Looking for renter friendly load shedding solution

Tomtomtom said:
OP this is why you might consider easily-removed options :ROFL:

Seriously though, why can't a tenant just go ahead sort out the CoC themselves if it's such a big deal?
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I will offer to get and pay for the new COC. I'll also pay for another COC when they remove the connection when I move out if required. It's a worthwhile cost to me in order to have a load shedding solution that is as seamless as possible as a tenant.
 
Wiring things into a DB board is not "renter-friendly". It will cost you just as much, if not more, to restore the DB board to the way it was if you ever move and take your inverter with you.

Having said that, do not backfeed either. You are playing with fire. Not only is it illegal, but you are risking your, your family and potentially anyone working on the distribution grid's lives.

A power trolley with extension cables is your only real option if you are renting.
 
deweyzeph said:
Wiring things into a DB board is not "renter-friendly". It will cost you just as much, if not more, to restore the DB board to the way it was if you ever move and take your inverter with you.

Having said that, do not backfeed either. You are playing with fire. Not only is it illegal, but you are risking your, your family and potentially anyone working on the distribution grid's lives.

A power trolley with extension cables is your only real option if you are renting.
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How much do electricians normally charge to wire an inverter to a DB board for some circuts?
 
Aeryn23 said:
How much do electricians normally charge to wire an inverter to a DB board for some circuts?
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It can easily run into thousands of rands just in labour alone. Nevermind any additional equipment like changeover switches, etc. But generally it's the labour that's going to cost the most, both to implement and to restore, when you move out.
 
Aeryn23 said:
I don't want to go the backfeed / suicide cable route. I don't trust myself, I am clumsy and I will plug something in wrong.

Basically I am looking for a solution like a wall mounted inverter without the solar panels, but also not wall mounted because I am renting. Like a portable inverter with storage that can be safely connected to my DB board by an electrician to give me power for certain things without me having to switch plugs or anything like that when load shedding starts (I'll switch the geyser, stove etc off at the DB board during load shedding).
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Caravan style connector wired into board and changeover should go around 2k-2500 for parts and labour
ATS switch to do it automatically around 800. Then add your inverter+battery kit
Metal+wood frame to mount it "mobile" i'm not sure,not my area
 
PsyWulf said:
Caravan style connector wired into board and changeover should go around 2k-2500 for parts and labour
ATS switch to do it automatically around 800. Then add your inverter+battery kit
Metal+wood frame to mount it "mobile" i'm not sure,not my area
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Depending on the layout of the house, a couple of leads tacked to the skirting boards and run to an extension or two in strategic locations + those LED bulbs that switch on automatically, seem a lot easier and cheaper to install and remove.
 
AfricanTech said:
Depending on the layout of the house, a couple of leads tacked to the skirting boards and run to an extension or two in strategic locations + those LED bulbs that switch on automatically, seem a lot easier and cheaper to install and remove.
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Not disagreeing
I'm just answering the question
 
Back when I used to rent I learnt the hard way that landlords do not really appreciate it if you make modifications to the house that you think are valuable, such as making it easy to plug in and plug out a generator or inverter into the DB board. What landlords value is consistency and predictability, and all likelihood any changes you make to the house's electrical system, even if they add value, will need to be reversed in order to return the house to the exact way it was when you first moved in.
 
Nerfherder said:
The changes in the DB board, that the next tenant might use.
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You'd need to revert back in any case. The next tenant coming in that doesn't have an inverter will wonder why some plugs and lights don't work. Also some plugs that one tenant might want on essentials may not necessarily resonate with another tenant...
 
The Darkness said:
This is irresponsible to say the least. You also can be feeding power into the grid this way and electrocute someone who might be working on the line. if you're going to backfeed into your house, you need to install a dedicated point with a 3-way crossover switch to physically cut the main supply from Eskom.
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Do you understand how breakers work ?
Me backfeeding beyond my DB is a non issue.
 
Tomtomtom said:
Do you know what was the cost of labour and parts for the DB reconfiguration?
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Depends on quite a few things,
Could be 2k, could be 10k...

Depends on where you live, how many electricians in the town, how much work etc.
Best to phone an electrician for a consult and then see the price. anyone quoting here on the forum is thumbsucking numbers.
 
deweyzeph said:
Not if you forget to manually switch your main switch on and off.
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True, which Is why in my post I stated that I would not do this if there is anyone else living in the place, since that person may want to do this in your absense and forget things.
I on the other hand know what it is i'm doing and the importance of following my procedure, for which I have a checklist I make sure of 2-3 times every time before turning on the inverter to backfeed.

Step 1 BTW is turn off mains, earth leakage, geyser and stove breakers on the DB.
 
Mine was already "ready" , so not much of a reconfigure. Each room was on its own breaker, lights split over 2

To hook my inverter to the DB, was around R750, it was literally just wiring . COC was done after as we bought the house then too.
 
deweyzeph said:
Not if you forget to manually switch your main switch on and off.
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Also the fact that now one doesn't have any earth leakage and trip switch, so if anything fails there's no protection. Good luck telling this to your insurance company. If it's a rented place, you'd be entirely liable if there's a fire or damage to the wiring. Since it's illegal to backfeed this way, should your place burn down and cause damage to adjacent properties, one would be up for civil claims and lawsuits.

But, people always know better, until they don't. There's a right way to do things and then the negligent way.
 
The Darkness said:
Also the fact that now one doesn't have any earth leakage and trip switch, so if anything fails there's no protection. Good luck telling this to your insurance company. If it's a rented place, you'd be entirely liable if there's a fire or damage to the wiring. Since it's illegal to backfeed this way, should your place burn down and cause damage to adjacent properties, one would be up for civil claims and lawsuits.

But, people always know better, until they don't. There's a right way to do things and then the negligent way.
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I think your misunderstanding is that we don't know these things, you're painting everyone with the same brush.
Some of us know the risks, and mitigate them as best we can under the circumstances, but accept the remaining risk.
 
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