How to create an emergency kit for power cuts

It is always important to put together an emergency preparedness kit for power cuts for your family. A lot of extremely worried and frightened by these outages, so creating a emergency kit can make them feel more empowered and prepared.

Items to place in your emergency kit:

- Flashlights with extra batteries
- A well-stocked first aid kit
- Warming blankets
- Candles and matches or a lighter – use these with caution
- Drinking water
- Non-perishable food
- Manual can opener
- Coolers and ice
- Food thermometer
- Medicines
- Paper towels
- Tissues
- Hand wipes
- Hand sanitizer
- Work gloves
- Power bank
- Cell phone and extra battery

It is important to remember that items from your kit that have an expiry date, such as food and medicines, need to be replenished when they go off or are used.

Always be prepared, you never know when a power cut could happen and it’s not possible to know for certain how many hours you will be without power.

For a wide range of backup power solutions, contact Off Grid today. 

How to keep your food safe in a power outage

Flicker, flicker – dark! The lights have gone off, and its time to search for the torch and the candles. Even though you can see by candlelight, there are other hidden dangers lurking in the dark that you cant see, like bacteria that will attack your food!

Anything could cause a power cut: a severe storm, load shedding or damage to the electric lines. And storing food safely can become quite a challenge. Here are the recommended steps to follow before and during a power outage.

Prepare Ahead of Time

- Appliance thermometers. Make sure you keep appliance thermometers in both the fridge and the freezer. This is the best way to make sure that your food is safe after the power goes out. Safe temperatures are 4°C or lower in the fridge and -17°C or lower in the freezer.

- Freeze water in plastic storage bags or small containers. These are small enough to fit in around food to keep food cold. Don’t fill them too full though, because the bags might split when the water freezes.

- Freeze refrigerated items such as leftovers, milk, fresh meat and poultry. This helps keep them at  a safe temperature for longer.

- Dry ice or block ice. Find out where you can get these ahead of time.

- Have coolers on hand to keep your food cold if the power will be out for more than four hours.

- Group food together in the freezer. This will help the food stay cold for longer. They will form a type of “igloo” to protect each other.

- Stock up on ready-to-eat foods. Be sure to have a few days of food that doesn’t require any cooking or cooling.

When the Power Goes Out

- Keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible. A fridge will keep your food cold for about 4 hours if the door is kept closed.

- A full freezer will hold its temperature for about 48 hours (24 hours if it is half full)

When the Power Comes Back On

- Check the temperature inside your fridge and freezer. Discard any perishable foods such as meat, poultry, seafood, eggs or leftovers that have been above 4°C for two hours or more.

- Check each item separately. Throw out any food that has an unusual colour, odour or texture.

- Never taste food to decide if it is safe.

- When in doubt – throw it out!

Keep these tips handy, so you can be sure that your food is safe during a power outage.

Off Grid supplies back up power solutions for your home or business. Our solutions are both affordable and seamless to run, so you can carry on with your daily life without any interruptions!

100 days without a power cut - Will we see load shedding again?

Yesterday, Eskom celebrated its 100^th day without cutting the power supply. Steady progress has been made in the maintenance programme of its aging power plants, which means plant availability will be improved and a decrease in plant breakdowns.

However, news is that a substation has erupted into flames!

Video footage has come out of a massive fire engulfing Eskom’s Merensky substation in Steelpoort, Mpumalanga, following an explosion.

The employees at the scene were unable to specify the reason why the transmitter exploded on Sunday night.  Luckily the Tubatse Fire department and mine rescue team were on the scene quickly enough to control the raging fire, however the blaze was only extinguished the next morning.

Because of the blaze, entry to the substation was denied due to safety precautions. Fortunately no injuries were reported.

Take a look at the video here...

So, because of this incident, will we see load shedding in the future? We hope not!

For a wide range of load shedding and back up power solutions, contact Off Grid in Cape Town!

Dealing with a power cut on your aquarium

Tropical fish are fascinating, beautiful and restful creatures. If you own a tropical fish aquarium then you need to know how to keep them safe at all times, and being prepared for load shedding or a power cut is vital.

