Load Shedding Kits: The Complete Guide

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: EcoFlow DELTA 2 + 400W Solar Panel

Best For Lower Priced Backup: EcoFlow DELTA Max + 400W Solar Panel

Best For Whole Home Power: EcoFlow DELTA Pro + 400W Solar Panel 

Best For Permanent Installation: EcoFlow DELTA 2 + 400W Solar Panel

The EcoFlow DELTA 2 + 400W Solar Panel lets you use clean, free energy from the sun. This PPS makes a great entry-level home backup solution that’s also portable enough to use on extended road trips with the family. It allows you to use it both at home and on the road, which is essential for today’s busy families who want the convenience of travelling in comfort. 

These units also have an expandable storage capacity, so you can add additional EcoFlow DELTA Max extra batteries to get even more energy. This will allow you to run at least 90% of your home appliances when the grid inevitably goes down again. 

EcoFlow DELTA 2 Specifications

• Storage Capacity (Minimum): 1024Wh
• Storage Capacity (Maximum): 3kWh
• AC Output (Maximum): 1.8kW continuous output (2.7kW Surge)
• Solar Charge Capacity (Maximum): 500W max (11-60V, 15A)
• Weight: 27 lbs (12 kg)
• Dimensions: 15.7 x 8.3 x 11.1 in (40 x 21.1 x 28.1 cm)
• Operating Noise Level: ~50 decibels
• Charging Options: Solar/AC/Car Charger
• Battery Chemistry: Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP/LiFePO4)
• Cycle Life: 3000 Cycles to +/-80% Capacity
• Depth of Discharge: 100%
• Warranty: Five years (no cycle life restrictions) 
• App Monitoring and Control?: Yes

EcoFlow 400W Solar Panel Specifications

• Rated Power: 400W
• Efficiency: 22.6 %
• Solar Cell Type: Monocrystalline
• Weight: 35.3 lbs (16.0 KG)
• Folded Dimensions: 41.7×24.4×1.0 in (105.8×62.0×2.5 cm)
• Unfolded Dimensions: 41.7×93,1×1.0 in (105.8×236.5×2.5 cm)
• Waterproof/Dustproof Rating: IP68
• Open Circuit Voltage: 48V (Vmp 41V)
• Short Circuit Current: 11A (lmp 9.8 A)
• Recommended Portable Power Station: EcoFlow DELTA Series

Pros

• 1800W of AC output will run over 90% of your home appliances.
• Recharges from 0 to 80% in just 50 minutes, seven times faster than competitors.
• You can recharge the PPS with a single 400W portable solar panel using free energy from the sun in just 3-6 hours, so it’ll recharge during the day, even if the grid is down.  
• New LiFePO4 batteries with battery management systems prevent the dangerous thermal runaway that plagued older lithium batteries. 

Cons

• Not enough capacity to provide backup for large homes with high energy needs.
• It cannot run the most energy-intensive appliances.

Best For Lower Priced Backup: EcoFlow DELTA Max + 400W Solar Panel

This portable power station is a lower-priced home backup model that uses nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cad) batteries instead of more expensive LiFePO4 batteries. This allows those on a budget to get into the whole home backup market since this PPS has enough capacity to run heavy-duty appliances like air conditioners or dryers. 

It’s also expandable up to 6kWh, allowing you to add extra batteries to meet most of your household’s energy needs. The 400W solar panel that comes with it allows you to recharge it using clean, green energy from the sun. 

You can also charge this PPS with the convenient EcoFlow Duel Fuel Smart Generator, which offers additional recharging options. This way, you can recharge your portable power station using gas from your car or bakkie or using the propane tank from your braai to give you extra energy during extended blackouts. 

EcoFlow DELTA Max Specifications

• Storage Capacity (Minimum): 2016kWh
• Storage Capacity (Maximum): 6kWh
• AC Output: 2.4kW continuous output (5kW Surge)
• Solar Charge Capacity (Maximum): 800W Max (11-100V 13A)
• Weight: 48 lbs  (22 kg)
• Dimensions: 19.6 × 9.5 × 12 in (49.7 × 24.2 × 30.5 cm)
• Operating Noise Level: ~50 decibels
• Charging Options: Solar/AC/Car/USB-C Charging
• Battery Chemistry: NCM (Nickel Cadmium)
• Cycle Life: 800 Cycles to 80%+ Capacity
• Depth of Discharge: 80%
• Warranty: 24 months + 12 (Registration for warranty extension)
• App Monitoring and Control?: Yes

