Load Shedding Survival Guide — Power Solutions for Camp & Home

Load shedding has turned every South African into an accidental electrician. This thread collects the community's best solutions.

## Camp Power Basics

12V DC Systems (most common in vehicles and rooftop tents)

• Start with a second battery (auxiliary battery) isolated by a battery isolator or DC-DC charger


• 100Ah lithium (LiFePO4) ≈ 80Ah usable. AGM/lead-acid ≈ 50Ah usable before damage


• Common loads: 12V fridge (4–8A), LED lighting (1–3A), phone charging (1–2A)

Solar Charging

• 200W panel charges a 100Ah battery reasonably well in 4–6 hours of good sun


• MPPT charge controller is more efficient than PWM


• Renogy, Victron, and EPSolar are popular brands in SA

## Inverters for Camp & Loadshedding

• Modified sine wave — cheaper, fine for basic loads (lights, fans, phone chargers)


• Pure sine wave — required for sensitive electronics, fridges, CPAP machines


• Match inverter size to your expected load + 20% headroom

## Popular SA Setups

• Entry level: 2nd battery + DC-DC charger + 100W panel + 12V fridge. ~R8,000–R12,000


• Mid level: 200Ah lithium + 300W solar + MPPT + 2000W inverter. ~R25,000–R35,000


• Full off-grid: Multiple lithium banks, hybrid inverter, grid tie-in. R80,000+

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Share your loadshedding solution below — what works, what doesn't, what you'd do differently.