South Africans who wish to avoid load-shedding without breaking the bank may select a power cart rather than a portable power station. Mecer, Ellies, Lalela, RCT, and Kool Energy are among the top brands available locally.
Inverter trolleys provide various advantages over portable power stations. Power trollies, for example, are frequently less expensive, and their batteries are typically easier to repair.
However, given the present load-shedding intensity, it is advisable to use inverter trollies with lithium-ion batteries. They, however, are more costly.
Certain trolleys include lead-acid batteries. According to a recent MyBroadband research, a standard 100Ah lead-acid battery would need to be replaced after less than a third of the outages seen in 2022.
When depleted to less than 50% of their capacity, lead-acid batteries used for backup power only endure 150-200 cycles.
Under stage 4 load-shedding, the average family is subjected to 12 slots of 2-hour power outages across four days, for a total of 84 load-sheddings in four weeks.
The average residence would be load-shed 84 times in four weeks (28 days) of continuous stage 4 power outages.
Assuming the battery had the standard 100Ah (1,200Wh) capacity and declined to roughly 50% during each of these slots, it would only withstand around two months of stage 4 load-shedding before needing to be replaced.
According to statistics from the load-shedding app EskomSePush, South Africans have been exposed to 2,600 hours of load-shedding by early November 2022.
A lead-acid battery would have only lasted 600 to 800 of those 2,600 hours.
Lithium-ion batteries, on the other hand, have a cycle life of 2,000 to 3,000 cycles, depending on the depth of discharge, and they can be depleted longer than lead-acid batteries without losing capacity.
It should be mentioned that lithium-ion batteries are nearly solely used in portable power stations.
These are, however, frequently difficult — if not impossible — to repair, whereas replacement batteries for inverter trolleys may be purchased and installed, assuming they are suitable.
South Africans will also likely spend more for a portable power station than for a similar capacity inverter trolley.
Some of the top inverter tram brands available in South Africa are given below.
Ellies Ellies only manufactures a limited number of inverter trolleys and employs lead-acid or deep-cycle gel batteries.
They are, however, a good alternative for individuals on a tight budget who are prepared to check their battery levels and not allow them to fall below a specific depth of drain (DoD).
For example, at 50%, the battery will most likely only survive 150-200 cycles. But, according to Solar Power Laboratories at Arizona State University, this may be greatly boosted if battery levels do not go below 70%.
Lalela Lalela sells various capacities and inverter ratings of inverter trollies. It also has choices for lead-acid and lithium-ion batteries.
Its goods do not stop at inverter trollies. Lalela also provides solar inverters, uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), battery backups, and other energy backup-related items.
“Our products can be found in major retailers in South Africa. If you are a reseller, our products can be procured via Tarsus Distribution,” it says.
Mecer
While Mecer’s website only offers a limited number of inverter trollies, additional options are available via stores such as Takealot and Builders Warehouse.
The majority of Mecer choices include lead-acid batteries. Nevertheless, there are a few variations using lithium-ion batteries.
The 1Kw, for example, has a 25.6V 50Ah lithium-ion battery. The inverter trolley’s battery has a capacity of 1,280Wh and will endure at least 2,000 cycles at 80% depth of drain.
RCT
RCT It offers a variety of inverter trollies powered by lead-acid and deep-cycle gel batteries.
“The RCT Inverter with trolley is perfect for backup power for running lights, TVs, computers and small appliances when there is load shedding and power outages,” it says.
Kool Energy
Takealot and Solar Europe Importers are among the retailers who sell Kool Energy inverter carts.
Its units come in a variety of capacities and are powered by deep-cycle gel or lithium-ion batteries. The top-tier inverter trolley has a 25.6V 100Ah lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 2,560Wh.
