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!