GATVOL July 2023

LET’S WORK TOGETHER TO STOP CRIME

HOME POWER BACKUP SYSTEMS –

ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS

www.dailymaverick.co.za/article

South Africa’s electricity utility Eskom has made it clear that “load shedding” – rolling scheduled power cuts – isn’t going to end any time soon. This reality, and President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement during his annual state of the nation speech on 9 February 2023 that tax incentives for solar power use are imminent, mean that many people are considering alternative electricity supply systems for their homes.

But deciding on the best home power backup system isn’t a simple matter. There’s a bewildering array of jargon to sift through and many elements to consider, from the right kind of inverter to the size of your solar panels.

We are electrical engineers who are working on a standalone charger for small electric vehicles with the South African National Energy Development Institute as part of the Long-Term Joint European Union – African Union Research and Innovation Partnership on Renewable Energy. The way the charger is designed resembles the sort of system needed for domestic power cut solutions. So, we’re able to answer a few questions for those who feel overwhelmed by the options.

WHAT IS AN INVERTER?

This is a key component of any alternative power system. It’s an electronic device that changes direct current (like energy stored in a battery) into alternating current (power for your home).

There are a few kinds of inverters. Some are grid-tied (synchronous) with Eskom’s power grid. They are typically used with solar systems that augment the Eskom supply. But they are not suitable for load shedding solutions.

You also get off-grid (grid-forming) inverters, which form their own mini-grid and can operate during power cuts.

We recommend a hybrid inverter, which can be grid-tied to augment supply and seamlessly continue operation as an offgrid solution during load shedding. You want a hybrid inverter that can connect to the grid, battery backup, and to solar panels. To extract the maximum power from the solar panels, be sure to get one that has maximum power point tracking (MPPT).

WHAT SIZE SHOULD THE SYSTEM BE?

This purchase should be a long-term investment. The inverter must be able to carry the sum of all the loads that are drawing power at any instant in time and the battery must be able to supply the energy required.

To reduce both the upfront capital cost and operational expenditure, you need to decide what is essential. Lights? Your washing machine? The stove and electric kettle? Then you need to make sure they are as energy efficient as possible before you size the backup system. For example, old incandescent lights use ten times more energy than LED lights do.

This table lists a few typical household items and their power consumption.

This table lists a few typical household items and their power consumption. Table: MJ Booysen. Source: MJ Booysen.

Created with Datawrapper

Deciding on the best system isn’t a simple matter. There’s a bewildering array of jargon to sift through and many elements to consider.

WHY DO I NEED BATTERIES FOR MY SYSTEM?

It is theoretically possible for an inverter to generate electricity for household use directly from solar panels. But the supply from panels is intermittent and often not powerful enough to reliably supply power to the varying loads in the house.

To overcome this problem, energy is stored in the batteries. This provides a more stable source of power which responds to demand during load shedding.

Battery capacity is specified as kWh (kilowatt hours) or Ah (ampere hours). This determines the amount of energy it can supply. A battery with a capacity of 5kWh can theoretically supply 5kW for an hour. But if a lithium battery is discharged beyond 20% of its capacity, it loses capacity and ages faster. A 5kWh battery therefore has an effective capacity of only 4kWh. It can supply 4kW for one hour, or 1kW for four hours.

As a practical example, if you want to power only 20 10W LED lights and a medium-sized LED TV, drawing a total of 0.5kW, a 3.5kWh battery will suffice for four hours.

ARE SOLAR PANELS CRUCIAL FOR A BACKUP SYSTEM?

No. The batteries store energy to provide a stable supply to the inverter when needed. Technically, you can use the mains power to charge the batteries, rather than rely on solar panels. Solar panels are merely there to augment the supply of electricity and could give you a bit more range during load shedding if the sun is shining.

But if everyone installs backup systems without solar panels, we are just using batteries to carry us through power cuts. That increases the load on Eskom outside load shedding periods, as the batteries must be replenished. This will neuter Eskom’s ability to use load shedding as a grid management tool. It could destabilise the grid and lead to a complete blackout.

And if, as is expected, the finance minister introduces tax breaks for solar generation expenses in the budget speech on 22 February, solar panels will have to be part of your setup if you want to benefit from these incentives.

No matter what Enoch Godongwana announces, we think this is a good time to make the switch to a solar-powered backup system, for your peace of mind and future savings.

HOW MUCH DOES IT ALL COST?

