I've heard of it hitting certain areas unequally, there was a mention of it in another thread. For instance in PE they don't cut off industrial areas and in other cases certain areas do seem to be favoured, don't know anything too concrete though. Don't think its too crazy an idea anyway.
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Questions on 'Load Shedding'
- Thread starter LoneGunman
- Start date
I've heard of it hitting certain areas unequally, there was a mention of it in another thread. For instance in PE they don't cut off industrial areas and in other cases certain areas do seem to be favoured, don't know anything too concrete though. Don't think its too crazy an idea anyway.
HavocXphere
Honorary Master
You my friend have a hardcore inefficient geyser. I switched off the juice on one of the two geyzers here to test how long it takes to cool down.Wow! Perpetual geyser, amazing!They hold their temp quite well for a few hours, but hardly forever.
24h: Still too hot to hold a hand in the water for long (Lots of steaming)
48h: Still pleasantly warm (Hints of steaming)
Test conditions: Starting temp was fairly high I think. Geyzer was not used aside from the testing.
I reckon one could still reasonably shower in the water after 55h without it being unpleasant.
I'm told Mamelodi gets hit often. Also, some areas don't get LS at all because for some reason the power distribution is tricky to switch off. Our area never gets more than 2.5h, while others seem to get longer LS.LG said:
Changes I've made to my routine:
Different route to Univ, to avoid intersections
PC is unplugged when not in use
Bring Headlamp to uni since test continue irrespective of cuts
Carry an actually house key, instead of just remote
kaspaas
Expert Member
Globetrotter
Expert Member
1. How did you hear about the projected load shedding, when it first was raised?
Talk radio station (capetalk 567), while waiting at intersection with traffic lights not working...
2. What sorts of things do you do 'earlier', if the power cuts come at prime time (evenings).
Read a book, cook on gas stove, visit friends, braai. My social life has picked up. I tend to visit other areas more often now, because I assume the restaurants close to me will be affected as well. I'm exploring my city again. Thanks Eskom.
3. Does the power just abruptly cut out, or does it 'brown out' slowly. And when it returns, same question, all at once - or slowly?
Every month there's a different schedule, based on demand and management thereof. In the beginning I was cut daily at 2pm to 4pm. Now it's once a week at the same time. The loadshedding schedules eskom and/or municipality releases is so far luckily spot on for my region. I've had no surprises, I know exactly when it's going off, so I can plan around it.
4. What kind (if any) damage does this do to any 'gear' - pc's, fridges, geysers, etc?
The problem is not necessarily when the power goes off, but when it comes on again. Just a small power surge and you can blow the TV etc. Just last week there was an incident in Port Elizabeth where an area got a nice big power surge when the power came back on, TVs etc just stopped working throughout the whole neighborhood. People interviewed said average damage was up to R20 000 per household.
Needless to say, sales of power surge protectors etc. have gone through the roof.
As far as PC's go, UPS sales have quadrupled and you can buy small generators stacked outside 7/11's now. Laptop sales have also increased since it's safer to work on laptop when the power suddenly goes off since you have the battery life to continue with work and save important work etc.
In terms of general productivity, small and medium businesses suffer badly. They can't afford big generators. So the decision is, do the labourers just sit around and get paid? Nope, you fire them because you don't have a choice. Unemployment increases which again could lead to increase in crime. The SA economy has obviously been hit hard by this and the projected positive econ growth rate for next year is now something of the past. Every industry is affected, think wine farms etc. where certain temperatures must be maintained in storage facilities. Whole harvests have been lost due to loadshedding issues.
6. Are you used to the idea now, of 'electricity' being something which sometimes, simply
isn't there for use? Has it changed the way you view your 'gadgets' (TV, DVD player, PC etc)
I've gotten used to it now, sadly so. I'm lucky in that my power cut is in the afternoon, if it was at 9pm while watching a movie or during dinnertime while using the elec stove, sure, it would have affected me much more. But it does change your behaviour in general, I work on my laptop more now, the PC is gathering dust.
I almost always deliberately leave the house when loadshedding is in progress, which I guess proves the point that we rely quite a lot on our 'gadgets' at home. Loadshedding makes you quite aware of this fact.
Sales of gas stoves went up.
7. What happens 'outside' your house/flat on the street during the power cuts? (Assuming you've looked) Is it complete darkness, or do the streetlights shine at all? Are traffic lights at those times, working?
