed for long periods of load shedding (stage 6).

Becasue they have lead acid batteries, they cannot be fast charged, so what happens is after a few days of stage 6 load shedding, the voltage drops below the 10.5 VDC cutout and your battery starts the steep life span decline, within a couple of months the battery is as dead as disco. you can take the battery out and pop off the top and shake it around and refill it with battery water, then hammer a high charge current into it for a while, but who wants to waste time fiddling with battery acid.

I see they have got smart and managed to come up with a lithium solution, complete with a 4 knuckle prostate service without vaseline by the time you finish breaking bank, at over R32k for a 2 kw unit, really.

If you have the cash to throw at silly solutions like this, who am I to judge.

I would look around before throwing money at thes ereally expensive mobile solutions. In some case it might the right solution for the application. just look at all the option before you take the step.

[Isetech]

Then we move onto the device which was until recently the most sold solution, the 3 KVA axpert unit with 2 x lead acid batteries

This was the entry level unit to connect to the fixed electrical installation.

It is one of the cheapest intial outlay options, until you start adding up the battery replacements every 6-9 months, not because the unit is badly dsesigned, but rather because the installer didnt set the cutout voltage. If you drop it below 11.75 VDC, you might as well just piss the maney against the wall. If you get this setting right there is a good chance your batteries will last around 3 years, then you are in for around R2.5 - 3 K per battery to replace.

An ideal application for people who dont have a hundred K plus to throw at a full lithium solution.

If you just want to keep the lights on and a few light loads like the TV, router, alarm and maybe a small fridge, then this is a good option. You will notice an increase in your electricity account because the batteries will need to be charged using the grid power.

Yes it is a 3 kw unit (3000 watts), but you need to understand that if the load is 3 kw, your battery will be dead before you finish your pop corn.

The good news it is not a total waste, why because you can upgrade to lithium batteries and you can connect a solar panle or 2, so that you can reduce the cost to charge the batteries.

One good thing about these units is the fast switching time, you will barely notice the changeover from grid to battery and back to grid.

Another plus, the ease of installation, we mount the unit with all Battery DC isolator and AC bypass control box complete with grid bypass and mcbs, to a board. We do the full setup and prgramming in the workshop, disconnect the batteries, once on site its 4 coach bolts, reconnect the battery and install the the 4 core surfix into the DB. Once connected the unit is ready for load shedding. If you want to save a few bucks, you can always fit a panels later.