Sony's Battery-Powered Marvels: The Perfect Companion During Load Shedding

Hi Guys, 

Finding ways to entertain yourself during load shedding is a crucial part of keeping your sanity this winter. If you are not properly prepared, you could find yourself going without electricity for hours with only your thumbs to twiddle. Keeping a couple of long-lasting gadgets on hand is the best way to avoid the load-shedding boredom blues. From immersive audio experiences to vlogging adventures, these devices will keep your spirits high when the lights go out.

An Audio Oasis:

Load shedding can be an opportunity to escape from the world for a while and indulge in your favourite music or podcasts. Taking just 3,5 hours to fully charge, Sony’s WH-1000XM5 noise-cancelling headphones are an audiophile's dream and deliver stunning sound. If you are in a hurry, just three minutes on charge will get you 3 hours of playback. Once fully charged, these immensely comfortable headphones will keep going for up to 30 hours which means no amount of load shedding will leave you stuck in silence. Stuffed full of industry-leading technology, the WH-1000XM5s also features Adaptive Sound Control which learns your behaviour and the places you love to visit and adjusts your listening experience accordingly.

The WH-1000MX5s are available for just R7999 at incredible.co.za.

Unleash Your Musical Freedom:

If you prefer freedom of movement while enjoying your favourite tunes, the Sony WH-CH720 wireless headphones are the perfect fit for you. With noise cancelling technology that includes dual noise sensor technology and an integrated V1 processor, you will be able to comfortably immerse yourself in your own world. These stylish and lightweight headphones offer remarkable battery life, letting you groove to your favourite beats for up to 35 hours on a single charge and can hit 50 hours with the noise cancelling feature turned off. Weighing just 192g, their comfortable design and industry-leading sound quality, will keep your head bobbing through the powerless hours.

The WH-CH720s are available for just R2499 at incredible.co.za.

Content Creation Never Looked So Good:

One thing load shedding can be good for is getting your creative juices flowing and kick-starting that vlog idea that has been rattling around in your head. Built specifically for vloggers, the lightweight ZV-1F is the perfect camera for content creators who want to make magic. With a battery that can shoot continuously for approximately 75 minutes, a flip-out screen for easy self-recording, award-winning image quality and powerful image stabilisation, the ZV-1F is every vlogger’s ideal shooting companion. Equipped with a large innovative sensor, the ZV-1F ensures that you won't miss a single moment of your vlogging adventures, even when things get dim, and the lights go out.

The ZV-1F is available for just R12 995 at Ormsdirect.co.za.

The Portable Party Companion:

Who says load shedding means the party has to stop? With the Sony SRS-XV900 portable speaker, the party can continue long after the electricity has. This compact and powerful speaker delivers earth-shaking sound quality that can keep going for up to 25 hours on a single charge. Whether you're hosting an outdoor gathering or simply enjoying some downtime at home, the SRS-XV900 will keep the energy alive with its immersive omnidirectional sound, vibrant LED lights and a plug-and-play karaoke system.

The SRS-XV900 is available for just R14 999 at Incredible.co.za.

Load shedding may disrupt our daily lives, but these long-lasting devices will make sure that the fun never stops.

Aum Namah Shivay!

Till next time...Aashish
Thanks! Cheers!!!
https://linktr.ee/thelifesway

Subscribe to my YOUTUBE Channel for historical tech, new gadgets, stationery, product reviews
and mystery unboxings. #TheLifesWay Link to all social media platforms - https://t.co/gUHjo8DQ7h
Your Lifestyle and Technology Blog for the Last 10.5 Years!

BLUETTI Launched in South Africa to Help Buffer Load-shedding @bluetti_za

Hi Guys, 

Due to the failure of additional power-generating units and the delay in returning other units to service, Eskom announces load-shedding to stage 6 from 16:00 on Sunday, 7 May 2023 and expects to continue implementing this level of power cuts throughout the coming weeks.

“This is the first winter Eskom will enter with its Koeberg nuclear power station completely offline,” Bheki Nxumalo said, Eskom’s head of generation. He also said the power utility’s lack of generation capacity would likely make for a challenging winter this year.

Switching out certain home appliances or optimizing their consumption may help you survive power cuts or slash your electric bills. Yet, you can also make arrangements for alternative energy suppliers, such as a solar generator, to fend off load-shedding in the upcoming winter.

For many, that means equipping their homes with backup power sources and renewable energy. The leader- BLUETTI, in solar energy-powered generators, has a new model offering incredible power in a modular and mobile package.

