Start with the rooms and circuits that matter most
Begin by writing down which parts of the property must stay on during an outage. For a home in Randburg or Fourways that may be lights, Wi-Fi, the TV, a fridge and one or two plug points. For a business in Sandton, Midrand or Centurion it may be office lighting, routers, computers, a gate motor or a small server room. Do not list the whole property unless you truly need full backup, as that changes the battery and inverter size quite a lot.
Write each item by room or circuit rather than in one long note. That makes it easier to compare what is essential and what can stay off during load-shedding. If you are not sure whether an appliance is worth backing up, write it down anyway and mark it as optional.
Use this simple appliance list format
A proper load list should show what each appliance is, how many there are and how long you expect to use them during an outage. That helps with backup sizing and with deciding whether a lithium battery bank is large enough for the required runtime. Keep the wording simple, and note items that start up briefly, such as fridges, pumps and some office equipment, because they draw more power when they first switch on.
- Appliance or circuit name
- Quantity
- Watts or amps if known
- How many hours it must run
- Whether it must stay on during every outage or only longer ones
If you do not know the wattage, leave it blank. A technical team can work from the model plate, the breaker schedule or a quick site assessment. It is better to be honest about unknowns than to guess and undersize the system.
Share what must stay on during an outage and the size of the property, and a backup planner will phone or message you.
Contact formSeparate essential loads from nice-to-have items
Many load-shedding problems come from trying to back up too much at once. Essential loads are the items you need for daily life or business continuity. Nice-to-have loads are things that can stay off until power returns. The more clearly you split these, the easier it is to plan a practical inverter installation.
As a rule, start with the bare minimum and build from there. A household may need lights, internet and refrigeration first, while a small office may need computers, connectivity and one printer. High draw items such as ovens, kettles, geysers, heaters and pool pumps often need to remain outside the backup plan unless a larger system is being installed. Coastal humidity can also affect equipment over time, so location and ventilation should be considered too.
- Must run during every outage
- Can wait until the next day
- Should only be added if there is spare capacity
- Needs separate wiring or a dedicated circuit
Check what type of system your property can support
Not every property can take the same backup setup. Some sites only need a small inverter and battery for lights and routers, while others need a larger system with essential circuit wiring and changeover solutions. The load list helps confirm whether the site is suitable for a standard backup system or whether a more detailed design is needed. In older homes around Roodepoort or Pretoria, the existing distribution board may need adjustments before anything is connected.
If you are considering a grid-tied system, remember that it must be registered with the municipality where required. The installation must also be done by a registered electrician and a certificate of compliance must be issued. That is not just paperwork, it is part of making sure the backup system is legal and safe. A proper checklist makes this stage much easier.
How to note runtime and power use without overcomplicating it
You do not need technical training to give useful information. Just note when the load is needed and how long it should last. For example, a fridge may need to stay on for the full outage, while a computer may only need two hours at a time. If you run a business in Johannesburg or Centurion, note whether the load is constant or only needed in short bursts, because that affects battery sizing more than many people realise.
Where possible, record the following details for each item:
- Normal daily use
- Use during load-shedding
- Starting surge or motor load
- Any special requirement such as clean power or uninterrupted connectivity
If you are unsure, do not worry. A site assessment can confirm the actual load and help avoid oversizing or choosing the wrong battery capacity.
Prepare the information before you send your enquiry
Before submitting your enquiry through the contact page, have your load list ready with as much detail as you can manage. Include the property type, suburb, whether it is a home or business and any known electrical limitations. A clear list saves time and helps the team respond with practical guidance, especially for clients across Randburg, Sandton, Fourways, Midrand, Pretoria, Centurion and Roodepoort.
You can also mention whether you want room-by-room backup, essential circuits only, or battery expansion on an existing setup. If the property has frequent nuisance tripping, old wiring or limited space for equipment, mention that too. Small details can change the recommended solution quite a bit.
- Property address or suburb
- Type of building and number of phases if known
- Appliances and circuits to back up
- Preferred outage duration
- Any existing inverter or battery equipment
A complete load list makes the next step much easier, and it helps the installation team plan properly before they arrive on site.
A practical example of a useful load list
A good example would be: lounge lights, kitchen lights, fibre router, two laptops, one fridge, one garage motor and one gate motor, with the note that the fridge and internet must stay on for at least four hours. Another example for a small office might be: reception lights, router, five computers, one printer and a small server cabinet, with air conditioning excluded. These examples are simple, but they give enough detail to work from without causing confusion.
The aim is not to make the list perfect. It is to make it clear. Once the list is in hand, the next step is to confirm the inverter size, battery capacity and wiring requirements. If a system is being expanded later, the same list also helps show what has changed and whether the new battery bank can take the extra load.