Looks like checkered patches if you stand on a hill and look at the city. Some suburbs have power, adjacent ones don't.
8. What happens to electric powered gates during the power cuts - if they can't open - what do you do with your car if you can't get into your driveway?
Big problem in security gate complexes yes. If power cuts from 6 to 9am, nobody goes to work (I wish, hehe)! Remove the gate from it's rail... manual solution but then no security. Bottom line is that criminals must have a field day with these power interruptions. The body corporates that can afford it, I suppose get generators to cover that but then the levy goes up.
9. Have you heard of any instances, where the power cuts have caused, or allowed crime
to happen?
About 100 news articles?
10. If power cuts happen at prime time, do you tend to sit in silence, deliberately go to bed early, or do you have battery operated radio's etc - to play music or something?
Make love. Check if load shedding schedules clash with your fav sports on TV, plan accordingly.
11. If you're part of a family, and have been going through the power cuts together, have you noticed any changes in the group dynamics. (Like - people are talking with each other more - or alternatively getting more upset and arguing..)
Both. Bad - Initially a lot of moaning by everyone about the loadshedding in general, anger at the government & Eskom for ignoring the independent reports 10 years ago that clearly stated that power station had to be built THEN otherwise we would be in trouble in 2008...
Good - Definitely more communication with the TV turned off.
Traffic is a nightmare since most people don't know how to deal with a 4-way stop. Not that I blame them, if you're in a 4 or 6 lane street, it gets dodgy if you think you can trust the other strangers ability to figure out who has right of way if 16 cars stop at the intersection at the same time.
There's a warning system on TV stations indicating the level of elec demand hoping that people will adhere and use electricity sparingly. This has worked surprisingly well because sometimes whole towns are not loadshedded because the people have managed to save enough to avoid it. Certain cities do better than others, apparently Capetonians save the most and the municipality can therefore reach agreements with eskom in to how the loadshedding must occur in order to suit the businesses better.
That's great, but in my opinion although we're all holding hands (since we don't have much of a choice) it tends to become communist in its nature because in the capitalist society we live in, the person that uses more electricity, simply pays more than his neighbour. That is not necessarily the case anymore, since you'll be cut off, regardless if you're willing to pay more, since the lack of electricity takes priority, instead of your own needs.
Luke7777
Executive Member
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1. Media
2. Kids homework
3. Now you see it, now you don't
4. A lot of my energy saving bulbs suddenly have a shortened life span. Can't prove it though
5. Electric fence has battery backup. So does the indoor alarm system. So does the outdoor beams
6. It's become a way of life. Pisses me off though to be thinking about spending thousands on alternative power because of bad planning by other people
7. Everything's down
8. My gates have an override, so can opened by hand
9. Yip.
10. Do some reading, by battery-powered lamp
11. Didn't affect the family dynamics. Midweek braai still feels weird though
2. Kids homework
3. Now you see it, now you don't
4. A lot of my energy saving bulbs suddenly have a shortened life span. Can't prove it though
5. Electric fence has battery backup. So does the indoor alarm system. So does the outdoor beams
6. It's become a way of life. Pisses me off though to be thinking about spending thousands on alternative power because of bad planning by other people
7. Everything's down
8. My gates have an override, so can opened by hand
9. Yip.
10. Do some reading, by battery-powered lamp
11. Didn't affect the family dynamics. Midweek braai still feels weird though
1. How did you hear about the projected load shedding, when it first was raised?
Think it was on Highveld Stereo while sitting in what seemed to be rediculous traffic.
2. What sorts of things do you do 'earlier', if the power cuts come at prime time (evenings).
Go to gym earlier seeing as the gym is closed every other night of the week because of load shedding
Gotten better though, last few weeks were the worst.
3. Does the power just abruptly cut out, or does it 'brown out' slowly. And when it returns, same question, all at once - or slowly?
Same as a normal outtage, gone in an instant, back on in same manner.
4. What kind (if any) damage does this do to any 'gear' - pc's, fridges, geysers, etc?
Personally, have lost a few network ports and interfaces, nothing majour. Clients on the other hand, I've seen a few hit badly. One was an embassy in PTA where surge after outtage literally fried their DB Box and blew just about every power supply/UPS/network device in the building.
