Sadness, I was looking forward to this.
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Portable Power Stations
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Brawler
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Syntech called me already. The guy advised me not to use it at all.
Advised to do the Takealot return procedure and Takealot will pick up and refund.
Syntech don't have stock this month to swap out so that further helps me make up my mind.
I will give them credit though, for acknowledging the problem, issuing the recall, and calling me within 10 minutes with a solution. Great customer service and it gives me confidence in the brand.
Advised to do the Takealot return procedure and Takealot will pick up and refund.
Syntech don't have stock this month to swap out so that further helps me make up my mind.
I will give them credit though, for acknowledging the problem, issuing the recall, and calling me within 10 minutes with a solution. Great customer service and it gives me confidence in the brand.
I think they are worried that it may burn houses to the ground and the possible lawsuits that could follow. Not sure the motivation is purely great customer service.
DrJohnZoidberg
Honorary Master
It's still the right thing to do, unless someone's house has already burnt down due to this and this is just a forced reactionI think they are worried that it may burn houses to the ground and the possible lawsuits that could follow. Not sure the motivation is purely great customer service.
Brawler
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So what's next guys? I was very happy with the Gizzu 500w and I'd imagine it would have lasted me long with my use. Seeing as I have to relook at it anyway let's see. A bonus would be to power my gaming PC for 2 hours (600w max).
- Another Gizzu as it's cheap and it does meet basic reqs
- Bluetti - LifePo4 but the loud proprietary charger puts me off in a big way
- Ecoflow River 2 - How much and when. I see even in the US they are out of stock.
- A bigger custom LifePo4 jobbie?
Interesting, so going by those preliminary specs the new LFP model coming in April compared to the larger Titan they're no longer releasing has:
- Higher peak output (2000W vs 1500W)
- Slightly lower battery capacity (1120Wh vs 1228Wh)
- Lower max AC charging input (800W vs 1000W)
- No mention of XT60 solar input in the new model
Still looks a capable unit, strange to see the solar input disappear, wonder what the pricing will be like.
Bluetti EB3A has built in charger.. on "silent" it does take 2.6 hours to charge and is 600W 268Wh.. but you can continue to watch TV as it charges (or just take it to another room and put on Standard which will charge in 50 mins but with the fan on). Works fine for my TV watching during loadshedding (TV uses 88W - built in Speakers are "fine"). See it is avialable for just over R6.3K
Check what you really NEED - most of these are just for doing something "worthwhile" while you are being #shed... and not just sit in the dark..
Remember these "boost" things just lower the voltage and "frecks" the Sinus waves so don't recomment it...
EB3A downsides:
- only 1 AC output (but get yourself a short lead with multiplug)... I have the EU version and the 2 pin actually works better for me (TV is 2 pin plug, phone charger is 2 pin plug etc etc - no adapter required)..
- only 1x 100w USB-C PD (but it does charge fast so #Kids-can-wait - the other 2 USB's are not "fast"...
- 268 Wh does not make a stage 6 "4 hour" stint when watching TV (so make sure your phone is charged to "take a break")
Brawler
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268w is tiny thoughBluetti EB3A has built in charger.. on "silent" it does take 2.6 hours to charge and is 600W 268Wh.. but you can continue to watch TV as it charges (or just take it to another room and put on Standard which will charge in 50 mins but with the fan on). Works fine for my TV watching during loadshedding (TV uses 88W - built in Speakers are "fine"). See it is avialable for just over R6.3K
Check what you really NEED - most of these are just for doing something "worthwhile" while you are being #shed... and not just sit in the dark..
Remember these "boost" things just lower the voltage and "frecks" the Sinus waves so don't recomment it...
EB3A downsides:
- only 1 AC output (but get yourself a short lead with multiplug)... I have the EU version and the 2 pin actually works better for me (TV is 2 pin plug, phone charger is 2 pin plug etc etc - no adapter required)..
- only 1x 100w USB-C PD (but it does charge fast so #Kids-can-wait - the other 2 USB's are not "fast"...