Tropical fish don’t react well to drastic changes or drops in temperature, so use these tips to protect your fish.

If the power goes off

During a power cut, or if load shedding hits, the water will begin to fall towards room temperature. Most fish will be able to cope well with a gradual rise or fall in water temperature, although they may become sluggish and behave differently; they should make a full recovery. Changes like this happen all the time in nature, only delicate species may be badly affected.

The speed at which the water becomes cooler can be affected by:

- The surrounding air temperature
- The size of the tank
- The volume of water held inside the tank

How to protect your fish

- Be prepared. If you know about the power cut, always plan ahead and stock up on what you need. Use a cheap bubble-up filter that can be run off a battery-powered air pump.

- Insulate. Wrap the fish tank in blankets, and if possible fill hot water bottles with warm water and place them around the outside of the tank. Pay particular attention to the aquarium hood – this is where most heat is lost.

- Oxygenate. Without power the water will lose oxygen at a rate that depends on water volume, the quantity of fish within the aquarium and whether there are oxygenating plants in it. Using a bicycle pump is a cheaper method of moving water.

- Go easy on the food. The tanks filtration system won’t be working so try not to feed the fish during this time, or cut down how much food you give them to minimize waste.

Hopefully these tips help and keep your fish safe and sound during a power cut.

For reliable, affordable back up power solutions, contact Off Grid today!

Risks of load shedding for the small business owner

Depending on the type of business you run, whether you're a guesthouse owner, plumber or franchisee, here are some of the top risk areas associated with load shedding: 

Theft and burglary: Remember that criminals also study load shedding schedules to work out which areas are vulnerable at which times. Tripped and false alarms are great opportunities for opportunistic burglars. Make sure that your alarm system has a working back-up battery, try and keep as little cash on your premises as possible and be extra vigilant about access to your premises and securing your perimeter.

Stock spoiling: It's important to always leave your freezer and refrigerator doors closed to preserve the cold temperature inside. A full freezer should keep food safe for up to two days and a refrigerator for 4-6 hours.

Production halting: If your production relies on machinery, and staff cannot put in additional hours on weekends or evenings, perhaps then consider buying a backup power solution from Off Grid.

Battery life: If your laptop is your life, make sure your battery is fully charged and invest in a portable modem with sufficient data. Another option would be to purchase a UPS or power bank.

Lighting: If your business requires good lighting in order to perform intricate work (e.g. medical professionals), it is very important that you familiarise yourself with the schedules and plan ahead as load shedding can have a direct impact on your business.

Damage to electronics and machinery: Surges or spikes - caused by the electrical supply being switched on and off - can cause damage to electronic equipment and machinery. If your business relies heavily on electrical equipment and machinery, you might want to look into surge protection plugs, back-up batteries or UPS.

In the business world, productivity is everything and load shedding makes it difficult to plan ahead. Consumers can light candles or order a pizza but for small business owners, these interruptions can seriously affect business productivity and profit. 

What could cause a power cut, besides load shedding?

An unexpected power failure can really ruin your day, cut an event short and put the dampers on an otherwise brilliant day. It can even be dangerous, which can be a huge problem!

There are lots of things you can do to prevent power cuts or minimize their impact, such as purchasing a backup power solution, like a UPS or power bank, from Off Grid. However, lets first look at what causes power cuts in the first place (besides load shedding):

     ·         Weather. The weather tends to cause the majority of power outages, with electrical storms being the number one factor that affects the power grid. A sudden rain storm can play havoc with your temporary power systems if the installation has not factored in waterproofing the equipment.

 

     ·         Poor Quality Equipment. Power generators, UPS devices and other equipment related to the provision of power need to be tested on a regular basis. If this isn’t done, faults can go undetected and these can sometimes cause problems in your power supply. Make sure you purchase high-quality backup power equipment that has been tried and tested – try Off Grid!

     ·         A power system can fail if it isn’t properly set up by a trained and experienced electrician or temporary power specialist. If you try to run an unbalanced load or too much equipment, lighting or appliances through a system that can’t handle it, you could end up with serious problems.

To prevent power outages that could cause inconvenience, make sure you use an expert in temporary power and choose equipment that is regularly tested and maintained.

