The ripple control misconception

[Turiko]

I have, on this and other forums become innately aware of the general misconception about ripple control. I have read that:

* It is evil
* It is "shafting the consumer"
* They suddenly did it now to gain the reduction of 10%

The truth of the matter is the majority of the systems in SA, have been running since the 1970's. It has been with us a long time and no it hasn't suddenly been put to use. I have been working with these systems since 1993 and the municipalities have been controlling water heaters in much the same manner as they do now, since that time.

With the power crisis, they are turning the geysers off more frequently and for longer periods but the actual time period that the geyser is turned off for, is very short, ranging from 10 - 120 minutes. That is not going to affect your hot water, unless you empty the geyser during this time period which is quite unlikely.

Yes, the systems are antique (the injection plants are, not all receivers in homes are) and sometimes transmission errors occur, but that does not cause major inconvenience.

The systems in SA is going to be overhauled and improved, I can assure you I am not putting in all the effort I am at the moment for nothing.

 

[Frankie]

the geyser is turned off for, is very short, ranging from 10 - 120 minutes. That is not going to affect your hot water, unless you empty the geyser during this time period which is quite unlikely.

When I lived near JNB they turned the geyser off in the evenings to avoid the peak penalty charges from Eskom, and because of this, after my children had bathed there was insufficient hot water for the wife and I - this inconvenience lasted just a few days before I defeated the so called 'Ripple Relay'.

 

[HavocXphere]

The house here has one. Or rather had one until it rusted.

They should start with pool pumps imo.

On the whole I support the idea. Geyser maintain their temp for very long & I don't like sitting in the dark.

 

[Turiko]

When I lived near JNB they turned the geyser off in the evenings to avoid the peak penalty charges from Eskom, and because of this, after my children had bathed there was insufficient hot water for the wife and I - this inconvenience lasted just a few days before I defeated the so called 'Ripple Relay'.

Indeed so, it was a mess, and I share your experience

They should start with pool pumps imo.

On the whole I support the idea. Geyser maintain their temp for very long & I don't like sitting in the dark.

I agree, that is why I am proposing and wrestling with Eskom in my research. My personal goals is to design and produce a receiver that can manage a lot more than just the geyser, it must be able to manage HVAC and the notorious swimming pool pump. However, what is most urgently needed is short notice warning (alarm) of impending load shedding and this is what I am working on full time.

I am a designer and manufacturer of power related electronics, in particular AMF panels for generators, chargers, power supplies and motor drives. My customers wanted a signal that loadshedding was imminent and use that signal to start up a generator and switch it in as the power is cut.

Eskom have disclosed to me that indeed, loadshedding operations are conducted using the ripple system, in areas such as the West Rand where the installations are quite advanced. They have also intimated to me other methods to detect imminent faults that lead to power outages and the "severe pressure" condition we see on TV by mathematical analysis.

 

[Nerfherder]

I am a designer and manufacturer of power related electronics, in particular AMF panels for generators, chargers, power supplies and motor drives. My customers wanted a signal that loadshedding was imminent and use that signal to start up a generator and switch it in as the power is cut.

That would be awesome, the application of this for business would be a life saver.

 

[Turiko]

That would be awesome, the application of this for business would be a life saver.

Well yes, that's why I am so busy so be assured I am working on it with all I have and I have invested a lot of money into bringing it to market.

Will need sites for beta testing in the future. Are you interested?

 

[Nerfherder]

I know a few people that really need that kind of thing. So yes.