Introducing BLUETTI

As an industry-leading energy storage company, BLUETTI is dedicated to delivering clean energy to empower communities and individuals. Now it has a wide range of product lineups, including portable power stations for outdoor adventures, backup power stations for outage protection, whole-house battery storage systems for a total off-grid lifestyle at home or business scenarios, and an array of solar panels to make solar energy easily accessible.

With over 10 years of research and innovation, BLUETTI has expanded its reach to over 100 countries and gained the trust of millions of customers worldwide, including North America, Asia, Europe, Australia, etc. BLUETTI AC500, a modular power station that debuted in November 2022, eventually raised over $12 million from 5,183 backers on the fundraising platform - Indiegogo, breaking the world record for any portable power station fundraising event.

BLUETTI is about to make its presence in South Africa, offering various energy storage solutions to every household. Let’s have an in-depth preview of some of the most popular models in the BLUETTI store.

BLUETTI EB3A - Pint-sized dimensions, out-sized capabilities

While considering a portable emergency power backup for load-shedding, BLUETTI EB3A bears the brunt due to its compact size and impressive capability. The 600W output power (1,200W surge) and versatile outputs can juice up numerous essentials during sudden power cuts, such as laptops, lights, TVs, cookers, and more.

EB3A adopts the advanced LiFePO4 battery cells to ensure ultimate reliability and deliver over 2,500 life cycles before reaching its original capacity of 80%. Designed for entry-level users, EB3A makes a constant power supply within handy reach as it supports up to 430W dual charging via AC and PV, so it only takes about 30 minutes to recharge it to 80% capacity, and 45 minutes to 100%.

Thanks to the intelligent BLUETTI App, you can remotely control and monitor the power consumption and charging status with a few clicks on your phone. A convenient handle is also included for grab-and-go power whenever and wherever it’s needed.

BLUETTI EB70 - Mobile power with peace of mind

Once the stage 6 load-shedding has been announced, no one in South Africa can be isolated from the grid to be exempt from rotational blackouts.

As a portable solar generator long-loved by a large group of loyal customers, EB70 is nicely designed with superior features and unparalleled performance to help you survive an outage effortlessly.

EB70 boasts a capacity of 716Wh and 1,000W continuous AC power for most devices at home or in the wild. You can flexible to recharge it via AC outlets, solar panels, and a car port. The following recharging time is for your reference:

• AC outlets (200W): 4-4.5 hours
• Solar panels (OCV 12-28V, 200W): 4-4.5 hours
• 12V car port: 7.5-8 hours

Measuring 12.6 x 8.5 x 8.7in (LxWxH) and weighing only 21lbs, the sleek design of EB70 can spare you a world of hassle when moving it from one place to another.

BLUETTI AC200MAX - Expandable Power Beast for Every Need

With sufficient backup power in hand, you don’t have to rely on the state-owned utility exclusively to power your home. Now, another highly recommended power station - AC200MAX, with a maximum output of 2,200W (4,800W surge) and 2,048Wh capacity, is sure to save you from frustrating blackouts.

Moreover, the capacity can grow up to 6,144Wh and 8,192Wh while pairing with 2*B230 (2,048Wh per pack) or 2*B300 expansion batteries (3,072Wh per pack), respectively. AC200MAX supports 7 ways to efficiently recharge, though, most customers prefer solar charging that allows a max input rate of 900W or 1,400W fast dual recharging via solar panels and AC outlets simultaneously. Rest assured that your life won’t be interrupted by load-shedding in any way.

Final Thoughts

According to Eskom, South Africa has a shortfall of 6,000MW of electricity, which means load-shedding will be a part of life for at least five years.

Optimize your household power consumption with BLUETTI’s reliable and innovative solar generators and get well-prepared before winter sets in, rest assured that your life won’t be interrupted by load-shedding in any way.

Click: https://bit.ly/45qekYn to learn more about BLUETTI and enjoy a 10% discount until late July, and follow BLUETTI on:

Facebook：https://www.facebook.com/bluettiza/

Instagram：https://www.instagram.com/bluetti_south_africa/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/bluetti_za

Till next time...Aashish 

Thanks! Cheers!!! 

https://linktr.ee/thelifesway

Subscribe to my YOUTUBE Channel for historical tech, new gadgets, stationery, product reviews and mystery unboxings. #TheLifesWay Link to all social media platforms - https://t.co/gUHjo8DQ7h Your Lifestyle and Technology Blog for the last 10 Years! 