Beat load shedding with a Power Bank

Load shedding has been under control for a while now, and we haven’t heard anyone utter the word lately. However we do live in South Africa and load shedding is an evil that can arise at any time and place, plus let’s not forget that power surges and spikes happen too.

Off Grid has the perfect load shedding solutions for your home or your business, they can help you get through the problems with affordable and simple backup power devices.

One great way to get through load shedding is to purchase a power bank and make sure that it is always juiced up and ready to go!

This may seem like an obvious option, but it is very important. There is only so long a smartphone or tablet can last on one charge, so having a spare power bank with extra charge is a must have in load shedding or power cut situations.

Off Grid’s favourite little power banks, that are available to purchase, are:

- The 2000MAH power bank

- The ultra slim 3500MAH power bank

- The 4400MAH power bank

- The 6000MAH power bank

Of course, there are definitely alternatives to using a power bank, but if you need to keep your battery life going strong then the power bank is a  small, easy and cost effective option.

What would life be like without electricity?

Humanity has been through many stages of evolution, one discover in particular has shaped the future of our race – electricity.

Just stop for a minute and think about if one day electricity were to just disappear without any warning. There would be no power for your gadgets, no electrical devices and no lights. However there would be a bigger problem if you consider that our whole modern world is completely built around our dependence on electricity.

Electricity is in fact the beating heart of our civilization, without it, everything around us would break down and crumble into chaos. But, it is interesting to think about what would happen if we no longer had access to all our most precious things. We would have to relearn everything, how to cook, wash, transport, entertain and simply live without all the electrical devices that we use every day.

Just imagine, your neighbour would become your competition for food. Hunting would become a vital skill if you had to survive without electricity. Do you know how to hunt game with a bow and arrow? I thought not.

With the digital world vanishing, the loss of phones and the internet would force a generations that have grown up with instant access to all information to actually have to communicate face to face. Millions would be completely helpless and clueless.

So, what would life be like without electricity? There is no proper answer as great things have been accomplished without it, however at the moment our world depends on electricity for everything.

Our electricity hasn’t been completely destroyed yet, but if load shedding strikes or a power outage hits, you don’t want to get stuck in the dark. Off Grid Load Shedding Solutions can provide you with the best backup power solutions that are affordable and easy to use.

6 Advantages of using a UPS system

A UPS is an external power supply that helps in providing protection for electronic devices during load shedding or sudden disruption in the power supply.

There are many advantages of using a UPS, here are just a few:

× Protects against uncertain data loss During a power cut, a UPS will keep your system running so that you have time to save your precious data and shut down your computer or other electronic devices safely.

× Supplies power
A UPS is an alternative power source which is reliable during power surges, spikes and of course, the dreaded load shedding. In case of any of these electrical disruptions, you can resume your work for a few hours by using a UPS.

× Protects your devices from power fluctuation
Fluctuations in the power supply can lead to damage to your electronic devices. By having a UPS system, the power fluctuations will be controlled and provide a stable power output.

× Provides surge protection
Power surges, outages and spikes are all detected by a UPS system, and automatic switch-over to the battery power will take place during these conditions in order to prevent any damage.

× Maintains battery life
Once you connect a UPS to the battery, the charging of the system is maintained. This ensures that there is enough power for all your electronic devices during load shedding or a power outage.

× Gives power back to businesses
Majority of businesses connect their computers and other electronic devices to a UPS system. The main benefit is that even though there are huge power disruptions (especially with load shedding) it is not going to affect work output.

Having a UPS system is essential, not only at work, but in your home as well.  It manages to protect the most delicate parts of your machine, but still provide you with hours of power. If you are looking for a reliable, affordable UPS system, take a look at the selection from Off Grid Load Shedding Solutions!

10 things we miss the most when the electricity goes out

Going without electricity for a couple of hours is really bad, and it can be hell on earth for some people. Without electricity, even for a short time, these 10 things will be missed the most…

LIGHTS
The most basic luxury that electricity provides is our lights at night, and even during the day! Your candles and flashlights aren’t even close to the same thing.