5. What happens to your security systems? Your electric fences (if you have any). Does it block or interfere with any 'panic button' systems?
B A T T E R I E S
6. Are you used to the idea now, of 'electricity' being something which sometimes, simply
isn't there for use? Has it changed the way you view your 'gadgets' (TV, DVD player, PC etc)
Nope, just damn annoying
7. What happens 'outside' your house/flat on the street during the power cuts? (Assuming you've looked) Is it complete darkness, or do the streetlights shine at all? Are traffic lights at those times, working?
Pitch black, except for the odd house with some kind of backup. Funny thing is, in commercial business parks, you hear this weird symphonic droning of generators
8. What happens to electric powered gates during the power cuts - if they can't open - what do you do with your car if you can't get into your driveway?
All gates have manual releases, problem is, the release is usually on the inside.
9. Have you heard of any instances, where the power cuts have caused, or allowed crime to happen?
Often in news articles, not personally
10. If power cuts happen at prime time, do you tend to sit in silence, deliberately go to bed early, or do you have battery operated radio's etc - to play music or something?
Get the hell out of there
11. If you're part of a family, and have been going through the power cuts together, have you noticed any changes in the group dynamics. (Like - people are talking with each other more - or alternatively getting more upset and arguing..)
Nope, doesn't happen THAT often
Think it was on Highveld Stereo while sitting in what seemed to be rediculous traffic.
2. What sorts of things do you do 'earlier', if the power cuts come at prime time (evenings).
Go to gym earlier seeing as the gym is closed every other night of the week because of load shedding
Gotten better though, last few weeks were the worst.3. Does the power just abruptly cut out, or does it 'brown out' slowly. And when it returns, same question, all at once - or slowly?
Same as a normal outtage, gone in an instant, back on in same manner.
4. What kind (if any) damage does this do to any 'gear' - pc's, fridges, geysers, etc?
Personally, have lost a few network ports and interfaces, nothing majour. Clients on the other hand, I've seen a few hit badly. One was an embassy in PTA where surge after outtage literally fried their DB Box and blew just about every power supply/UPS/network device in the building.
5. What happens to your security systems? Your electric fences (if you have any). Does it block or interfere with any 'panic button' systems?
B A T T E R I E S
6. Are you used to the idea now, of 'electricity' being something which sometimes, simply
isn't there for use? Has it changed the way you view your 'gadgets' (TV, DVD player, PC etc)
Nope, just damn annoying
7. What happens 'outside' your house/flat on the street during the power cuts? (Assuming you've looked) Is it complete darkness, or do the streetlights shine at all? Are traffic lights at those times, working?
Pitch black, except for the odd house with some kind of backup. Funny thing is, in commercial business parks, you hear this weird symphonic droning of generators
8. What happens to electric powered gates during the power cuts - if they can't open - what do you do with your car if you can't get into your driveway?
All gates have manual releases, problem is, the release is usually on the inside.
9. Have you heard of any instances, where the power cuts have caused, or allowed crime to happen?
Often in news articles, not personally
10. If power cuts happen at prime time, do you tend to sit in silence, deliberately go to bed early, or do you have battery operated radio's etc - to play music or something?
Get the hell out of there
11. If you're part of a family, and have been going through the power cuts together, have you noticed any changes in the group dynamics. (Like - people are talking with each other more - or alternatively getting more upset and arguing..)
Nope, doesn't happen THAT often
LancelotSA
Banned
I personally see the three load shedding spells we are subjected to on a weekly basis as a perfect opportunity to get away from the modern technology that bombards us on a daily, if not hourly basis. I am even starting to think that it should be compulsory in all the developed countries to do this to allow people to sit and reflect and realise just how technology, and it's reliance on electricity has consumed our lives. We as a family now spend those few hours sitting and looking at the sunset out the window during our dusk load shed. A wonderful offshoot of this is that we end up talking!! For our later loadshed we have the candles lit and again spend time chatting without any of the white noise of fridges, tvs, lights etc etc. Peace and quiet. The little ones have much fun getting to play with candles!
Another added benefit is that living on the 13th floor of a block of flats means some forced exercise on load shedding days! How wonderful it was today to be walking up the stairs and to pass someone, who appears to have never considered doing any form of exercise, having to walk the stairs too! Who knows, by July this person may be bitten by the exercise bug... or dead!
