Beat load shedding this Black Friday by adding these items to your shopping list
With rolling blackouts having gripped the country, it would be in your best interest to take advantage of Black November and Black Friday deals to help them prepare for ongoing load shedding.
Whether you are working from home and need power, or are keeping your family entertained after-hours, having an alternative power source is crucial to get you through.
Here is a list of load shedding items you should have on your Black November shopping list:
1. Portable Speaker
Portable speakers can keep people entertained, especially after hours and hold a good battery life.
2. Gas cylinder
Investing in a skottel braai and gas cylinder will help you with making meals and heating up pre-made food when the power goes out. You will also be able to enjoy a cup of tea or coffee in the morning.
3. Plastic Containers
By investing in a set of quality plastic containers, food will stay fresher for longer even when the fridge goes off.
4. UPS device
A UPS (uninterrupted power supply) can provide backup power when your main power source is down. Depending on the size of the UPS battery size, it could supply power for minutes or hours, but you can use the time to either continue being productive or save files on your computer, before shutting it down and unplugging it.
5. Non-perishable food items
Non-perishable goods or canned goods are great for during load shedding because they don't always require cooking and they can last longer. Canned goods like corn, chickpeas, peas, beans, pilchards and tuna, for example, can be pulled together to make a variety of salads or meals that the family can enjoy.
6. Torches and batteries
Invest in torches, headlamps and battery-operated lights – and ensure you stock up on batteries, to ensure you are always prepared.
7. Surge protectors
A surge protector is an electrical appliance that protects your equipment against power surges. When electricity is restored after load shedding, a surge protector diverts any excess energy into its grounding wire.
You can buy plug adapters fitted with surge protectors, or get one for your DB board, which should be installed by an electrician.
Written by: Shihaam (Gabriella) Steyn.
Guzzle Media