As the South African power market matures, people are looking for newer and better solutions – and Syntech has expanded its award-winning Gizzu lineup to meet these needs.
South Africans reeling from the longest and most intense periods of load shedding, which they experienced throughout 2023, have learned exactly what it takes to keep their homes and businesses running.
Ryan Martyn, founder and sales & marketing director of Syntech.
“We have seen a noticeable change in people’s understanding of the wattage requirements of different appliances,” says Ryan Martyn, sales and marketing director of Syntech.
“Previously, users were looking for cost-effective solutions, that would let them power the essentials – Internet, TV, WiFi – during lower levels of load shedding.
“But, with the increase in load shedding frequency and duration – and a realisation that it’s not going to go away any time soon – we are seeing huge growth in demand for our higher capacity Hero range of LiFePO4 Portable Power Stations. The higher capacity units feature bigger batteries, bigger output, and seriously fast recharge times.”
“Where people would previously buy a 500W unit to run their essential electronics, they are now opting for 800W units that can also power a microwave. But our most popular seller at the moment is the Gizzu Hero Pro 2400W LiFePO4 Portable Power Station that can be used to run a kettle or hairdryer as well.”
Customers are also realising the long-term benefit of investing in power stability. “Where someone would have spent up to R10 000 on a unit to power the essentials, they now see that value in spending R40 000 for a Gizzu Hero Ultra 3600W LiFePO4 Portable Power Station that can power most of the appliances in the average home, with fast recharge in just 2.2 hours.”
While load shedding is undoubtedly inconvenient, with a negative impact on the economy, Martyn points out that it could exacerbate stress levels as well.
“I’ve had customers call to tell me they had underestimated the pressure that load shedding was causing until investing in an alternative power solution helped them to normalise their lives.”
The Winter 2024 Collection
When loadshedding climbs to higher stages, there is often insufficient time for household power stations to recharge between scheduled outages.
Syntech recognised this problem some time ago, and ensured that some of their Gizzu products were designed for fast-charging. And this year, all new Gizzu products can charge up in less than 2.2 hours or less.
South Africans are familiar with the experience of sitting through two or four hours of load shedding, anticipating the moment when the power comes back on – only to have it trip again moments after being restored.
Alternative power solutions are unwitting contributors to this phenomenon. While their batteries keep their users’ lights on during load shedding, the minute power is restored they start charging at full bore. The cumulative effect of this massive power draw from the grid – along with regular appliances also starting up simultaneously, often proves too much for grid, causing the trip.
“One of the big features we’ve introduced in some of our higher capacity Gizzu Hero range power stations is variable input power charging,” Martyn explains. “So instead of charging at 1 000W or 2 000W, and charging quickly, users can slow the input charge speed so the power station doesn’t put a big strain on the circuit. Eskom has asked users to avoid putting sudden big demands on the grid, and we have designed our new systems to lessen the intensity of pressure.”
Another feature that customers will find extremely useful is the ability to expand the capacity of their existing systems – rather than having to do a forklift upgrade if they need additional capacity.
Craig Nowitz, CEO of Syntech.
“For instance, on our biggest unit, the 3800UE power station, users can add up to two additional batteries, giving users the capacity to run an average household for a full day,” says Craig Nowitz, CEO of Syntech.
This option gives users the flexibility to add capacity as they need it – or can afford it.
Once users experience the freedom that comes with having power during loadshedding, they can start looking to further lessen their reliance on Eskom by generating electricity from the sun.
The problem with regular solar panels is that users have to employ the services of a qualified installer to not only mount the panels but wire them into the building’s distribution board, taking precautions against possible fire hazards, and maintain panels often mounted inaccessibly on the roof.
Now Syntech is bringing in portable solar panels that users can deploy themselves quickly, easily and safely.
“Our solar panels come in a rugged or glass foldable option,” says Martyn. “They are universally compatible with all power stations and are simple to fold out and plug in.”
He adds that South African appliance manufacturer Defy has recently launched a refrigerator that can accept solar input. “You could use one of our solar panels to directly power this fridge.”
Alternative power solutions aren’t only for the home or office. Sometimes your car – or fleet truck – has a flat battery and won’t start.
Syntech brings in a jump starter under the Gizzu brand – a bit bigger than a power bank, with two jumper cables – that can be used to start a 4,5l diesel or 6l petrol vehicle.
“Our first Gizzu jump starter was very well received and now we have introduced a bigger unit that can start up to a 7l petrol or 6,5l diesel vehicle,” says Martyn. “This will be useful for users with bigger cars or commercial vehicles.”
Safety issues
A number of high-profile fires and explosions have highlighted the dangers associated with alternative power supplies, particularly in the hands of the unqualified.
“I’ve heard an unverified statistic that there are as many as six house fires per day in Johannesburg relating to solar panel installations,” says Martyn.
“What a lot of customers don’t realise is how many points of failure there can be on a home solar installation. Solar panels are permanently exposed to the elements; the cables connected to batteries have their own safety requirements; and it all ties back into the grid or the household supply.
“And it’s not just solar: electricity is dangerous, period. That’s why houses must have a certificate of compliance – this is to ensure the safety of the occupants.”
When they’re investing in an installed solution, customers need to ensure that the workmanship is of the best standard, Martyn says.
“There is a growing need for the industry to upskill. So many people jumped into the market when the boom came, but we need to ensure they are qualified to do the job safely.”
We also saw a slew of batteries, inverters, panels and components coming in from various sources – not all of them of the best quality.