I have experienced no damage to any appliances. We do make the effort to turn all lights, tvs, sound systems off at the wall prior to the late load shed so if we go to sleep we are not awoken by load noise and bright lights when the power comes on.
Our security is not compromised at all as our security gate in the building has a battery.
As yet another bonus our little boy of nine has become a lot more aware of electricity and what it does for us. He is also now more conscientious about switching his bedroom light off as he knows he is wasting electricity if he doesn't.
So all in all it does not bother me too much. Which I know will annoy a lot of people
I personally see the three load shedding spells we are subjected to on a weekly basis as a perfect opportunity to get away from the modern technology that bombards us on a daily, if not hourly basis. I am even starting to think that it should be compulsory in all the developed countries to do this to allow people to sit and reflect and realise just how technology, and it's reliance on electricity has consumed our lives. We as a family now spend those few hours sitting and looking at the sunset out the window during our dusk load shed. A wonderful offshoot of this is that we end up talking!! For our later loadshed we have the candles lit and again spend time chatting without any of the white noise of fridges, tvs, lights etc etc. Peace and quiet. The little ones have much fun getting to play with candles!
Perhaps Eskom should schedule you for a few more sessions then?
Not at all. Our area experiences loadshedding every day for a total of 21.5hrs per week. Our not so well off neighbours experience loadshedding (according to the schedule) only twice per week for one hour.
I wrote to our local paper about it only to receive a response stating that my concerns are important to Ekurhuleni, however the schedules are already set and agreed between them and Eskom and changing them will require a significant review and lengthy negotiations, but it will be brought up. I replied to the paper explaining to the official that if they considered removing their heads from their anuses, they might be able to make this mess less painful for us all. I dont expect it to be printed but will let you know tomorrow when I receive the paper.
1. How did you hear about the projected load shedding, when it first was raised?
1. The Press.
2. What sorts of things do you do 'earlier', if the power cuts come at prime time (evenings).
2. Cook supper in the morning and fridge it.
3. Does the power just abruptly cut out, or does it 'brown out' slowly. And when it returns, same question, all at once - or slowly?
3. We've had some nasty double-whammies when it goes off. Off and on for a nano-second then off for the duration of the blackout. Seems to come on fairly smoothly though. So far two of our three scheduled powercuts have not stuck to the advertised time.
4. What kind (if any) damage does this do to any 'gear' - pc's, fridges, geysers, etc?
4. Lost a big outdoor spotlight and an ordinary lightbulb. Untold damage to the TV but it seems to have settled down for the moment.
5. What happens to your security systems? Your electric fences (if you have any). Does it block or interfere with any 'panic button' systems?
5. Block or interfere? Certainly NOT! I am the security system and panic button.
6. Are you used to the idea now, of 'electricity' being something which sometimes, simply
isn't there for use? Has it changed the way you view your 'gadgets' (TV, DVD player, PC etc
6. Not really no. At 63 I still regard all these gadgets as luxuries, and if they are off they are off. No problemo.
7. What happens 'outside' your house/flat on the street during the power cuts? (Assuming you've looked) Is it complete darkness, or do the streetlights shine at all? Are traffic lights at those times, working?
7. Complete darkness, but you can see the streetlights working under the Freeway bridge cos theyre on a different circuit. And just the other side of the Playing field up the valley its like a Christmas Tree... also a different circuit.
8. What happens to electric powered gates during the power cuts - if they can't open - what do you do with your car if you can't get into your driveway?
8.We don't have electric gates.
9. Have you heard of any instances, where the power cuts have caused, or allowed crime
to happen?
9. I was in Clicks with a handful of small goods a couple of weeks ago when the power was cut. I had to interrupt staff to ask them to put it back on the shelves and could just as easily have strolled out with it. I'm betting they lose a massive amount of goods.
10. If power cuts happen at prime time, do you tend to sit in silence, deliberately go to bed early, or do you have battery operated radio's etc - to play music or something?
10. I go blog, or read, or fix my albums, or hand sew. Ja we have a portable radio but I like the quiet...we have a stand-by lamp which cost about R150 from Makro and can run for up to eight hours on one bar and 4 hours on two. Rechargable as well...I also like to spend time outside. The full moon this week has made it a pleasure to sit about and study the darkened neighbourhood....
11. If you're part of a family, and have been going through the power cuts together, have you noticed any changes in the group dynamics. (Like - people are talking with each other more - or alternatively getting more upset and arguing.
