Post by cjm on Oct 2, 2023 7:58:04 GMT
Massive inverter problem brewing for South Africa
Not sure how it can be said that the recharging of batteries can undo the loadshedding. What is probably true, is that there is a demand shock on the system when power is switched on. This is no doubt partly caused by batteries being recharged, but there are other likely causes as well such as hot water cylinders (depleted by ordinary cooling and water drawn during the power failure), meals being prepared when power comes on and a multitude of activities starting up which have to make up for inactivity. The use of lights and some electronic devices (a minor aspect of electricity use?) account for probably the only extra consumed via batteries, which would tend to push total use up beyond the normal; which would not have been consumed but for the battery backup. Another aspect is that this extra use should not matter as long as the system can handle it: It is not as if electricity is stored when it is not used (well, not yet in any material manner anyway).
Not sure how it can be said that the recharging of batteries can undo the loadshedding. What is probably true, is that there is a demand shock on the system when power is switched on. This is no doubt partly caused by batteries being recharged, but there are other likely causes as well such as hot water cylinders (depleted by ordinary cooling and water drawn during the power failure), meals being prepared when power comes on and a multitude of activities starting up which have to make up for inactivity. The use of lights and some electronic devices (a minor aspect of electricity use?) account for probably the only extra consumed via batteries, which would tend to push total use up beyond the normal; which would not have been consumed but for the battery backup. Another aspect is that this extra use should not matter as long as the system can handle it: It is not as if electricity is stored when it is not used (well, not yet in any material manner anyway).