Inverter prices are falling as the market grows, and vary across suppliers. Inverters cost about R3,000 per kW for bottom of the range, and closer to R7,000 per kW for top of the range. Most households will get by with a 3kW to 5kW inverter, if its loads are managed well, costing between R9,000 and R35,000.

Lithium (LiFePO4) batteries also vary in cost but normally retail for about R5,000 to R7,000 per kWh. Most households will get by with a 5kWh to 10kWh battery if the loads are optimised and managed well. So you’re looking at a cost of between R25,000 and R70,000 for the batteries.

Solar panels tend to range from R8,000 to R10,000 per kWp (a measure of how high the panels’ power output is). Again, they’re not crucial, but are necessary if you want the system to pay for itself over time.

CAN I INSTALL THIS SYSTEM MYSELF?

No, unless you’re a certified electrician. The inverter needs to be installed into the distribution board and the cost will depend on how many of your circuit breakers need to be moved to the backup as well as how easy the solution is to install; installation typically ranges from R10,000 to R20,000. The inverter must be approved by the municipality if you want to feed back into the grid. Installing the solar panels is separate, and costs vary widely. DM/ML

MJ (Thinus) Booysen is a Professor in Engineering and Chair in the Internet of Things at Stellenbosch University. Arnold Rix is a Senior Lecturer in Electronic and Electrical Engineering at Stellenbosch University.

A battery back-up inverter system in a residential building in the Hout Bay district of Cape Town, South Africa, on Friday, April 22, 2022. Image: Dwayne Senior / Bloomberg via Getty Images

SA TOURISM INDUSTRY

South Africa’s tourism industry has the potential to boost the country’s economy and create significant employment opportunities. An ambitious new private sector initiative launched by the Youth Employment Service (YES) and financial services group, Sanlam, is expected to be a game-changer for this critical sector.

Youth4Tourism, aims to bring together a range of businesses to help unlock this opportunity through the creation of over 1,000 youth jobs in phase one, supporting thousands of SMEs in the tourism value chain across South Africa.

According to The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), Africa’s travel and tourism sector is expected to create almost 14 million new jobs over the next decade, with growth of 6.8% annually between 2022-2032.

The SA tourism sector, according to Statistics South Africa, is larger than both the manufacturing and agriculture sectors, and is structurally key to growing the domestic economy through both leisure and business travel.

The first phase of the project will see youth across South Africa being put to work to promote and support tourist attractions nationally, through showcasing their hometowns and surrounds and, through their creative outputs, guiding both local and international tourists across the country.

“South Africa’s tourism sector is rebounding rapidly from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and is a major driving engine to create youth jobs and drive economic growth.

Through this initiative, we hope to add further momentum to the sector,” said YES CEO, Ravi Naidoo.

Paul Hanratty, CEO of Sanlam, says, “Close to 250,000 young people lost their jobs in the first quarter of 2023, which brings the total number of unemployed youth to 4.9 million. This is devastating in a country where our demographic dividend should be our greatest asset. Through this programme, we want to galvanise the private sector to sponsor the placement of talented young people in the tourism sector. We’re calling for other corporates to join us. It’s our collective responsibility to change this narrative, for the sake of our youth and the country.

“At the same time, we’re focusing on upskilling young people in the gig economy, specifically enhancing their skill capabilities in driving tourism. By doing so, we aim to create microentrepreneurs. SMMEs are the backbone of our economy and empowering our youth to start viable ventures is critical for the future health of our nation.”

Hanratty adds: “Sanlam is purposeled and committed to empowering all Africans to be financially confident, secure, and prosperous. This must start with our young people. They must be cherished and given everything they need to live their most meaningful lives. By investing in our youth, we foster pride for our nation.”

GET INVOLVED AND CHANGE THE FACE OF SA TOURISM

“YES has already placed the first 650 youth in the Youth4Tourism initiative in implementation partners across six provinces. These youth will be developing skills in content creation and ecotourism”, says Naidoo.

“We need businesses across sectors to join the movement and create diverse work opportunities for youth within the sector. The opportunities are endless: tour guides, event coordinators, content creators, concierges, chefs, resort managers, travel agents and many, many more.”

Organisations can join phase one of this movement in three ways:

• Funding of youth jobs through innovative placement partners identified by YES. This can form part of their B-BBEE or social impact initiatives.

• Identify events, conferences, and content creation opportunities for these talented young South Africans to create content to showcase South Africa as tourism destination via the YCC “gig” work platform.

• Contribute hardware including photography and videography equipment for a Section18A tax break.

