We live our lives around the convenience of electricity. This includes everything from computers to household appliances. We need to take all the steps to protect our electric appliances and gadgets from harmful power surges. 

You will soon realise there has been a power surge. There are a few signs that may show your appliance or device experienced a power surge: 

• The lights of digital devices and clocks will flash 
• Devices stop working or are switched off 
• A burnt, acidic acrid smell will emanate from the device
• Surge protectors need resetting 

What is a Power Surge? 

• A power surge happens when power flowing through an outlet is not delivered at a constant. The power could fluctuate between120 volts and 169 volts.  
• Power does not flow constantly or evenly 
• Damaging power surges is greater than 169 volts.  

What Happens When the Power Surges? 

• When the power utility switches grids, power surges originate from this source 
• Power surges also happen when there are electrical malfunctions in transformers or transformer lines 
• Other power surges occur from lighting strikes. Gauteng is especially privy to lightning strikes 
• Power surges can occur within the home or office. When air-conditioning units and refrigerators turn on and off, small surges occur 
• There are brief power surges. The lights might flicker because the motors require extra energy 

Why Do Power Surges Cause Damage? 

Voltage surges over and above the usual operating voltage can cause an arc of electrical current. This occurs within the electrical device. Lighting strikes cause extreme power surges.  These often cause permanent damage suddenly. Smaller surges accumulate over time, causing damage to your electrical appliances. They do not do immediate damage, but over time the damage becomes noticeable. 

Use Surge Protectors from PHD to Prevent Electrical Surge Damage 

Invest in a surge protector to protect your appliances inside your home or office. PHD offers a wide range of top-notch surge protectors for all appliances. A surge protector diverts voltage surges, directing them safely to the ground. 

Installing Solar in your Small to Medium-Sized Business Can Save You Money

Large blue-chip companies are benefiting from the installation of solar, but the big question is whether solar will benefit your small to medium-sized enterprise. One would presume this is about costs and expenses with many big businesses having access to unlimited budgets for solar installation. 

Truth be told is that solar installation for businesses holds the promise of saving money in the long-term and before long the money spent on the installation costs will pay for itself time and again. In other words. Solar is an investment that you simply cannot overlook when finding ways of saving money in your business. 

Look for Ways to Reduce Solar Installation Costs 

Claim back from the Tax Man for the installation of your solar system if you are a small to medium-sized enterprise. The government encourages businesses to install solar by offering a rebate at the end of the financial year. Find a solar company that specialises in the installation of solar in small businesses and take it from there. Large companies often use subcontractors to carry out the installation of solar – find a company willing to install your solar at a decent price if they specialise in small to medium-sized enterprises. By using a company that does not subcontract you can save as much as 30%. 

What Kind of Solar Are You Installing? 

There are three main types of solar when installing solar for businesses. One of these is solar on the rooftop which is great for retail configurations. The next two types of solar installations include ground mounts and carport installations. The kind of solar installed for your business will depend largely on what kind of business you run. Solar technologies are improving daily and therefore are lighter and cheaper to make and install. This will make a difference to business owners installing solar. Solar companies take shorter periods to install solar panels and systems, therefore the cost of labour is vastly reduced which minimises installation costs. 

PHD Making a Difference in Businesses Both Large and Small 

Find out how best to cut back on electricity costs by installing solar in your small to medium-sized business. PHD Powerhouse will offer you pertinent advice and assist with installing the right size solar for your specific needs and your niche business. 

For many homes and businesses, the electricity bill is perhaps one account that seems to remain high no matter how hard you try. With so many individuals now working remotely from their home offices, this is perhaps the best time to cut back and find smart ways to put money back into your pocket. 

By running the usual electronics from your home or office, this could add on as much as 20% to your power bill. This does not include the heating of water and cooling your premises using air conditioning units. 

Here Are Six Clever Ways to Save Electricity 

• Switch all your light bulbs to energy–saving globes. This should be the very first step to take when embarking on an energy-saving exercise. Low energy light bulbs use as much as 70 to 90 % less energy than other bulbs. Low energy light bulbs also last a lot longer 

• Programme your thermostat on your geyser – consider this as a huge saver of energy especially during the cold winter months. Set your thermostat according to your schedule which will mean you won’t have a cold shower if you forget to switch your geyser back on 

• Make your windows work for you. Open the shades in the winter to let the warm sunshine in and in summer consider installing plastic window blinds that will filter the harsh sunlight to a large degree, cutting down on costs of air conditioning units and fans. The sun might not replace heating entirely, but it certainly will make a difference to your electricity bills during winter 

• Invest in energy-saving appliances wherever possible. This could include washing machines, dishwashers, or combination fax, printer, and copier machines. Machines that perform duel functions that are light on energy bills, such as washer/dryer machines and multiple function office machines are great money–savers, plus they save space. Many of us are working from home; therefore, it is important to make everything work as economically as possible 

• Switch off your electrical devices wherever possible as many of these are in standby mode and gobble energy even when not switched on. They are referred to as being vampire appliances. 