EcoFlow 400W Solar Panel Specifications

• Rated Power: 400W
• Efficiency: 22.6 %
• Solar Cell Type: Monocrystalline
• Weight: 35.3 lbs (16.0 KG)
• Folded Dimensions: 41.7×24.4×1.0 in (105.8×62.0×2.5 cm)
• Unfolded Dimensions: 41.7×93,1×1.0 in (105.8×236.5×2.5 cm)
• Waterproof/Dustproof Rating: IP68
• Open CircuitVoltage: 48V (Vmp 41V)
• Short Circuit Current: 11A (lmp 9.8 A)
• Recommended Portable Power Station: EcoFlow DELTA Series

Pros

• X-Boost can handle devices up to 3400W, so you can easily power energy-intensive appliances like air conditioners or dryers. 
• It can be fully recharged using free and clean energy from the sun using two 400W solar panels in 2.5-5 hours, depending on sunlight conditions. This allows you to recharge even when the grid is down. 
• When plugged into AC power, the PPS recharges from 0 to 80% in just 65 minutes. You can charge it even faster using AC electricity and the EcoFlow Smart Generator.
• The smart generator gives you versatile charging options using gas or propane, so you can recharge even when the grid is down at night and the sun isn’t providing solar charging. 

Cons

• It uses older Ni-Cad battery chemistry that will last 800 cycles instead of 3000 with LiFePO4 batteries.

Best Electrical Storage: EcoFlow DELTA Pro + 400W Solar Panel

If you need even more power than the other models and want to forget energy worries, the EcoFlow DELTA Pro + 400W Solar Panel is the way to go. This expandable unit allows you to purchase additional batteries for up to an amazing 25kWh of electricity storage, plenty enough to run even the most power-hungry large homes for extended periods of time. 

It also allows 1600W solar charging with 4 x 400W panels, allowing fast and free solar recharging. If you need even faster solar charging, you can get up to 3200W of charging when you chain two of these units together with an EcoFlow Dual Voltage Hub and EcoFlow DELTA Pro Smart Batteries. 

With all that power, you can run even the most energy-intensive dryers, air conditioners, and whatever else you need for as long as you need it. In fact, with this unit, even the largest homes can go off-grid completely, and you won’t have to depend on Eskom’s unreliable grid any more. 

EcoFlow DELTA Pro Specifications

• Storage Capacity (Minimum): 3.6kWh
• Storage Capacity (Maximum): 25kWh
• AC Output (Maximum): 3.6kW continuous output (7.2kW Surge) 
• AC Output (Maximum): Expandable to 7.2kW continuous output (14.4 kW surge) with 2 x EcoFlow DELTA Pro + Double Voltage Hub
• Solar Charge Capacity (Maximum): 3.2kW with 2 x EcoFlow DELTA Pro (16 x 400W Rigid Solar Panels)
• Weight: 99 lbs (45kg)
• Dimensions: 25 x 11.2” x 16.4” inches (63.5 x 28.4x 42cm)
• Operating Noise Level: ~50 decibels
• Charging Options: Solar/AC/Car Charger/Smart Home Panel/EV Charge Station
• Battery Chemistry: Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP/LiFePO4)
• Cycle Life: 3000 Cycles to +/-80% Capacity
• Depth of Discharge: 100%
• Warranty: Five years (no cycle life restrictions)
• App Monitoring and Control?: Yes

EcoFlow 400W Solar Panel

• Rated Power: 400W
• Efficiency: 23%
• Solar Cell Type: Monocrystalline
• Weight: 48.1 lbs (21.8 KG)
• Dimensions: 67.8 x 44.6 x 1.38 in (1722 x 1134 x 35 mm)
• Waterproof/Dustproof Rating: IP68
• Open Circuit Voltage: 37.10 V (±3%)
• Short Circuit Current: 13.79 A (±5%)
• Recommended Portable Power Station: EcoFlow DELTA Series

Pros

• Expandable storage up to an amazing 25kWh to run your entire home for extended periods of time.
• Powerful enough for large homes to go off-grid completely. 
• Thanks to its expandable output of up to 7.2kW with a 14.4 kW surge, it‘ll run even the most energy-intensive appliances.
• Safe LiFePO4 batteries will last at least 3000 charges.

Cons

• More expensive than other models
• Larger and heavier than other portable PPS.

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 EcoFlow DELTA 2 for home or on the road or a more robust entry-level whole-home backup solution like the EcoFlow DELTA Max, 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.