Load Shedding Solutions

BEST LOAD SHEDDING SOLUTION IN SOUTH AFRICA

A battery back up solution is a great product to install to counter load shedding. The system consists of a inverter and battery pack to provide power when the lights go out. The system is completely automatic and can be installed in a number of locations. The advantage of this installation is that you don’t have to install a noisy generator. Generators need constant refilling and maintenance and are not ideal for residential areas or for small businesses where noise and pollution from the exhaust are a problem. The systems consist of a modified sine-wave or a Pure sine-wave inverter; with a built-in battery charger, automatic changeover switch and a large battery bank.

How do these systems work?

The unit is permanently connected to utility power so that while mains is present the extra large built-in battery charger recharges the batteries and keeps the batteries fully charged until a power failure occurs. The equipment you want to back up is also permanently connected via the system.

In case of a power failure the backup system automatically switches over, via an extra fast transfer switch to the inverter, which will continue to provide power to the equipment within 15 milsec. This is extremely fast and standard equipment like TVs, DSTV decoders, microwaves, fans, etc. are unaffected. The sinewave systems can also backup computers but it is possible that a very small percentage of computers could reset during the switchover time.

When utility power returns, the whole procedure is reversed and the unit will switch back to ESKOM and will automatically start re-charging the batteries. Your equipment remains connected to the system even when power is restored. The whole process is fully automatic.

How long will the inverter system run when there is a power failure?

The amount of backup time is determined by the size of the connected battery bank and the load drawn from the system. The backup time is directly in proportion to the load drawn. The backup time is normally calculated at full load (i.e. if the system is a 2200VA system, full load is 2200VA). If you remove some of the connected load, then the backup time will be extended accordingly.

How long does it take to charge the batteries when ESKOM returns?

The recharge time of the batteries depends on how much power was removed from the batteries during a power failure. The recharge times in the catalogues is indicated at full battery discharge.

If there is a planned power outage, can the system last for the full power outage time?

Yes, but the system has to be correctly sized then you wont have any issues. These systems are capable of bridging power outages from 2 – 24 hours or (e.g. for 2 hours per day twice a day) as the battery chargers are powerful enough to recharge the battery bank to cater for the second outage on the same day (providing there is enough time between the 2 outages – at least 4-6 hours). This system if fully automatic

Inverter Installation

The smaller systems can be used as stand-alone systems or can be wired into your DB board. The larger systems can also be used as stand-alone systems but it is by far more convenient if they are hard-wired into your DB board.

Maintenance

These systems require minimum maintenance. Depending on the system chosen, the batteries are either fully-sealed Gel batteries or Lithium Ion . Batteries are maintenance free and do not have to be filled. It is recommended that battery sets are installed in a battery cabinet and are locked in a room with ventilation, where small children do not have access. Lithium Ion units are completely maintenance free and are in their own cabinet with own management system.

What is the difference between a home long backup system and a UPS system?

A UPS system is designed to backup sensitive equipment like servers, computers, medical equipment, telecommunications equipment, etc. Standard UPS systems have small internal battery sets and can only provide short backup times of approximately 5 – 20 minutes which cannot be extended as the internal battery chargers are small and can only cater for the internal battery sets they were designed for. Additional or external batteries cannot be connected to these UPS systems.

In contrast, inverter based long backup systems do have a small break when they switch over to backup power (irrespective of the inverter system brand or model). The higher quality systems, which Sine-tech supplies, switch over in a very short time and it is hardly noticeable. Inverter backup systems incorporate larger battery chargers which allows larger battery sets to be installed which results in much longer backup times than UPS systems.

In contrast, home long backup systems, which do have a small break when they switch over to backup power (irrespective if the inverter system, but the good quality systems have a power break during switchover which is hardly noticeable), incorporate large battery chargers which enables extra large battery sets to be installed, which results in extra long back-up times. This is not possible. with UPS systems.

Types of Batteries we offer

Appliances that run well on a backup power system:

You can connect the following appliances to the inverter systems as long as the total power consumption does not exceed the maximum VA rating of the unit:

Small to large Plasma or LCD TV
DSTV and M-Net decoders
Surround sound systems
5 to 10 energy saver lights
a Fan
Fridge and deep freezer
Home alarm system
Automatic garage door motor
Intercom
Electric fence
Microwave oven
Small kettle
Fax machine
some standard home Power tools

Items that should not be powered by a backup power system:

Geysers
Underfloor heating
Stoves
Air conditioners
Washing machines
Tumble driers
Dishwashers
Pool motors

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