CELLPHONES
Majority of our communications these days revolve around our phones. They are the centre of our world and the main way we communicate on social media and with our family and friends.

INTERNET AND COMPUTERS
This should go without saying, it is probably the thing we use the most in our modern lives. We can’t really get much done with our computer.

TELEVISION
The average person watches 4 hours of TV a day, while the average child actually watches 6 hours! It can be a shock to our emotional system when the power goes out and we can’t watch anymore.

iPODS, STEREO, MUSIC
So many people walk around with their earphones attached to their iPods and other devices, listening to music. It can be a little bit difficult to do this if there is no electricity to recharge these devices. Like TV, music is a major part of the background entertainment for people.

AIR CONDITIONING, FANS, HEAT
Now that the days are getting hotter, it is vital to have air conditioning and fans to keep cool. Even in the colder months, heaters are always on. We have lived so long with this convenience that being without it, even for a few hours is a shock.

REFRIGERATOR AND FREEZER
Our fridges serve an important role in keeping your food fresh and cool. When the electricity goes out, it can be hard to find a cool glass of water and it can cause food to go off, especially if the power is cut for a long period of time.

KITCHEN APPLIANCES
How will you handle it if you can’t make a fresh cup of coffee, or a nice piece of toast? Think about it, all your kitchen appliances run on electricity, so when the power is cut, you can’t use much in the kitchen!

STOVE, OVEN AND MICROWAVE
Let this sink in, all of us cook our food in the oven, microwave or on the stove, we won’t be able to cook any dinner if there is no power. Cold salads and sarmies are always an option though.

WASHING MACHINE AND DRYER
Washing your clothes is something that you may take for granted, and when the power goes out and you really need clean clothes for work the next day, it can be a real hassle.

Even though most of the time the power only goes out for a couple of hours, it can be annoying and a real shock on our emotional state when we can’t use the things we usually do! It is surprising how many things in our lives need electricity to function!

Off Grid provides backup power solutions that are both affordable and seamless to run; when the power goes out you are not inconvenienced and you can continue to run your business, watch TV, surf the internet, cook meals and all without worrying about when it’s coming back on again.

Did you know that SA has been load shedding-free for a month?

Yes, it’s true, it has been over a month since Eskom cut the power and they plan to keep up this trend for as long as they can.

"Eskom has not had load shedding for the past 30 consecutive days and none is anticipated for the day," the utility said in a statement on Tuesday.

The electricity situation has been helped by the extremely warm temperatures in the past few weeks, and the brand new power station which has added 794 megawatts to the grid. We are all hoping and praying that we get a load shedding-free summer!

The power outages have affected Africa’s industrialised economy quite seriously, which shrank by 1.3% in the second quarter. This raised the risk of recession. Luckily, the chances of avoiding recession are better if there is no or not so much load shedding, so this is good news. Christie Viljoen of NKC African Economics went on to say that, “load shedding has been a shock to the economy.”

However, now that we have lost momentum because of load shedding, it might be a while before things get going again.

The good news it they even went on to say that there is a low risk of load shedding, as the power system is constrained, but stable. Well, don’t get your hopes up too much, load shedding is probably still going to happen in the near future. After all we’ve been through; it’s obvious that Eskom can’t be trusted.

Off Grid provide backup power solutions that are both affordable and seamless to run; when the power goes out you are not inconvenienced and can continue to run your business, watch TV, surf the internet and all without worrying about when it’s coming back on again.

How does a computer’s UPS work?

Your computer or laptop is able to withstand slight differences in power, but a significant change will cause the power supply to fail! A UPS is generally there to protect your PC against these different power problems…

Surges and spikes – Times when the voltage on the line is much more than it should be.

Sags – Times when the voltage on the line is less than it should be.

Total power failure – Times when a line goes down or a fuse blows somewhere on the grid or in the building or area.

Load shedding – Times when the power is cut purposely to avoid excess load on the power system.

Frequency differences – Times when the power is swaying at something other than the right frequency.

There are two common systems that we use today, standby UPS devices and continuous UPS devices. A standby UPS runs the computer off of the normal power until it detects a problem. At that point, it will very quickly turn on the power inverter and run the computer off of the UPS’s battery.

