We understand the frustrations experienced by our clients with the current instability of the national grid and the frequent load shedding which is set to become a daily reality in South Africa. This page outlines some of our standard Battery Backup Power Systems which will ensure that you are protected from the consequences of ongoing power outages and provide you with backup power when you need it.
What are the effects of power outages on your small business or home office?
- Lost productivity.
- Loss of income.
- Have to close your business’s doors due to the inability to operate and security risks.
- Damage to sensitive electronic equipment due to power surges when the power failure ends.
- No electricity puts your safety and security at risk.
- Electric gates and garage doors do not work.
- Alarm and electric fences switch off.
- No internet or Wi-Fi.
What are the effects of power outages on your household?
- No electricity puts your safety and security at risk
- Electric gates and garage doors do not work
- House alarm and electric fences switch off
- Stuff in the fridge and freezer rots
- No TV – no sports, no movies, no chance to relax
- Can’t charge electronic devices (e.g. laptops and cell phones)
- No internet or Wi-Fi
- No lights for kids to study
Generators compared to GES Backup Power Systems
Some turn to generators for backup power solutions, but there is a better way, and this is: batteries and inverters.
Generators are OK as a short term quick and dirty solution, but for long term regular power failures an inverter with batteries are much better.
Inverter with batteries
- Very quiet operation
- No air pollution
- Requires no maintenance
- Use solar power or Eskom power to charge batteries
- Automatically and immediately supplies power when there is a power failure.
- Clean safe power for expensive sensitive equipment such as medical devices and electronics.
Generators
- Can be very noisy
- Cause air pollution and makes smoke.
- Can be difficult to start
- Must be kept filled up with fuel
- Requires regular maintenance
- Consumes a lot of expensive fuel
- Can be complicated and dangerous to connect to home DB
The better way: GES backup power systems using batteries and inverters.
How does Backup Power Systems work?
Batteries are charged with Eskom power when it is available. Then during a power failure, the inverter automatically switches over and supplies your house or business with energy stored in the battery. Then when Eskom power comes back, the batteries are charged with Eskom power again, ready for the next power failure.
The perfect backup power for your home, home office or small business…
What size back up power solution do you require?
The size of the solution is dependent on the number of appliances, light and other equipment you want to use during periods when no power is available from the gird.
A key consideration is the energy usage of the equipment, therefore we differentiate between essential load items (lights, security systems, fridge, freezer, TVs, internet routers, etc.) and heavy load items such as geysers, stoves, aircons, and pumps.
Adding up all the essential load items that you require to function at the same time during a power failure will give you the peak power requirements. This must be less than the backup power rating of the system you purchase.
Energy Storage
– How long backup time will you have?
- The amount of backup energy storage available is determined by the size of the battery bank.
- Running time is dependent on the load, in other words, how many appliances you have on at the same time, and how much energy each appliance use.
- The running time is calculated on 1 x 3.5kWh Lithium battery, discharged from 100% to 20%.
- An additional 3.5kWh battery can be added to increase back-up time.
Examples of estimated running times vs loads, for one 3.5 kWh battery:
- 2000W = 1.4-Hours
- 1000W = 2.9-Hours
- 800W = 3.6-Hours
- 600W = 4.8-Hours
- 400W = 7.1-Hours
- 200W = 14.3-Hours
Peak Power Output
– How many appliances can you run at once?
- The power rating of the inverter will determine how much peak power can be supplied at once. In other words, how many appliances and type of appliances can be on at the same time.
- The peak power rating of each system will determine how many appliances can be operated at once.
- Adding up the power usage of all the appliances that are on at the same time, will give you the peak power usage of all the appliances. This must be less than the backup power rating of the system you buy.
- If more loads are put on the inverter than its rating, it will shut down to protect itself.
General Notes
- All our Backup Power Systems are compatible with solar power, so you can start with just the Backup Power System, and then, later on, add solar panels.
- All systems are scalable, so you can start with the smaller system, and add another system, later on, to double up on the available peak power output.
- Storage space is scalable, so you can start with just one battery, and add more batteries, later on, to increase the available energy storage space, and thus available backup time.
- Systems can be integrated into your DB board. This is not included in the price. You can use your own electrician, or we can recommend a good electrician that will know what to do.
