Keeping the lights on

[DrewChan]

With all of the current techs available, what is the cheapest way to keep your actual lights on during load shedding? (legally)

I am assuming generator with change over switch?

I don't want crappy LED lights - the ones I have seen barely light up a room for 20 mins. (Remote controlled)

 

[Rickster]

With all of the current techs available, what is the cheapest way to keep your actual lights on during load shedding? (legally)

I am assuming generator with change over switch?

I don't want crappy LED lights - the ones I have seen barely light up a room for 20 mins. (Remote controlled)

We have rechargeable LED lights, they are extremely bright and can last up to 6 hours.

 

[Sonic2k]

I use a generator, with a change over switch I installed myself. The generator is behind the garage to keep the noise levels down, we dug a trench for an underground cable to the house.

Replacing every light in the house with an LED based bulb i.e. the ones that look like normal bulbs but contain LEDs has worked for us. They are as bright as the 60-watt bulb and in the fitting the colour rendering is perfect.

They also help with the flickering, as petrol generators are not known for perfect voltage regulation.

 

[Tacet]

change over switch I installed myself...

Did you get a CoC for that?

 

[Alton Turner Blackwood]

Did you get a CoC for that?

I think he's an electrician.

 

[BuckRogers]

I use a generator, with a change over switch I installed myself. The generator is behind the garage to keep the noise levels down, we dug a trench for an underground cable to the house.

Replacing every light in the house with an LED based bulb i.e. the ones that look like normal bulbs but contain LEDs has worked for us. They are as bright as the 60-watt bulb and in the fitting the colour rendering is perfect.

They also help with the flickering, as petrol generators are not known for perfect voltage regulation.

#Koosie, what brand of LED bulbs did you choose ?

 

[savage]

With all of the current techs available, what is the cheapest way to keep your actual lights on during load shedding? (legally)

I am assuming generator with change over switch?

I don't want crappy LED lights - the ones I have seen barely light up a room for 20 mins. (Remote controlled)

You do get proper LED downlights, which really works well. Not THAT expensive either, considering what a normal light bulb cost these days, plus the benefits of the long life expectancy of LED. You more than likely just bought crappy LED lights.

In terms of keeping it on... Either a gennie with ATS (Auto Transfer Switch) and automatic starter (there will be a period of no power from when the power goes off, until the generator started - few seconds), or alternatively a permanently DB connected Inverter (with or without Solar), which will give a instantaneous automatic transfer (no disruption to supply).

 

[itareanlnotani]

#Koosie, what brand of LED bulbs did you choose ?

It's not brands you want, its the type of LED.

Filament or COB LED is what you want, thats 5th gen LED.
Brighter, less heat, and much more efficient than older gen LED's

Filament LED is also known as COB (chip on board), as the filaments incorporate multiple COB LED's.

COB/Filament is better as it doesn't necessarily need a heat sink - I have a bunch of ordinary looking bulbs that are actually LED based. No heatsink needed, and they are cool to the touch after hours of use (well, slightly warm, but you can touch the glass without issue for as long as you feel like).

 

[Xflint]

Had a backup battery system with inverter installed last week. Eskom goes off, slight flicker of lights and we carry on like normal. All led lights in house and decoders with tv will run for several hours with no interruption. Changeover is immediate and fuss free

 

[Sonic2k]

Did you get a CoC for that?

Doesn't matter. I am qualified, although I am not registered to issue a CoC. I just get one of my mates to do it when the time comes and the place is sold.

 

[TehStranger]

If you want to keep your house lights on, install an inverter into your DB board, powering only the circuits that you need (i.e. lights and perhaps plugs in certain parts of the house, definitely not the kitchen plugs).

Less fuss and quieter/more stable than a generator.

To save on costs you can get a modified sine wave inverter instead of pure, modified seems to do perfectly well for my needs.

 

[Sonic2k]

If you want to keep your house lights on, install an inverter into your DB board, powering only the circuits that you need (i.e. lights and perhaps plugs in certain parts of the house, definitely not the kitchen plugs).

Less fuss and quieter/more stable than a generator.

To save on costs you can get a modified sine wave inverter instead of pure, modified seems to do perfectly well for my needs.

I would agree, except rather spend the extra $$$ on a pure sinewave inverter, you'll thank me for it later.
But yes, the big thing that needs to be done beforehand is to determine what you require to be powered before you install. For many first priority should be the alarm system, followed by the lights, and then the refrigerator.

I run off generator, so that I am able to at least cook and run my computers.

 

[BuckRogers]

It's not brands you want, its the type of LED.

Filament or COB LED is what you want, thats 5th gen LED.
Brighter, less heat, and much more efficient than older gen LED's

Filament LED is also known as COB (chip on board), as the filaments incorporate multiple COB LED's.

COB/Filament is better as it doesn't necessarily need a heat sink - I have a bunch of ordinary looking bulbs that are actually LED based. No heatsink needed, and they are cool to the touch after hours of use (well, slightly warm, but you can touch the glass without issue for as long as you feel like).

Which retailers stock those LED filament bulbs ?

 

[Sonic2k]

The LED lamps I used, are made by CREE, sold with Pick n Pay branding.

 

[savage]

If you want to keep your house lights on, install an inverter into your DB board, powering only the circuits that you need (i.e. lights and perhaps plugs in certain parts of the house, definitely not the kitchen plugs).

Less fuss and quieter/more stable than a generator.

To save on costs you can get a modified sine wave inverter instead of pure, modified seems to do perfectly well for my needs.

At last someone preaching the same as me

EDIT: Excluding the modified sine wave of course - I'm with Koosi on that one... Pure all the way, you can only benefit from it.

 

[The_Traveller]

The LED lamps I used, are made by CREE, sold with Pick n Pay branding.

CREE is the LED chipset. They don't make lamps/lights

 

[Sonic2k]

CREE is the LED chipset. They don't make lamps/lights

Indeed, I know that, I was typing my message while on my way out.

 

[DrewChan]

I never thought of connecting inverter to a DB board, great idea, how much would an installation like this cost [ballpark] if I bought the inverter/batteries myself,

 

[ProAsm]

102 AH Deep Cycle Battery - R1500 (average)
Intelligent Battery Charger - R1500 (average)
Inverter depends what you want to run.
500 Watt - R600 / 1 KW - R1200 / 2 KW - R1800, if you want Pure Sine Wave then double or even tripple those prices.
Change over switch R200, although many companies are on the bandwagon so double that.
Some 2.5 mm cerflex cable about R20 per meter.

I run a totally seperate circuit as many insurance companies will not pay out if you have a fire or something if you use an Inverter as an alternate electricity source connected to your DB Board, even with a CoC etc.
So before you connect anything to a DB board, Generator or Inverter, check with your Insurance company first.