Can we Afford to Wait before Reverting to a Solar Solution? Asks Vincent Maposa CEO of Wetility

Hi Friends, 

Why it’s time for South Africans to put the power back in their own hands?

Here’s a fact we know all too well; loadshedding is costing the country billions. The latest interest rate rise is just another confirmation of an economy deeply scarred by the impact. Worse still, in recent months there has been an unprecedented escalation in loadshedding stages, which has sent many more South Africans racing to buy generators - but how feasible are they as a long-term solution?

For businesses who were looking to make the most of the recent festive season and even back-to-school retail booms, it may have seemed like a no-brainer. The tills can only ring when the power is on. Over the same time in homes where many were anticipating the visits of family and friends, expensive takeaway meals eaten around candles had to be planned. However, finding and using generators that run fridges and stoves then became an additional expense that instantly dimed the festive spirit for many. Loud, fuel-guzzling generators are costly, especially with the non-stop rise in the cost of fossil fuels.

Even seemingly cost-effective and relatively quiet UPS devices have their limitations. They were designed for emergencies, not regular ongoing use, which is exactly what the country expects of these devices for the foreseeable future. Breakdowns and repairs are inevitable. This means the reactive go-to solution is certainly not a long-term solution. The time to act wisely and decisively is now. As we enter this new year both businesses and homes need to actively look at sustainable solutions. If not, every major occasion and holiday in 2023 will have the same ominous shadow of loadshedding over it as last year.

“Harnessing the ever-present power of the country’s abundant sunshine is the long-term solution that must be embraced. Both economically and environmentally, solar power is a solution whose time has arrived. In fact, the cost of waiting is an expense nobody can afford, “says Vincent Maposa, CEO of Wetility.

Companies such as Wetility, which offer hybrid solar solutions that leverage the functionality of the existing power grid with the power of the country’s ample sunshine, are an exciting alternative. Wetility enables its customers to smartly generate solar power on their rooftops, and then store and use this clean consistent energy to power their homes or business - nonstop. However, as any South African will tell you – the decision to go solar comes down to numbers – Rands and sense. Does embracing what many consider to be merely an environmental solution make economic sense? Maposa takes a pragmatic approach to the question of cost.

“Those who embrace hybrid solar solutions now will certainly benefit in the long run. The relief of constant and reliable electricity is the immediate advantage. The initial investment or contract plan is often cited as a barrier when it is in fact one of those ‘I should have done this sooner’ decisions. The perceived cost versus the actual economic benefit is highly rewarding, “says Maposa.

He describes it as delayed economic gratification with instant day-to-day benefits. Like the offering, it is a hybrid thought. Some may not truly appreciate an investment in a contract that feels like an addition to their current Eskom supply. However, simply put, over a surprisingly short time the benefits are unquestionable:

• Firstly, Eskom rates will continue to rise, a fact as predictable as sunrise.
• Secondly, it will get darker before the dawn, with further increases in loadshedding stages that is bound to impact the bottom line of businesses as well as the monthly budget of homeowners.
• Thirdly, the ROI of not experiencing loadshedding is immense – no generators, no loss of business and no additional unplanned expenses for a home. In one hour of no electricity a business can lose thousands. Another drawcard which has encouraged many is that VAT-registered businesses can claim back what can amount to about 37% of their purchase costs on a system that includes solar panels. In homes, the cost of literally catering for every outage adds up every single time, while also jeopardising the plan of those trying to make a sustainable WFH solution work for the family.
• Lastly, for both homeowners and businesses, an in-built solar solution increases the value of the property. All the numbers add up.

Ultimately, the decision to go solar makes economic sense. The cost of waiting does not.

Cheers!!!

Subscribe to my YOUTUBE Channel for product reviews and mystery unboxings. #TheLifesWay. Support me with $3.34 only per month - https://www.patreon.com/TheLifesWay Namaste! https://t.co/gUHjo8DQ7h 

How to Protect your Electronics during loadshedding? @HisenseSA

Hi Friends, 

It seems that load-shedding has staying power when we wish it wouldn’t. With it brings frustrations, work and life interruptions, while it also poses a risk to your appliances, costing you even more money.

Damage to electronics results from power surges, which are an increase in the voltage of an electrical circuit when the power is switched off then back on. While the voltage fluctuation is temporary, it can be strong enough to damage the components in your devices and appliances. The damage is made worse when there are frequent power outages.

Want to prevent damage to your appliances and devices? Here are some tips from Hisense, a leading global consumer electronics and home appliances company:

Unplug all your electronics

The best way to prevent damage is through prevention. When you know you are about to be loadshed, unplug all your appliances and devices. Desktop computers are particularly vulnerable, so ensure you know the loadshedding schedule, and shut them down and unplug them before the power goes off.