Naidoo concludes: “It’s time to bring together corporate South Africa like never before to tell our tourism story to the world. We’re talking TikTok’s up Table Mountain, informative Instagram reels about the Big Five, photo essays on lesser-known villages, YouTube videos on ecotourism destinations, and blog reviews around local cuisine. By sharing our stories with the world through the honing of relevant digital skills, we can spark a wave of tourism that can transform the entire economy and create thousands of jobs.”

My name is Brad Nathanson I have been fighting crime for 43 years

With home invasions on the rise and crime out of control I urge you to do a few things to safeguard yourselves and equip you in the fight against crime

1. Meet your neighbour - exchange contact details not only yours but also your next of kin.

2. Join a CPF, Neighbourhood watch, SA Community crime watch or responders group in your area.

3. Learn First Aid and keep a first aid kit on hand

4. Keep a cheap cell phone hidden in your home. Make sure it is fully charged and has all the emergency numbers stored in it. During a home invasion your regular cell phone will have been stolen thus making it difficult to call for help and thus slowing down a quick response

5. Install solar powered motion sensor light for outside

6 Keep doors and security gates locked

These are just the basics. There are many more options but these 6 are the essentials.

Remember always who, what, why, how when and where

WHO: who are you, how are you, how many are you, who has been injured, who where your attackers, are they known to you.

WHAT. What do you require in the way of assistance

Police fire department medical response?

What were the attackers wearing or driving.

What weapons did they have?

What did they say, what language did they speak. What race are they, Male or Female, their approximate ages.

What have they taken, did they take weapons and what identifying features did they have? Did they wear gloves, what did they touch that they did not take away with them

WHY: Why did they come after you? Disgruntled ex employee perhaps or do you keep cash in the house is there jewelry on display. Do you operate a cash business, did you recently have strangers in your house to install something or provide a service? Did

you recently purchase something new and leave the boxes on the verge or was this just random

HOW: how may you be reached how entry was gained, how many suspects were there, how long were they in your home?

When: what time did it happen how long were they in the home for where did they gain entry

Where: where are you exactly-near what landmark? Remember some responders might not be familiar with the area. Where are your dogs?

Elect one person to make notes of everything that you remember while it is fresh in your mind. Preserve the crime scene especially places where the burglars might have touched. We can long longer leave fighting crime to just a few within the community. If we are going to make a stand we need to do this together

STAY SAFE

Brad Nathanson Investigations

www.bradnathanson.co.za

Follow us on Facebook for all our latest crime news and updates: https://www.facebook.com BradNathansonPI/

K9 DOG TRAINING

Police dogs are a critical part of law enforcement agencies across the country. Their unique abilities make these animals ideal partners for K-9 police officers. The value of trained police dogs is clear when you see the success rate of the K-9 units.

It is most common for breeds such as German shepherds, Belgian Malinois, Doberman pinschers and bloodhounds to work as police dogs due to a combination of temperament, strength and a powerful sense of smell. The officers receive specialized training to learn how to interact effectively with police dogs.

POLICE DOG TRAINING

K-9 officers’ work with police dogs training them to discover drugs and explosives, locate and rescue missing people, perform inspections and more. Training begins when a dog is 1 to 2 years old, after the animal is tested “to ensure it has the right temperament for the job and can easily adapt to different environments. The most essential characteristic of a good K-9 dog is its defense drive, as well as its instinct to chase and apprehend prey”.

DRUG SNIFFING

Training for drug sniffing involves the use of decoys that create scenarios that test a canine’s response, this is according to How Police Dogs Work by Ed Grabianowski.

This training provides behavioral feedback for the dog, teaching it what is expected on the job. Decoy training involves hiding an object, usually a towel, with drugs concealed inside it.

The dog then locates the towel and is rewarded with play. Once the dog is trained, it can locate hidden illegal substances in airports, cars, warehouses, residences and more.

FINDING EXPLOSIVES

Police dogs that are trained in finding explosives are tasked with detecting bombs in airports, transportation hubs, schools, shopping centers and other large venues. Their work is high stakes

and can save countless lives. These canines are trained to smell the chemical compounds present in explosives, including:

• Powders

• Water gel

• RDX

• Commercial dynamite

• Other explosive components

Rather than being able to identify an explosive as a whole, police dogs smell the various components commonly used when creating bombs. Training for bomb sniffing dogs is delivered through repetition and reward.