• Remove all chargers from plug outlets as these consume energy even when not being used 

These are a few ways to save on your power bills. Installing solar will also make a huge difference when looking at long-term ways to save power and becoming independent from the grid. PHD offers solar solutions – why not make the switch today? 

“What’s Hot and What’s Not in the World of Solar Energy in South Africa” 

With so many areas across South Africa experiencing many days of sunshine – almost 2 500 hours of sunshine a year, and with the radiation levels on average between 4.5 and 6.5 kWh/m2 a day, it should be an obvious choice to go the solar energy route. 

Solar energy is cost-effective, there are no emissions (unlike non-renewable energy), and it is safe as well as being environmentally friendly. 

South Africa’s installed solar energy capacity is growing fast and this is expected to increase in the next couple of years. The solar industry in South Africa and the rest of the continent of Africa is part of a dynamic and burgeoning market. 

 Many factors need to be considered when it comes to the implementation of solar energy on a grand scale in South Africa. Some of these include the advancement of solar energy technology, the climate crisis, public awareness of climate changes, commodity prices, government policies, the cost of fossil fuels, and more. 

What’s Hot and What’s Not in 2020 

Solar Battery Prices are Becoming More Affordable in 2020 

As the demand for solar increases in 2020, the prices for solar batteries are becoming more affordable for the average business or individual.  

Solar power is intermittent as it relies on the rays of the sun. Solar panels produce power when the sun shines. On cloudy or overcast days and at night solar cannot be extracted from the sunrays. Energy is stored in batteries. This then enables the solar system to supply power when it is cloudy or when the sun sets. Batteries, therefore, assist in powering solar energy systems. 

There Are Two Main Types of Solar Batteries 

The two main types of solar batteries include lead-acid batteries and lithium-ion batteries 

Lead-acid batteries are the same kind that power motor cars 

The second type of solar battery is a lithium-ion battery which is a more intricate battery, but it lasts longer, requires minimal maintenance, although they usually cost a lot more than lead-acid type batteries. The good news is that the cost of lithium-ion batteries has decreased over time and is now a lot more affordable than before. The downward trend of costs of lithium-ion batteries continues to drop as popularity for solar increases. 

The demand for solar is increasing and consumer interesting is growing and is viewed as being a necessity and not a luxury as thousands of utility consumers are left in the dark too often. 

Vampire appliances are called vampires as they still use power even when they are switched off at the wall socket. When some appliances are switched off and go into standby mode, they still can consume power and could contribute to quite a substantial portion of power bills. 

It is important to remove your appliances altogether once they have been switched off – in other words, pull the plug out of the wall when you switch off your television set, your computer and if you have a charger for your laptop or for your cell phone, remove these from the power as they still consume energy even when not plugged into the device. 

Did You Know… 

• As much as 20% of your entire monthly electricity bill could account for vampire appliances 
• Vampire power is also referred to as standby power 

This Is How Vampire Power Works 

• Every electrical cord that is plugged into a plug socket consumes energy and pulls the electricity out 
• Many modern electrical devices are equipped with sleep and standby modes – your computer is a good example 
• When appliances are in sleep or standby mode, they are using power 
• Power is used to connect remotely, record data and to update information One of the chief causes of energy leaking is as a direct result of advanced technology and modern technologically advanced devices 
• Did you know that your device can still receive signals from remotes to power your device on at any given time even when your device is in sleep or standby mode? 
• The power that is regularly available has been designed to respond instantly when needed 
• Technology is great but it can cost you dearly  
• Most offices and homes have devices that consume vampire power as they come equipped with standby options 

This List Will Tell You Which Appliances Are the Biggest Vampires 

• Your computer equipment such as your charger, modem, router and all PC’s including your desktop and laptop 
• Satellite and other TV-related boxes 
• TV’s that are in “instant on” mode. The bigger the screen of your TV, the energy it will consume 
• Sound systems  
• Your microwave, clock, and other electrical household appliances 

It Is Easy to Spot an Energy Vampire 

• When an electrical appliance has a continuous display such as a clock or it includes LED then this will be in all probability be a vampire appliance  
• If an appliance has a remote control it will continue to consume energy even when it is unplugged from the wall 
• When an appliance charges batteries, it will consume energy when it is switched off at the wall 

The best way to save power and avoid appliances and devices from consuming energy when you are not using them is to unplug them from the wall and remove the plug entirely. This is especially pertinent to chargers, video games, and cell phone chargers. A smart idea is to use power strips that will turn off numerous appliances including TVs, garage door openers, microwaves and computers as well as other electronics. Turn off printers, computer equipment, and routers in the home office or the office when not in use. Some electrical devices that have an on and off button are almost identical in the use of power. Printers are a very good example as they use almost the same amount of power when switched on or if in standby mode.