Load
shedding: When a generator isn’t the answer.
Generators are not always the answer to
Eskom’s punitive load shedding. For many small businesses the noise of a
generator piercing the quiet of a residential area or interrupting the thoughts
of staff members deep in concentration is simply unacceptable.
So, what’s the answer to South Africa’s
increasingly unstable and unreliable power supply?
The most cost-efficient and effective
solution is an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) system. Before you rush out and buy one, take a few minutes to decide what’s best for you.
Firstly, do you have critical equipment that
must remain powered 24x7 – such as important security systems and cameras? Or
are you looking to simply keep a computer or two and a couple of lights up and
running during an outage? Whatever your individual needs are, there is a UPS
system to meet them.
One of the advantages of a UPS system – compared to a low-end power
inverter, for example – is the automatic switch over to backup power in the
event of a failure. You don’t have to physically unplug your PC or TV from the
wall socket and plug it into the backup inverter.
Because ‘load-shedding’ is the latest buzz
word, there are many power solutions on the market – some from reputable
suppliers, others from opportunists out to make a ‘quick buck’. More often than not, the ‘fly-by-nights’ only serve to add
confusion to the marketplace and are seldom around long enough to address
warranty claims and other queries down the line.
My advice? Become knowledgeable and
informed. Make decisions carefully. Don’t be rushed.
Keep in mind that your installation requirements
depend on a number of factors, including the maximum possible load you’ll
require, the average likely load and the level of redundancy you may
need to be on the safe side.
While the size and number of batteries in
your system play key roles in determining the total number of hours back up
time you’ll have available, the UPS sizing is extremely important too. Save
money by getting the calculations right before you even consider which UPS
system is best for your application.
At Powermode, we offer our family of
time-proven Q-On UPS systems. They range from 3 kVA to 10 kVA in size and are
backed by our decades of experience in the IT and power arenas - plus our
nationwide technical support teams. Prices vary according to application, so
speak to us before you make your final decision.
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