How to protect your TV during load shedding

The impact of load shedding has had a devastating effect on household appliances with many South Africans forking outs thousands of rand to replace expensive items.

From fridges to stoves and even TVs, nothing is spared from the deliberate power cuts if people do not have surge protectors.

Power surges

As South Africans battle the power cuts by Eskom, there is nothing worse than getting home after a long day at work, turning on the TV and nothing happens.

Skyworth Television’s John Goosen said power surges can have devastating impact on the TV’s during load shedding.

“A power surge can occur when the electricity is restored after load shedding. The rush of electricity created from a power surge exceeds the typical voltage that is supplied to households and can result in irreparable damage to your electronics and appliances.

“Any device connected to the main power at the time, is at risk of being irreversibly damaged,” Goosen said.

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These are a few simple steps people can take to ensure their TV is adequately protected during load shedding by Eskom.

Load shedding tips

• Unplug your TV when you’re not watching it (even if the power is on). This will help conserve energy and reduce the risk of power surges.
• Unplug your TV from the wall just before load shedding begins. This will help to ensure that your TV won’t be subjected to any sudden and unexpected surges when the power returns.
• Make sure your TV is plugged into a surge protector. Surge protectors are designed to protect against any sudden spikes in voltage, which can cause significant damage to the TV. It is also important to check that your surge protector is equipped with a built-in battery backup, this can provide an extra layer of protection in the event of a power outage.
• If you can, invest in an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS), invertor or generator to provide your TV with backup power.
• Keep your TV away from direct sunlight, heat sources, water, and any moisture. This will help prevent overheating and any potential damage from water or humidity.

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