Here is a list of the recommended loads with corresponding wattage that the average household can safely plug into a home inverter or UPS.
| Appliance | |
| WiFi | 20 |
| Router | 20 |
| Laptop | 80 |
| Desktop | 300 |
| Gaming PC | 1000 |
| LED Bedside light | 20 |
| LED Ceiling light | 20 |
| Bedside radio | 15 |
| DSTV or decoder | 80 |
| Cellphone charger | 6 |
| VOIP phone | 7 |
| Home CCTV (per camera) | 25 |
| 55 Inch ceiling fan | 200 |
| Desktop fan | 100 |
| Tropical fish tank | |
| Heater (per litre of water) | 2 |
| UV lamp | 25 |
| Fluorescent light tube | 20 |
| Air pump | 10 |
Calculating the load of your TV
| TV Size | LCD | Plasma | LED | OLED |
| 30 inch | 60 watts | 150 watts | 40 watts | n/a |
| 40 inch | 120 watts | 220 watts | 45 watts | n/a |
| 55 inch | 150 watts | 300 watts | 60 watts | 110 watts |
| 65 inch | n/a | n/a | 80 watts | 130 watts |
Once you have added all your loads up it is advisable to add 30% on top of your requirement to cater for load start-up currents and load expansion.
Loads not suitable for home inverters and UPS
We advise against connecting the following loads to your UPS or home inverter system as they make the system too expensive and impractical:
- Stove, oven or kettle
Suggestion: invest in either a permanently installed gas system or a gas bottle stove for heating water and cooking during rolling blackouts. - Geyser
Suggestion: Invest in a gas Geyser system or solar water roof heating system. These can be very expensive. Realistically a geyser, once hot, remains hot for 12 to 16 hours before the water is cold. - Heaters
Suggestion: Invest in a gas heater, they are very efficient or a fireplace that uses preferably renewable and sustainable energy, such as wood. - Fridge/Freezer
Suggestion: Most power failures are 2 to 4 hours. If opening and closing the door is kept to a minimum a fridge will stay cold for as long as 12 to 16 hours and a chest-freezer will stay frozen for several days if kept closed. - Air conditioner
Suggestion: Make use of a desk fan and wet the paving outside your house in the late afternoon, the evaporation will help cool the air.
We trust that this information will be helpful to you when selecting a UPS or home inverter for your home. For more information about choosing the right UPS for your load requirements, you can read this article on sizing up a UPS. If you have any questions feel free to contact us.