Keeping the load shedding at bay with Solco Solar.

Like it or not, we are all affected by the constantly changing load-shedding schedule. I know that when I recently had an early morning appointment, I waited for the electricity to return so that I would not be faced with robots that were not working. Although we might not be able to control the situation outside of our homes, we can make a decision to limit the impact of the incapability of ESKOM to supply the citizens of South Africa with stable power. No matter what any of the CEO's or Ministers say, that institution is broken and will be for a long while. The wheels of Government grind so slowly that I don't believe that any attempt to address the issues has been started.

In 2019 (I so wish that we had installed a system back in 2008) I turned to SOLCO Solar to install a system that would make us less reliant on the grid and more self-sustaining even though we were still reliant on COJ power to keep us 'charged'. The initial consultation and subsequent quotation and finally the installation went off relatively smoothly and their professionalism is what has kept the owner and me in touch ever since. Although there have been many fly-by-night solar companies that have come and gone, SOLCO has been around for more than 3 decades! That must mean that they are doing something right.

This was our first inverter, 5kva, and it was enough...or so we thought. I do believe that solar systems are like tattoos, go large, or go home. Or I suppose, to put it into financial terms, go as big as you can afford without going into debt.

This particular unit together with 9 panels and 4 batteries was enough to run our household comfortably. Except that we were not able to utilize either the oven (we installed a gas hob several years ago) or the geyser (we looked at a solar option, but it was seen as too expensive) during load-shedding. 

Time for an upgrade in 2023!

This 8kva unit was the top of the range as far as a household of our size and usage was concerned. By the time we discussed an upgrade, many homeowners had come to the realization that solar was a must and equipment was becoming as scarce as rocking horse teeth. When SOLCO said that they were out of stock and I would have to wait at least 3 weeks for a container to arrive, I decided to call other installation companies.

But the moment I mentioned 8kva inverters they all gave me the same time frame, so we decided to wait for SOLCO to get stock. Having a history with the company did help as we were at the top of the waiting list. 

These connections almost look like they could be in some sort of space capsule, but they are, in fact, the flexible conduit in which the various cables run.

What looks like a hand-held radio is actually the connection for the Wi-Fi which connects the system to an app that can be used to check the system if we are away from home.

And we also upgraded the battery bank...from 4 to 6, with room for one more should we deem it necessary.

These are not the old-fashioned deep-cycle marine batteries that took up so much space. These are the modern li-ion type, each of which is just a bit bigger than a DVD player.

They last longer and take up MUCH less space.

This is what the entire system looks like after the upgrade.

A clean, neat, and professional installation that comes with a COC( certificate of compliance) that you can present to your insurance company or your real estate agent if you sell.

Going forward, I believe that there will be at least two items that could possibly be deal-breakers when it comes to selling/buying a property;

A solar installation and high-speed fibre.

Now, I can hear you saying, was the upgrade really necessary?

And the simple answer is "Yes it was"! For several reasons...

Firstly, load-shedding, and the stress that entails, no longer affects our house at all. The changeover from COJ power to solar is so smooth that it goes unnoticed.

Secondly, we are able to run the entire household, including both the oven and the geyser using the solar system. We try not to run them concurrently, but we can should we need to do so.

And lastly, but probably the most important reason, is when the unplanned outages kick in post the scheduled load-shedding. These, in our suburb, can last for days and the most annoying is the fact that COJ is never able to give completion times as they are plagued by antiquated equipment and a lack of manpower and spares.

The last post-load-shedding outage lasted for almost 3 days and our system handled it without any issues.

This is a screenshot of the solar app in operation.

In this particular instance, both the grid as well as the panels are feeding into our system. Although no settings can be altered off the app, it is useful for making certain how it is all working.

Who says that an installation cannot be fun?

The final piece of the puzzle in making certain that the system operates at peak efficiency was to go to prepaid electricity.

Now we could have done it alone, but the system is difficult to navigate. Hence us turning to Fasttrack admin cc to help out converting to a prepaid system. It was seamless...except for the fact that COJ decided to do computer software maintenance at exactly the same time we informed them of our change. Getting them to reflect the transition might take longer than expected.

The technicians arrived within two days of Fasttrack putting in a request and the actual control unit installation took about 20 minutes. It took longer to fill out the paperwork. The technicians arrived unexpectedly and luckily I was home to let them onto the property otherwise I might have had to wait for weeks for them to return.