LOCATING MISSING PERSONS

Search-and-rescue dogs find missing persons who have been kidnapped, run away or were victims of a natural disaster or other catastrophe. They work to find people in disaster zones, large neighborhoods, forests and secluded areas.

“For the handler, certification includes tests regarding search strategies and tactics, mapping, search and victim markings, briefing and debriefing skills, in addition to canine handling skills. For the disaster search canine, certification includes proper command control, agility skills, a focused bark alert to indicate a live find,” This is according to the American Federal Emergence Management agency.

Training methods for this type of police dog include conditioning the animal to find airborne scents though praise and reward. They are also trained in tracking, trailing, air scent and body location.

Credit: Sgt Steve Clack

FOUR REASONS TO KEEP YOUR OLDER CAR IN TIP-TOP SHAPE

Tough economic conditions mean South African motorists are keeping their cars for longer – but that means it’s more important than ever that you keep your vehicle well maintained and appropriately insured, says local insurer King Price.

Automobile Association research from 2020 showed that more than 90% of South Africans are keeping their vehicles for longer, with four out of 10 motorists keeping their cars for between five and ten years. TransUnion’s Vehicle Pricing Index for the first quarter of 2023 showed new car sales declined by 2.6% and used car sales by 17.7%, suggesting more consumers are staying out of the market right now.

While older cars are cheaper to insure as a rule, it’s vital that they are kept well maintained to keep them safe and roadworthy, says King Price’s client experience partner, Wynand van Vuuren.

“An older car will probably no longer be covered under a service plan or

the manufacturer’s warranty. That’s why we always advise that you should take out a separate warranty cover. But having a warranty isn’t a replacement for servicing your car as you’re supposed to: you must still get your regular services done,” says Van Vuuren.

Here are his top four reasons to keep your car well maintained.

KEEP YOURSELF (AND OTHERS) SAFE

Poorly maintained and unroadworthy vehicles are a major cause of accidents on South Africa’s roads. Accidents happen when brakes fail or tyres are smooth, while cracked windscreens and mirrors, faulty lights and indicators and worn suspension can all increase the likelihood of accidents and collisions.

“By the same token, well maintained cars generally offer better traction, greater reliability and less chance of breakdowns, more stable steering and a smoother, safer ride,” says Van Vuuren.

SAVE YOURSELF MONEY

Regular maintenance often prevents bigger issues from arising down the line. You may think you’re saving money by skipping a service, but you could be contributing to more costly problems later. And, of course, a wellmaintained vehicle means you use less fuel, which means less pain at the petrol pump.

KEEP YOUR CAR VALUE HIGH

When you do plan to finally sell or trade your vehicle, you’ll be glad you kept it maintained. A comprehensive service history is a major selling point for many car buyers, and a dealer will pay far more for a vehicle that’s in a good condition and has clearly been well maintained.

Make sure you’re covered if anything goes wrong

“The simple truth is that it’s a condition of cover that your car is always in a roadworthy condition,” says Van Vuuren. So, it really pays to make sure that your car is always in tip-top shape.

The FINAL Word

July 1st 2023 and and here is the state of the nation. Cyril Ramaphosa has been cleared of any wrongdoing in the Phala Phala mystery but his chief of staff has been found guilty by the public Prosecutor. Another fall guy?

The deputy President Mr Clean has according to the papers has been involved in corruption. He is the anointed one set to take over from Cyril Ramaphosa - who has announced that it’s just silly to think the ANC will not win the next general election. Sadly he might be right here. With all the opposition parties fighting over the formation of a coalition party, there will never have an effective opposition.

But I digress. The crime rate is still soaring unemployment is at totally unacceptable levels the rand has fallen to its lowest levels and the cost of living is making it almost impossible for the average South African to make ends meet. We are a heavily indebted nation. And we still have loadshedding. Even with the appointment of a minister of electricity the situation has not improved. It is worse now than ever before. The government will blame the pandemic or apartheid for the mess but it is their mess.

I have had the privilege of meeting people who have decided to take their future into their own hands. They have started side gigs to generate income for their families - Ladies selling fruit and veg or home baked goods on street corners, men cutting trees, folks attacking the cost of living buy doing something instead of stealing.

The change in attitude of the average South African gives hope for the future of this country. There used to be a saying which I don’t suppose is politically correct now but it is none the less true-“a boer maak n plan” This is what we need to do. If you don’t know what to do you can start by joining you local neibourhood watch, Community Policing Forums or the South African Community Crime Watch.

Until next time...

Martyn Smithers

PICS CREDIT: By: Darlene Creamer