Sign up with GoogleLoad shedding has not really been affecting me much, but last week, and this week, we seem to have been down 4 or 5 evenings a week from 18h00 for 2.5 hours. Nothing as depressing as getting home and having no Internet or AV working – the abuse from the family is too much!!
Anyway, so I’ve started looking into options. My aim is to alleviate the 2.5 hours that we are typically affected. Not to pump back into the grid. Thus, based on what I’ve read in these forums, I’ve decided to go with an inverter and battery option, with the intent of having two TV’s, PVR, xbox, second decoder, WD MyDrive (NAS device), router and 8 port switch covered. Along with that, I’d like to have some lighting covered for the 2.5 hour period (mostly LED’s at home). Lighting, though, can be ditched, as I’ve got lanterns if need be.
I’ve firstly checked for custom installed options – seems pricey, especially when I read about costs in these forums. Thus, starting to investigate DIY options, with the intent to bring in a sparky when required. Budget – most likely around R15K. I would want the sparky to rig my circuits, if it’s possible, with my AV / Network equipment to automatically get power when load shedding starts – no manual involvement if possible.
As I’ve not been able to find a sodding Efergy monitoring socket, I don’t yet have the history on the draw of my AV and network equipment as yet. Planning to get that done. I have recently setup an Efergy monitor that’s connected to the DB board, and my typical home usage per day is 27kWh. I’m not looking to cater for that as a whole – just posting it for info purposes.
Thus, I now would like some inputs in inverter and battery options. It’s been suggested to me that 1000W inverter should suffice, with possibly 3 x 102aH batteries. I’ll be able to confirm that once I’ve sourced a monitoring socket. I’ve seen mention of Cotek, Mean Well, Prostar, etc, etc.
Are there any specific suggestions/recommendations regarding inverter models, battery models, battery chargers and who to source from based on my requirements? I’m in the Western Cape.
Anyway, so I’ve started looking into options. My aim is to alleviate the 2.5 hours that we are typically affected. Not to pump back into the grid. Thus, based on what I’ve read in these forums, I’ve decided to go with an inverter and battery option, with the intent of having two TV’s, PVR, xbox, second decoder, WD MyDrive (NAS device), router and 8 port switch covered. Along with that, I’d like to have some lighting covered for the 2.5 hour period (mostly LED’s at home). Lighting, though, can be ditched, as I’ve got lanterns if need be.
I’ve firstly checked for custom installed options – seems pricey, especially when I read about costs in these forums. Thus, starting to investigate DIY options, with the intent to bring in a sparky when required. Budget – most likely around R15K. I would want the sparky to rig my circuits, if it’s possible, with my AV / Network equipment to automatically get power when load shedding starts – no manual involvement if possible.
As I’ve not been able to find a sodding Efergy monitoring socket, I don’t yet have the history on the draw of my AV and network equipment as yet. Planning to get that done. I have recently setup an Efergy monitor that’s connected to the DB board, and my typical home usage per day is 27kWh. I’m not looking to cater for that as a whole – just posting it for info purposes.
Thus, I now would like some inputs in inverter and battery options. It’s been suggested to me that 1000W inverter should suffice, with possibly 3 x 102aH batteries. I’ll be able to confirm that once I’ve sourced a monitoring socket. I’ve seen mention of Cotek, Mean Well, Prostar, etc, etc.
Are there any specific suggestions/recommendations regarding inverter models, battery models, battery chargers and who to source from based on my requirements? I’m in the Western Cape.