Purchasing electricity can be done in a variety of ways and we have already seen a sharp reduction in the monthly account.

It is still early days, hence I am unable to give an exact cost saving currently.

But, in the long run, this is certainly the route to follow to make certain that it is one less item to tick off a stress-inducing list.

Now for the borehole and backup water storage and we will be ready for the apocalypse, should it occur.

Most importantly, choose the companies that you use on their longevity and NOT on price. Two men with a ladder and a van might offer you systems that are cheaper, but when the time comes for maintenance, they are nowhere to be seen. On that note, many of the instant solar companies are trying to make outdated stock seem as if it is 'top-of-the-range'. Do your homework before signing any contracts to make certain that you are getting the most for your money. 

Caveat emptor...let the buyer beware...a great law doctrine that every homeowner should be conscious of.

 

https://www.solcosolar.co.za/

https://www.fasttrackadmin.co.za/

Magic Windows was at Chez Batz.

     

This is the ONLY way to have your windows and solar panels cleaned! Professionally, by a company that cares about the safety of its staff and the environment. 

This is "M", or how I was introduced to him. His name, to some, is difficult to pronounce, so he has figured that M is an easy option for all those who interact with him. That being said, actions speak louder than words, and he says very little and goes about his work like a true professional. 

This is David Smith, the owner of the company and a man who is prepared to get his hands dirty for his clients. Not only has he built a portable reverse osmosis system that he uses to clean the windows when he was done explaining how the system works, but he also picked up his pole and got stuck to the cleaning as well. No sitting in the vehicle scrolling mindlessly through Facebook for this businessman.

Seeing that he was also going to be cleaning our solar panels, the use of an extendable pole meant that he could clean those panels without getting on the roof. 

They are useful for gaining access to top floor windows in multiple storey buildings. 

David prefers to do the roof work himself in order to make certain that his staff is not placed in any danger. 

M got straight to work, making our windows shine so as to attract the attention of our next-door neighbour who will be having his windows and solar panels cleaned soon!

Although they arrived with ladders of every description, only one was used. That was to enable David to access some of the panels which, from the ground could only be accessed from a neighbouring driveway.

Pure water glistening on the window and the wooden frames. Luckily the frames were recently oiled and the water ran off without being absorbed.

En Garde!

This, together with a squeegee were the only tools required. No newspaper, no grimy rags and certainly no liquid soap of any description in sight. 

Even my Executive Assistant was interested in what was going on, but he decided not to leave the comfort of his cushion and venture out to actually engage with either David or M.

 "The cleaning magic happens when the pure water becomes like a sponge and absorbs all dirt, chemicals, and minerals it comes across in an effort to restore molecular order. When this method of window cleaning is used, the final rinse water dries to a perfect finish leaving your windows spotless and streak-free. Not only are the windows clean, but they are also left sterile." 

(Quote for company website)

The pure water that Magic Windows use is not only environmentally friendly, it contains neither no detergents nor added chemicals. Thus posing no threat to either you, your family, your pets or your plants!  

It is really difficult to show JUST how clean these windows are, but trust me when I say that in the 14 years that we have lived in this house, they have never looked so good! 

Looking out is an absolute pleasure and even the window frames got a good clean as that is where the dust and grime can hide.

Perched high on the roof the difference in the panels is already very obvious.

If your windows, like ours, have been cleaned with everything from meths and newspaper to dishwashing liquid and a rag, 

then it might take a couple of sessions before they are dirt 

and streak-free. 

Once this method has been used, your windows will remain spotless for longer. 

Before and after.

The difference is remarkable and because only purified water is utilized, there is no oily film left behind. I have been told that I can expect an improvement in the panel output of up to 40%.

Try them and you will not be sorry.

But you better hustle as the end of winter sees their work diary fill up very quickly. To find out more about how and where they operate and the systems that they use, visit their website:

https://www.magicwindows.co.za/

The Return of Valet-V. An on-site car valet service of distinction.

This is why I had called in Valet-V,

the dust and grime might not look like much, 

but given that this was a new vehicle,

I wanted to try and keep it in showroom condition

 as long as possible.

"Let me take a moment to consider where to begin".

As always the team was punctual and professional.

Once all their cleaning kit had been unpacked,

it was time to get on with the job.

Seeing that the car had been recently purchased,

it was not so much road grime as dust that was 

making the vehicle look 'shabby'.

Let the work begin.

By the time the vacuum was employed on the interior,

the exterior work had almost been completed.

