There’s nothing worse than getting home after a long day at work, turning on the TV and nothing happens - you’ve forgotten it’s load shedding. “Well,” says John Goosen, Senior Sales Manager for SKYWORTH South Africa, “there is something worse; your TV not turning on after load shedding because of a power surge.” 

A power surge can occur when the electricity is restored after load shedding. The rush of electricity created from a power surge exceeds the typical voltage that is supplied to households and can result in irreparable damage to your electronics and appliances. Any device connected to mains power at the time is at risk of being irreversibly damaged.

With load shedding being as frequent as it has been lately, and it’s not set to go away anytime soon, protecting our electronics has become a reality we never thought we’d have to face. Fortunately, explains Goosen, there are a few simple steps you can take to ensure your TV is adequately protected during load shedding:

• Unplug your TV when you’re not watching it (even if the power is on). This will help conserve energy and reduce the risk of power surges.
• Unplug your TV from the wall just before load shedding begins. This will help to ensure that your TV won’t be subjected to any sudden and unexpected surges when the power returns.
• Make sure your TV is plugged into a surge protector. Surge protectors are designed to protect against any sudden spikes in voltage, which can cause significant damage to the TV. It is also important to check that your surge protector is equipped with a built-in battery backup, this can provide an extra layer of protection in the event of a power outage.
• If you can, invest in an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS), invertor or generator to provide your TV with backup power.
• Keep your TV away from direct sunlight, heat sources, water, and any moisture. This will help prevent overheating and any potential damage from water or humidity.

Our new normal proves very inconvenient, however by following these simple tips you can make sure your TV remains in good working order, and you don’t miss out on too much binge watching.