In a continuous UPS, the computer is always running off of the battery power and the battery is always being recharged. It is possible to build a simple UPS yourself, using a large battery charger, a battery and a power inverter. If the power fails, the battery will then give power to the inverter. There is no switch-over time in a continuous UPS device.

Standby UPS systems are far more common for home and small-business use because they tend to be a lot cheaper than a continuous UPS. Continuous systems provide clean, stable power, so they are usually used for servers.

Off Grid can provide you with backup power solutions for you or your business, including a variety of UPS devices. Our load shedding solutions are both easy to work and affordable, so when the power goes out, you will not be inconvenienced.

Load Shedding and Safety

Most of us use a mixture of sources to get energy into our households. Because of load shedding, we can’t always rely on electricity to keep our homes powered. Alternatives include electricity, gas, coal, paraffin, firewood, candles and solar power to fulfill the job of lighting, cooking or heating.

What we don’t always consider with the alternatives we turn to is safety. Energy accidents are a global problem; and can cause accidents with children and adults. Education around energy safety not only helps you and your family but the community as a whole.

There are some preventative measures you can take to ensure that you and your family are always safe when load shedding prevents you from using electricity.

Preventative measures:

- Repair all damaged and broken wires in your home

- Never ever let children use appliances, paraffin stoves or candles unsupervised

- Turn off appliances when you are done using them

- Dangerous products, such as paraffin and matches should always be kept out of reach and properly sealed

- Make sure the container you use for storing paraffin is not used for anything else

- Have emergency numbers in highly visible places for children to call during a crisis

Dealing with the emergency

- Get yourself and others out of the situation

- Call for help

- Using sand to put out electrical and paraffin fires is far more effective than water

- All burns should be taken seriously, get the injured person to a hospital or clinic as fast as possible

Load shedding is not going away anytime soon. Because of this, we have been forced to use other ways to supply ourselves with power.

Although accidents do happen; we have to take extra measures to make sure that those dearest to us are safe and protected!

Off Grid can provide your home or your business with effective load shedding solutions. Don't get caught in the dark, purchase one of our many products today!

The fun side of load shedding

Load shedding is not a joke, however if you choose to look on the bright side of the situation you can find some fun activities to do when load shedding makes an unwelcome visit in your area.

Practice your handstands

Everyone knows that if you can do handstands, you’re considered to be pretty cool. It’s a small accomplishment for young kid, but it really gets a crowd of 25 year olds going! Handstands can be a party trick for when load shedding hits and all you need to do it is a wall and arms.

Become environmentally friendly

Load shedding is the perfect opportunity for you to turn your crib into a completely green zone. Yes, throw out your electrical oven and replace it with a gas one. Jeez, why don’t you just throw out your kettle and toaster while you’re at it, we shouldn’t be relying on appliances that use unnecessary power. For those of you who want to fully commit to this idea should just buy a tent and move into a local campsite or park, you can always just live off the land.

Make use of your Pinterest account

This is the best opportunity for you to actually make something from your DIY Pinterest folder. Why don’t you kick it old school and make some pretty decorations using candles – pack those torches away. Be aware because this activity might require you to print out instructions beforehand, unless you’re lucky enough to still have data.

Get to know your friends

We know that since we have reached the level of only communicating with technology, we have become socially awkward weirdos, who only know how to compliment people’s selfies on Facebook. Well, load shedding is the perfect time to get those social skills working again! Take a trip to your friend’s house (if you still remember where they live) and start up a conversation with them.

Earn your degree

Load shedding is actually the perfect time for you to study and learn stuff. Leave 9gag, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube alone and finally read that course you haven’t got around to even looking at. When all the distractions are gone you can finally work towards deserving that degree you got that one time at that place you never want to visit again.

Prepare in advance

Yes, we have load shedding schedules, but we also live in South Africa, the country where no one really knows that is going on. That means the power can go off at any moment, so always remember to have some cooked bacon on standby at all times! “Hell hath no FURY than a man who can’t fry bacon.” – Bazil the Bulldog.

There is always hope in the darkness, even though in the moment we panic and wonder what on earth people did before the internet. Hopefully these tips will make load shedding bearable and bring some light to your dark room.

