Load shedding is a reality in South Africa. Even though we’ve been hearing the term for a few years, many of us still don’t have the necessary equipment at home to mitigate blackouts.
These foolproof methods will help you Eskom-proof your home so you can go about your normal life without being inconvenienced by long power outages.
Power Bank
A fully charged power bank or two in the house is essential for the times that ‘lights out’ catches you unawares or for those times that the outage triggers another electrical fault in your area and your power does not come back on for a long period of time. It is best to purchase a power bank that also charges your phone and laptop.
Non-electric kettle
No-one wants to miss out on their morning coffee just because of Eskom. Due to load shedding, these appliances are making a strong comeback. When there is no electricity, they can be heated up on a gas stove or fire.
Inverter
With many of us now working from home, our work schedules are being disrupted by daily power outages, and while charging cell phones and laptops may keep us going for a short time, we cannot work without WiFi.
Investing in an inverter has thus become a requirement for those of us who work from home. The size and capacity required will be determined by the number – and type – of devices you need to keep running.
UPS (Uninterrupted Power Supply)
A UPS functions similarly to an inverter, but its switch-over is instantaneous as opposed to an inverter’s time delay. An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) stores electricity, whereas an inverter converts AC power to DC power. These devices are typically more expensive than inverters. You can get a cheaper one that will only supply your fibre or router with power so you can continue to work.
Also see: Steps to take before leaving your 9-5 to pursue your passion
