Cheapest power trollies and portable batteries for stage 6 load-shedding

[Dolby]

I think it should be at 5 degrees.

So if I'm going the 5?

 

[Bliksis]

On the side of the inverter it says "power inverter" hence the question.

 

[NukiTheLegend]

I've messaged Power 4 Less about their larger inverter units on FB since their website is down.

Mobi-volt Pure Sine Wave Hybrid Trolley Inverter - Black/Blue (3000W)

Buy Mobi-volt Pure Sine Wave Hybrid Trolley Inverter - Black/Blue (3000W) Online or Locate Your Nearest Builders Warehouse Store. ✓ Secure shopping ✓ 100% Contactless ✓ Reliable Delivery ✓ Many ways to pay!

www.builders.co.za

3KW for 36k is pretty good in terms of pre-built units. Two issues I see on paper is:

1. they don't charge quickly, but if you have enough buffer capacity this is a non-issue,
2. and they don't list the unit's life cycles so there's no point in getting these if you're going to burn through their batteries with stage 4+ load shedding

Got some more info on these inverter trolleys from Power4Less:

• The battery type is a lithium ion phosphate battery.
• The battery has 5000 charging cycles.
• Solar panels for each size unit is as follows:

1. Mobivolt 500w / 0.5kw = 120 watt panel
2. Mobivolt 1000w / 1.0kw = 120 watt panel
3. Mobivolt 2000w / 2.0kw = 200 watt panel
4. Mobivolt 3000w / 3.0kw = 300 watt panel
5. Mobivolt 5000w / 5.0kw = 500 watt panel

• The maximum wattage draw depends on the load used on the unit that must exceed the size of the unit namely: Mobivolt 1000w = 1000w.
• The 3kw has a 3000watt Lithium Ion Phosphate battery.
• The 3kw depth discharge is 60AH

 

[zolly]

Got some more info on these inverter trolleys from Power4Less:

So high grade batteries and a solar panel thrown in is hard to ignore. Am keeping an eye out for the 2KW model. Stock is virtually non-existent but apparently stores should have units in the next couple of weeks.

 

[netstrider]

A fuller fridge will take longer to heat up. Keep it closed and you should be fine.

Whatever doesn't keep has likely stood there too long.

Been having 4hrs+, 2 hour power then another 2h or so bouts in the evenings and early mornings with no issues thus far for food or frozen goods.

I buy bulk meat and would have noticed by now. Using both fridge's freezer as well as chest freezer for frozen goods.

If the food is cooked and in the fridge my gut tells me it may last longer although I'm not sure.

I don't expect greens to last too long uncooked in a frisge either way.

(Cucumber, lettuce, marrows etc).

Hardly buy frozen veggies.

Inverter + Solar or generator only becomea necessary after quite a while, but that does happen from time-to-time.

When I lived in Midrand the power was off for 4 days. For cases like that it will be essential to get them frosties running a few hours a day.

 

[Bliksis]

Well, so far the Mecer unit mentioned in the article is working as expected. It hasn't skipped a beat yet, even during 4 hour blackout slots. It still sounds like a PC, the fan hasn't sped up yet (implying more heat generation).

It charged the remaining 50% back up to 100% in about an hour.

It still has the three quick beeps occasionally, every few hours. It doesn't show an error code or problem LED, everything is working fine.

I did notice the incoming voltage from the mains fluctuate between 230-238. I am not sure if that is within normal parameters or something caused by loadshedding. Whether that causes a beep, I cannot tell.

All in all, so far so good.

I'm thinking perhaps of the fact that the input voltage is lower than the output voltage on occasion, could trigger the 3 beeps?

It shows 227v from mains, and output 230v. It doesn't happen very often, and doesn't display any error code or LED.

 

[soulie]

What should a fridge be at ?
Seems under 4 degrees ?
So 4 should be fine ?

the standard test for a fridge to see how cold it is is actually very complicated ......you put a tomatoe on a lower shelf for 24 hours to 48 hours .if it freezes its too cold .

 

[Bliksis]

If anyone had to pair a solar panel or two with one of these trolley inverters, which one would be recommended?

 

[STORMERSFAN]

Quick question.. Does dry ice work if you stick it on your fridge during loadshedding?