Loadshedding Lighting options

I

Ianvn

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I live in a 9 unit complex.

The initial plan was to get a lithium battery and inverter to run our lights, gate motor etc during loadshedding. We would need about a 1kWh battery if my calculations are correct to last a 4 hour loadshedding session. But because our complex is so small spending around 20k on an inverter system with a waterproof enclosure will be hard/difficult to convince everyone.

The other option is to replace some/all of the lights on the common property.

What options are there?

Solar powered lights, but do they last the whole night?

Anyone has any experience with the following:

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20k spread across 9 units? That's just over 2k? Not that much really.
 
Lupus said:
20k spread across 9 units? That's just over 2k? Not that much really.
Click to expand...

OP wouldn't be asking the question if he knew all 8 other owners would agree :ROFL:

Ianvn said:
What options are there?
Click to expand...

I'm looking at hooking a solar charger like this up to the gate motor battery to stop it degrading so fast:

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Plus replacing with LiFePO4 drop-ins. Total cost about R 1k.

As for lighting, do you want them on all night? If they're on motion detection it's a win win for lower capacity required and less light pollution. Built-in batteries are tend to be rubbish so maybe investigate running 12 V lights on a DC circuit connected to a single small LiFEPO4 battery + charger. Makes no sense to have an inverter for LED lighting anyway.
 
Our block (36 units) is considering the same scenario (lights plus electric fence). There are no easy options, and load shedding is not going away, so it is best to bite the bullet and do it properly...
 
I am SO confused. How does all this KVA stuff work, one electrician said 3.5KVA, another 5KVA
for Lithium batteries and Inverter to run:
small house lights, TV, 2 laptops, Wifi router and OTP and Fridge I think he said
Whilst I understand the high energy pull of a Kettle or Heater and Washing Machine / Dishwasher, surely I could get capacity to use a Microwave for just 5mins at least?
THAT would be ideal to me

Is this possible and anyone have a setup where you are able to use your Microwave for just a few mins?
 
Gordon_R said:
Our block (36 units) is considering the same scenario (lights plus electric fence). There are no easy options, and load shedding is not going away, so it is best to bite the bullet and do it properly...
Click to expand...

Common-property electronics and access control are a nightmare at the best of times.

Even resetting a lightbulb timer can involve a chain of emails.

"Doing it properly" for me means minimising the opportunities for bickering over maintenance issues for ever after.
 
For outside we installed floodlights with battery backup. Got these at Builders. They're permanently on, wired into mains. When the power goes out they switch to battery backup. Not nearly as bright as main powered but better than nothing. They struggle a bit with 4hr load shedding, they do fine on 2hr. These are mains charged - not solar. All those solar ones seem to have remotes and auto-on-off sensors and kak that I don't want. Also note these are 30W when mains powered, output drops significantly when battery powered.

nnn.png

Inside the building we put a few of these in each corridor (doing every bulb was far too expensive). Casts enough light when it's dark. Yeah they're expensive but of the +- 20 bough every single one worked, whereas the R99 one's from builders etc. of a batch of 20 only 14 worked. Cheaper on this site, though I haven't used them so not sure if legit etc:
https://www.glolighting.co.za/shop-by-brand/imported-brands/aurora-lighting

ng.png
 
Sad reality is that em solar lights normally last through the night at a start but after a year or 2 they will show their age. Nature of NMC 300-500 cycle life

I have seen LFP break 18650 ground so would be cool if they start making solar lights with them instead of the old NMC's That or ones with a flap to replace them.

Guess if they allow you to replace they lose the IP66/7.

Edit: Oh for ref we used https://www.takealot.com/ip66-led-flood-light-wall-light-solar-200w/PLID90111897
 
Tomtomtom said:
OP wouldn't be asking the question if he knew all 8 other owners would agree :ROFL:



I'm looking at hooking a solar charger like this up to the gate motor battery to stop it degrading so fast:

Takealot.com: Online Shopping | SA's leading online store

South Africa's leading online store. Fast, reliable delivery to your door. Many ways to pay. Shop anything you can imagine: TVs, laptops, cellphones, kitchen appliances, toys, books, beauty & more. Shop the mobile app anytime, anywhere.
www.takealot.com www.takealot.com

Plus replacing with LiFePO4 drop-ins. Total cost about R 1k.

As for lighting, do you want them on all night? If they're on motion detection it's a win win for lower capacity required and less light pollution. Built-in batteries are tend to be rubbish so maybe investigate running 12 V lights on a DC circuit connected to a single small LiFEPO4 battery + charger. Makes no sense to have an inverter for LED lighting anyway.
Click to expand...
I think about 4 units will not go for this plan as they seem to be happy with the world as it currently is.

We would prefer for the lights to remain on the whole night as this is what we currently have.

If our unit was closer to where we need to tie the electricity in I would have just had everything added onto our system and charge the complex R200 rent a month.
 
saor said:
For outside we installed floodlights with battery backup. Got these at Builders. They're permanently on, wired into mains. When the power goes out they switch to battery backup. Not nearly as bright as main powered but better than nothing. They struggle a bit with 4hr load shedding, they do fine on 2hr. These are mains charged - not solar. All those solar ones seem to have remotes and auto-on-off sensors and kak that I don't want. Also note these are 30W when mains powered, output drops significantly when battery powered.

View attachment 1514703

Inside the building we put a few of these in each corridor (doing every bulb was far too expensive). Casts enough light when it's dark. Yeah they're expensive but of the +- 20 bough every single one worked, whereas the R99 one's from builders etc. of a batch of 20 only 14 worked. Cheaper on this site, though I haven't used them so not sure if legit etc:
https://www.glolighting.co.za/shop-by-brand/imported-brands/aurora-lighting

View attachment 1514699
Click to expand...
Those flood light is also what I came across. Just from makro.
How long do they take to charge to full again? How long have you had them, and do they have a replacable battery?
 
Ianvn said:
We would prefer for the lights to remain on the whole night as this is what we currently have.
Click to expand...

It sounds like it's what you currently don't have. :ROFL:

Anyway as others have noted one major shortcoming with those loadshedding lights is that they have two modes, and on battery mode they can be as dim as a candle, either immediately, or maybe after 20 minutes, depending on how far gone the batteries are. They start off rubbish, get beaten to death by proximity to heat, and cannot be replaced.

If you actually do want predictable light levels 24/7 you have no option but external batteries. You just don't need an inverter.
 
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