by JTECH on Sun Jan 27, 2008 7:20 pm
Hi genman,
Yes, I think a lot of people share your concerns and wishes for alternative power. I do think you've started with the correct equipment (inverter, batteries and battery charger). Without alternative energy or power source, any such equipment will be counter productive with the current ESKOM situation. What we are doing with such a set-up (and many companies and individuals are guilty, but not without reason!) is to create a WORSE condition by demanding MORE POWER from ESKOM the moment the power returns after a failure! We use more power to charge the batteries than we've used before the crisis exactly because we want to protect our interests (and rightly so, it is not OUR fault that we are in such a mess, ESKOM didn't plan ahead).
Some light in the (dark) tunnel is that apparently a South African patented solar panel will be available soon. This involves modern technology and the panels are developed further in Germany, but will be used here later on. I just hope that it will not follow the same path as SASOL who now charge us the same for petrol as if it was refined in Singapore and shipped here as a finished product; the consumer does not pay less because it is a South African product!
Maybe, just maybe we will get those solar panels at a subsidized price when they appear. This might just be the solution to your requirements.
My ultimate aim, however is to have my own wind genny in the backyard and it is possible here in the Cape because of the wind (except in February/March).