11. Nope - no change to habits.
1. The Press.
2. What sorts of things do you do 'earlier', if the power cuts come at prime time (evenings).
2. Cook supper in the morning and fridge it.
3. Does the power just abruptly cut out, or does it 'brown out' slowly. And when it returns, same question, all at once - or slowly?
3. We've had some nasty double-whammies when it goes off. Off and on for a nano-second then off for the duration of the blackout. Seems to come on fairly smoothly though. So far two of our three scheduled powercuts have not stuck to the advertised time.
4. What kind (if any) damage does this do to any 'gear' - pc's, fridges, geysers, etc?
4. Lost a big outdoor spotlight and an ordinary lightbulb. Untold damage to the TV but it seems to have settled down for the moment.
5. What happens to your security systems? Your electric fences (if you have any). Does it block or interfere with any 'panic button' systems?
5. Block or interfere? Certainly NOT! I am the security system and panic button.
6. Are you used to the idea now, of 'electricity' being something which sometimes, simply
isn't there for use? Has it changed the way you view your 'gadgets' (TV, DVD player, PC etc
6. Not really no. At 63 I still regard all these gadgets as luxuries, and if they are off they are off. No problemo.
7. What happens 'outside' your house/flat on the street during the power cuts? (Assuming you've looked) Is it complete darkness, or do the streetlights shine at all? Are traffic lights at those times, working?
7. Complete darkness, but you can see the streetlights working under the Freeway bridge cos theyre on a different circuit. And just the other side of the Playing field up the valley its like a Christmas Tree... also a different circuit.
8. What happens to electric powered gates during the power cuts - if they can't open - what do you do with your car if you can't get into your driveway?
8.We don't have electric gates.
9. Have you heard of any instances, where the power cuts have caused, or allowed crime
to happen?
9. I was in Clicks with a handful of small goods a couple of weeks ago when the power was cut. I had to interrupt staff to ask them to put it back on the shelves and could just as easily have strolled out with it. I'm betting they lose a massive amount of goods.
10. If power cuts happen at prime time, do you tend to sit in silence, deliberately go to bed early, or do you have battery operated radio's etc - to play music or something?
10. I go blog, or read, or fix my albums, or hand sew. Ja we have a portable radio but I like the quiet...we have a stand-by lamp which cost about R150 from Makro and can run for up to eight hours on one bar and 4 hours on two. Rechargable as well...I also like to spend time outside. The full moon this week has made it a pleasure to sit about and study the darkened neighbourhood....
11. If you're part of a family, and have been going through the power cuts together, have you noticed any changes in the group dynamics. (Like - people are talking with each other more - or alternatively getting more upset and arguing.
11. Nope - no change to habits.
LancelotSA
Banned
Perhaps Eskom should schedule you for a few more sessions then?
You think they would if I asked nicely?
Only thing I'd miss is all the happy, positive people on here!!!
LoneGunman
Expert Member
@Globetrotter really useful and informative! Then @Luke7777 @quik @LancelotSA & @-toady- (nice info re the cooking supper early and fridging it btw)
and to anyone else I may have missed)- Really really interesting stuff from you guys, thanks a lot.
It gives me a better sense of the reality of living with this kind of thing, and seeing how folks adapt (or not) and how life gets slightly altered.
Interesting to see how many folks run for cover from the silence of modern homes.. (time to buy little battery operated radio's maybe? I used to do that - that, a charged up fluorescent thing, and a book, kept me sane during power cuts - on the other hand, not daily power cuts, thats a little too hectic..)
From my position outside of SA, its difficult to imagine the full weirdness of it all. Not to mention the obvious pain in the @ss of it all. (I mean just thinking about it, restaurants must be going out of business in hard hit areas, bars, all the places where people can get together..)
Utter craziness.
If anything - I think from an 'outsider' perspective, it all almost has an apocalyptic feel to it in some ways. And the 'apocalyptic' stuff is almost normal.. twilight zone stuff, as if there's a notice on TV saying "We're going back to 1850 for the next three hours in suburb X' - day after day...
The idea of 'having' to deal with a modern normal society that suddenly 'stops working' is usually in movies.. but you guys are all adjusting (as if there's any other real choice) and getting on with life as best as possible.
