Cape Union Mart sheds light on ways to navigate extended load shedding in 2023
Despite being introduced just over 16 years ago, South Africans can agree that load shedding has not become any more bearable over the years.
This unfortunate reality, coupled with outgoing Eskom CEO Andre de Ruyter saying the country’s rolling blackouts are here to stay for at least the remainder of the year, has prompted more people to look for solutions to mitigate the impact of power cuts.
Pierre Pienaar, Technical Product Specialist at Cape Union Mart, says it’s incredible that there are so many load shedding solutions in the market. However, the sheer volume of products makes it difficult for South Africans to determine if the product they’re buying suits their load shedding needs.
“More South Africans are searching for ways to minimise rolling power cut disruptions. However, before rushing out to purchase the first product they find, we’re encouraging buyers to consider a few essential points, like what they need to power, how long they need power for, and how to maintain their devices to extend their lifespan.”
Here are some tips from Cape Union Mart that shed some light on what to look for when shopping for load shedding solutions.
Determine how many smartphones and tablets you want to charge
When searching for a power bank to power smaller devices like smartphones and tablets, buyers need to consider the number of devices they will recharge during a load shedding slot.
Cape Union Mart recommends a 5,000mAh power bank for charging a single smartphone and a 10,000mAh or 20,000mAh power bank to charge multiple devices or one device multiple times for extended outages. The latter should provide enough juice to keep the entire family entertained during an outage.
Consider which appliances you’ll need during an outage
While power banks are suitable for smartphones and tablets, they are not sufficient for laptops or TVs. The retailer suggests buying a portable power station for larger devices and appliances. “Portable power stations are compact, can keep larger appliances and devices powered for personal and work-related purposes, and aren’t as noisy as generators,” adds Pienaar.
Cape Union Mart says a 250-Watt-hour (Wh) battery capacity portable power station, like the Jackery Explorer 250 Portable Power Station, is ideal for powering laptops and small appliances like mini fans or keeping the Wi-Fi on. Power users looking to charge larger electronics like a full-size refrigerator, a TV, a blender, or even an electric grill should buy a 1000Wh portable power station.
The retailer adds that, like most rechargeable batteries, the internal battery inside a portable power station should last an average of 500 recharge cycles. This cycle should give buyers around three years of use before the battery life starts deteriorating. This doesn’t mean the battery is dead after 500 cycles. It means the station will only charge to 80% capacity after 500 charges.
Recharge your portable power station to extend its lifespan
Cape Union Mart advises that South Africans recharge their portable power stations before storing them to extend their lifespan. “Portable power stations shouldn’t be used as unlimited power supplies (UPS). So, only plug your devices from the mains and into the portable power station when load shedding starts, then recharge the station when the power’s back,” says Pienaar.
Additionally, portable power stations will not work well with appliances with a heating element, which can use significantly more power. All electronic devices will have a little sticker or plaque indicating the power drainage in ‘wattage’. “Always check the device you want to power up before plugging it into your portable power station to ensure it won’t drain too much power, as different devices will use different wattage. Some TVs, for example, will only use 60 watts in an hour, whereas other older models can use up to 700Wh.”
LED lights are more cost-effective
Lighting has been in great demand since load shedding started in 2007, and rechargeable emergency LED lights have proved to be the most cost-effective way to keep the lights on in South African homes.
Technology advancements have made these LED lights more energy-efficient without sacrificing brightness or longevity. They can go as bright as 800 lumens and stay on for longer with twin-pack lithium battery technology.
“Cape Union Mart is constantly looking for possible solutions to improve South Africans’ lives while minimising the environmental impact. We strive to meet the demand for more affordable power solutions in homes because many solar and wind solutions are still quite expensive and not accessible to every home. Also, solar and wind power is still in its infancy stage, making it difficult to keep key household commodities like Wi-Fi, TV, home office devices and kitchen appliances powered for extended periods,” concludes Pienaar.