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!