Load Shedding: How to Choose the Right Power Station

Before choosing a power station, list the devices you want to keep running during load shedding and note their wattage. A Wi-Fi router uses roughly 10–15W, a laptop charger 45–65W, a LED light 5–12W, a television 50–150W, and a full-size fridge 100–200W (running, not startup). Add the wattages together to get your approximate continuous load.

Then decide how many hours of backup you need. A 500 Wh power station running a 50W load (router + laptop + light) will last roughly 8–9 hours accounting for inverter losses. The same station running a 150W TV will last roughly 3 hours.

Watt-hours (Wh) measure energy capacity — how much total energy the battery stores. Watts (W) measure power — how much energy the station can deliver at any instant. Both matter: you need enough Wh for runtime and enough W to handle your devices' draw.

A 500 Wh station with a 500W output can run a 500W device for one hour, or a 50W device for ten hours (minus conversion losses). A 1000 Wh station with a 1000W output handles larger loads like a microwave or kettle briefly, or provides longer runtime for smaller devices.

AC outlets (220V, South African standard or universal) power household devices. USB-A and USB-C ports charge phones, tablets, and laptops directly. A 12V car-port output is useful for car fridges and accessories. Check the number and type of ports against your device list.

USB-C Power Delivery (PD) at 60W or higher can charge most laptops directly without the laptop's brick. This is more efficient than using the AC inverter. If laptop charging is a priority, look for USB-C PD output.

Most power stations recharge from a wall outlet (220V), a car charger (12V), and a solar panel. Wall charging is fastest (typically 4–8 hours from empty). Solar charging depends on panel wattage and sunlight — a 100W panel in good South African sun might add 300–500 Wh per day.

If you plan to use solar, check that the station's solar input voltage and connector type match the panel. MPPT charge controllers (built into most modern stations) extract more energy from panels than PWM controllers.

Lithium-ion (NMC) batteries are common and offer good energy density. Lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries last longer — typically 2,000+ cycles to 80% capacity vs 500–800 for NMC — but are heavier and more expensive for the same Wh rating.

If you plan to use the power station daily during load shedding, the longer cycle life of LiFePO4 may justify the higher upfront cost. For occasional use during short outages, NMC is a practical and more affordable choice.

For essential backup (router, phone charging, lights, laptop): a 300–500 Wh station is usually sufficient. For longer outages or to include a TV and small fridge: consider 700–1000 Wh. For whole-home backup of critical circuits: look at 1500+ Wh or a dedicated inverter system.

Browse the power stations available at AfriCam Online and compare capacity, output, ports, weight, and recharging options. If you are unsure what size suits your setup, contact our team with your device list and expected outage duration, and we will recommend a suitable option.