- 268 Wh does not make a stage 6 "4 hour" stint when watching TV (so make sure your phone is charged to "take a break")
268w is tiny though
Yeah, I got the EB3A for my gf because all she might need is an emergency charge for her laptop/phone, and when I'm there and we have load shedding we hook up a 27" monitor and some speakers to the powerstation. I wouldn't bother with anything less than a 600wh unit if you are a moderate PC user.
Maybe a River 2 Pro when it arrives, or an EB55/EB70 if you don't mind the power brick coming with fans so you have to unplug unless you want a slight whirring noise in the background (I wouldn't worry about overall noise with either of these units. My EF Delta makes a lot more noise when charging).
Nom Chompsky
High Tory
I have a desktop PC with two monitors and the River Pro (720Wh) lasts for even 4 hour slots (battery goes to between 10-15%!).
Brawler
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I wonder how much a river pro 2 will be and when they will be available for real.
EB70 is tempting but the fan on the charger on YouTube is really absurd. Surely another charger will work?
Sadly not. It's proprietary. I guess they could have used a kettle plug but it would have requires some tweaks. Also, I guess some of the stuff that's included in the device in Ecoflow's units and their own EB3A is moved outside to the power brick. Like, my EB70 is actually completely silent unless I'm charging it or it clocks in at over 90w draw or charge. My Ecoflow Delta always has its fans going unless its completely off, so maybe moving some of the components out of the unit helped with the cooling.
268w is tiny though
Should keep a notebook and modem going for a few hours though
Thanks for this post.
Gizzu Power Station Query Tool - Syntech
Innovative Technology Consumer Electronics, AV and Smart Home & more!
www.syntech.co.za
Hi @Jan @rpm @Hanno Labuschagne
Can you guys post an article regarding the recall of Gizzu power stations.
It will definitely help the consumer to be more aware of this issue regarding returns &refunds etc.
It is also in your best interest to do so,as syntech is openly using a mybroadband article to promote sales on Twitter.
Thank you.
Can you guys post an article regarding the recall of Gizzu power stations.
It will definitely help the consumer to be more aware of this issue regarding returns &refunds etc.
It is also in your best interest to do so,as syntech is openly using a mybroadband article to promote sales on Twitter.
Thank you.
National Consumer Commission orders Gizzu portable power stations recall due to fire hazard
The NCC said that the product importer and distributor, Syntech Distribution, informed the organisation of a fire hazard
“These devices combusted while charging,” the NCC said.
The product was imported from China and sold on Takealot, at Builders Warehouse, Makro, Incredible Connection and HiFi Corp, Syntech informed the NCC.
Takealot still had the 300W and 500W available on their website on Tuesday.
Makro, Builders Warehouse, HiFi Corp and Incredible Connection removed the devices from their websites.
Other online retailers, such as YuppieChef, also removed the product from their catalogue.
It is believed that the affected power stations have a battery manufacturing flaw that may cause the device to explode or melt when charging.
In the event of it not exploding or melting, a cloud of smoke may be released which may also present a fire hazard.
Acting National Commissioner Thezi Mabuza said that an estimated 3 500 units were sold.
“This recall comes at a time when South Africans are grappling with the effects of rolling blackouts and trying to circumvent ... load shedding,” Mabuza said.
Customers can see whether their product is due for recall by using the table below:
Load shedding has become a constant in South Africa over the last three years, with a slow but steady decline in Eskom’s capability to provide a stable power supply to the country.
This has forced South Africans to spend money (that hey don’t have) on ways to keep their lights and other devices on.
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THE PRICES ARE FINALLY HERE!
RIVER 2: R6,999
RIVER 2 MAX: R12,999
DELTA 2: R24,999
ONE DAY before RIVER 2, RIVER 2 Max and DELTA 2 go for sale!
Online on March 16th at 10am SAST
www.facebook.com
The pricing is not terrible, but it's not great either. EU pricing on the River 2 Max is 600 Euro, so ya, it's basically in line with that. Wish it was more in line with dollar pricing...