South Africans frustrated as load shedding destroys devices and appliances

While South Africa continues to alternate between stage 3 and 4 load shedding, the fiasco continues to cause havoc in households.

SA’s electricity crisis

Several people have complained that power surges when electricity is restored is damaging household appliances, including computers, TVs, fridges, microwaves and even geysers.

People using rechargeable batteries to power gates and garage doors are finding these are deteriorating rapidly because the intervals between power outages do not allow deep enough charging.

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Sibongile Dlamini from Vosloorus is disappointed and pained about the struggles she continues to endure due to load shedding.

Dlamini said in a space of just two months, she had almost all the appliances in her house broken down.

“First it was a geyser that burst, which almost flooded the house, then came my fridge, where its gas cylinder burnt and my microwave stopped working,” she said.

“I could not repair the geyser or the microwave and I do not have money to buy new ones.”

‘Our government needs to find a resolution’

Dlamini said it was an issue to purchase perishables because fridges were always off.

“The damage to these appliances makes it hard to survive. It is clear no-one will replace them, despite load shedding not being our fault.

“We are expected to insure our appliances: how would that be possible when we can’t even afford that,” she said.

“Our government needs to find a resolution to load shedding. I feel they are not doing much to fight this issue. Drastic measures should be taken to fix the electricity issue.”

Dlamini added, “sikhatele sisi wam” which translated into “we are tired, my sister”.

“There are people who depend on electricity beyond household things. Their lives depend on electricity.

“Things such as medicines, insulin, are kept in the fridge, and other people use oxygen tanks, which requires electricity,” Dlamini said.

Sounding defeated, Zorro Nkambule, also from Vosloorus, said, “Mina sisi angazi ngiqalephi (I do not even know where to start. Things are hard).”

Nkambule said load shedding had ruined his life.

“My job gives me a hand-to month salary and when a fridge stops working, where would I get the money to fix it or buy a new one,” he asked.

“I cannot buy food that will sustain me for a couple days. I buy food that I will cook and eat today. Then it is done.

“It is summer now. You cannot keep food without a fridge – it will be spoiled, and that is a waste of money I do not have.”

Nkambule said he was amazed how the country’s leaders seemed to be too relaxed about the issue of electricity.

He said they showed no sense of urgency.

“It is like we now have to accept this and it is our new normal,” he said.

Hacks to survive blackouts

Asked how to stabilise appliances, energy specialist Lungile Mashele said Eskom had always encouraged people to switch off appliances and to even unplug them. However, this was not always possible or practical.

She said it was also important to realise some appliances had limited cycles so the constant switching on and off because of load shedding would reduce their life.

“Appliances by their very nature are not designed to be switched on and off continuously. Excessive switching will damage them,” she said.

“I would urge people to get surge protectors in their homes for the distribution board, as well as surge protector plugs.”

Mashele added people had rushed out to get solutions but were not being advised properly.

She said there were things people were not aware of, especially those who sought to get solar, uninterrupted power (UP) batteries and UP supply devices. They did
not realise they, too, had a limited battery life.

“If you look at solar batteries, they usually say lithium iron batteries last for 20 years and this was true – but in a normal setting, let’s assume in a country like Germany or the United States.

“But in SA, because we have load shedding three or four times a day, you basically run your battery down,” she said.

“Batteries have a limited cycle time. Depending on the device you have, you are looking at between 3 000 to 5 000 battery cycles and now, if you are load shedding more than two times a day, battery life is reduced.”

“People will find out the hard way that the systems they paid R300 000 for will not last them 20 years because they are not designed to be switched on and off as much as we are doing.”

– lungas@citizen.co.za

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