Protea Gardens (PG)
Howick (uMngeni)
PG Blog
If you live in a Complex
the
Complex Rules!
20 April 2023
|
|
Rob Dempster
Protea Gardens (PG) Howick (uMngeni) PG Blog If you live in a Complex the Complex Rules! 20 April 2023 |
|
During our one year stay in Amber Valley waiting to move into Unit 34 at Protea Gardens, Edith and I decided to purchase a 2.4 kWh battery backed-up Inverter from GioVision. It was wheeled into the study and positioned next to my desk on a piece of laminated chip-board (to protect the carpet) next to my desk. From there it supplied power to my desk (computer, wireless Internet system and a 3W table lamp) and Edith's desk (computer). We also ran an extension cord out of the door to the living room to power the DSTV Box, the TV and a 5W table lamp. It worked flawlessly!
As a result of that experience we asked the electrician wiring our Protea Cardens unit to split the electricit Distribution Board (DB) into two distinct boards, A small DB for all the lights, and three plug points. and another DB for the rest of the Unit. I guess we were already working with Essentials and Non Essentials, terms we would be introduced to later on. We also asked the electrician to configure the Inverter we already had, into the system such that it supplied electricity to the small DB. It worked flawlessly! Before we had spent a year in our new home Edith decided we needed to improve our electricity supply such that it could also support the fridge during Load Shedding. I guess it was inevitable, as that is where we store the Suavignon Blanc. So she set about finding out what was required for the installation of a Solar Panel backed-up system that could support the everything in our unit outside of the Geyser, Stove, and the Ducted Air Conditioning i.e., the Essentials, and the Non-essentials. What followed was negotiations, first with a Solar System providor, Utility Africa, and secondly with the Protea Gardens Body Corporate. The first was a relatively short and painless process with Utility Africa. The work they did was also done effeciently and on time, and it all worked. The second was a protracted and and at times somewhat difficult process. I guess that was to be expected as we were breaking new ground and nobody wanted to make any mistakes. While it was at times a pains-taking process involving existing rules, forms and procedures, and newly thought-up rules forms and procedures, it ultimately got done in a reasonable time-frame. For this we need to thank The Protea Gardens Body Corporate, Utility Africa, the folk who draw plans, the folk that do compliance inspections, a cycling friend who lives in Amber Valley, and a friend down the road who was also embarking on the same adventure.If you have any comments, corrections, suggestions or plain criticism, I would appreciate it if you would communicate the same to me.
|
|
[email protected] | www.robdempster.com |
|
|