All I can say is 'ouch'.. I hope things get fixed, somehow - otherwise its a really slippery slope, back to 1850...
*shudders*
But thanks again everyone - I hate to use the Oprah/Dr Phil phrase, but 'thanks for sharing'
and to anyone else I may have missed)- Really really interesting stuff from you guys, thanks a lot.
It gives me a better sense of the reality of living with this kind of thing, and seeing how folks adapt (or not) and how life gets slightly altered.
Interesting to see how many folks run for cover from the silence of modern homes.. (time to buy little battery operated radio's maybe? I used to do that - that, a charged up fluorescent thing, and a book, kept me sane during power cuts - on the other hand, not daily power cuts, thats a little too hectic..)
From my position outside of SA, its difficult to imagine the full weirdness of it all. Not to mention the obvious pain in the @ss of it all. (I mean just thinking about it, restaurants must be going out of business in hard hit areas, bars, all the places where people can get together..)
Utter craziness.
If anything - I think from an 'outsider' perspective, it all almost has an apocalyptic feel to it in some ways. And the 'apocalyptic' stuff is almost normal.. twilight zone stuff, as if there's a notice on TV saying "We're going back to 1850 for the next three hours in suburb X' - day after day...
The idea of 'having' to deal with a modern normal society that suddenly 'stops working' is usually in movies.. but you guys are all adjusting (as if there's any other real choice) and getting on with life as best as possible.
All I can say is 'ouch'.. I hope things get fixed, somehow - otherwise its a really slippery slope, back to 1850...
*shudders*
But thanks again everyone - I hate to use the Oprah/Dr Phil phrase, but 'thanks for sharing'
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I was put out to such an extent that I have spent over R50k converting and purchasing new applicances to reduce my reliance on elecricity. Pools, geysers, stoves, lights have all changed to solar and gas and we now boil water on the gas stoves with an "old-skool" kettle.
LancelotSA
Banned
"A boer maak 'n plan!"
Remember most restaurants cook with gas so I know many of them are actually busier when people cannot cook at home.
In fact drove to a KFC in another area the other day when our lights were off and it was packed with people unable to cook at home!
1. How did you hear about the projected load shedding, when it first was raised? News iirc
2. What sorts of things do you do 'earlier', if the power cuts come at prime time (evenings). Nothing really - kids get their bath at the usual time. We'll avoid using the oven but for the longest time we didnt have a functioning oven anyway (we procrastinated buying one until we refurbished the kitchen) and are quite happy using the gas weber.
3. Does the power just abruptly cut out, or does it 'brown out' slowly. And when it returns, same question, all at once - or slowly? It's as if someone flicks a big switch - and thats the problem - those switches weren't designed to be flicked all the time - Walmer . . . ka-boom.
4. What kind (if any) damage does this do to any 'gear' - pc's, fridges, geysers, etc? So far nothing - I always assumed things like geysers and fridges spent all day switching themselves on and off anyway.
5. What happens to your security systems? Your electric fences (if you have any). Does it block or interfere with any 'panic button' systems? Alarms have a 10+ hour battery backup and we dont have a fence (let alone an electric one)
6. Are you used to the idea now, of 'electricity' being something which sometimes, simply
isn't there for use? Has it changed the way you view your 'gadgets' (TV, DVD player, PC etc) Spend a winter in the Poconos and you'll get an idea. Here the outages are scheduled and the schedule is followed - there mother nature doesnt really keep to a schedule
7. What happens 'outside' your house/flat on the street during the power cuts? (Assuming you've looked) Is it complete darkness, or do the streetlights shine at all? Are traffic lights at those times, working? N/A we dont have streetlights in our burb. There is an amazing sensation as the ambient noise drops to almost nothing apart from a few generators humming.
8. What happens to electric powered gates during the power cuts - if they can't open - what do you do with your car if you can't get into your driveway? N/A no gate and the garage is so full of crap we havent parked in it in years
9. Have you heard of any instances, where the power cuts have caused, or allowed crime
to happen? Perhaps in Walmer recently but then the power has been out for nearly a week there. None of the looting I recall from the summer of '77
10. If power cuts happen at prime time, do you tend to sit in silence, deliberately go to bed early, or do you have battery operated radio's etc - to play music or something? We watch TV or a movie, play games , build puzzles . . .