Off Grid provides backup power solutions that are both affordable and seamless to run; when the power goes out you are not inconvenienced and can continue to run your business, watch TV, surf the internet and all without worrying about when it’s coming back on again.

Five Power-Saving Myths Busted

Load shedding is a reality, and we have been told that it’s here to stay for most of 2015. Eskom needs to balance the scales and supply enough electricity to meet our needs. But we can also have a part in this by trying to save power as much as we can.

Here are some common power-saving myths that have been busted…

1. Turning the geyser off and on uses more power that simply leaving it on

TRUTH: Switching your geyser off and on again won’t actually save power overall, however it will help Eskom reduce demand during crucial periods.

To reheat the water to its set temperature, a geyser uses no more power than if it had just stayed switched on.

2. I have a geyser blanket, so I don’t need to switch my geyser off

TRUTH: A geyser blanket does help reduce heat loss and therefore can lead to small power savings, but you still need to switch off your geyser during peak times in order to help reduce demand.

3. Switching lights and appliances off and on uses more power than just leaving them on

TRUTH: Turning a light or an appliance on can lead to a small surge in power usage, but this is smaller than the amount of electricity needed to keep it on when it is not being used.

4. It uses less energy to leave my heater on, than to heat my room again

TRUTH: The fact is it takes less energy to warm up your room than leaving your heater on for long periods of time. Rather wear warm clothes or use a hot water bottle than to keep a heater on.

5. Setting the air conditioner to its lowest temperate will cool a room quicker

TRUTH: This won’t make your room cooler any quicker; it will just use much more power because the air con will be on for longer. The same goes for using an air con to heat a room.

6. Putting my TV or electrical devices on standby mode is the same as switching it off

TRUTH: Even on standby mode, an electrical appliance still draws power. Rather just switch it off completely or unplug it from the way.

Load shedding is basically the result of bad planning and poor management, however we still need to do our part and try to save power. We don’t want load shedding to carry on for the rest of our lives!

Off Grid provides backup power solutions that are both affordable and seamless to run; when the power goes out you are not inconvenienced and can continue to run your business, watch TV, surf the internet and all without worrying about when it’s coming back on again.

Load Shedding and Road Safety

Most South Africans have experienced the inconvenience of a break in power supply. Power cuts are unfortunately going to be a reality for years to come. 

There is also the impact of load shedding on road safety. We need to address load shedding and learn how to protect ourselves from the risks posed by load shedding

Impact of load shedding on road safety

- There is not much that the average person can do about power failures affecting traffic lights and traffic flow – the correct driving attitude can however go a long way in preventing accidents.

- It is suggested, where possible, that drivers plan their routes and leave early to try and avoid the heavy traffic periods, this may also reduce the urge to rush.

- Many people are impatient because they are late due to the load shedding conditions and may take unnecessary risks , you should be extra cautious at faulty traffic lights. 

- Many other motorists are also delayed and may be using their cell phones and possibly not concentrating fully on the road. Always make sure other vehicles are stationary before you pull away from the four way stop.

Always remember to concentrate fully on the road during load shedding. Load shedding is bad enough as it is, let’s not make it worse.

Off Grid provides backup power solutions that are both affordable and seamless to run; when the power goes out you are not inconvenienced and can continue to run your business, watch TV, surf the internet and all without worrying about when it’s coming back on again.

Load Shedding can cause Health Dangers

Our load shedding crisis is not only annoying, but it can be downright dangerous to your health too. Here’s how to protect yourself when darkness falls…

Power outages and public health facilities

While businesses and households struggle to deal with rolling black outs, the risks it poses for hospital patients are far greater.

Electricity is essential for public health facilities so when the supply is unstable it could be fatal for patients undergoing emergency treatment, surgery and those in intensive care. Furthermore, organs, vaccines and medication that need to be refrigerated can also spoil or become ineffective.

Tip: keep a two-plate gas stove at hand to boil water to sterilise baby bottles.

How to prevent health issues during load shedding: Keep your first aid kit close by in case any accidents happen in the dark, especially if you have children or older people living with you.

