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South Africans have been coping with Eskom’s load shedding for years. If you’re tired of two-hour blackouts occurring almost daily with no end in sight, you can use a load shedding kit to provide home backup solutions.
The convenience of a DC battery in a portable power station with multiple output ports will allow you to keep the lights on and all of your essential appliances running. When you purchase a load shedding kit with the right capacity and optional solar charging, you can keep working or playing without worrying about rolling blackouts ever again.
EcoFlow’s Top Load Shedding Kits
- Best For Easy Permanent Installation: RIVER 2 Portable Power Station
- Best For Lower Priced Backup: RIVER 2 230 Portable Power Station
- Best For Whole Home Power: RIVER Pro Solar Generator (110W Solar Panel)
Best For Easy Permanent Installation: RIVER 2 Portable Power Station
The RIVER 2 Portable Power Station is an excellent choice for those looking for a compact and easy-to-install solution for load shedding. With a 256Wh capacity, it can power essential devices like lights, fans, and small appliances for several hours. Its lightweight design and compact size make it easy to store and transport, perfect for short-term use during early stages of load shedding.
The RIVER 2 features a 300W AC output, which is sufficient for small appliances and devices. It also supports fast charging, fully charging in only 60 minutes, ensuring you can quickly recharge between outages. Its portability and ease of use make it a great option for households looking for a simple and affordable backup solution.
Specifications
Storage Capacity: 256Wh
AC Output: 300W (Surge 600W)
Weight: Approx. 3.5 kg
Dimensions: 24.5 x 14.1 x 14.1 cm
Charging Time: 1 Hour (AC), 3-6 Hours (Solar)
Solar Input/Charging: 110W Max
App Compatibility: Yes, compatible with the EcoFlow app
Pros
Lightweight and portable
Fast charging capabilities
Affordable price point
Cons
Limited capacity for larger appliances
Best For Lower Priced Backup: RIVER 2 230 Portable Power Station
For those who need a reliable power source during shorter outages, the RIVER 2 230 Portable Power Station is an excellent choice. RIVER 2 230 beats the industry charging speed standard, fully charging in only 60 minutes, With a 256Wh capacity, it can power essential devices like lights, fans, and small appliances for several hours. Its compact design and portability make it easy to move around the house or take with you on the go.
The RIVER 2 230 features a 300W AC output, which is sufficient for most household devices, and it can power up to 9 devices simultaneously. Its lightweight design and durable build make it a reliable companion for both indoor and outdoor use.
Specifications
Storage Capacity: 230Wh
AC Output: 300W (Surge 600W)
Weight: Approx. 3.5 kg
Dimensions: 24.5 x 14.1 x 14.1 cm
Charging Time: 1 Hour (AC), 3-6 Hours (Solar)
Solar Input/Charging: 110W Max
App Compatibility: Yes, compatible with the EcoFlow app
Pros
Compact and portable design
Fast charging with solar and AC options
Can power multiple devices simultaneously
Cons
Limited capacity for long-term outages
Best For Whole Home Power: RIVER Pro Solar Generator (110W Solar Panel)
If you’re looking for a more robust solution to power your entire home during extended outages, the RIVER Pro Solar Generator with a 110W solar panel is a great choice. With a 720Wh capacity, it can power essential devices like lights, fans, and small appliances for several hours. The included 110W solar panel ensures you can recharge the unit even during extended outages, making it a sustainable and eco-friendly option.
The RIVER Pro features a 600W AC output, which is sufficient for most household devices, and it can power up to 9 devices simultaneously. Its compact design and portability make it easy to move around the house or take with you on the go.
Specifications
Storage Capacity: 720Wh
AC Output: 600W (Surge 1200W)
Weight: Approx. 7.8 kg
Dimensions: 28.8 x 18.5 x 19.4 cm
Charging Time: 1.6 Hours (AC), 9-18 Hours (Solar)
Solar Input/Charging: 200W Max
App Compatibility: Yes, compatible with the EcoFlow app
Pros
Compact and portable design
Fast charging with solar and AC options
Can power multiple devices simultaneously
Cons
Limited capacity for long-term outages
How Do Load Shedding Kits Work?
Load shedding is a daily fact of life in South Africa. While you can monitor when blackouts occur and plan your energy use appropriately, you could avoid the inconvenience and use a load shedding kit instead.
At its most basic, a load-shedding kit is simply a DC battery, often contained in a portable power station with multiple output ports for convenience. This is coupled with a load shedding inverter that quickly converts the DC power contained in the battery backup into the AC electricity your home and appliances need. This allows you to keep your lights and essential appliances running when the grid power inevitably shuts down.
What To Consider When Choosing the Best Loadshedding Kits
Capacity
You should calculate your energy needs to find out how much capacity you’ll need to run your home during a blackout. Don’t forget to multiply the total watts of your essential appliances by the 2.5 hours of average load shedding blackout time for your total energy requirements to get through a blackout uninterrupted.
Battery Bank Sizing
Choosing a battery bank large enough to run everything you need is essential. Keep in mind that rolling blackouts won’t end anytime soon in South Africa, and you may want more energy later on. Therefore, choosing an expandable system beyond your current needs is an ideal energy solution.
Efficiency
Efficiency is always an important factor. The EcoFlow PowerStream Microinverter 800W is incredibly efficient, resulting in 0% energy waste during the process. Furthermore, monocrystalline photovoltaics like those used in EcoFlow’s 400W Rigid Solar Panels have the maximum solar conversion efficiency you can buy. Finally, using a PPS with newer LiFePO4 batteries is exceptionally efficient, safe, and convenient.
Warranty
Be wary of products with minimal warranties and restrictions on the number of charging cycles for the warranty to be valid. If the manufacturer doesn’t have faith that their products will last, you probably shouldn’t either.
Cost
Of course, cost is a crucial factor for most of us. Be sure to examine each system’s pros and cons and then factor in the cost. Examining all factors simultaneously, including cost, will help you decide what works best for your family and your budget. You can always buy a load-shedding kit and add solar panels later to help accommodate your budget.
Convenience
Ideally, you want to choose a kit that’ll automatically switch your home’s power to your DC battery backup so that you’ll hardly notice when the grid goes down. You should also consider weight if portability and versatility are important to you.
What Are the Key Differences Between Load Shedding Kits and Solar Power Kits?
Power Capacity
Load shedding kits consist of a battery and an inverter to convert the battery’s DC electricity into AC electricity that your appliances need. The battery capacity limits them, and they can’t recharge during a blackout without an external power source. However, they would work during the lower load shedding stages.
Conversely, solar power kits recharge during the day when the sun shines, even when the power goes out. You won’t run out of power even during the highest load-shedding stages, so your home and appliances will always stay powered.
Installation
Load-shedding kits are easier to install because they have fewer components, generally consisting of a battery and inverter, while solar power kits also require solar panels to be installed.
Energy Source
Load-shedding kits use DC battery backup, which is charged via AC electricity from the grid when it’s online. Solar kits, on the other hand, can be tied to the grid or independent of the grid and use free green energy from the sun to recharge. This means they will recharge even when the grid is down, costing you nothing and providing power when the grid goes down for an extended period.
Final Thoughts
Now, you have the information you need to choose a kit that’ll allow you to power your home when the grid goes down. Whether you’re looking for a more portable model like the RIVER 2 Portable Power Station for home or on the road or a more robust entry-level whole-home backup solution like the RIVER 2 230 Portable Power Station, there are affordable options.
For those with large homes who need even more power, the EcoFlow DELTA Pro will cover all your energy needs. No matter which system you choose, you’ll have the independence of available power whenever you need it and reduce your dependence on the national grid.