11. If you're part of a family, and have been going through the power cuts together, have you noticed any changes in the group dynamics. (Like - people are talking with each other more - or alternatively getting more upset and arguing..) Its been nice - the eldest gets all excited and wants to watch a movie on a laptop (even though the tv/dstv works) so we make an occasion out of it.
2. What sorts of things do you do 'earlier', if the power cuts come at prime time (evenings). Nothing really - kids get their bath at the usual time. We'll avoid using the oven but for the longest time we didnt have a functioning oven anyway (we procrastinated buying one until we refurbished the kitchen) and are quite happy using the gas weber.
3. Does the power just abruptly cut out, or does it 'brown out' slowly. And when it returns, same question, all at once - or slowly? It's as if someone flicks a big switch - and thats the problem - those switches weren't designed to be flicked all the time - Walmer . . . ka-boom.
4. What kind (if any) damage does this do to any 'gear' - pc's, fridges, geysers, etc? So far nothing - I always assumed things like geysers and fridges spent all day switching themselves on and off anyway.
5. What happens to your security systems? Your electric fences (if you have any). Does it block or interfere with any 'panic button' systems? Alarms have a 10+ hour battery backup and we dont have a fence (let alone an electric one)
6. Are you used to the idea now, of 'electricity' being something which sometimes, simply
isn't there for use? Has it changed the way you view your 'gadgets' (TV, DVD player, PC etc) Spend a winter in the Poconos and you'll get an idea. Here the outages are scheduled and the schedule is followed - there mother nature doesnt really keep to a schedule
7. What happens 'outside' your house/flat on the street during the power cuts? (Assuming you've looked) Is it complete darkness, or do the streetlights shine at all? Are traffic lights at those times, working? N/A we dont have streetlights in our burb. There is an amazing sensation as the ambient noise drops to almost nothing apart from a few generators humming.
8. What happens to electric powered gates during the power cuts - if they can't open - what do you do with your car if you can't get into your driveway? N/A no gate and the garage is so full of crap we havent parked in it in years
9. Have you heard of any instances, where the power cuts have caused, or allowed crime
to happen? Perhaps in Walmer recently but then the power has been out for nearly a week there. None of the looting I recall from the summer of '77
10. If power cuts happen at prime time, do you tend to sit in silence, deliberately go to bed early, or do you have battery operated radio's etc - to play music or something? We watch TV or a movie, play games , build puzzles . . .
11. If you're part of a family, and have been going through the power cuts together, have you noticed any changes in the group dynamics. (Like - people are talking with each other more - or alternatively getting more upset and arguing..) Its been nice - the eldest gets all excited and wants to watch a movie on a laptop (even though the tv/dstv works) so we make an occasion out of it.
If you look at the published schedule for the NMMM each area gets hit once a day for 2 hours. Big business (think motor industry) and hospitals (I think) are exempt.
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psc
Well-Known Member
1. How did you hear about the projected load shedding, when it first was raised?
Had an inkling in 2000, then experienced it first hand
2. What sorts of things do you do 'earlier', if the power cuts come at prime time (evenings).
Leave work early ! Power cuts @ Home during the morning 10H00 -> 14H00, work 18H00 -> 22H00
3. Does the power just abruptly cut out, or does it 'brown out' slowly. And when it returns, same question, all at once - or slowly?
Not sure @ Home, but work is sudden darkness, followed by light as the genie kicks in
4. What kind (if any) damage does this do to any 'gear' - pc's, fridges, geysers, etc?
None locally, but we had some equipment detroyed in PE due to the neutral bus-bars been "vandalised" during load shedding
5. What happens to your security systems? Your electric fences (if you have any). Does it block or interfere with any 'panic button' systems?
All on battery backup
6. Are you used to the idea now, of 'electricity' being something which sometimes, simply
isn't there for use? Has it changed the way you view your 'gadgets' (TV, DVD player, PC etc)
Use a notebook with extended life battery, good for 5 Hours, also no load shedding @home during "prime time"
7. What happens 'outside' your house/flat on the street during the power cuts? (Assuming you've looked) Is it complete darkness, or do the streetlights shine at all? Are traffic lights at those times, working?
I do a reasonable amount of travelling, power cuts add a huge amount to the logistics of moving around timeously
8. What happens to electric powered gates during the power cuts - if they can't open - what do you do with your car if you can't get into your driveway?