Dangers to health equipment

For those who suffer from emphysema, make sure that portable respirators are always charged.

Asthmatics should also keep their nebulisers charged.

Anyone who uses oxygen, such as those suffering from chronic bronchitis, sleep apnoea and other restrictive lung diseases, should keep an extra oxygen tank so they can keep breathing easily.

Dangers in the dark that affect all of us

Switch off all electronics and appliances during power outages. At times when power is restored there is the potential for it to come back with a spike in the voltage. Any sparks resulting from this could lead to burns and cuts and it can also damage electronic devices like computers, televisions and DVD players.

Being in the dark also can also be a health hazard for the small children and the elderly, who could trip and fall, especially when climbing stairs. Injuries resulting from falls can be as simple as ankle sprains to very serious hip fractures, which are all very common injuries for the elderly.

Safe heating alternatives

If you have a fireplace, make sure you have plenty of wood and keep the matches nearby.

Gas heaters are great for heating. Make sure you are stocked up with gas and heat only one room where everyone can gather together.

Ensure all windows and doors are closed to keep the heat in.

Place extra blankets and duvets in an easy-to-reach cupboard.

Load shedding is a nuisance and has forced us to prepare to install backup power solutions and keep torches and candles close at hand. Being engulfed in darkness for hours also comes with a  lot of health risks – so be prepared.

Need backup power for your home or business? Order from Off Grid and we can provide you with all you need, from power banks to UPS.

How to survive load shedding if you are a small business owner

In the business world, productivity is everything and load shedding makes it difficult to plan ahead. You can always light candles or order a pizza but for small business owners, these interruptions can seriously affect business productivity and profit. 

Here’s some practical advice to make you aware of the right information, the risks to watch out for and which investments to make to lighten the impact of load shedding. 

Be prepared: Know your schedule 

Make a note of the latest load shedding schedules for your area to give you a better idea of when load shedding can possibly affect your business: 

If you are an Eskom customer, you can use the official Eskom Load Shedding website, where you can search for your local area or suburb. There is also an advanced search option to search by municipality. 

Or you can check on the City of Cape Town website.

Risks of load shedding for the small business owner 

Depending on the type of business you run, whether you're a guesthouse owner, plumber or franchisee, here is some of the top risk areas associated with load shedding: 

Theft and burglary: Remember that criminals also study load shedding schedules to work out which areas are vulnerable at which times. Tripped and false alarms are great opportunities for opportunistic burglars. Make sure that your alarm system has a working back-up battery, try and keep as little cash on your premises as possible and be extra vigilant about access to your premises.

Stock spoiling: It's important to always leave your freezer and refrigerator doors closed to preserve the cold temperature inside. A full freezer should keep food safe for up to two days and a refrigerator for 4-6 hours.

Production halting: If your production relies on machinery, and staff cannot put in additional hours on weekends or evenings, perhaps then consider buying or hiring a back-up generator.

Battery life: If your laptop is your life, make sure your battery is fully charged and invest in a backup power solution.

Lighting: If your business requires good lighting in order to perform intricate work (e.g. medical professionals), it is very important that you familiarise yourself with the schedules and plan ahead as load shedding can have a direct impact on your business.

Damage to electronics and machinery: Surges or spikes - caused by the electrical supply being switched on and off - can cause damage to electronic equipment and machinery. If your business relies heavily on electrical equipment and machinery, you might want to look into surge protection plugs, back-up batteries or UPS.

6 things that can minimise the impact of load shedding

- Back up power

- Power Bank

- Generator

- UPS

- Surge protection

- Back up your data

- Back-up batteries 

- Solar-powered solutions

It is a fact that we can’t change load shedding, but thinking ahead will mean the difference between losing revenue and doing business as usual.

Need load shedding solutions for your home or business? Contact Off Grid and place your order today!

How does a Portable Power Bank work?

A power bank is basically an external battery in its own sealed case. Power banks usually come with a USB cable, so you can connect it to a power source such as your laptop or your phone. The great thing about having a power bank is that you can carry it, cable and all, in your pocket, purse or backpack. And when you see your battery sinking, all your have to do is simply plug your laptop or phone in with the USB cable!

