PHD Blogs

Uninterruptible Power Source, Standby UPS and On-line UPS

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Battery backup goes by numerous names – these are UPS, Uninterruptible Power Source, Standby UPS and On-line UPS.  

When selecting your backup power systems, whether they are generators (either diesel or petrol), an Uninterruptible Power Supply, alternative power sources such as solar or wind power, or an inverter, backup battery and charger configuration which lasts longer than the average UPS system, each one has a positive and a negative component. Read the rest

GreenPeace Protests: Harmful Emissions

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Greenpeace Africa staged a peaceful protest outside Eskom’s Megawatt headquarters on Tuesday the 20th August, complete with hospital beds and pretend “patients” in the beds highlighting the harmful effects pollution has on the health of individuals and the environment. 

Most worrying of all is that Kriel in Mpumalanga is the world’s second–largest sulphur dioxide emission’s hotspot – second place only to Norilsk in Russia! Read the rest

Protecting Wind Power Turbines

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Wind power turbines need to be appropriately protected against lightning and power surges that could cause untold damage to these structures. South Africans, by and large, think of renewable energy in terms of solar power only. There is a definite increase in businesses and homes installing solar panels for them to become independent from the grid. 

Fewer South Africans view wind power as a renewable option. Read the rest

Solar Heating in SA

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According to the SABS (South African Bureau of Standards), solar–heated water systems should become the norm and not the exception in South Africa. Collaboration between the South African government and the private sector in the past couple of years has now provided a firm foundation for superior quality, safe locally manufactured geysers which is a cost-effective solution for heating water. Read the rest

Online and an Offline UPS Systems differences

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There are differences between Online and Offline UPS Systems – the big question is – what are they and what are the biggest challenges and advantages that we could face by incorporating these devices to keep our electric up and running all the time. The power utility, Eskom, is constantly in the news and is obviously facing huge challenges to keep our lights switched on, but for most of us running homes and businesses, not having power could prove to be a huge issue. Read the rest

SA Is Ramping Up Its Green Credentials

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South Africa is moving forward by ramping up its green credentials by making a difference through the unpacking of numerous solar–powered projects. 

Businesses, individuals and the Government Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPP) are making a difference together and is well on its way to becoming one of the world’s leaders in renewable energy. 

Here are some of the awe-inspiring strides that South Africa has made towards greening the environment 

The De Aar Solar Farm in the Northern Cape 

The De Aar Solar Farm is South Africa’s largest solar plant which is based just outside the town of De Aar. Read the rest

DIFFERENT KINDS OF UPS SYSTEMS

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THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF UPS SYSTEMS

For those not in the know, there are numerous UPS Systems that have been designed to keep electrical devices operating during power outages.

The many kinds of UPS offerings could cause much confusion among consumers; therefore, it is advisable to investigate all options these thoroughly to make the right choices.

Although it is widely thought that there are only two kinds of UPS systems, there are more systems on offer. Read the rest

INVERTER AND ONLINE UPS SYSTEM

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An inverter and a UPS system both supply backup power to electrical devices; however, the primary difference between the two is that the UPS from the main supply to the battery is instantaneous, whereas the supply of power from the inverter to electrical devices will take a few seconds before the power will kick in.

Inverter

Your inverter will convert your DC power into AC power during unstable power situations. Read the rest

HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR UPS SYSTEM

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When choosing your UPS System, bear in mind that it is not about how much it costs, as the cheapest is not always best. The most pressing need would be to match up the size of the UPS system required to that of the equipment you are planning to support and what needs to be powered when there are dips and surges, brownouts and blackouts. Read the rest

ONLINE & OFFLINE UPS SYSTEMS

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ONLINE AND OFFLINE UPS SYSTEMS

There are differences between Online and Offline Systems – the big question is  – what are they and what are the biggest challenges and advantages that we could face by incorporating these devices to keep our electric up and running all the time. The power utility, Eskom, is constantly in the news and is obviously facing huge challenges to keep our lights switched on, but for most of us running homes and businesses, not having power could prove to be a huge issue. Read the rest