“This situation is a recipe for disaster. If something goes wrong, all the vendors can point their fingers at one of the others.”
Batteries have their own set of inherent risks, Martyn adds.
Syntech takes the issue of safety and risk mitigation extremely seriously, and its new LiFePO4 batteries are much safer than the previous-generation lithium-ion batteries.
To help customers derisk their alternative power investments, Syntech and Gizzu ensure that, as far as possible, their solutions are plug-and-play.
“We make sure that all our products are rigorously tested, that they work together, that components are of the highest quality standard, with the best certifications. Our batteries are sourced from one of the Top 3 battery manufacturers worldwide,” Martyn says.
“We do constant inspections and quality control testing.”
Nowitz adds: “In my opinion, the power stations we bring to market are better than many of the alternative power solutions. They are less expensive too.
“And they look good, which is important if they are in your home or office.”
Don’t buy used: buy new
Martyn urges partners and customers to always avoid buying any battery products from an auction house or second-hand dealer.
“Many of these organisations buy second-hand refurbished batteries in bulk and there is no warranty. But batteries deteriorate over time, so we encourage customers to always buy them new.”
As always, when a brand or product becomes popular, there is a bad actor ready to take advantage of their high profile to set up scams for unwary users.
“We have become aware of a number of fictitious websites trying to take advantage of consumers, listing Gizzu products at unbelievably low prices,” Nowitz says.
“Of course, once they’ve paid up, the customers never actually get these products.”
He encourages customers to deal only with a trusted partner, registered with Syntech; and ensure the products they are buying come in their original packaging.
Prices that look too good to be true generally aren’t true, Nowitz adds. “Our products are never discounted as deeply as these fictitious websites’ pricing. We do have specials from time to time, but these are with trusted partners like OneDayOnly, Takealot, Makro, Incredibly Connection, and Computer Mania. You are unlikely to find any reputable brand at a knock-down price.”
Syntech value-adds
Bringing in purpose-designed equipment, manufactured to the best quality standard, is just the start of the Gizzu journey.
Partners and customers enjoy the full support of the Syntech team.
“The Gizzu web site gives partners direct access to the South African support team – and immediate support during office hours,” says Martyn. “We can assist with remote troubleshooting and if that doesn’t solve the issue, we’ll escalate your query in order to provide a solution as timeously as possible..This sometimes means that we’ll ship a replacement unit directly to an affected consumer.
“We 100% want to always err on the side of caution. The reality is that these power solutions are installed in people’s homes and offices and that’s not something any company would take a risk with.”
Fortunately, tech support is not a big issue for Gizzu products.
“You don’t need an installer to put a Gizzu solution together. They really are plug and play, and literally anyone can safely and efficiently install them,” says Nowitz. “Even our solar panels come with all the connectors to fit 99% of all power stations in the market.”
Syntech even helps partners and customers work out the best possible power solution for their needs, based on the appliances they want to power, with a runtime calculator.
Other value-adds that Syntech brings to the partner community include taking care of warranty issues.
“Our brand has integrity, and can be trusted,” Martyn says. “We also keep a close eye on the market and ensure that every Gizzu product demonstrates the best available specifications at every price point.
“We don’t offer the cheapest product, but we’ll always have the best value for the market.
“We are here for the long run.”
Power solutions that are made for SA
The Gizzu brand has come to represent products that resellers can rely on to make their customers’ systems work.
There’s a good reason for this, says Ryan Martyn, founder and sales and marketing director of Syntech: the brand is carefully curated and designed to be a 100% fit for South African market conditions.
“As a company we want to be associated with quality brands that are in line with our reputation, so we have developed our own brand that we can hold to our own high standards.”
Martyn and Syntech CEO Craig Nowitz leverage their relationships with Chinese suppliers and manufacturers to jointly develop top-quality products that are designed for local conditions.
What really sets the Gizzu range apart is that fact that the products are designed specifically for the South African market, and take into account the lived reality of load shedding conditions.
“We put a lot of design into manufacturing products that can operate efficiently in our environment, under load shedding conditions that can often see the power go off three times a day.
“We have a unique market, so we can’t just bring in solutions designed for the rest of the world. We need solutions that can adapt to varying voltage inputs, can charge really quickly, and be in use for long periods,” Nowitz says. “So we have changed the way the solutions are designed to ensure they work for our customers.”
What’s available
Over the years, Syntech has built the Gizzu range into a line of power products that customers find easy to use and able to meet their needs.
The Gizzu alternative power line-up includes:
Jump starters
Power banks
Wall chargers and plugs
Car chargers
Power cables
AC adapters
Charging trollies
Commercial power supplies
Solar panels
Lighting
Mini UPS
PC UPS
Batteries
Hero range of portable power stations
- GPS500U – Gizzu Hero Core 512Wh UPS Power Station
- GPS1000U – Gizzu Hero Max 1024WH/1000W UPS Power Statio
- GPS2000U – Gizzu Hero Pro 2048Wh UPS Power Station
- GEB3800 – Gizzu Hero Ultra Plus 3840Wh Extra Battery
- GPS3800U – Gizzu Hero Ultra 3840Wh UPS Power Station
- GPS3800UE – Gizzu Hero Ultra Plus 3840Wh UPS Power Station
- GEB3800 – Gizzu Hero Ultra Plus 3840Wh Extra Battery
Challenger range of portable power stations
- GPS800U – Gizzu Challenger Max 835Wh/1000W UPS Power Station LifePO4
- GPS1100U – Gizzu Challenger Pro 1120Wh UPS Power Station
