CAPE TOWN – Load shedding has become a dark reality for South Africans, severely impacting our daily routines and business schedules.
Mobile devices are therefore now more critical than ever in ensuring we’re able to stay in contact with both our workplaces and our family and loved ones.
The question remaining is how we ensure our mobile devices stay charged during the hours of load shedding – especially as the Easter weekend approaches and families go on holiday.
“For travellers, using a mobile device GPS in areas they are unfamiliar with is vital, as is having a charged cellphone for emergencies,” said Michelle Beetar, Cell C chief Customer experience Officer.
Follow these simple tips to keep your device charged:
1) Charge your phone in the car
If you do have a car, make sure you invest in a car charger for your cellphone. When load shedding occurs and you do not have enough battery life, you can always charge your device in the car.
2) Get a USB power bank
Make sure you always carry a power bank or two as they will come in handy. Keep them on charge whenever the power is on.
3) Use your laptop
Make sure to keep your laptop charged if you have one, so that when the lights go out you can charge your mobile devices on it. The great thing about a laptop is that you can carry it to different locations and still charge your phone.
4) Invest in a power inverter
A power inverter can change DC (direct current) power from a battery into AC (alternating current) power that you can use to power various devices in your home including lights, computers, microwaves, cellphones, and kitchen appliances. You won’t be able to run a household on an inverter, but you’ll have enough to charge mobile devices and run some appliances, depending on its size.
5) Think about getting a UPS
This is an uninterruptible power supply that can power electronics during blackouts. It can run for a few hours.