We’ve all been in the situation when you’re out, you’ve got a million things to do and you need your smartphone to send an email or make a call, and alas – your battery is dead! And now that load shedding is basically a regular occurrence, we also find ourselves in a situation where we can’t use our smartphones or laptops because the power has been cut!

Now the old solution would be to maybe go sit in your car in the parking lot and use your phone charger, or find a restaurant with an outlet to plug your charger into. It’s hard to admit, but without your smartphone – you’re screwed. So what is the solution to this problem? Portable power banks.

So, how do they work? Power banks are comprised of a special battery in a special case with a special circuit to control power flow. They allow you to store electrical energy and then use it later to charge up your electrical devices. Power banks have become very popular because of the dreaded load shedding and because the battery life of our beloved phones, tablets and laptops have become

outstripped. By keeping a battery backup close by, you can easily top-up your devices.

Power banks can be used for just about anything; cameras, GoPros, smartphones, tablets, portable speakers, MP3 players and GPS systems. Practically anything you really need can be charged with a power bank – you just have to remember to keep your power bank charged too!

Looking for an affordable and reliable power bank for your electronic devices? Place your order from Off Grid today!

Affordable Ways to Fight Eskom’s Load Shedding

Load shedding isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, it has even been said that it will continue for at least three more years.

Advice like keeping your smartphone, laptop and tablet charged and planning your day around load shedding does little to decrease the impact of not having electricity.

The good news is that there are many ways to lessen the pain that load shedding brings, without having the break the bank!

Emergency Lights – ±R200
Emergency lights have built-in batteries, and switch on automatically when the power goes off. If you are looking for a solution that uses solar energy, you can also purchase solar emergency lamps.

Power Banks – Contact for Price
Portable power banks allow you to charge your smartphone or tablet with a USB charger when the power gets cut. The prices will differ based on the capacity.

Gas Cooker – ±R500
Running an electric stove on backup power when load shedding hits is not sustainable. The best option is gas.

UPS – Contact for Price
An uninterruptable power supply makes it possible for you to run some of your electrical equipment like an ADSL router and your laptop.

Smart Energy Light – Contact for Price
A smart energy light will provide you with hours of light during load shedding; you can even adjust the brightness, making it last for up to seven hours.

Power Inverter System – Contact for Price
A power inverter system can offer enough power to run a few appliances when load shedding hits. Many of the systems are portable, which means it can be used when and where the power goes off.

Diesel or Petrol Generator – ±R4000
If you want to run many appliances for a few hours, then a generator is a great option, although you will have to put up with a lot of noise.

Eskom’s load shedding is here to stay, but there are many affordable ways to make life easier when the electricity goes off.

Off Grid Load Shedding Solutions provides backup power solutions that are both affordable and seamless to run!

The Impact of Load Shedding on Consumers

Power outages continue to be a headache for South Africans. So how can we prevent load shedding from becoming even more disruptive and costly than necessary?

As if the regular power outages are not bad enough, now we have to deal with an even darker side of load shedding – blown out appliances and criminals targeting our homes when the lights are off and defences are down.

Having to sit in a cold dark house for hours will make anyone miserable, but our misery is being made worse by insurance companies refusing to pay for electrical appliances that are damaged by power surges when the lights come back on.

Avoid load shedding all together, including the disruption and costs, with Off Grid’s Load Shedding solutions. They provide backup power solutions that are both affordable and seamless to run; when the power goes out you are not inconvenienced and can continue to run your business, watch TV, surf the internet and all without worrying about when it’s coming back on again.

However, if your insurance company is giving you troubles, there are some quick, simple actions you can take to protect your appliances, the easiest of which is to unplug all electrical devices during a power cut.

According to the insurance company Santam, not only will this prevent damage to your appliances, but it will also help to minimise the risk of a fire caused by power surges. Santam also advises to install surge protectors that will protect your appliances.

The never-ending load shedding problem is a headache for everyone, but insurance companies and the police have also been affected. Police officers in the Western Cape have complained that they are unable to do their job effectively due to persistent power outages.

We all want to continue our normal lives when load shedding hits, this is where backup load shedding solutions are needed.