Standard system types ranges
We offer four ranges of standard backup systems:
- GES Backup Systems – Portable range
- GES Backup Systems – Budget range
- GES Backup Systems – Budget plus range
- GES Backup Systems – Custom range
1. GES Backup Systems – Portable range
These systems are portable. It can be used by just plugging in the system that requires backup power to a multiplug and an extension lead. Alternatively, it can be integrated into your distribution board and supply specific circuits in your house with backup power. Note, this integration needs to be done by an electrician.
GES Backup Systems – Portable range
Size Options
In this range we have the following three standard sizes:
2. GES Backup Systems – Budget Range
Affordable systems for just the essential equipment. These systems work with deep cycle Lead-acid batteries and on 24 Volts.
GES Backup Systems – Budget range
Size Options
In this range we have the following four standard sizes:
|
Name |
Inverter |
Backup Power |
Battery |
Backup Energy @ 80% DoD |
Cost estimate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Small |
KODAK Solar Off-Grid Inverter 1.5kW 24V |
1.5 kW |
Royal 105Ah x 2 |
2.3 kWh |
R 19 850 |
|
Medium |
KODAK Solar Off-Grid Inverter 1.5kW 24V |
1.5 kW |
Royal 105Ah x 4 |
4.6 kWh |
R 25 500 |
|
Large |
KODAK Solar Off-Grid Inverter VMIII 3kW 24V |
3.0 kW |
Royal 105Ah x 4 |
4.6 kWh |
R 26 550 Buy Now |
|
Extra large |
KODAK Solar Off-Grid Inverter VMIII 3kW 24V |
3.0 kW |
Royal 105Ah x 8 |
9.2 kWh |
R 37 800 Buy Now |
| Please Note |
|---|
|
3. GES Backup Systems – Budget plus range
Budget equipment, but with Li-Ion batteries.
Complete system in a server cabinet on wheels.
Backup essential equipment with battery energy.
Charge batteries up with Eskom power (when available) or solar power.
A great solution for sites that require energy immediately without the costs and delays associated with complicated installations. For example shops, doctors rooms, and rented offices.
- The modular nature of the system allows you to select more batteries at a later stage.
- The system can also be permanently integrated into your electrical distribution board by a competent electrician.
- This system can handle high current loads like kettles and microwaves
GES Backup Systems – Budget plus range
Options
| Name | Inverter | Backup Power | Battery | Backup Energy @ 90% DoD | Cost Estimate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small | KODAK Solar Off-Grid Inverter 1.5kW 24V | 1.5 kW | Pylon UP2500 2.84kWh Li-Ion x 1 | 2.6 kWh | R 42 100 Buy Now |
| Medium | KODAK Solar Off-Grid Inverter 1.5kW 24V | 1.5 kW | Pylon UP2500 2.84kWh Li-Ion x 2 | 5.1 kWh | R 64 500 Buy Now |
| Large | KODAK Solar Off-Grid Inverter VMIII 3kW 24V | 3.0 kW | Pylon UP2500 2.84kWh Li-Ion x 2 | 5.1 kWh | R 66 500 Buy Now |
| Extra large | KODAK Solar Off-Grid Inverter VMIII 3kW 24V | 3.0 kW | Pylon UP2500 2.84kWh Li-Ion x 3 | 7.7 kWh | R 88 850 Buy Now |
| Please Note |
|---|
|
4. GES Backup Systems – Custom range
Integrated systems are custom designed to your requirements. Fully integrated into the electrical system of your house or business.
Start off with just a backup system (inverter and batteries), then later on add solar power to your system.
Available inverter sizes:
- 1.0 kW
- 1.3 kW
- 2.4 kW
- 4.0 kW
- 8.0 kW
- 12.0 kW
Contact us for a consultation to access your requirements
System Installation
Our standard backup systems do not necessarily need installation. One just plugs it into a normal wall plug and charge it up with Eskom power when available. One could connect essential equipment to the output of the backup system with extension leads.
Alternatively one can integrate it into your DB board. Then certain essential circuits will be supplied by the backup power system. This needs to be done by a competent electrician. We can recommend an electrician in your area.
For more information on how distribution board integration is done, have a look at our Frequently Asked Questions Section.