Load Shedding - the all in one thread

A good generator costs big bucks, thats for sure. We've recently accepted delivery of a R300k generator at work ... imported from Germany ... three months after submitting the order.
 
vodacom3g, living in Plattekloof I'm sure you have an indoor braai too? Here in 'Teng its an SUV that makes the man, down in the Cape it's an indoor braai :D
 
If it's looks like I'm talking to myself here (and way too much) ... I'm testing my new Dell's HSDPA connection ... :D
 
we have a 3KW akira generator, I just run our PC via the UPS systems, seems to get most off the bad harmonics out, and UPS are reasonably cheap. It also powers the the DSTV, TV (LG Flatron), and a few 40w light bulbs, and the DVD home theater system, i have enjoyed a decent movie in 5-1 glory, wile the rest of the town is using candles,

runs for about 6 hours on a tank of fuel, i made a decent wheel system so i can push it around.

just have a decent amount of extension cables around.
 
Trafeye said:
I wanted to ask this exact question now ... can those with the knowledge please advise us dummies on what generators to buy. What should we look at? Which brands are good, and which are bad?
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There's so much cr@p available as every man and his dog is now importing generators.

I wrote a relevant article a while ago on how to pick any kind of technology and it applies equally well here, although written around smart home technology.

But the single biggest parameter is to ask for references from any supplier. Ask to speak to a FEW different end-users who has the same system installed. Don't listen to sales people.

On a more technical note, the system must be able to stabilise the frequency and voltage (neither easy as load varies) and must produce no harmonics. If the guy does not know what harmonics is (ask him), walk away.
 
gboy said:
we have a 3KW akira generator, I just run our PC via the UPS systems, seems to get most off the bad harmonics out, and UPS are reasonably cheap. It also powers the the DSTV, TV (LG Flatron), and a few 40w light bulbs, and the DVD home theater system, i have enjoyed a decent movie in 5-1 glory, wile the rest of the town is using candles,

runs for about 6 hours on a tank of fuel, i made a decent wheel system so i can push it around.

just have a decent amount of extension cables around.
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I went this route http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php?p=1291245#post1291245
 
So am I the only one prepared for it going dark while I'm on the cr@pper or in the shower :eek:
 
alanf85 said:
So am I the only one prepared for it going dark while I'm on the cr@pper or in the shower :eek:
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There are people that have so much sunlight shining from their behinds that a torch is not required on the cr@pper :D
 
vodacom3g said:
With the wind down here an indoor braai is pretty much a necessity. :)
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I'm sure in your case it's a fully automated indoor braai requiring very little user intervention? :) I must say the omnisol site looks great and makes for interesting reading.
 
Trafeye said:
I'm sure in your case it's a fully automated indoor braai requiring very little user intervention? :) I must say the omnisol site looks great and makes for interesting reading.
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Yup, very much so. The control system goes by the name of 'Vera'....;)

Thanks on the site. Any suggestions, typos, etc. please forward.
 
vodacom3g said:
Yup, very much so. The control system goes by the name of 'Vera'....;)

Thanks on the site. Any suggestions, typos, etc. please forward.
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Let's hope Vera is not who I think it/she is ... or else there is going to be a lot of load shedding in Plattekloof :D
 
For small devices like my computer i use a UPS. Gennys are nice nut really expensive.

I bought mine from here: http://www.powerbackups.co.za its only a 1Kva but it does the job. :)

And yes I've tried cycling... its really quite a novelty until there really is not power and you're cycling to watch the telli...
 
Trafeye said:
Yes for sure. Electric gate stands open. Electric fence is down.

Tip: Charge cellphone and laptop at work before going home and at home before going to work. Grab the power when you can still get it.
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Odd... considering that Centurion gate motors are from , well, centurion. They permanently run on batteries and only get trinkle charged. So when power's out for 2 days, they should still work fine :/ Maybe have that checked out.

For those of you who are thinking of getting gennies, there is a thread floating around somewhere in which i mentioned the 914723 easy steps to rigging up the genny safely. :D
 
Dynamo LED torches

... the kind that you shake to generate more light...

DON'T buy them! I bought one and was impressed at how bright it was. Then I got suspicious and disassembled it - sure enough, there are a couple of CR2025 lithium batteries in there. Take them out, and the light dims instantly, only momentarily brightening with every shake, but nowhere near the level of luminance that was provided by the lithium batteries. In other words, when the batteries eventually die, you'll get more light from candles than this piece of rubbish.

I saw some wind-up torches somewhere, anybody tested them?
 
titanium said:
... the kind that you shake to generate more light...

DON'T buy them! I bought one and was impressed at how bright it was. Then I got suspicious and disassembled it - sure enough, there are a couple of CR2025 lithium batteries in there. Take them out, and the light dims instantly, only momentarily brightening with every shake, but nowhere near the level of luminance that was provided by the lithium batteries. In other words, when the batteries eventually die, you'll get more light from candles than this piece of rubbish.

I saw some wind-up torches somewhere, anybody tested them?
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I have a wind up torch, and it seems to work well. Haven't disassembled it though.
 
@ titanium - I prefer to call these w@nking torches, for obvious reasons.

got one, you have to w@nk really long before getting anything useful out of it... :o :D :D

I shall make a wee detour to the shops and trawl it, looking for stuff which uses little electrical power, tally it all up, and see what I can purchase.

We already got a gas braai and a braaiplace, so no worries there.

Only need a good genny, don't want a cheap POS to burn the fridge/freezer out :eek:
 
How much does a smallish UPS cost? (I did a quick google, found lots of sites selling them but no prices).
 
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