Load-shedding can be a killer for small businesses. All kinds of businesses need power to operate, so it’s important to know what kind of solutions exist to keep the power on. Follow this guide for some of the best energy-saving tips, tools, and solutions for small businesses to use when the power goes out.
The right tech tools could prevent your business from closing during loadshedding hours, keeping you productive and earning revenue throughout the day.
Tools Small Businesses Can Use During Loadshedding
From keeping the lights on to accepting credit card payments, there are many electrical tools small businesses need during load-shedding. Here are some of the best energy-savings tips and tools to use.
Lighting
The first thing you want to do when the power goes out is keep your lights on. Luckily, there are many affordable solutions to this.
One of the easiest options is to use light bulbs with built-in batteries. These bulbs recharge using your building’s electricity connection. When loadshedding hits, the bulb will automatically switch to battery power, and switch back to the grid when the electricity comes back.
This battery-powered LED light bulb can last for up to 3 hours, while this one lasts for up to 5 hours. Pay attention to the brightness of the bulb, what type of socket it is, and its charging time.
Solar-powered LED lights are also a convenient choice for use outdoors. These lights can provide a lot of brightness without ever needing electricity. Simply leave them outside to charge in the sun, and turn them on when the power goes off.
Here are some other good options:
Power Supplies
Having a backup power system is essential during load-shedding. Small businesses need these systems to power Wi-Fi routers and screens, charge laptops and phones and use any kind of electrical tools.
One of the easiest and most convenient options is to use a power bank. These can be very affordable and can be used to charge small devices, like your phone or card machine. Here is a powerful and affordable option.
An Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) is another great choice. These are plugged directly into your electrical devices and work similarly to a power bank. When the power goes out, the UPS will kick in and independently charge the unit. When the power goes back on, the device will switch back to grid power and the UPS will charge. These come in a wide range of sizes depending on the electrical requirements of your device. You can use a UPS for larger devices, like computers, wifi routers, TVs, or POS systems. Here is a powerful UPS option.
Power inverters, like this one, are also available. These need to be attached to an external power supply (like a car battery) and can be used to plug and charge various electrical devices. They supply power for a long time and can handle large amounts of electricity.
Finally, using a generator is another option for creating a source of power. Generators are the best choice when you need a higher power volume, as they can create enough electricity to power your entire small business, not just single devices.
Generators are more expensive, they are noisy, and they require diesel fuel. They are also quite large, so you will need enough space to store them.
Wi-Fi
Dongles and routers are available to keep your Wi-Fi up and running while electricity is out. These devices rely on cellular networks, so you will need to understand the data costs involved with each network. The devices themselves are affordable.
Payments
Yoco card machines are an excellent choice for accepting payments during load-shedding. These devices need to be charged in advance, and they need to connect to the Internet (possibly through hotspots and cellular data). They are a convenient way to accept card payments when the power is out.
Many of these solutions are very affordable for small businesses, and they can make an enormous difference to the way a business operates. Investing in the right tech tools can prevent load-shedding from affecting you. These solutions are convenient, easy to apply, and can ultimately save your business when the power goes out.
As a small business, it’s important that you know how to beat loadshedding. Try the tools to use during loadshedding as mentioned above and your electrical needs should be covered during power outages.