Get a UPS

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.

Invest in surge protectors

A surge protector is an electrical appliance that protects your equipment against power surges. When electricity is restored after loadshedding, 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.

Check your insurance

Check if your home insurance policy covers you for damage to your electronics as a result of power surges and if there are any specific limitations for more expensive electronics like laptops. This will ensure that if you do suffer any damage, you can claim and replace the damaged items.

If your insurance doesn’t allow this, it might be worthwhile getting more cover.

A friendly reminder… though you probably know this by now:

Charge your devices in advance so that you have enough power during loadshedding

Get a power bank for your phone and tablet and ensure it’s fully charged before loadshedding hits.

Get into the habit of saving files and documents you’re working on in case you’re unexpectedly loadshed.

And good to know…

If you want to continue cooking without interruption, the Hisense Free Standing Gas Cooker is a sure way to keep the meals coming when there’s no power.

The HFS905GES Free Standing Gas Cooker has:

• Matt finish
• Auto-ignition
• 2 Convection Fans
• Double-layer glass door
• Storage compartment
• Easy-clean interior
• 6 functions
• Wok burner
• Flame failure device

It’s available from retailers from around R9 999.

Cheers!!!

Contact Aashish Rai Jain at thelifesway@gmail.com to collaborate and promote your brand, services and products. #TheLifesWay #PhotoYatra #8YearsofTheLifesWay. Follow me on www.instagram.com/thelifesway for all travel-related photo posts and subscribe to my YOUTUBE Channel too. Namaste!

Support me if you like reading this blog post which was done free of charge - https://www.buymeacoffee.com/TheLifesWay

My Tryst with #Loadshedding - Is it New or Lifelong?

Hi Friends, 

As far as I remember during my childhood, I have never heard of this word Loadshedding until I came to Johannesburg, South Africa in 2013. In India, I grew up amongst long and untimely electricity cuts in my town. At least here in South Africa, we have the timetable and smartphone apps telling us when the electricity will be switched off in which particular area.

During my childhood in India, I grew up in a city named Sirsa in Haryana. The summers were full of light cut-outs as and when felt necessary by the State Electricity Boards and then we used to call the department using the wired telephone. The number used to be busy and when we got the answer it used to be told to everyone around in the colony. Earlier, I used to study with the candles lit but then it increased the overall temperature of the already hot room during summers. To add the spicing to the environment, mosquitoes keep biting you disturbing your concentration to study making the overall experience torturous. Preparation of food by my mom was not a problem as in India we used to have LPG stoves installed which can be lit by a lighter or match stick to make tea, coffee or any desserts any time of the day without electricity.

When I was in high school because of strict study timelines and board exams, my father bought us the rechargeable lights with small tube lights in a carrying case. It used to give enough power to last for at least 2-3 hours of continuous light to eat dinner or study afterward. The mobile phones during that time didn't exist as we used to have those wired telephone lines which didn't need any kind of electricity at all. Either it's connected and working or the wire is broken inside your home somewhere or at the pole nearby.

As I was doing my engineering, I used to stay in a PG outside the hostel and there I used to have my room tube light linked to Inverters and faced no problem even in the night other than the fan not being connected and mosquitoes singing at the top of their lungs. One of my college mates used to be so jealous and eventually became my friend and roommates in search of light to study. His search for great opportunities has made him a great man in the IT industry now.

Once I went to my friend's sister's marriage ceremony and they used to live in a village of UP state. It was my first time staying overnight in any village whatsoever. I came across the fact that the light only comes from 11pm to 2am in the night or something close to 3-4 hours during the entire day way back in 2003. At that time people used to have Nokia mobile phones which could last long with a single charge and there was no concept of power banks etc. I was the one who invested in a Samsung phone rather than Nokia at that time and I can say it was the first phone bought by me with my own hard-earned money. I took myself away from the famous Snake game which used to be so popular on the Symbian OS and older phones.

Even when I started working I used to keep my phone charged all the time so that it can survive the load-shedding of the night and I can play games on my Nokia 7650 the first camera phone at that time. It got stolen just before I had to start my MBA and it threw me to go back to Nokia's first colored display phone. The strategy always was to keep the devices charged during the time when there is light and use the devices only when the light goes off.

