Generators, generators, gener8tors,the world has gone mad!!! So out we go to purchase a generator but we have so little knowledge and the chaps who can import are importing anything that can make a noise. So what questions should be asked
1. Size the set according to laod it is required to pull and add 10% at least if you are in jhb as all generators are specified at sea level. So if your main breaker is a 60a unit and you are going to connect your entire electrical installation then in JHB you would upgrade from a 40kva unit to a 50 or 62kva unit.
2. Do you require sound and rodent proofing yes you do if the generator is in a built up area, the sound proof canopies also secure the unit so the batteries and copper cables and connectors cannot be stolen
3. Do you go petrol or diesel, petrol for an emergency unit required to run for an hour or two is fine, Diesel is designed to work under load for longer periods and has more torque maintaining revs resulting in a constant voltage output.
4 Do I need AVR automatic voltage regulation, for anything other than industrial power tools YES go for avr it will save you plenty in preventing damage to appliances
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Thought For The Day
Several of our clients have had problems associated with large surges as well as in two cases the loss of a neutral which basically blows all your 220v appliances. The loss of a neutral results in 400v flowing through your 240v appliances. Not good for TV sets, Microwaves , motors, globes etc. My point?
Well here we are getting all excited about ESKOM and associated weak infrastructure and minimal generation capabilities but what about City Power and their ageing and redundant network. In the "glory days" there was preventative maintenance that was budgeted for, so typically underground cables were upgraded on a 20 year cycle. Overhead transmission lines underwent more regular maintenance as did the substations. The council installed all infrastructure and the town planning department were involved so everyone knew what was going on. In recent years developers with some grease money have gone ahead with developments with the infrastructure cut to the bone, this infrastructure is then connected to a municaple bulk supply and handed over to the home owners association to maintain. In many cases city power was not able to supply enough power for the development. The amalgamation of our smaller well run efficient, knowledgeable municaple offices int the Greater Johannesburg Metropolitan council has been a disaster. We have lost so many technically proficient people
Well here we are getting all excited about ESKOM and associated weak infrastructure and minimal generation capabilities but what about City Power and their ageing and redundant network. In the "glory days" there was preventative maintenance that was budgeted for, so typically underground cables were upgraded on a 20 year cycle. Overhead transmission lines underwent more regular maintenance as did the substations. The council installed all infrastructure and the town planning department were involved so everyone knew what was going on. In recent years developers with some grease money have gone ahead with developments with the infrastructure cut to the bone, this infrastructure is then connected to a municaple bulk supply and handed over to the home owners association to maintain. In many cases city power was not able to supply enough power for the development. The amalgamation of our smaller well run efficient, knowledgeable municaple offices int the Greater Johannesburg Metropolitan council has been a disaster. We have lost so many technically proficient people
Monday, January 28, 2008
ENERGY CRISIS IN SA
With the current energy crisis in South Africa you may be thinking - use gas , solar power , wind power Go green, get off the grid - any power but Eskom power !
Or rush out & buy a generator (if you can find anyone with stock of decent generators ) but is that the answer?
In the long term and “THIS IS LONG TERM” I don’t think so - this is adding to the already over consumption of limited non replenish able natural resources as well as massive carbon dioxide emissions causing even more pollution of the earths atmosphere
If we worked collectively to reduce our demand for electricity we would assist Eskom to manage this crisis - don’t forget – this is not just an African problem - the world is reaching “energy crisis“ & we all need to start taking it seriously
Please take a look at my “daily blog” & read more on Energy Management, crazy ideas and great ideas
www.thorntongroup.co.za
Or rush out & buy a generator (if you can find anyone with stock of decent generators ) but is that the answer?
In the long term and “THIS IS LONG TERM” I don’t think so - this is adding to the already over consumption of limited non replenish able natural resources as well as massive carbon dioxide emissions causing even more pollution of the earths atmosphere
If we worked collectively to reduce our demand for electricity we would assist Eskom to manage this crisis - don’t forget – this is not just an African problem - the world is reaching “energy crisis“ & we all need to start taking it seriously
Please take a look at my “daily blog” & read more on Energy Management, crazy ideas and great ideas
www.thorntongroup.co.za
HOW DOES ESKOM REDUCE DEMAND ?
By Isolating different geographical areas from the grid, more commonly known as load shedding, resulting in Rolling Blackouts
This is easy for ESKOM - they remotely switch off areas until supply matches demand. There is no conscious thought as to what industries will be effected it is simply an instruction issued to an Operator 7 floors below in The “Mighty Duvha” power-station just outside Witbank, In all likelihood the operator probably has not even been to the town or area blinking with a red LED on the two story control panel in front of his/her operations desk
This is easy for ESKOM - they remotely switch off areas until supply matches demand. There is no conscious thought as to what industries will be effected it is simply an instruction issued to an Operator 7 floors below in The “Mighty Duvha” power-station just outside Witbank, In all likelihood the operator probably has not even been to the town or area blinking with a red LED on the two story control panel in front of his/her operations desk
SAVE ELECTRICITY !!
This a very strange concept – AC Electricity cannot be efficiently stored & therefore cannot be “saved”
There is no National battery bank standing by to be used when demand exceeds supply. Electricity can only be generated and distributed. The only “saving” is to reduce demand there-by reducing generation and ultimately reducing the depletion of non renewable or expensive and dirty energy sources such as coal, oil, gas, diesel, petrol
ESKOM cannot currently supply/generate sufficient electricity to meet the demand
So lets look at ENERGY MANAGEMENT - ESKOM is asking us to manage, reduce or to control our personal usage so that they can supply enough to meet the reduced collective demand.
Soon they will be demanding that we do this & enforcing penalties if we don’t / won’t / can’t
There is no National battery bank standing by to be used when demand exceeds supply. Electricity can only be generated and distributed. The only “saving” is to reduce demand there-by reducing generation and ultimately reducing the depletion of non renewable or expensive and dirty energy sources such as coal, oil, gas, diesel, petrol
ESKOM cannot currently supply/generate sufficient electricity to meet the demand
So lets look at ENERGY MANAGEMENT - ESKOM is asking us to manage, reduce or to control our personal usage so that they can supply enough to meet the reduced collective demand.
Soon they will be demanding that we do this & enforcing penalties if we don’t / won’t / can’t
ESKOM
WHAT IS ESKOM SAYING TO US ?
DON’T USE OUR PRODUCT !!????
The concept of a company begging you NOT to use their one & only commodity is ludicrous to say the least !! This is like Coca Cola saying please don’t drink Coke drink Pepsi instead!!!!!!!!!! I am really battling to get my head around this
Fat cat or what??
ESKOM is even encouraging us to use alternative energy supplies !! Remember the last winter ? Eskom telling us to go buy gas heaters – then what happened - we could not get gas !!
DON’T USE OUR PRODUCT !!????
The concept of a company begging you NOT to use their one & only commodity is ludicrous to say the least !! This is like Coca Cola saying please don’t drink Coke drink Pepsi instead!!!!!!!!!! I am really battling to get my head around this
Fat cat or what??
ESKOM is even encouraging us to use alternative energy supplies !! Remember the last winter ? Eskom telling us to go buy gas heaters – then what happened - we could not get gas !!
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