What do you do to keep the power flowing?

[joshuatree]

I don't see any portable power stations on the Weable website?

Jackery, Ecoflow, Flexopower, and whatever generic white labelled devices available.

This might be an easy portable plug and play option when necessary for essentials.

 

[Weable Technology]

I don't see any portable power stations on the Weable website?

Jackery, Ecoflow, Flexopower, and whatever generic white labelled devices available.

This might be an easy portable plug and play option when necessary for essentials.

Thanks for the suggestion, We have added the ecoflow power stations to the site

 

[Napalm2880]

3 weeks ago: 40+ hours without electricity
2 weeks ago: 13 hours without electricity
1 week ago: 50+ hours without electricity
*excluding loadshedding

I'd say I'm pretty well prepared at this point.

 

[zolly]

We'd like to know what's got your back?

Ecoflow Delta for keeping full desktop setup going over load shedding with quick 1-2 hour recharge time.
Dedicated 12v devices for keeping my network hardware going.
LED torches for light.

 

[maumau]

3 weeks ago: 40+ hours without electricity
2 weeks ago: 13 hours without electricity
1 week ago: 50+ hours without electricity
*excluding loadshedding

I'd say I'm pretty well prepared at this point.

What area? Parts of Bromhof/Boskruin have the same PLUS regular extensive water cuts.

Feel sorry for people living there.

 

[joshuatree]

Ecoflow Delta for keeping full desktop setup going over load shedding with quick 1-2 hour recharge time.
Dedicated 12v devices for keeping my network hardware going.
LED torches for light.

How Long Does the EcoFlow Delta Last?

The EcoFlow Delta power station has a lifespan of 800 charges. After that point, the capacity drops under 60%.

In my use, I noticed the capacity dropping after only 500 life cycles.

Well, that’s not a good start.

Sure, you can still use your power station for years, but you’ll have to recharge it more often — and as a result, shorten its life even faster.

https://greencitizen.com/ecoflow-delta/

--------------------
This is my only gripe with the EcoFlow range - the lifespan/amount of charge cycles.

Ecoflow River 500 charge cycles.
Ecoflow River Pro 800 charge cycles.

Shopping for myself in the 500-750Wh range.

Currently looking at the Rentech PPS750 with a claimed >1500 life cycle.

 

[Mystic Twilight]

Why you have to go and post the same thread?

How do you "cope" with the blackouts?

How do you "cope" with rotational blackouts? Do you take the minimalistic approach (eg a Magneto light and your cellphone or tablet) or do you prefer to run select devices off a small generator or battery & inverter? Perhaps you have a complete backup solution that powers your entire house, or...

mybroadband.co.za

Feels like someone is doing market research and engaging in direct sales where applicable.

 

[zolly]

How Long Does the EcoFlow Delta Last?

The EcoFlow Delta power station has a lifespan of 800 charges. After that point, the capacity drops under 60%.

In my use, I noticed the capacity dropping after only 500 life cycles.

Well, that’s not a good start.

Sure, you can still use your power station for years, but you’ll have to recharge it more often — and as a result, shorten its life even faster.

https://greencitizen.com/ecoflow-delta/

So I've had mine about 9 months and have been using it extensively during load shedding.

Have I noticed a degradation in storage? Yes. When I first used it, a single load shedding session with it hooked up to my gaming PC used about 25% with my PC using about 120-150 watts. Now it uses about 30% with the same level of usage (so let's just say 5% degradation every nine months with semi-regular use). At the current rate, I expect it will give me about 2-3 years of good use in total.

After that I'll probably need to charge it each time I use to get me through a single load shedding session (good thing you can charge it relatively quickly), until it probably becomes a brick a 12 to 18 months after that.

Overall, if I get 3 to 4 years of use out of it before it becomes a total deadweight, I will consider the 20k (I got it on special) well spent, working out at 5K a year for peace of mind as I can work uninterrupted, or chill on my PC if I'm not working.

Currently looking at the Rentech PPS750 with a claimed >1500 life cycle.

I know there are Lithium solutions with greater lifespans, but the charge time is one of the main reasons I went with Ecoflow.

Edit. I see the Rentech has recharge times of 7-10 hours, which means you can't get it back up to max if we have regular stage 4 load shedding (not unrealistic). Depending on what you need, you may be able to work around this, but yeah, it's 5-7x longer than the Ecoflow Delta, but has a longer lasting battery. In the end it really depends on what you're going to use it for.

 

[ghostRgg]

We'd like to know what's got your back?

About 6 months of DIY work with some custom lithium and many imported parts. Totally worth it for the price, but would love to have a simple solution to offer to our clients.

 

[itareanlnotani]

I have a full off grid system and have been offgrid for a number of years, so I would mostly lose:

Internet - as the local hop would go out after +-4hrs.
Traffic lights.
Safe Refrigerated food - as the local malls supermarkets don't have sufficient battery (yet). I suspect that they will be investing more in that, now that pricing is more reasonable. The local malls do have solar though.
Issue is that other infrastructure does not, so things like diary and meat would be suspect, due to cold chain issues.

I've already seen that with previous load shedding, where locally bought products were off despite being within best sale by date. Notably meat. Happened a few times.
Next set of load shedding, will go to a butchers, vs supermarket, as their product can't be trusted.

This included all the majors close-by - PnP (who I no longer shop with as their service/staff are extremely substandard in our area), Checkers, and Fruit n Veg.

I mostly shop at Checkers (Constantia) and Fruit n Veg (Long Valley Mall, Tokai (if I'm in that area)).
I've stopped shopping at Checkers (Long Valley Mall), and PnP (Long Valley Mall).