Even though this was a newly purchased vehicle,

the team got stuck in and cleaned both the exterior and the interior.

Leaving the car in a condition far exceeding the one that it was in when it left the showroom floor. 

You have heard the expression

"To put a spring in your step"?

This is the vehicle version of that:

"Put a sparkle on your grill"...

This is how the team usually arrives, with everything they require

stowed in the custom-designed box on the back.

They usually only require an external water source(depending on the cleaning that has been booked) and a power-point.

Reinforcements arrive to speed up the process?

Nope, it turns out that my wife was so impressed by the work that the team was doing, that she decided to have her car cleaned as well.

Again a job well done!

From L-R: Moses, Franck, and Matome.

Looking spic and span. I almost want to wrap the vehicle in plastic so that it does not attract the highveld winter dust.

But sadly, that cannot happen, and almost as soon as the team has completed their work it is time to book them again.

Much like painting the San Fransisco Bay Bridge,

the moment you think that you are finished,

you start all over again.

Luckily, unlike the bridge that takes a year to paint,

this clean only takes a couple of hours!

This is the only way that I can really compare

before and after.

And the difference does show.

             

COVID-19 lockdown has seen our cars been driven less, but they tend to get dusty as they stand idle for long periods of time. However, with some sort of leisure travel allowed, we are going to be out and about shortly, and much like a haircut and a beard trim makes me feel better, driving a sparkling clean vehicle does the same. Just a pity that a day after this clean, I got invited to visit two game parks near Johannesburg. Both facilities are self-drive and on dusty unpaved roads. But, that just gives me an excuse to have Valet-V back again.  Highly recommended for both punctuality and professionalism. Download their app and book your appointment TODAY. You can thank me later...

Hennie Basson, biokineticist. An honorary Lidenite...

 

"Will you walk a little faster?" said a whiting to a snail,

There's a porpoise close behind us, and he's treading on my tail".

Why this quote by resonated with me as I walked in Hennie Basson's for the first time,

I really have no idea. Perhaps it was the fact that I had started to exercise again,

and that this was just a first step in my 'return -to-fitness' program?

Or perhaps it had another connotation, but that is not really up for discussion currently.

What is more important is the fact that I had made a conscious decision to get rid

of the weight that I had gained during the months of hard lockdown, when eating and a sedentary

lifestyle had taken its toll. I had considered a personal trainer, 

but they seem to have an agenda of their own and at 67 and being trained by a youngster

who can do 100 squats and burpees without breaking a sweat was NOT what I had in mind.

So, it was with this background that I found myself at Hennie's doorstep...

 Meet Hennie Basson, tri-athlete and Biokineticist of note.

 (A Biokineticist is an exercise specialist who increases a person's physical condition

 and the quality of life by means of physical assessment and the prescription of healthy exercise habits).

 Although not strictly situated in Linden, his practice is a 5-minute drive away in Parkhurst. 

Walk this way...my first impression of the practice. Hennie, it turns out,

is a most humble man and although he could fill the walls certificates and

photographs from his time as a National Tri-athlete, he chooses to keep them

devoid of such memorabilia.

To quote a well-known professor, "There are 54 ways to sit on a bicycle saddle,

 all of them are uncomfortable"! 

I believe that I discovered this fact for myself at the beginning of every session.

My biggest fan!

Keeping cool was the name of the game, as the sessions can really get you to sweat.

A weighty problem? Not a problem!

With a combined regime of both diet and exercise, I was able, in less than 3 months,

to see a reduction in both mass and cms. 

The latter being the more important when it comes to overall health assessment.

I was also able to substantially reduce my blood pressure as well as my resting heart rate.

Training here is literally "balls to the wall"

Have you ever tried to exercise while balancing on one of these? 

Not as easy as I thought it would be.

Something that everyone should have at home. especially in these days of COVID-19,

a pulse-oximeter. The top number is my resting heart rate,

while the lower number represents my oxygen saturation level.

Tools of the trade?

A stethoscope, an old school blood pressure cuff and the "dreaded" tape measure.

All very necessary for a variety of reasons.

Not quite what I wanted to look like.

Reading my results...

Both Hennie and I were impressed with the results that I had achieved

in a relatively short space of time.

But the long term goal is to make certain that the short term achievements 

are converted into long term sustainable goals. 

If you, like me, are looking for an excellent practitioner, who has the goals

of his patients at heart, then THIS is where you should be making you next appointment.

Don't delay, contact Hennie today to book your appointment.