3 Cape Town activities to beat the boredom when the lights go out

Power cuts are something we have to live with, but luckily we live in the world’s most beautiful and awesome city! When the lights go out you don’t have to stop enjoying yourself, because there is always plenty to do in the Mother City.

Have a picnic:

Day or night, the city has a ton of spots to kick back, relax and enjoy a chilled picnic. Kirstenbosch Gardens, Gordon’s Bay Beach, Clifton Beach, a number of wine estates and so much more. These are just some of the top spots to enjoy the tranquility that comes without electricity.

Get back to nature:

Cape Town is beautiful, so enjoy it! Instead of moping around because you don’t have TV or the internet, get out and explore. Go for a run or a cycle on the Sea Point promenade, take a hike up Table Mountain or hit the waves at Muizenberg. The city is an adventure waiting to happen, so make it!

Take a stroll:

If you are looking to slow things down instead of speeding them up, take a leisurely stroll. The Company Gardens is perfect to soak in the city vibe and Kirstenbosch is a great place for the soul. There’s no harm in using the power outage to take a moment to just breathe again.

So there you have it, three cool and simple things to do in the city without lights. At the end of the day, you’ll be happy the lights went out!

If you really cannot live without power for a while, then Off Grid's back up solutions are perfect for you! From UPS devices to power banks, we have it all! 

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. 

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. 

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.

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!

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.

How to Survive Load Shedding in Cape Town

Someone who thinks of ways to deal with power cuts shouldn’t be needed in the 21^st century, what’s next someone who gives us tips on how to hunt and gather food? The thing is, load shedding is our current reality right now, so let’s look on the bright side.

Here is a list of things to do when you’re plunged into darkness and ways to cope when Eskom throws us back into the Stone Age (If all else fails you can always purchase backup power solutions from Off Grid!)

1. Engage in fun electricity-free activities that you’ve never had time for. Hike up Lions Head, Go caving, adventure through a forest, knit a blanket, hug a tree… there’s an endless list of lightless activities to do.

2. Take a drive up to an elevated point. Signal Hill is the best option as you can gaze out onto the patches of light and dark. Try to guess which suburb will be in darkness next, you could even turn it into a drinking game!

3. Have some fun taking long-exposure in the dark with some sparklers. You could try draw the outline of the mountains or short phrases, such as “Eskom Sucks!”

4. Catch up on Game of Thrones, Modern Family or Vikings. Just make sure your laptop is always charged before load shedding kicks in. Take it to the next level by inviting some friends over for a marathon.

5. If you’re not keen for lettuce and raw carrots of dinner, head to one of these Cape Town eateries, who have all made a plan to stay open during power cuts:

- Black Sheep Restaurant
- Beerhouse
- Castella Amare
- Charly’s Bakery
- The Bungalow
- El Burro
- Borage Bistro
- De Grendel
- Rick’s Café Americain
- Richard’s Supper Stage

6. Load shedding has one positive side; it makes our favourite pastime, braaing, very useful! So, step away from the stove and make your meals caveman-style.

These tips aren’t going to bring our lights back on when load shedding hits, but at the very least they could save our sanity!