Today, when it comes to losing power we have power banks, laptops and other devices which constantly need the power to work. The biggest being Wi-fi connection which has no alternative unless you provide alternative current to the same via the UPS or the inverter installed at your home. Wifi is the basic necessity and that's why a lot of LTE based devices with built-in batteries are coming in the market from Huawei and D-Link etc. I love lights and LEDs and buys them regularly in the sale at Pick n Pay or any other retailers to take care of me when the lights go off.

• The best way to prepare for Loadshedding is to have an alternate mechanism to cook food via LPG gas top stoves bought from Builders Warehouse or any other retailers. 
• Keep your devices charged whenever Loadshedding is being announced and have a backup device ready too which we all have hidden inside the drawers somewhere. 
• Go go to the local coffee shop or a mall where you will find plenty of plugs to charge while you have snacks - it may be expensive for your pocket but you get to vent out your emotions with like-minded individuals in the cafe or food court.
• Download TV series or movies in your device if you have Netflix connections which give you a facility to download your favorite series in SD or HD quality. 
• The long term method is to reduce your consumption and save electricity as and when you can. This will be a change in the habits and behavior to save the Planet Earth and unplug all devices not being used. Switch off all table lamps and bed shades. Switch to LED-based lamps and tube lights. 
• Go for the walk or uncompleted 10000 steps of the day while listening to your favorite tunes from the old iPod or MP3 players. 
• Spend time with family playing the old board games like Ludo, Snakes and Ladders and other popular ones like Scrabble, Pictionary, and Wikipedia. 

Loadshedding is a concept that will stay in the future and may increase as our consumption of electricity is increased. Earlier we didn't need Air Conditioning in the houses in Johannesburg but now it has become a necessity and similarly, London Tubes never had AC inside the trains but now the new shuttles have AC built into them. We can just spend more and more time in nature and see and watch online content at a certain time of the day will bring some efforts at our end but we will be happy with the output and also this is an opportunity to do a lot during the times of load-shedding.

I am happy with my Kindle Keyboard from Amazon which goes long without any charge and brings a lot of great books for me to read and refer to again and again. I bought the same on 17th July 2011 from Rhode Island, USA and still is with me bringing me all the songs, turns normal books into audiobooks and many more features.

What's your favorite device for load-shedding and strategies your follow to make your load-shedding experience better? 

Cheers!!!

Contact Aashish Rai Jain at thelifesway@gmail.com or editor@thelifesway.com to discuss your products, launch events, and services. #TheLifesWay #PhotoYatra #7YearsofTheLifesWay #NoFreePosts. TheLife'sWay charges a blogging fee for the time and efforts to join a new campaign or an existing one based on your requirements. Namaste!

Be prepared for #Loadshedding #Jozi #Lumia

Hi Guys,

With scheduled loadshedding now making a comeback, Microsoft would like to help you be prepared so you know when the lights are due to go off and better plan your lives with these loadshedding apps available on the Windows Phone Store. It also helps you to buy those candles to light or better buy some of the Solar chargeable lights so as to keep you company and save you from the trouble of lighting candles and thinking about all the Carbon-dioxide it is producing.

SA Power Alert (Free)
See the current electricity load status in South Africa. Worried about load shedding, see what is the latest from PowerAlert.co.za. The national power state is displayed on the front page. Use the links under areas to go to PowerAlert.co.za for a more detailed description of power in your area. 

 

Powertime (Free) With this app you can buy Prepaid Electricity tokens 24/7 anywhere in SOUTH AFRICA and check out your usage stats. Pay via credit card, EFT and PayGenius wallet. Currently only South African meters are supported by this app. More than 50 municipalities are supported for prepaid electricity purchase: Cape Town, Eskom, Knysna, Ethekwini, Stellenbosch, Drakenstein and much more! Get the list on http://www.powertime.co.za/en/blog/exclusive-interactive-tariff-map/
 
 

 
Eishkom (Free)
Keep track of Eskom's power struggle & know your schedule for different load shedding stages. 


You can’t control when the lights go off but you can rely on these Lumia apps to make things easier when it comes to preparing your life around loadshedding and monitoring electricity usage. Follow Windows Phones on twitter and facebook.

Do buy these Solar lights as I have done and will post about the ones I have got. It's really cool devices to have and will save you from all the trouble of loadshedding from many perspectives. 

Cheers!!!

Follow me on twitter @araijain or @thelifesway
Checkout my Instagram (araijain) page
Checkout my photo blog - www.photoyatra.blogspot.in
Like The Life's Way Page on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TheLifesWay
Email - thelifesway@gmail.com for invites to launch events / sponsored posts and product reviews!