Manual overide on gates, inconvienient, but manageable
9. Have you heard of any instances, where the power cuts have caused, or allowed crime
to happen?
Not firsthand
10. If power cuts happen at prime time, do you tend to sit in silence, deliberately go to bed early, or do you have battery operated radio's etc - to play music or something?
N/A
11. If you're part of a family, and have been going through the power cuts together, have you noticed any changes in the group dynamics. (Like - people are talking with each other more - or alternatively getting more upset and arguing..)
N/A
............
LoneGunman
Expert Member
thanks guys, building up a good picture of things.
Its maybe interesting for folks themselves to be getting asked these kind of 'outsider' ('uitlander'?) questions, seeing as everyone's kind of just gotten used to it all..
I'm working on maybe just a couple more additional questions. Again, these'll be slightly odd questions, but as you've seen, I'm interested in picking up a sense of the textures
of peoples lives - so I'm not asking the 'journalist' kinds of questions..
I've learned a lot already from this thread, more than I expected. Didn't realize how thoroughly the load shedding is (for better or worse) part of peoples lives, way more than I realized.
Its maybe interesting for folks themselves to be getting asked these kind of 'outsider' ('uitlander'?
) questions, seeing as everyone's kind of just gotten used to it all..I'm working on maybe just a couple more additional questions. Again, these'll be slightly odd questions, but as you've seen, I'm interested in picking up a sense of the textures
of peoples lives - so I'm not asking the 'journalist' kinds of questions..
I've learned a lot already from this thread, more than I expected. Didn't realize how thoroughly the load shedding is (for better or worse) part of peoples lives, way more than I realized.
ettubrute
Expert Member
Will we get to see/read the piece when you're finished?
1. How did you hear about the projected load shedding, when it first was raised? Media... I think it was the local newspaper. Also, because I run my business from home, I regularly checked the Eishkom/CoCT websites, and found the schedules there.
2. What sorts of things do you do 'earlier', if the power cuts come at prime time (evenings). Make a pot of coffee... Our schedule (this month) is Tuesdays from 16:00 to 18:30, making it bearable.
3. Does the power just abruptly cut out, or does it 'brown out' slowly. And when it returns, same question, all at once - or slowly? Luckily it is abrupt, otherwise my next answer would be different!
4. What kind (if any) damage does this do to any 'gear' - pc's, fridges, geysers, etc? None yet!
5. What happens to your security systems? Your electric fences (if you have any). Does it block or interfere with any 'panic button' systems? Alarm has a battery backup, lasting 5+ hours, thus is fine. No electric fence.
6. Are you used to the idea now, of 'electricity' being something which sometimes, simply isn't there for use? Has it changed the way you view your 'gadgets' (TV, DVD player, PC etc) Used to it? Well... sort of! No use not getting used to it. It is still annoying though...
7. What happens 'outside' your house/flat on the street during the power cuts? (Assuming you've looked) Is it complete darkness, or do the streetlights shine at all? Are traffic lights at those times, working? Darkness, and no traffic lights. This is especially a problem when coming out from the city on Tuesdays, since Constantia/Claremont sheds from 18:00 to 20:30, and the lights on the M3 are out! I wish they would convert the lights to solar now (as they promised after their successful tests!) Or at least send cops to do point duty!
8. What happens to electric powered gates during the power cuts - if they can't open - what do you do with your car if you can't get into your driveway? Battery backup on the gate... The garage doesn't, thus we park the car in the driveway. Forgot the schedule once, and the car was still in the garage, and I hadn't figured out the override yet (tip-up door) thus we were stuck!
9. Have you heard of any instances, where the power cuts have caused, or allowed crime to happen? Only in the media.
10. If power cuts happen at prime time, do you tend to sit in silence, deliberately go to bed early, or do you have battery operated radio's etc - to play music or something? We have notebooks, and I put in a UPS for the ADSL modem, witch works quite well! We hardly ever watch TV anyway, thus it didn't change our lives that much! And reading by candlelight is also nice.
11. If you're part of a family, and have been going through the power cuts together, have you noticed any changes in the group dynamics. (Like - people are talking with each other more - or alternatively getting more upset and arguing..) See previous answer...
Heard bad stories about this... but since I'm not sure, I will not feed the theories until it can be substantiated.
stoke
Honorary Master
I challenge u to find ALEX in the load scheduling schedules.