Nearly all South Africans (who are fortunate enough) now own load-shedding gadgets and appliances of various kinds – whether it is rechargeable lighting and light bulbs, gas cookers, heaters and geysers, inverters and UPS battery systems, generators, solar lighting and energy systems, and other solutions to keep the power on and lights going through the inconvenient outages.

With a fair bit of money having been spent on these items and load-shedding a reality in the country for years to come, it makes sense to properly take care of these survival “tools” so that they stand the test of time. Orlando Luis, CEO of Brights Hardware, offers some advice and tips on how to maximise the lifespan of your load-shedding arsenal.

Keeping your power supply uninterrupted
“An Uninterruptible Power Supply or UPS can supply power to computer servers, lights, electronic devices, and all sorts of appliances. The batteries for a UPS system usually last between three to five years, in the case of Lead-acid/Gel and AGM options and between 7 to 10 years in the case of Lithium options– depending on how often they are used and how they are maintained.”

“To care for your UPS keep it in a location with a temperature not exceeding 25°c (every 8°c rise in temperature may cut your battery life in half). Make sure that you leave at least 3 centimetres of space on each side of the unit for proper airflow, and do not place your UPS near open windows or high-moisture areas,” says Luis. “Avoid storing spare batteries for extended periods as batteries that are kept for too long will have a shorter lifespan. Importantly, fully discharged batteries must be recharged within 48 hours to prevent damage. For the smaller UPS systems designed to power WIFI routers and such, it is necessary to frequently charge the UPS to keep it at maximum capacity.”

Sunny side up – solar energy upkeep
“When it comes to solar systems, there is not a lot that needs doing,” advises Luis. “Solar panels generally require very little maintenance to function. The only thing they need is a periodic light clean with soapy water and a nonabrasive cloth to make sure dirt, leaves, and other debris aren't obstructing the sun's rays. The same goes for portable, solar charging lanterns – just wipe the solar panel down to keep it at maximum charging capacity and cut away any trees that could be growing in the path of the sunlight hitting the panel as that will affect the performance.”

Luis says that the batteries for a solar system do require some maintenance. “If you have a large bank of batteries, rotate them periodically. This is because those towards the middle may not receive as much charge as the ones on the outside. Rotating the batteries periodically will help balance this out. Use large battery interconnect cables to reduce resistance and allow for even charging. Charge your batteries frequently, and keep them clean as a dirty connection will weaken the battery over time and lead to energy loss. Use only distilled water in your batteries, and ensure that your solar panels have enough capacity to fully charge your batteries as insufficient charging power can lessen the life span of your batteries or even damage them.”

In charge of the light brigade - LED lanterns 
“Rechargeable LED lanterns, such as the popular Magneto, use lead-acid battery technology and must be regularly charged. It is not a good idea to drain these batteries completely, and when in use, if the light starts to dim it is best to switch it off and then when the power returns fully charge the lantern for 16 – 20 hours. Lights such as the Magneto last up to 60 hours on dim and 20 hours on bright, so they should outlast even four hours of load-shedding when new,” says Luis.

“I prefer Li-ion battery technology which should last 7-10 years and can be run down to zero without any damage. If possible, look for LED lanterns or emergency lights with these batteries. You also get them for solar and inverter installations - however they are approximately three times more in price compared to other battery types.”

Keeps things cooking – gas care
Luis goes on to offer advice for those who have invested in a gas stove or cooker. “Regular maintenance of your stove will not only improve the efficiency of the stove but also extend its lifespan and prevents costly repairs.”

Luis cautions that you must never pour water on your gas stove, and never use a wooden stick to clean the burner holes. “With gas appliances in general, such as stoves and gas heaters, it is important to make sure the gas regulator is working properly. If you light your stove or turn on your heater and see lazy yellow flames instead of blue, it is a sign that your regulator needs replacing.”

Generating some good maintenance habits
“Generators are a popular “go-to” for South Africans tackling frequent load-shedding. Some basic generator maintenance tips that generally apply  to different types of generators on the market include cleaning your generator with towels and a degreaser and checking for leaks; changing the oil after the first five hours of running and then after this, every 25 hours; change the oil filter at every oil change; change the spark plugs every 100 hours; check the fuel filter at the same time as you replace the spark plugs; and check the battery after every 100 hours.”

Protect all your appliances
A must-have purchase for every home that will protect all of your electronic appliances and prolong their life spans is a surge protector and an under/over voltage protector

“The main job of a surge protector system is to protect electronic devices from surges – which happen when our power goes off and then on again – as with load-shedding. The effect of a power surge is very similar to applying too much water pressure to a hose - if there is too much water pressure, a hose will burst. A similar effect happens when there is too much electrical pressure. Even if the increased voltage doesn't immediately break your electronics, it puts extra strain on the components, prematurely wearing them down over time. A surge protector diverts the extra electricity from a power surge or spikes into the outlet's grounding wire, the under/over Voltage protector monitors the input voltage from the 16A socket outlet to a range of not lower than 180V and not higher than 260V and keeps the appliance disconnected until the voltage stabilises within the range before it allows the appliance to operate,” explains Luis.

Check for warranties and guarantees
All of the above advice will keep your load-shedding essentials in top working condition, however, the first thing to do when buying a new gadget or appliance is to check the manufacturer’s warranties and guarantees, also check those offered by the supplier or retailer that you purchase the item from. You want to ensure that you are protected and have recourse should that item prove faulty or arrive damaged etc.

Luis advises that Brights offer a 7-day money-back guarantee on all products – as long as the customer has proof of purchase and that the item has not been tampered with or damaged subsequent to purchase. “After the initial seven days customers are entitled to either a 6-month or 12-month repair warranty (product dependent). If the item cannot be repaired or replaced and has not been abused, customers then qualify for a money-back credit.”

“There are many more solutions and practical steps that people can take to minimize the impact of power outages,” concludes Luis. “We have on-site experts in all of our stores to provide advice and guidance on these products and how to care for and maintain them for a long life.” All gadgets and appliances needed to make load shedding a breeze are available at Brights hardware stores – visit Beat Loadshedding - BRIGHTS Hardware | Shop Online for more details.  

BRIGHTS Stores are located in Boston, Blackheath, Langebaan, Mitchells Plain, Montague Park, Plattekloof, Stonewood, Brackengate and Sunningdale. An online store shopping experience is available at www.brights.co.za which offers delivery to anywhere in South Africa. Brights offer same-day delivery in the Western Cape for products purchased online, and also has a tool hire service.