 

[Willie Trombone]

Hi there I am so sorry :-( Didn't mean to make it sound like a Duplicated Poll. . . We just trying to engage with the audience on
what they have available to them if Eskom has a meltdown because they didn't get a Christmas present but gifts us with a
total Country Wide blackout that lasts for a few days and what they have available to them to keep them going during this time.

I am in no way saying this will happen it is just a big What if (wonder) 

Should of put more context in my first post. . . Mondays (sob)

Spam incoming?
Asking for a friend.

 

[Johnatan56]

Me, I emigrated.

In South Africa was entirely dependent on grid with UPS for PCs, had had a couple of 2W lights hooked up to those, DC battery for ups and router that lasts a good day at least (accidentally didn't plug it in when I first got it, so ran off of battery till the next morning).

Didn't install solar or batteries as everyone was unsure if still in South Africa within 5 years, with me that was true, and with how government is looking, will probably have the rest show up within the next couple of years as well when companies aren't recovering.

 

[DuracellBunny]

So I've had mine about 9 months and have been using it extensively during load shedding.

Have I noticed a degradation in storage? Yes. When I first used it, a single load shedding session with it hooked up to my gaming PC used about 25% with my PC using about 120-150 watts. Now it uses about 30% with the same level of usage (so let's just say 5% degradation every nine months with semi-regular use). At the current rate, I expect it will give me about 2-3 years of good use in total.

After that I'll probably need to charge it each time I use to get me through a single load shedding session (good thing you can charge it relatively quickly), until it probably becomes a brick a 12 to 18 months after that.

Overall, if I get 3 to 4 years of use out of it before it becomes a total deadweight, I will consider the 20k (I got it on special) well spent, working out at 5K a year for peace of mind as I can work uninterrupted, or chill on my PC if I'm not working.



I know there are Lithium solutions with greater lifespans, but the charge time is one of the main reasons I went with Ecoflow.

Edit. I see the Rentech has recharge times of 7-10 hours, which means you can't get it back up to max if we have regular stage 4 load shedding (not unrealistic). Depending on what you need, you may be able to work around this, but yeah, it's 5-7x longer than the Ecoflow Delta, but has a longer lasting battery. In the end it really depends on what you're going to use it for.

I feel the Eoflow systems are a bit over priced for our market, US they do seem to be doing very well but then again our currency value dont hold up that well.

Heck for the same value you could probably get a system that last alot longer for almost the same amount. today it may seem 20k but a couple years downs the line replacing batteries ends up being 40K :-(

 

[DuracellBunny]

About 6 months of DIY work with some custom lithium and many imported parts. Totally worth it for the price, but would love to have a simple solution to offer to our clients.

What size battery bank you got going and cell sizes also pleeze

 

[RedViking]

A complete blackout as in a couple of days or weeks?

We screwed

The rest has been answered in the other similar thread.


But push comes to shove I will add some panels and solar charge to my simple system. Without internet however, it is all useless.

 

[joshuatree]

I feel the Eoflow systems are a bit over priced for our market, US they do seem to be doing very well but then again our currency value dont hold up that well.

Heck for the same value you could probably get a system that last alot longer for almost the same amount. today it may seem 20k but a couple years downs the line replacing batteries ends up being 40K :-(

I agree on the Ecoflow range. But like Zolly said different use cases, quick charging distinguishes it from most other brands.

I would like to see what is on the market in a year or two, portable power stations might be like what the cellphone became.

 

[zolly]

Heck for the same value you could probably get a system that last alot longer for almost the same amount.

Ya.... I spent a while looking. Couldn't find anything that offers the recharge speeds of the Delta. Plenty of slower systems which recharge in 8-12 hours and have more life cycles, but when you don't have power for 2 slots across working hours I needed something that could recharge much quicker.

 

[Not_original]

I stay in a forgotten valley without loadshitting

 

[joshuatree]

https://www.livestainable.co.za/product/bluenova-compact-power-station-cps-1500-1-4k/

Product Application: Please note that the CPS 1500-1.4K (The inverter in particular) has been pre-configured to be used for UPS applications. The product is therefor not “solar-ready” but can be reconfigured for such purpose.

Important: Should you install your CPS 1500-1.4k unit as a UPS application & charge it from one of your wall sockets directly, obtaining a certificate of compliance subsequent to installations is not necessary . Obtaining such a certificate would only be necessary if the unit is connected to charge directly from the distribution panel on the premises.

Ready to be installed by accredited installer out of the box

Offers an effortless plug and play solution once installed

Core Integrated Hardware:

Mecer 1.5kVA / 1.2kW Pure Sine Wave Inverter
Incl. 40A MPPT Solar Charge Controller
BlueNova 1.4kWh LiFePO4 Battery
Battery display panel & isolator switch
Integrated distribution board
Pre-configured for UPS applications
Solar-configurable via inverter UI
Battery Features

Ultra-safe Lithium Iron Phosphate
(LiFePO4) technology
Integrated battery management System (BMS)
Lightweight & compact
Water & dust resistance (IP56)
Highly durable ABS enclosure
Drop-in lead-acid replacement.

----------

This is probably overpriced for what it is and not expandable or portable really?

 

[ghostRgg]

What size battery bank you got going and cell sizes also pleeze

Nothing fancy since we prepared to expand later. Most of the money went towards a 6KVA inverter and Victron BMS system with some hefty breakers on both the battery and plug size.

Batteries are 120Ah 3.2v LiFePo4 (8 in total) to give us around 28.67v feeding into a 24v Inverter which gives us around 2880 Watt hours of usage. Being safe at only using them at most to 70% discharge we get around 2100 Wh of usage.

The plan is to double it up to give us around 4200 worth of storage but hasn't gotten to that yet, will probably end up selling the batteries down the line with the BMS and everything then pick up a pylontech when possible.